Minnesota Gun Laws

Minnesota does not authorize permitless carry of a pistol. Section 624.714 subd. 1a makes it a gross misdemeanor to carry, hold, or otherwise have on or about one's person a pistol in a public place without a Permit to Carry, with limited statutory exceptions (e.g., at home, place of business, hunting, target range).

"A person, other than a peace officer, as defined in section 626.84, subdivision 1, who carries, holds, or possesses a pistol in a motor vehicle, snowmobile, or boat, or on or about the person's clothes or the person, or otherwise in possession or control in a public place... without first having obtained a permit to carry the pistol is guilty of a gross misdemeanor."

Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 1a statute

The Eighth Circuit held in Worth v. Jacobson (July 16, 2024) that Minnesota's age-21 minimum for a Permit to Carry, Minn. Stat. § 624.714 subd. 2(b)(2), is facially unconstitutional as applied to 18-to-20-year-olds under the Second Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on April 21, 2025, leaving the injunction permanent.

"Minnesota has not met its burden to proffer sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption that 18 to 20-year-olds seeking to carry handguns in public for self-defense are protected by the right to keep and bear arms. The Carry Ban, § 624.714 subd. 2(b)(2), violates the Second Amendment."

Worth v. Jacobson, 108 F.4th 677 (8th Cir. 2024) court

Section 626.84 subd. 1 defines 'peace officer' for purposes of Minnesota's criminal-procedure code, including the carve-out in § 624.714 subd. 1a that exempts peace officers from the no-permitless-carry rule. A peace officer is a board-licensed employee or elected/appointed official of a political subdivision or law-enforcement agency charged with the prevention and detection of crime, with the full power of arrest — including the Minnesota State Patrol, state conservation officers, and railroad and tribal peace officers licensed under the section.

""Peace officer" means: (1) an employee or an elected or appointed official of a political subdivision or law enforcement agency who is licensed by the board, charged with the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the general criminal laws of the state and who has the full power of arrest."

Minn. Stat. § 626.84, subd. 1 (peace officer definition) statute

Minnesota issues a shall-issue Permit to Carry a Pistol. Applications are submitted to the county sheriff where the applicant resides; the sheriff must issue or deny within 30 days. Statute requires the applicant be 'at least 21 years old and a citizen or permanent resident,' but the age-21 restriction was permanently enjoined as unconstitutional by Worth v. Jacobson (8th Cir. 2024), so the effective minimum age is 18.

"Applications by Minnesota residents for permits to carry shall be made to the county sheriff where the applicant resides."

Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 2 statute

Permit-to-Carry applicants must complete a certified handgun-safety course within one year of application that includes pistol fundamentals, a successful live-fire qualification, and instruction in the legal aspects of pistol possession, carry, and use. The course must be taught by an instructor certified by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

"instruction in the fundamental legal aspects of pistol possession, carry, and use, including self-defense and the restrictions on the justifiable use of force."

Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 2a (training) statute

A Minnesota Permit to Carry is valid for five years from the date of issue. The new-application fee is capped at $100 (or actual cost, whichever is less) and renewal at $75 (or actual cost). The permit authorizes both concealed and open carry of a pistol.

"A permit to carry a pistol issued under this section expires five years after the date of issue."

Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 7 (validity / fees) statute

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension administers the Permit to Carry program, including the certified-instructor registry and reciprocity determinations. Local issuance is by the applicant's county sheriff.

"Permit to Carry"

Minnesota BCA — Permit to Carry ag

Carrying a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun on or about the person in a public place is a gross misdemeanor unless the firearm is unloaded in an enclosed gun case, the carrier holds a Permit to Carry under § 624.714, or one of the other listed exceptions (firearms-related business, hunting, target shooting) applies. A person under 21 carrying a semiautomatic military-style assault weapon in public faces felony charges.

"Whoever carries a BB gun, rifle, or shotgun on or about the person in a public place is guilty of a gross misdemeanor."

Minn. Stat. § 624.7181 (rifles and shotguns in public) statute

A holder of a Minnesota Permit to Carry may carry a pistol openly or concealed; the statute does not distinguish between the two modes of carry. Without a permit, carrying a pistol in public — open or concealed — is a gross misdemeanor.

