This is not legal advice.Concealed-carry reciprocity changes frequently and carries serious legal consequences. Verify current law with the destination state's official source before you carry.
WashingtonConcealed Carry Permit & Reciprocity
Washington is a shall-issue state — it is not a permitless (constitutional) carry state. To carry a pistol concealed on your person, or to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle, you must hold a Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL) (RCW 9.41.050). The CPL is issued by the sheriff of the applicant's county or the chief of police of the applicant's municipality, must be issued within 30 days to an eligible applicant (up to 60 days for a new resident or an applicant without a Washington driver's license/ID), and is valid for five years (RCW 9.41.070). Washington does not require a training course for the CPL under the currently effective law. Open carry of a lawfully possessed firearm does not require a license, but it is prohibited within 250 feet of a permitted demonstration after a police order and on the state capitol campus. Washington's recognition of out-of-state permits is narrow and conditional: under RCW 9.41.073 it honors another state's license only while the holder is a non-resident and that state meets Washington's age, background-check, and mutual-recognition criteria (the Attorney General publishes the qualifying list).
Washington Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL)
- Issuing authority
- County Sheriff or Municipal Chief of Police
- Carry regime
- shall issue
- Minimum age
- 21
- Fee
- $36
- Training
- Not required
- Validity
- 5 years
Carry practicalities
Permitless carry
Not allowed
Washington is NOT a permitless-carry state. A person may not carry a pistol concealed on the person without a Concealed Pistol License, and a loaded pistol may not be carried in a vehicle without a CPL (RCW 9.41.050). The only exceptions are a person's own dwelling, place of business, or property. There is no constitutional/permitless concealed carry in Washington.
official source · verified 2026-07-10
Open carry
Permitless
Open carry of a lawfully possessed firearm does not require a license in Washington. It is, however, prohibited within 250 feet of a permitted demonstration after a law enforcement officer directs the person to leave the area (RCW 9.41.300) and on the state capitol campus and adjacent public areas (RCW 9.41.305), in addition to the general prohibited-place restrictions of RCW 9.41.300.
official source · verified 2026-07-10
Duty to inform
Not required
Washington imposes no affirmative duty to proactively notify a law enforcement officer that you are carrying. A CPL holder must, however, display the license on demand of a police officer (RCW 9.41.050) — but there is no proactive notification requirement.
official source · verified 2026-07-10
Off-limits locations
- restricted-access areas of jails and law enforcement facilities
- courtrooms, jury rooms, judges' chambers, and areas used in connection with court proceedings
- restricted-access areas of licensed public mental health facilities
- the age-restricted (21+, off-limits to minors) portions of bars/taverns
- restricted-access areas of commercial-service airports (past the passenger screening checkpoint)
- K-12 public and private school grounds (RCW 9.41.280)
- libraries, zoos, and aquariums, and transit stations/facilities (CPL holders are exempt from these four)
- within 250 feet of a permitted demonstration after a police order (open carry)
- the state capitol campus and adjacent restricted areas (open carry — RCW 9.41.305)
- voting centers, ballot-counting centers, and student election/registration areas during related activity
- places where carrying a firearm is prohibited by federal law
Curated key categories, not exhaustive. The core prohibited places are in RCW 9.41.300; school grounds are governed by RCW 9.41.280 and capitol-campus open carry by RCW 9.41.305. Concealed pistol license holders are expressly exempt from the library, zoo/aquarium, and transit-facility restrictions.
official source · verified 2026-07-10
Washington reciprocity summary
Washington honors 10 states' permits · honored by 27 states
Where a Washington permit is honored →Whose permits Washington honors →
Last verified 2026-07-10 against Washington Attorney General — Concealed Pistol License Reciprocity.
We may earn a commission from some links, at no cost to you.
Get notified when your state's reciprocity changes.
Washington FAQ
- Does Washington have constitutional carry?
- No. Washington is a shall-issue state — a Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL) is required to carry concealed, and the issuing authority must issue one to any applicant who meets the statutory requirements.
- How much does a Washington CPL cost?
- The CPL application fee in Washington is $36. The nonrefundable fee for an original five-year license is $36 plus the additional charges imposed by the FBI for the fingerprint-based background check (RCW 9.41.070).
- Does Washington honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?
- Washington honors concealed-carry permits from 10 other states, subject to the qualifiers (resident-only or permit-class restrictions) noted on each reciprocity pair. See the full inbound list on the "who Washington honors" page.
- Where is a Washington CPL honored?
- A Washington CPL is honored by 27 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.
- How long is a Washington CPL valid?
- A Washington CPL is valid for 5 years before renewal is required.