Michigan Gun Laws

Michigan does NOT have permitless concealed carry. Carrying a pistol concealed on the person — or, whether concealed or otherwise, in a vehicle the person operates or occupies — without a license is a felony, with limited exceptions for the person's dwelling, place of business, or other land lawfully possessed. The penalty is up to 5 years' imprisonment or a $2,500 fine.

"A person shall not carry a pistol concealed on or about his or her person, or, whether concealed or otherwise, in a vehicle operated or occupied by the person, except in his or her dwelling house, place of business, or on other land possessed by the person, without a license to carry the pistol as provided by law."

MCL 750.227(2) statute

The Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL) is issued by the county clerk under shall-issue terms. Applicants must be at least 21, be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, have lived in Michigan for at least 6 months immediately preceding the application (waivable for certain emergencies, new residents holding another state's CPL, and active-duty military), and have completed an approved pistol safety training course. The fee is $100 plus a $15 fingerprinting fee; the county clerk has up to 45 days after classifiable fingerprints to issue or deny.

"The county clerk shall issue an applicant a license to carry a concealed pistol if all of the following apply: The applicant is 21 years of age or older."

MCL 28.425b statute

The pistol safety training course required for a Michigan CPL must consist of at least 8 hours of instruction (5 hours classroom plus at least 3 hours of firing-range instruction in which the applicant fires at least 30 rounds), be certified by Michigan or a national/state firearms training organization, and be completed within 5 years preceding the date of application.

"The program provides at least 3 hours of instruction on a firing range and requires firing at least 30 rounds of ammunition."

MCL 28.425j statute

A Michigan CPL is valid until the licensee's date of birth that falls not less than 4 years and not more than 5 years after issuance. Renewal applications may be submitted up to 6 months before expiration and require certification of at least 3 hours of training review plus 1 hour of firing-range time within the 6 months preceding the application. The renewal fee is $115.

"A license to carry a concealed pistol is valid until the applicant's date of birth that falls not less than 4 years or more than 5 years after the license is issued."

MCL 28.425l statute

The Michigan State Police publishes the official CPL eligibility list, which mirrors MCL 28.425b: 21+, U.S. citizen or lawful resident alien, 6 months Michigan residency (with statutory waivers), state-certified pistol safety training, and a list of statutory disqualifiers including specified misdemeanors within the prior 8 years and felony convictions in any jurisdiction.

"An applicant for a Michigan CPL must: Be at least 21 years of age. Be a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted into the United States. Be a legal resident of Michigan and reside in Michigan for at least six months immediately prior to application."

Michigan State Police — Concealed Pistol License Requirements ag

Open carry of a lawfully owned pistol in public is not prohibited by Michigan statute for a person at least 18 years of age who is not a prohibited possessor. MCL 750.227 prohibits concealed pistol carry (and any carry in a vehicle) without a CPL, but it does not bar visible/holstered carry outside a vehicle. There is no Michigan statute that requires a permit to openly carry a long gun or handgun on foot.

"A person shall not carry a pistol concealed on or about his or her person, or, whether concealed or otherwise, in a vehicle operated or occupied by the person... without a license to carry the pistol."

MCL 750.227 (concealment requirement) / MCL 28.422 (purchase license for pistol) statute

Michigan treats any pistol carried in a vehicle the same as a concealed weapon — a CPL is required to have a pistol (loaded or unloaded, concealed or visible) in a vehicle the person operates or occupies. Without a CPL, the pistol must be transported under the unloaded-and-cased exception (see MCL 750.231a / MSP guidance). With a CPL the pistol may be in the glove box, center console, or anywhere on the person; the CPL holder must still comply with prohibited-premises rules and duty-to-disclose.

"A person shall not carry a pistol concealed on or about his or her person, or, whether concealed or otherwise, in a vehicle operated or occupied by the person... without a license to carry the pistol."

MCL 750.227(2) statute

Transporting a loaded firearm other than a pistol (i.e., a long gun) in or upon a motor vehicle, motorboat, sailboat, aircraft, or similar conveyance is a misdemeanor under MCL 750.227c. Unloaded long guns may be transported if taken down, enclosed in a case, carried in the trunk, or inaccessible from the interior (MCL 750.227d).

"a person shall not transport or possess in or upon a sailboat or a motor vehicle, aircraft, motorboat, or any other vehicle propelled by mechanical means... A firearm, other than a pistol, that is loaded."