"without first having obtained a permit to carry the pistol is guilty of a gross misdemeanor."

Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 1a (handgun open carry) statute

A firearm in a motor vehicle must be either (a) unloaded and in a fully enclosed gun case, (b) unloaded and in the closed trunk, or (c) a pistol carried in compliance with Minn. Stat. §§ 624.714 (Permit to Carry) and 624.715. Permit holders may carry a loaded pistol in the passenger compartment, glove box, or center console; non-permit holders may not transport a loaded pistol in the passenger area.

"A person may not transport a firearm in a motor vehicle unless the firearm is: (1) unloaded and in a gun case expressly made to contain a firearm... (2) unloaded and in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle; or (3) a handgun carried in compliance with sections 624.714 and 624.715."

Minn. Stat. § 97B.045 (transportation of firearms) statute

Section 624.715 exempts antique firearms carried or possessed as curiosities or for their historical significance — along with ammunition, primers, projectiles, or propellent powder designed solely for use in antique firearms — from the pistol-permit requirements of §§ 624.713 and 624.714. The exemption is cross-referenced by § 97B.045's vehicle-transport rule, which allows lawful pistol transport 'in compliance with sections 624.714 and 624.715.'

"Sections 624.713 and 624.714 shall not apply to antique firearms which are carried or possessed as curiosities or for their historical significance or value, or to ammunition or primers, projectiles, or propellent powder designed solely for use in an antique firearm."

Minn. Stat. § 624.715 (exemptions; antiques and ornaments) statute

Minnesota has no employer-parking-lot 'guns-in-trunks' statute. Section 624.714, subd. 18 authorizes an employer to establish a policy prohibiting employees from carrying or possessing a firearm while in the course of employment or while on employer-owned premises; that policy may extend to parking facilities, and an employer who posts a sign meeting § 624.714, subd. 17 may bar customer carry inside the building (but not in the parking lot for permit holders).

"Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede or to limit rights of employers existing on the day prior to the effective date of this subdivision to regulate their own employees..."

No statute — Minnesota has no employer-parking-lot statute statute

Minnesota recognizes a permit issued by another state only when the issuing state's laws are 'not similar' is narrowly construed to require equivalence; the DPS annually publishes the list. As of 2026, Minnesota honors permits from 32 states (per DPS list, including AK, AR, CA, CO permits issued or renewed on or after 8/1/24, CT, DE, HI, ID enhanced, IL, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS enhanced, MO, MT enhanced, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC Class 1, OH, OK, RI, SC, SD enhanced, TN enhanced, TX, WV). The MN DPS does not publish an outbound matrix; the states-that-honor-MN list must be checked against each destination state's list.

"the permit issued by your state does not supersede Minnesota's laws or regulations. Legal conduct in your state may not be legal in Minnesota."

Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 16 / MN DPS Permit-to-Carry Reciprocity page ag

Minnesota authorizes deadly force only when necessary to resist or prevent an offense reasonably believed to expose the actor or another to great bodily harm or death, or to prevent the commission of a felony in the actor's place of abode. The 'place of abode' clause is Minnesota's statutory castle-doctrine hook for home defense.

"The intentional taking of the life of another is not authorized by section 609.06, except when necessary in resisting or preventing an offense which the actor reasonably believes exposes the actor or another to great bodily harm or death, or preventing the commission of a felony in the actor's place of abode."

Minn. Stat. § 609.065 (justifiable taking of life) statute

The Minnesota Supreme Court held in State v. Glowacki that there is no duty to retreat from one's own home before using reasonable force in self-defense, regardless of whether the aggressor is a co-resident. This is Minnesota's judicial castle doctrine.

"Requiring retreat from the home before acting in self-defense would require one to leave one's safest place."

State v. Glowacki, 630 N.W.2d 392 (Minn. 2001) court

Minnesota is not a stand-your-ground state. The Minnesota Supreme Court reaffirmed in State v. Blevins (July 31, 2024) that the judicially created duty to retreat when reasonably possible applies outside the home, including to a person who claims self-defense after committing felony second-degree assault-fear with a dangerous weapon.

