Kentucky Gun Laws

Persons age 21 or older who are otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm may carry concealed firearms or other concealed deadly weapons without a license in the same locations as licensees under KRS 237.110. Effective June 27, 2019, created by 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 10 (SB 150).

"Persons age twenty-one (21) or older, and otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm, may carry concealed firearms or other concealed deadly weapons without a license in the same locations as persons with valid licenses issued under KRS 237.110."

KRS 237.109 statute

Senate Bill 150 (Chapter 10 of the 2019 Acts of the Kentucky General Assembly) created KRS 237.109 and amended KRS 527.020 and 237.115 to authorize permitless concealed carry. Signed by Governor Bevin March 11, 2019.

"AN ACT relating to carrying concealed weapons. ... Signed by Governor March 11, 2019."

2019 Ky. Acts ch. 10 (SB 150) statute

The Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon (CCDW) license is issued by the Kentucky State Police to Kentucky residents (or active-duty military assigned to a Kentucky posting) who are 21 or older, complete an approved firearms-safety course of not more than 8 hours that includes classroom instruction and a live-fire qualification (20 rounds at a silhouette target with at least 11 hits required), and meet eligibility criteria. The license is valid for 5 years; the paper-application fee is $60 ($70 for electronic).

"The firearms safety course offered or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Training shall: 1. Be not more than eight (8) hours in length; 2. Include instruction on handguns, the safe use of handguns, the care and cleaning of handguns, and handgun marksmanship principles; 3. Include actual range firing of a handgun in a safe manner, and the firing of not more than twenty (20) rounds at a full-size silhouette target, during which firing, not less than eleven (11) rounds must hit the silhouette portion of the target."

KRS 237.110 statute

The Kentucky State Police CCDW Branch administers the license under authority of KRS 237.110, sets the standard $60 application fee ($20 to the county sheriff, $40 to the Kentucky State Treasurer), confirms the 5-year validity, and requires Kentucky residency (with a narrow exception for active-duty military assigned to a Kentucky posting).

"Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons License"

KSP — CCDW Home / FAQs ag

Open carry of a firearm has always been lawful in Kentucky under § 1, ¶ 7 of the state constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms in defense of oneself and the state subject only to a legislative power to regulate concealed carry. Following the 2019 permitless-carry law, both open and concealed carry are now permitted without a license for eligible persons 21 and older.

"Persons age twenty-one (21) or older, and otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm, may carry concealed firearms or other concealed deadly weapons without a license."

Kentucky Constitution § 1, ¶ 7 / KRS 237.109 statute

A loaded or unloaded firearm or other deadly weapon is NOT deemed concealed if it is located in any enclosed container, compartment, or storage space installed as original equipment in a motor vehicle by its manufacturer — including a glove compartment, center console, or seat pocket — regardless of whether the compartment is locked, unlocked, or has no locking mechanism. This applies to any person lawfully entitled to possess the firearm and does NOT require a permit. The provision does not apply to persons prohibited from possessing a firearm under KRS 527.040.

"A loaded or unloaded firearm or other deadly weapon shall not be deemed concealed on or about the person if it is located in any enclosed container, compartment, or storage space installed as original equipment in a motor vehicle by its manufacturer, including but not limited to a glove compartment, center console, or seat pocket, regardless of whether said enclosed container, storage space, or compartment is locked, unlocked, or does not have a locking mechanism."

KRS 527.020(8) statute

Persons carrying under permitless carry (KRS 237.109) or under a CCDW license (KRS 237.110) may carry a concealed firearm or other concealed deadly weapon on or about their persons at all times within the Commonwealth in conformity with those sections. No person or organization, public or private, may prohibit a person from possessing a firearm, ammunition, or other deadly weapon in his or her vehicle in compliance with KRS 237.109, 237.110, and 237.115.

"No person or organization, public or private, shall prohibit a person from possessing a firearm, ammunition, or both, or other deadly weapon in his or her vehicle in compliance with the provisions of KRS 237.109, 237.110, and 237.115."