MCL 750.227c (loaded long gun in vehicle); MCL 750.227d (unloaded, taken-down or cased) statute

MCL 750.231a sets out the exceptions to the MCL 750.227 concealed-carry prohibition that allow a non-CPL holder to transport a pistol in a vehicle. The pistol must be unloaded and enclosed in a closed case designed for the storage of firearms, carried in the trunk (or, in a vehicle without a trunk, in a place not readily accessible to the occupants), and transported for a lawful purpose. This is the statutory basis for the 'unloaded-and-cased' transport rule referenced in the vehicle-carry guidance.

"To a person while transporting a pistol for a lawful purpose... and the pistol is unloaded in a closed case designed for the storage of firearms in the trunk."

MCL 750.231a statute

Michigan has not enacted a statute that limits an employer's ability to prohibit firearms in employees' personal vehicles parked on company property. The preemption statute MCL 123.1102 binds local governments, not private employers. Employers may therefore enforce policies banning firearms in employee vehicles in their parking lots.

"A local unit of government shall not impose special taxation on, enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation pertaining to... the ownership, registration, purchase, sale, transfer, transportation, or possession of pistols, other firearms, or pneumatic guns, ammunition for pistols or other firearms, or components of pistols or other firearms."

Michigan — no employee parking-lot protection statute statute

Michigan recognizes any state's facially valid concealed-pistol license issued to a non-resident who is in Michigan, by statute (MCL 28.432(1)(h)) and per the Michigan State Police. Out-of-state CPL holders must follow Michigan's restrictions on where carry is permitted while in Michigan.

"If you are a resident of another state who is licensed by that state to carry a concealed pistol, Michigan will recognize your permit. However, you must carry in conformance with any restrictions appearing on your license and you are subject to Michigan's concealed pistol laws."

MCL 28.432(1)(h) / Michigan State Police Reciprocity page ag

Michigan State Police does not publish a 1:1 matrix of states that honor the Michigan CPL; users are directed to contact each destination state. As of June 2026, the handgunlaw.us national reciprocity tracker lists approximately 35 states honoring the Michigan CPL. CPL holders should verify each destination state's current policy before traveling.

"Michigan does not publish a state-by-state list of states honoring the Michigan CPL — out-of-state recognition turns on the law of each destination state."

handgunlaw.us Michigan summary — secondary source for Michigan-permit-honored-by list secondary

Michigan codifies a castle-doctrine presumption: a person who uses deadly force is presumed to have an honest and reasonable belief of imminent death, sexual assault, or great bodily harm if the person against whom force is used was breaking and entering, had broken into, or had committed a home invasion of a dwelling, business, or occupied vehicle. The presumption does not apply against peace officers performing duties or in certain domestic-violence-aggressor scenarios.

"The individual using deadly force or force other than deadly force... is presumed to have an honest and reasonable belief that imminent death of, sexual assault of, or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another individual will occur."

MCL 780.951 statute

Michigan is a stand-your-ground state: an individual who has not committed a crime and is in a place he or she has a legal right to be has no duty to retreat before using deadly force when honestly and reasonably believed necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault. The same no-duty-to-retreat rule applies to non-deadly force used to defend against imminent unlawful force.

"An individual who has not or is not engaged in the commission of a crime at the time he or she uses deadly force may use deadly force against another individual anywhere he or she has the legal right to be with no duty to retreat."

MCL 780.972 statute

Michigan imposes an affirmative duty to disclose on CPL holders: a CPL holder carrying a concealed pistol who is stopped by a peace officer must immediately disclose that he or she is carrying. A first-offense failure to disclose is a $500 civil fine and a 6-month CPL suspension; a subsequent offense within 3 years is a $1,000 fine and CPL revocation.

"An individual licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol and who is carrying a concealed pistol... and who is stopped by a peace officer shall immediately disclose to the peace officer that he or she is carrying a pistol."

MCL 28.425f(3) statute

A CPL holder may not carry a CONCEALED pistol on the following premises: a school or school property (with a parent drop-off/pickup-from-vehicle exception); a public or private child care/day care center or child-caring institution; a sports arena or stadium; a bar or tavern licensed under the Michigan Liquor Control Code whose primary income is alcohol sold by the glass; a property of any church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other place of worship (unless allowed by the entity); an entertainment facility with seating for 2,500+; a hospital; or a dormitory or classroom of a community college, college, or university. Police, security, and certain other officials are exempted.

"Subject to subsection (5), an individual licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol... shall not carry a concealed pistol on the premises of any of the following: (a) A school or school property... (c) A sports arena or stadium. (d) A bar or tavern licensed under the Michigan liquor control code."

