Utah Gun Laws

Utah Gun Forms & Supporting Documentation

• State CCW Site
• How to Apply
• Regular & Provisiona Application
• Online Renewal
• Forms
• General Information
• State FAQ Site
• State Statutes
• St CCW Law/Rules
• State Admin Rules
• State Reciprocity Info
• State Attorney General
• Age to Carry a Firearm In Other States

Carrying a Firearm

It is illegal in Utah to:

• Carry any dangerous weapon in covert or concealed manner without first obtaining a permit.
• Carry a loaded firearm in any manner on a public street or highway without first obtaining a permit.

Unloaded, securely sealed, and relatively inaccessible firearms are permissible in motor vehicles without a permit. Firearms that may be easily hidden or concealed in one’s residence or place of business are also permissible without a permit.



The Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Identification will issue a permit to carry a concealed firearm to any eligible citizen within 60 days of receiving a properly completed application. The applicant must be of good character (as defined by the state below) and at least 21 years of age. Good character is evidenced by the following:

• A lack of convictions for alcohol, narcotic or other controlled substance related offenses.
• A lack of convictions for any violent felonies.
• A lack of convictions for any felonies involving domestic violence.
• A lack of convictions for any crime involving moral turpitude.
• No adjudication of mental incompetence or insanity.
• Satisfaction of all requirements relating to firearm purchase and possession according to state and federal law.

Citizens considered to be a danger to themselves or others by way of previous violent acts or tendencies may be denied a permit.All applicants must submit all of the following items:

• a copy of a their valid driver’s license or Utah state ID,
• a passport quality recent color photograph,
• a Weapons Familiarity Certification,
• a set of valid fingerprints, and
• an application and FBI fingerprint combined fee of $60.00 USD for residents and $65.00 for non-residents.

All permits shall be valid throughout the state of Utah for a period of no more and no less than 5 years following the date of permit issuance. Permits may be renewed for another 5 year period given that the permit holder continues to satisfy all original standards of good character and incurs a $15.00 renewal fee.

Any person denied a permit has a right to view, in writing, the general reasons leading to the permit denial. Within 60 days of this denial, an applicant may file a petition for review with the Board of Review.

Regular permit applicants may also apply for a temporary permit from the Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Identification in the event of extraordinary circumstances. All temporary applicants must be able to prove his or her good character to a license authority along with a written statement that adequately explains the urgent necessity of a temporary permit. This temporary permit can be issued only after the proper criminal history check has been completed and shall remain valid for a maximum period of 90 days or until a standard permit is issued. If the circumstances that originally justified the temporary permit are remedied or no longer apply then the permit is no longer valid. Any decision passed by the license authority in regards to temporary permits cannot be appealed.

The state of Utah recognizes permits to carry concealed firearms issued by other states so long as the carrier complies with all Utah firearm laws, as well as the laws of his or her state of residence. Permit holders and other gun owners shall not carry any firearms, concealed or blatant, in any secure area that prohibits carrying of guns or ammunition. These include correctional facilities, parts of airports, mental health institutions, court houses, and institutions of higher learning. These facilities shall provide areas for storage of weapons while visiting the facility. It is illegal to willfully carry a firearm into any private residence or place of worship that has explicitly prohibited the carrying of firearms. Persons traveling through Utah, resident or otherwise, may transport firearms so long as they are unloaded and properly sealed in an opaque case.

Range Protection

Established shooting ranges are exempt from local or municipal ordinances regarding noise violations so long as they remain in business with proper facilities.

UTAH CODE ANN. § 47-3-3 (2011)

§ 47-3-3. When nuisance action permitted

(1) Each state agency or political subdivision shall ensure that any of its rules or ordinances that define or prohibit a public nuisance exclude from the definition or prohibition any shooting range that was established, constructed, or operated prior to the implementation of the rule or ordinance regarding public nuisance unless that activity or operation substantially and adversely affects public health or safety.

(2) A person who operates or uses a shooting range in this state is not subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution for noise or noise pollution resulting from the operation or use of the range if:

(a) the range:

(i) was established, constructed, or operated prior to the implementation of any noise ordinances, rules, or regulations; and

(ii) does not substantially and adversely affect public health or safety; or

(b) the range:

(i) is in compliance with any noise control laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations that applied to the range and its operation at the time of establishment, construction, or initial operation of the range; and

(ii) does not substantially and adversely affect public health or safety.

(3) For the purposes of this section, noise generated by a shooting range that is operated in accordance with nationally recognized standards and operating practices is not a public health nuisance.

(4) For any new subdivision development located in whole or in part within 1,000 feet of the boundary of any shooting range that was established, constructed, or operated prior to the development of the subdivision, the owner of the development shall provide on any plat filed with the county recorder the following notice:

“Shooting Range Area

This property is located in the vicinity of an established shooting range. It can be anticipated that customary uses and activities at this shooting range will be conducted now and in the future. The use and enjoyment of this property is expressly conditioned on acceptance of any annoyance or inconvenience which may result from these uses and activities.”

Utah Concealed Carry Reciprocity

Miscellaneous

In the state of Utah it is illegal to:

• Discharge a firearm in a Utah State Park, camp site, beach, golf course or other designated recreation area.
• Discharge a firearm across or on a highway or from a vehicle.
• Discharge a firearm within 600 feet of a private residence, agricultural building, or other building without the express written permission of the property or building’s owner.
• Discharge any type of tracer or incendiary ammunition. Military establishments are exempt from this regulation.
• Present or display a firearm in a threatening or aggressive manner that implies violent action against two or more persons. Those acting in clear self-defense are exempt.
• Handle or possess a firearm if you under 18 years of age without the expressed permission or supervision of a parent or guardian. Exempt from this regulation are minors who are using a firearm at a hunting safety course, lawful shooting range, organized and established competition, on private property with the expressed permission of the owner and a parent or guardian, and in the practice of lawful hunting. Transportation to and from any of these events is also exempt.

Any hunter below the age of 14 must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult or parent. Likewise, any person below the age of 14 shall not possess a firearm or other weapon without the vigilant supervision of an adult or parent.

The state of Utah reserves the right and power to regulate all firearm legislation and use. No other entity of in Utah shall perform any regulatory duties unless otherwise specified in approved legislation. Lawful manufacturers, dealers, designers or transporters of firearms may not be sued by the state or any department thereof for a claim pertaining to the actions of a buyer or user of their ammunition or product.