KRS 527.020(4) statute

A person convicted of a felony in any state or federal court who has not received a full pardon or federal relief commits a Class D felony (Class C for handguns) by possessing, manufacturing, or transporting a firearm. This is the prohibited-person carve-out referenced by KRS 527.020(8): the vehicle-compartment non-concealment rule does NOT apply to anyone barred from possessing a firearm under this section.

"A person is guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon when he possesses, manufactures, or transports a firearm when he has been convicted of a felony ... Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is a Class D felony unless the firearm possessed is a handgun in which case it is a Class C felony."

KRS 527.040 statute

Kentucky's parking-lot statute prohibits any property owner, lessee, or occupant — including an employer — from preventing any person legally entitled to possess a firearm from keeping the firearm, ammunition, or components in a vehicle on the property. Employers who fire, discipline, demote, or otherwise punish an employee exercising this right are liable in civil damages, and the employee may obtain an injunction. The protection does NOT depend on holding a CCDW license. Exceptions: federal-government property where firearms are otherwise restricted, detention facilities, and properties where another KRS section specifically prohibits firearms.

"No person, including but not limited to an employer, who is the owner, lessee, or occupant of real property shall prohibit any person who is legally entitled to possess a firearm from possessing a firearm, part of a firearm, ammunition, or ammunition component in a vehicle on the property."

KRS 237.106 statute

A non-resident of Kentucky who holds a valid concealed-deadly-weapon license from another state may carry concealed in Kentucky, subject to Kentucky law. Permitless carry under KRS 237.109 also applies to anyone 21+ lawfully entitled to possess a firearm, regardless of state of residence. In effect, Kentucky honors all out-of-state carry licenses and additionally requires no permit at all.

"A person who is not a resident of Kentucky and who has a valid license issued by another state of the United States to carry a concealed deadly weapon in that state may, subject to provisions of Kentucky law, carry a concealed deadly weapon in Kentucky, and his or her license shall be considered as valid in Kentucky."

KRS 237.110(20) / KSP CCDW Reciprocity statute

The Kentucky State Police CCDW Reciprocity matrix lists 35 states that honor the Kentucky CCDW license: AK, AL, AZ, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. RI, VT, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are categorized as 'OTHER' requiring further contact. CA, CT, DC, GU, HI, IL, MD, MA, NJ, NM, NY, OR, PR, VI, and WA do NOT honor.

"States that Honor Kentucky CCDW Permits"

KSP — CCDW Reciprocity ag

Kentucky's castle doctrine, created by 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 192, presumes that a person using defensive force held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm when the person against whom force was used was unlawfully and forcibly entering — or had entered — the defender's dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle, with limited exceptions for co-residents, peace officers performing duties, and other defined situations.

"A person is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another if: (a) The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcibly entering or had unlawfully and forcibly entered a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle."

KRS 503.055 statute

Kentucky is a stand-your-ground state: a person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and is attacked in any place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and may stand the person's ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, when reasonably believed necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a violent felony.

"A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a felony involving the use of force."

KRS 503.055(3) statute

A person who uses force permitted under KRS 503.050, 503.055, 503.070, or 503.080 is justified and is immune from both criminal prosecution (including arrest and detention absent probable cause that the force was unlawful) and civil action, except where the force was used against an identified peace officer performing official duties. Courts must award attorney's fees and costs to a defendant successfully invoking the immunity in any civil action.

"A person who uses force as permitted in KRS 503.050, 503.055, 503.070, and 503.080 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force."

KRS 503.085 statute

Kentucky's general self-defense statute justifies the use of physical force when the defendant believes it necessary to protect against the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force. Deadly force is justified only against death, serious physical injury, kidnapping, forcible sexual intercourse, or a felony involving the use of force (or under KRS 503.055). Subsection (4) expressly states there is no duty to retreat before using deadly force. Cross-referenced as a predicate for the KRS 503.085 prosecutorial/civil immunity.

"The use of physical force by a defendant upon another person is justifiable when the defendant believes that such force is necessary to protect himself against the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by the other person. ... A person does not have a duty to retreat prior to the use of deadly physical force."