MCL 28.425o statute

Possession of any firearm in a depository financial institution, place of religious worship, court, theatre, sports arena, day care center, hospital, or establishment licensed under the Michigan Liquor Control Code is a misdemeanor — UNLESS the carrier holds a Michigan CPL (or another state's CPL/recognized permit), is a peace officer, or has the owner/agent's permission. This statute, combined with MCL 28.425o, is why a CPL holder may carry openly in some of these locations but not concealed.

"An individual shall not possess a firearm on the premises of any of the following: (a) A depository financial institution... (b) A church or other house of religious worship... (c) A court... (d) A theatre... (e) A sports arena. (f) A day care center. (g) A hospital. (h) An establishment licensed under the Michigan liquor control code."

MCL 750.234d statute

Possession of a weapon in a weapon-free school zone is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days' imprisonment, 100 hours of community service, or a $2,000 fine. Statutory exemptions cover law enforcement, school security, an individual licensed by this state or another state to carry a concealed pistol, and persons with permission of the school principal or designated agent.

"Subsection (4) does not apply to any of the following:... (c) An individual who is licensed by this state or another state to carry a concealed weapon."

MCL 750.237a statute

The Michigan Supreme Court held on July 27, 2018 that local school districts are not 'local units of government' under MCL 123.1101(b) (which defines that term as 'a city, village, township, or county'), so MCL 123.1102's firearms preemption does not bar school districts from adopting their own policies prohibiting firearms on school property. School-district bans that exceed the CPL exception in MCL 28.425o (such as bans on OPEN carry by CPL holders) are not preempted.

"while MCL 123.1102 expressly preempts regulation of firearms by a city, village, township, or county, it does not apply to school districts, which are left out of the Legislature's list."

Michigan Gun Owners, Inc. v. Ann Arbor Public Schools, No. 155196 (Mich. 2018) court

Public Act 157 of 2024 prohibits possessing a firearm at a polling place while the polls are open on election day or within 100 feet of any entrance to the building housing a polling place. Parallel restrictions apply to early-voting sites and absent-voter-ballot drop boxes during specified periods. Individuals licensed by Michigan or another state to carry a concealed pistol are statutorily exempted, as are peace officers.

"Subsection (1) does not apply to an individual licensed by this state or another state to carry a concealed pistol."

MCL 168.931b (Public Act 157 of 2024) statute

A CPL holder shall not carry a concealed pistol while under the influence of alcoholic liquor or a controlled substance, or with any bodily-alcohol or controlled-substance content. By accepting the CPL, the licensee gives implied consent to a chemical test on demand of a peace officer. Penalties scale with measured impairment.

"An individual licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol... shall not carry a concealed pistol while he or she is under the influence of alcoholic liquor or a controlled substance."

MCL 28.425k (carrying under the influence) statute

Effective February 13, 2024, Public Act 19 of 2023 extended Michigan's existing handgun-purchase-license / background-check requirement to ALL firearms. Any person purchasing a firearm (handgun or long gun) must either hold a Michigan License To Purchase issued by their local police chief or county sheriff under MCL 28.422, hold a Michigan CPL (MCL 28.422a(1)(a) exemption), or complete a federal NICS check through a federally licensed dealer within 5 days before the purchase (MCL 28.422a(1)(d)).

"Purchase a firearm that is not a pistol in this state without first having obtained a license for the firearm as prescribed in this section."

Public Act 19 of 2023 (HB 4138) / MCL 28.422 / MCL 28.422a statute

MCL 28.422a(1) lists individuals not required to obtain a License To Purchase: (a) a Michigan CPL holder (except emergency-license or receipt-only holders), (b) a federally licensed firearms dealer, (c) an active police officer licensed by MCOLES, and (d) an individual purchasing a firearm other than a pistol who has had a NICS check performed by a federally licensed dealer within the prior 5 days.

"The following individuals are not required to obtain a license under section 2 to purchase, carry, possess, use, or transport a firearm: (a) An individual licensed under section 5b... (b) A federally licensed firearms dealer... (d) An individual purchasing a firearm other than a pistol who has a federal national instant criminal background check performed on the individual by a federally licensed firearms dealer not more than 5 days before the purchase."

MCL 28.422a(1) statute

To qualify for a Michigan License To Purchase a firearm, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age, or 21 if the firearm is a pistol and the seller is a federally licensed dealer. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1)) sets a 21-year minimum for handgun purchase from an FFL and 18 for long guns. Private in-state long-gun sales between adults 18+ are permitted under state law (subject to the post-2024 universal background check requirement).

"The individual is 18 years of age or older or, if the firearm is a pistol and the seller is licensed under 18 USC 923, is 21 years of age or older."

