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.
WisconsinConcealed Carry Permit & Reciprocity
Wisconsin is a shall-issue state — it is not a permitless (constitutional) carry state. To carry a concealed weapon you must hold a Wisconsin Concealed Weapon License (CWL); carrying concealed without a license is a crime (§941.23). The CWL is issued by the Wisconsin Department of Justice to applicants who are 21 or older, are Wisconsin residents (or military members stationed in Wisconsin), and submit proof of firearms training; no fingerprints are required, the license is valid for five years, and the fee is set by DOJ rule. Open carry of a firearm does not require a license in Wisconsin. A licensee must display the license and photo ID on demand of a law enforcement officer (§175.60(2g)(c)) but has no proactive duty to inform. Wisconsin recognizes out-of-state carry licenses broadly — any holder 21 or older from any state except Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, and Vermont — with Florida and Virginia recognized for non-resident licenses only.
Wisconsin Wisconsin Concealed Weapon License (CWL)
- Issuing authority
- Wisconsin Department of Justice
- Carry regime
- shall issue
- Minimum age
- 21
- Fee
- $40
- Training
- Required
- Validity
- 5 years
Carry practicalities
Permitless carry
Not allowed
Wisconsin is NOT a permitless-carry state. Carrying a concealed and dangerous weapon without a license is a crime under §941.23; a Wisconsin Concealed Weapon License (or a recognized out-of-state license) is required to carry concealed. Open carry, however, is lawful without a license.
official source · verified 2026-07-10
Open carry
Permitless
Open carry of a firearm is lawful in Wisconsin without a license for a person 18 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm. It remains subject to the federal/state Gun-Free School Zone restrictions (§948.605) and to private-property and posted-location rules; a firearm carried in a vehicle openly must comply with the encased/unloaded rules unless the person holds a CWL.
official source · verified 2026-07-10
Duty to inform
Not required
Wisconsin imposes no affirmative duty to proactively notify a law enforcement officer that you are carrying. A CWL holder who is carrying a concealed weapon must, on the request of an officer acting in an official capacity, display the license document and photographic identification (§175.60(2g)(c)) — but there is no proactive notification requirement.
official source · verified 2026-07-10
Off-limits locations
- police stations, sheriff's offices, state patrol stations, and DCI special-agent offices
- prisons, jails, houses of correction, and secured correctional facilities
- secured units of certain mental health facilities (e.g. Mendota and Winnebago)
- county, state, and federal courthouses
- beyond a security checkpoint in an airport
- school grounds and school zones (§948.605 / federal Gun-Free School Zones)
- private property or businesses that have posted a no-carry sign or otherwise prohibited weapons
- places where carrying a firearm is prohibited by federal law
Curated key categories, not exhaustive. The statutory prohibited places for licensees are in §175.60(16)(a); school zones are governed by §948.605. Wisconsin does not bar a licensee from carrying in a tavern, but carrying while under the influence of an intoxicant is prohibited (§941.20). Property owners and employers may prohibit carry by posting.
official source · verified 2026-07-10
Wisconsin reciprocity summary
Wisconsin honors 46 states' permits · honored by 33 states
Where a Wisconsin permit is honored →Whose permits Wisconsin honors →
Last verified 2026-07-10 against Wisconsin Department of Justice — CCW Reciprocity.
We may earn a commission from some links, at no cost to you.
Get notified when your state's reciprocity changes.
Wisconsin FAQ
- Does Wisconsin have constitutional carry?
- No. Wisconsin is a shall-issue state — a Wisconsin Concealed Weapon License (CWL) is required to carry concealed, and the issuing authority must issue one to any applicant who meets the statutory requirements.
- How much does a Wisconsin CWL cost?
- The CWL application fee in Wisconsin is $40. The Department of Justice sets the fee by administrative rule under §175.60(7); the statute caps the license-processing portion at $37 plus the cost of the background check. The current DOJ fee is $40 for a new license and $22 for renewal — confirm the current amount with the DOJ.
- Does Wisconsin honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?
- Wisconsin honors concealed-carry permits from 46 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 Wisconsin honors" page.
- Where is a Wisconsin CWL honored?
- A Wisconsin CWL is honored by 33 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.
- How long is a Wisconsin CWL valid?
- A Wisconsin CWL is valid for 5 years before renewal is required.
Sources
- Wisconsin Department of Justice — CCW Reciprocity (2026-07-10)