KRS 503.050 statute

Kentucky's defense-of-others statute justifies the use of physical (and, in defined circumstances, deadly) force to protect a third person when the defender reasonably believes the third person would have been justified in using such force under KRS 503.050 and 503.060. Subsection (3) confirms there is no duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she has a right to be. Cross-referenced as a predicate for the KRS 503.085 immunity.

"The use of physical force by a defendant upon another person is justifiable when: (a) The defendant believes that such force is necessary to protect a third person against the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force by the other person ... A person does not have a duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she has a right to be."

KRS 503.070 statute

Kentucky's defense-of-property statute justifies the use of physical force to prevent criminal trespass, robbery, burglary, theft, criminal mischief, or other force-involving felonies on real or movable property. Deadly force is justified only against dispossession of a dwelling, burglary/robbery/force-felony of the dwelling, or arson of a dwelling or building. Subsection (3) confirms there is no duty to retreat. Cross-referenced as a predicate for the KRS 503.085 immunity.

"The use of physical force by a defendant upon another person is justifiable when the defendant believes that such force is immediately necessary to prevent: (a) The commission of criminal trespass, robbery, burglary, or other felony involving the use of force ... A person does not have a duty to retreat if the person is in a place where he or she has a right to be."

KRS 503.080 statute

Kentucky law does not impose a duty to proactively inform a law enforcement officer that you are armed during a traffic stop or other encounter. No subsection of KRS 237.109, 237.110, or 527.020 creates such a duty. CCDW license holders are not statutorily required to show their license on demand, though many advise volunteering it as a courtesy.

"237 — FIREARMS AND DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES"

KRS Chapter 237 (no disclosure mandate) statute

It is unlawful (Class D felony) to knowingly deposit, possess, or carry — openly or concealed — a firearm or other deadly weapon in any K-12 public or private school building or bus, on any school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field, or other school-administered property. The prohibition does NOT apply to institutions of postsecondary or higher education. Statutory exceptions allow an adult non-pupil to keep a firearm contained in (and not removed from) a vehicle on school property, plus exceptions for ROTC, peace officers, military, board-authorized exhibitors, and certain hunters traversing the grounds with unloaded weapons.

"A person is guilty of unlawful possession of a weapon on school property when he knowingly deposits, possesses, or carries, whether openly or concealed, for purposes other than instructional or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes ... any firearm or other deadly weapon ... in any public or private school building or bus, on any public or private school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field."

KRS 527.070 statute

Colleges, universities, and postsecondary education facilities may control firearm possession on property they own or control. State, city, county, urban-county, or charter-county governments may prohibit concealed carry in the portion of a building they own, lease, or occupy — provided the restricted area is clearly identified by signs at the entrance. No criminal penalty may be specified; violators may be denied entry, removed, or (if government employees) disciplined. The statute does not apply to the carrying of firearms in vehicles per KRS 527.020.

"the legislative body of a state, city, county, or urban-county government may, by statute, administrative regulation, or ordinance, prohibit or limit the carrying of concealed deadly weapons in that portion of a building owned, leased, or controlled by that unit of government. That portion of a building in which the carrying of concealed deadly weapons is prohibited or limited shall be clearly identified by signs posted at the entrance to the restricted area."

KRS 237.115 statute

It is unlawful to possess a loaded firearm in a room where distilled spirits and wine are sold by the drink for on-premises consumption (i.e., a bar). The prohibition does NOT apply to a bona-fide restaurant open to the public with dining facilities for at least 50 persons that derives less than 50% of its annual food-and-beverage receipts from the sale of alcohol — meaning sit-down restaurants that also serve alcohol are generally not covered.

"no person shall be in possession of a loaded ... firearm while actually within the room where alcoholic beverages are being sold by the drink ... This section shall not apply to a bona fide restaurant open to the general public having dining facilities for not less than fifty (50) persons and which receives less than fifty percent (50%) of its annual food and beverage receipts from the dining facilities by the sale of alcohol."

KRS 244.125 statute

KRS 520.010(4) defines 'detention facility' as any building and its premises used for the confinement of a person charged with or convicted of an offense, alleged or found to be delinquent, held for extradition or as a material witness, or otherwise confined pursuant to an order of court for law enforcement purposes. This definition controls the carve-out from KRS 237.106 parking-lot protection and KRS 527.020(5) carry rules at detention facilities.