MCL 28.422(3)(b) / 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) statute

18 U.S.C. § 923 is the federal firearms-dealer licensing statute that defines who is 'licensed under 18 USC 923' — i.e., a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL). The Michigan License To Purchase statute (MCL 28.422(3)(b)) cross-references § 923 to set a 21-year-minimum-age rule for pistol purchases from an FFL, while permitting an 18-year-old to obtain a long-gun LTP from a non-FFL private seller.

18 U.S.C. § 923 (federal firearms dealer licensing) statute

Pistol purchases (but not long-gun purchases) must be entered into the state Pistol Entry Database within 10 days of purchase. Sellers forward one copy of the sales record to the local police chief or county sheriff, who electronically enters the pistol's identifying information into the database. This functions as a de facto handgun registry, although Michigan describes it as a 'safety check' rather than registration.

"Not later than 10 days after receiving the record copy for a pistol returned under subsection (2), the police department or county sheriff shall electronically enter the information into the pistol entry database as required by the department of state police."

MCL 28.422a(3) statute

Effective February 13, 2024, Michigan's Extreme Risk Protection Order Act allows spouses or former spouses, dating partners, household members, family members within specified degrees, guardians, law enforcement officers, and certain health-care providers to petition the court for an order temporarily prohibiting an individual from possessing or purchasing firearms when there is a significant risk of personal injury to themselves or others. An ex parte temporary order is available; a final order requires a noticed hearing.

"An act to establish a procedure for the issuance of restraining orders prohibiting certain individuals from possessing or purchasing firearms; to provide for the surrender and seizure of a restrained individual's firearms."

Public Act 38 of 2023 — Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (MCL 691.1801 et seq.) statute

Michigan has no statutory assault-weapon ban. Semi-automatic rifles, including AR-15-pattern firearms, are lawful to purchase, possess, and carry subject to general firearm laws. State preemption (MCL 123.1102) bars cities, villages, townships, and counties from adopting their own bans.

"A local unit of government shall not impose special taxation on, enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation pertaining to, or regulate in any other manner the ownership, registration, purchase, sale, transfer, transportation, or possession of pistols, other firearms, or pneumatic guns."

MCL 123.1102 (state preemption) / no state AWB enacted statute

Michigan does not impose a magazine-capacity limit, and the firearms preemption statute MCL 123.1102 (which expressly covers 'components of pistols or other firearms') bars local governments from doing so.

"the ownership, registration, purchase, sale, transfer, transportation, or possession of pistols, other firearms, or pneumatic guns, ammunition for pistols or other firearms, or components of pistols or other firearms."

MCL 123.1102 — no state limit statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and machine guns are prohibited under MCL 750.224 and MCL 750.224b unless lawfully made, transferred, or possessed under federal law (i.e., registered with ATF under the National Firearms Act). A person who lawfully holds NFA-registered items in Michigan has a complete statutory defense.

"Subsection (1) does not apply to a short-barreled shotgun or short-barreled rifle that is lawfully made, manufactured, transferred, or possessed under federal law."

MCL 750.224 / MCL 750.224b statute

The federal National Firearms Act regulates the manufacture, transfer, and possession of suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, machine guns, destructive devices, and 'any other weapons,' requiring ATF registration and tax-stamped transfers.

"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

Michigan preempts cities, villages, townships, and counties from regulating the ownership, registration, purchase, sale, transfer, transportation, or possession of firearms, ammunition, or firearm components — except as otherwise provided by federal law or Michigan statute. Limited carve-outs allow localities to regulate employee carry on the job and discharge of firearms within their boundaries. School districts are NOT included in the statutory definition of 'local unit of government' and are not bound by preemption (per Michigan Gun Owners v. Ann Arbor Public Schools, 2018).

"A local unit of government shall not impose special taxation on, enact or enforce any ordinance or regulation pertaining to, or regulate in any other manner the ownership, registration, purchase, sale, transfer, transportation, or possession of pistols, other firearms, or pneumatic guns, ammunition for pistols or other firearms, or components of pistols or other firearms, except as otherwise provided by federal law or a law of this state."

MCL 123.1102 statute

MCL 123.1101(b) defines 'local unit of government' for purposes of the Michigan firearms preemption statute (MCL 123.1102) as 'a city, village, township, or county.' This definition is the textual basis for the 2018 Michigan Supreme Court ruling in Michigan Gun Owners v. Ann Arbor Public Schools — because school districts are not listed in the definition, they are not bound by MCL 123.1102's preemption of local firearm regulation.

"'Local unit of government' means a city, village, township, or county."

MCL 123.1101(b) statute

Effective February 13, 2024, Public Act 17 of 2023 added MCL 28.429 (safe storage of firearms when a minor is or is likely to be present) and amended MCL 28.435 to require federally licensed firearms dealers to provide a free trigger lock or lockable container, a safety brochure, a written storage-penalty warning, and lethal-means-counseling literature with every firearm sale.

"An individual who stores or leaves a firearm unattended on premises under his or her control and who knows or reasonably should know that a minor is or is likely to be present on the premises shall... store the firearm in a locked box or container; or... keep the firearm unloaded and lock the firearm with a locking device."

Public Act 17 of 2023 (SB 79) — safe storage when minors present statute

Effective February 13, 2024, Public Act 19 of 2023 extended Michigan's existing handgun-purchase-license requirement to all firearms. Any person purchasing a firearm — handgun or long gun, from a private seller or a dealer — must either hold a Michigan License To Purchase, hold a Michigan CPL, or have a NICS check completed by a federally licensed dealer within the prior 5 days.

"Purchase a firearm that is not a pistol in this state without first having obtained a license for the firearm as prescribed in this section."

Public Act 19 of 2023 (HB 4138) — universal background check on all firearms statute

Effective February 13, 2024, Michigan enacted an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO, or 'red flag') law allowing family, household, dating, guardian, law-enforcement, and certain health-care petitioners to seek a court order temporarily barring an individual from possessing or purchasing firearms when the individual poses a significant risk to themselves or others.

"An act to establish a procedure for the issuance of restraining orders prohibiting certain individuals from possessing or purchasing firearms."

Public Act 38 of 2023 — Extreme Risk Protection Order Act statute

Public Act 157 of 2024, signed December 2024, prohibits possessing a firearm at a polling place while polls are open, within 100 feet of any entrance to a polling place, at an early-voting site (and within 100 feet of an entrance during the early-voting period), and at absent-voter-ballot drop boxes. The statute exempts peace officers and individuals holding a Michigan or other-state CPL.

"Subsection (1) does not apply to an individual licensed by this state or another state to carry a concealed pistol."

Public Act 157 of 2024 — firearm prohibition at polling places statute

Added by Public Act 17 of 2023 and effective February 13, 2024, MCL 28.429 requires a firearm owner who knows or should know that a minor is or is likely to be present to either store the firearm in a locked box or container or keep it unloaded with an engaged locking device. Tiered criminal penalties apply, escalating from a 93-day misdemeanor for unauthorized minor access up to a 15-year felony if a minor obtains and discharges the firearm causing death. Statutory exceptions cover minors using a firearm with parental permission for hunting, target practice, or lawful employment.

"An individual who stores or leaves a firearm unattended on premises under his or her control and who knows or reasonably should know that a minor is or is likely to be present on the premises shall... store the firearm in a locked box or container; or... keep the firearm unloaded and lock the firearm with a locking device."

MCL 28.429 — safe storage when minor is or is likely to be present statute

MCL 28.435, as amended by Public Act 17 of 2023 effective February 13, 2024, requires a federally licensed firearms dealer at the point of sale to provide the purchaser with a free trigger lock or lockable container, a firearm-safety brochure summarizing Michigan's safe-storage law, a written warning of the criminal penalties for unsecured storage when a minor may be present, and lethal-means-counseling literature. The dealer's certificate of compliance is filed with the Michigan State Police.

MCL 28.435 — dealer obligations on firearm sale (as amended by PA 17 of 2023) statute

Public Act 157 of 2024 added MCL 168.931b et seq., barring firearm possession at polling places, early-voting sites, absent-voter-ballot drop boxes, and within 100 feet of those entrances during the relevant election period. The statute exempts peace officers and individuals licensed by Michigan or another state to carry a concealed pistol.

Public Act 157 of 2024

Public Act 19 of 2023 extended Michigan's longstanding handgun License To Purchase / background check requirement to all firearms including long guns. Any firearm purchaser must hold a Michigan LTP, hold a Michigan CPL, or have completed a NICS check at a federally licensed dealer within the prior 5 days.

Public Act 19 of 2023 (HB 4138)

Public Act 17 of 2023 added MCL 28.429, requiring firearm owners to store unattended firearms in a locked container or with an engaged locking device when a minor is or is likely to be present. Tiered criminal penalties apply, escalating from misdemeanor to up to 15 years' imprisonment if a minor causes death.

Public Act 17 of 2023 (SB 79)

Public Act 38 of 2023 enacted Michigan's red-flag law. Family members, household members, dating partners, guardians, law enforcement, and certain health-care providers may petition the court for an order temporarily prohibiting an individual from possessing or buying firearms based on a significant risk of personal injury. A temporary order may be issued ex parte; a final order requires a hearing.

Public Act 38 of 2023 (SB 83)