"'Detention facility' means any building and its premises used for the confinement of a person: (a) Charged with or convicted of an offense; (b) Alleged or found to be delinquent; (c) Held for extradition or as a material witness; or (d) Otherwise confined pursuant to an order of court for law enforcement purposes."

KRS 520.010 statute

Kentucky's voting-room-access statute restricts who may enter a polling place during voting and prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of the entrance, but does NOT impose any prohibition on the possession or carrying of firearms at a polling place. There is no Kentucky statute creating a stand-alone, statewide polling-place firearm ban — a polling-place firearm restriction applies only if the location is independently posted under another statute (e.g., a school under KRS 527.070 or a government building posted under KRS 237.115).

"No person, other than the election officers, challengers, person assisting voters in accordance with KRS 117.255(3), and a minor child in the company of a voter, shall be permitted within the voting room while the vote is being polled."

KRS 117.235 statute

Kentucky relies on the federal NICS background check conducted by federally licensed firearms dealers at the point of sale. Kentucky has no state-level universal-background-check requirement; private, in-state firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals are not subject to a state-mandated background check.

"237 — FIREARMS AND DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES"

KRS 237.095 / federal NICS statute

Federal law requires that handguns be purchased from a federally licensed dealer only by buyers age 21 or older, and long guns at age 18. Private in-state transfers between unlicensed individuals are not governed by these federal minimums. Kentucky imposes no additional state purchase-age requirement beyond federal law.

"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."

18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal) atf

Kentucky has no firearm registration requirement. Furthermore, under 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 14 (HB 357, the Second Amendment Privacy Act), no person, unit of government, or governmental organization may, during a declared disaster/emergency or any other time, knowingly keep any list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or their owners — with narrow exceptions for criminal investigations/prosecutions or where otherwise required by law.

"No person, unit of government, or governmental organization shall, during a period of disaster or emergency as specified in KRS Chapter 39A or at any other time, knowingly and willfully keep or cause to be kept any list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or any list, record, or registry of the owners of the firearms."

KRS 237.152 (Second Amendment Privacy Act) statute

KRS Chapter 39A governs Kentucky's Statewide Emergency Management Programs, including the declaration of disasters and emergencies. The Second Amendment Privacy Act (KRS 237.152) expressly references 'a period of disaster or emergency as specified in KRS Chapter 39A' as the principal — but not exclusive — context in which the registry-and-list prohibition applies; the statute also covers 'any other time,' making the ban permanent.

"Legislative intent -- Necessity ... Rationale and purpose of program -- Division of Emergency Management ... Responsibility of division for coordinating disaster and emergency services."

KRS Chapter 39A statute

Kentucky has not enacted an extreme-risk protection order (red-flag) law. Senate proposals to create one (most recently the 2024 'Crisis Aversion and Rights Retention' bill referred to committee) have not advanced. No state statute authorizes ex parte firearm removal from a person not subject to criminal charge or domestic-violence protective order.

"237 — FIREARMS AND DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES"

KRS Chapter 237 (no ERPO statute) statute

Kentucky has no state assault-weapon ban and broadly preempts local governments from regulating the manufacture, sale, purchase, transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, storage, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components, or accessories.

"No existing or future city, county, urban-county government, charter county, consolidated local government, unified local government, special district, local or regional public or quasi-public agency, board, commission, department, public corporation, or any person acting under the authority of any of these organizations may occupy any part of the field of regulation of the manufacture, sale, purchase, taxation, transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, storage, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, components of ammunition, firearms accessories, or combination thereof."

KRS 65.870 (preemption) statute

Kentucky imposes no magazine-capacity limit, and the preemption statute bars local governments from imposing one. Standard-capacity and large-capacity magazines are lawful to purchase, possess, and use.

"may [not] occupy any part of the field of regulation of the manufacture, sale, purchase, taxation, transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, storage, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, components of ammunition, firearms accessories."

KRS 65.870 (preemption); no state capacity statute statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration and a $200 transfer tax (machine-gun civilian transfers are limited to pre-May 1986 registered guns under the Hughes Amendment).

"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."

26 U.S.C. ch. 53 (National Firearms Act) / ATF atf

Kentucky does not prohibit at the state level the possession of suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, or machine guns. KRS Chapter 237 (Firearms and Destructive Devices) contains no analogue to a state NFA ban; possession that complies with federal NFA registration and transfer requirements is lawful in Kentucky.

"237 — FIREARMS AND DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES"

KRS Chapter 237 (no NFA prohibition) statute

Kentucky has one of the strongest preemption statutes in the country. No city, county, urban-county, charter county, consolidated local government, unified local government, special district, or local agency may occupy any part of the field of firearm regulation. Local ordinances in violation are declared null, void, and unenforceable. Persons or organizations adversely affected may sue for declaratory and injunctive relief and recover attorney's fees and expert witness costs.

"Any existing or future ordinance, executive order, administrative regulation, policy, procedure, rule, or any other form of executive or legislative action in violation of this section or the spirit thereof is hereby declared null, void, and unenforceable."

KRS 65.870 statute

Effective June 27, 2019, Kentucky enacted permitless carry by creating KRS 237.109, allowing any person 21+ otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm to carry concealed (or openly) without a license in the same places as CCDW licensees.

"AN ACT relating to carrying concealed weapons. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 237 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (1) Persons age twenty-one (21) or older, and otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm, may carry concealed firearms or other concealed deadly weapons without a license."

2019 Ky. Acts ch. 10 (SB 150) statute

Effective March 28, 2023 (emergency, became law without Gov. Beshear's signature), HB 153 created KRS 237.105, prohibiting Kentucky law-enforcement agencies, officers, and local-government employees from enforcing, assisting, or cooperating with federal firearm bans enacted on or after January 1, 2021 (retroactive). Violation is a Class B misdemeanor (first offense) / Class A misdemeanor (subsequent).

"No law enforcement agency, law enforcement officer, employee of a law enforcement agency, public agency, public official, employee of a public agency, or employee of a local government shall enforce, assist in the enforcement of, or otherwise cooperate in the enforcement of a federal ban on firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories."

2023 Ky. Acts ch. 117 (HB 153) — Second Amendment Preservation Act statute

Effective by becoming law without Governor Beshear's signature on March 27, 2024, HB 357 created KRS 237.150–237.154. The Act forbids payment-card networks and covered entities from assigning a firearms-specific merchant category code (including ISO MCC 5723) to Kentucky firearms retailers, and separately prohibits any person or unit of government from keeping a list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or their owners (with narrow law-enforcement exceptions). The Attorney General enforces, with civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation.

"A payment card network shall not require or incentivize the use of a merchant category code that distinguishes a firearms retailer from other retailers. ... No person, unit of government, or governmental organization shall, during a period of disaster or emergency ... or at any other time, knowingly and willfully keep or cause to be kept any list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or any list, record, or registry of the owners of the firearms."

2024 Ky. Acts ch. 14 (HB 357) — Second Amendment Privacy Act statute

2024 Ky. Acts ch. 14 (HB 357) created KRS 237.150–237.154, prohibiting payment-card networks and covered entities from using a firearms-specific merchant category code for Kentucky firearms retailers and barring state/local governments from maintaining lists or registries of privately owned firearms or their owners. Became law without Gov. Beshear's signature March 27, 2024.

2024 Ky. Acts ch. 14 (HB 357)

2023 Ky. Acts ch. 117 (HB 153) created KRS 237.105, prohibiting Kentucky law-enforcement agencies, officers, and local-government employees from enforcing, assisting, or cooperating in the enforcement of federal firearm bans enacted on or after January 1, 2021 (retroactive). Declared an emergency; became law without Gov. Beshear's signature on March 28, 2023.

2023 Ky. Acts ch. 117 (HB 153)

2019 Ky. Acts ch. 10 (SB 150) created KRS 237.109, authorizing any person 21 or older otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm to carry concealed (or openly) without a license in the same locations as CCDW licensees. Signed by Gov. Bevin March 11, 2019.

2019 Ky. Acts ch. 10 (SB 150)