"we hold that a person claiming self-defense has a duty to retreat when reasonably possible before committing the felony offense of second-degree assault-fear with a dangerous weapon."

State v. Blevins, A22-0432 (Minn. July 31, 2024) court

Section 609.06 authorizes reasonable force in resisting an offense against the person, but the statute does not eliminate the common-law duty to retreat when reasonably possible. Minnesota courts have consistently read § 609.06 against the backdrop of a judicially created retreat requirement outside the home.

"Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 2, reasonable force may be used upon or toward the person of another without the other's consent... when used by any person in resisting or aiding another to resist an offense against the person."

Minn. Stat. § 609.06, subd. 1(3) statute

Minnesota does not impose a general duty to proactively inform a peace officer that you are armed. A Permit to Carry holder must have the permit and government-issued ID on their person while carrying and must display the permit on demand of a peace officer. Failure to display on demand is a petty misdemeanor.

"The holder of a permit to carry must have the permit card and a driver's license, state identification card, or other government-issued photo identification in immediate possession at all times when carrying a pistol and must display the permit card and identification document upon lawful demand by a peace officer."

Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 1b (permit on person) statute

Possessing, storing, or keeping a dangerous weapon while knowingly on school property is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. 'School property' includes public or private K-12 buildings and grounds, licensed child-care centers during operating hours, and school buses. Limited exceptions exist for peace officers, military personnel, and permit holders retrieving firearms from a vehicle in a parking facility.

"whoever possesses, stores, or keeps a dangerous weapon while knowingly on school property is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both."

Minn. Stat. § 609.66, subd. 1d (school property) statute

Possessing a dangerous weapon, ammunition, or explosives within any courthouse complex, or in any state building within the Chapter 15B Capitol Area (other than the National Guard Armory), is a felony. A Permit to Carry holder may carry a pistol within the Capitol Area; the historical Commissioner-notification rule was eliminated in 2015.

"possesses a dangerous weapon, ammunition, or explosives within any courthouse complex; or... in any state building within the Capitol Area described in chapter 15B, other than the National Guard Armory."

Minn. Stat. § 609.66, subd. 1g (courthouse and Capitol Area) statute

A private establishment may post against firearms by conspicuous signage or by personal request; entry by a permit holder who is told 'Minnesota law allows ___ to forbid the carrying of firearms on the premises' is a petty misdemeanor, not a crime, but a permit holder who refuses to leave commits a misdemeanor trespass.

"the operator of a private establishment or the operator's agent may prohibit the carrying of firearms in a public part of the establishment by either of the following: (1) posting a sign... or (2) personally informing the person that firearms are prohibited."

Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 17 (private posting) statute

A person may not carry a pistol on or about the person in a public place while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, cannabis flower or cannabis product, or any intoxicating substance; the prohibition includes an alcohol concentration of 0.10 or more. A 2023 amendment added the cannabis-related language. Violation is a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor with mandatory permit revocation or suspension.

"A person may not carry a pistol on or about the person's clothes or person in a public place... when the person is under the influence of a controlled substance... [or] under the influence of alcohol."

Minn. Stat. § 624.7142 (carry while under the influence) statute

Chapter 15B defines the boundary of the Minnesota Capitol Area and establishes the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board. The chapter is cross-referenced by Minn. Stat. § 609.66, subd. 1g(2), which makes possession of a dangerous weapon, ammunition, or explosives in any state building 'within the Capitol Area described in chapter 15B' (other than the National Guard Armory) a felony.

"CHAPTER 15B. CAPITOL AREA PLANNING AND PRESERVATION"

Minn. Stat. ch. 15B (Capitol Area Planning and Preservation) statute

Effective August 1, 2023, Minnesota requires background checks for private (non-dealer) transfers of pistols and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons. The transfer must either go through a federally licensed dealer who runs a NICS check, or the transferee must present a valid transferee permit issued under § 624.7131 together with current state or federally issued identification. Exemptions exist for immediate-family transfers, antiques, estate transfers, and temporary range/hunting transfers.

"An unlicensed person shall not transfer a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon to another unlicensed person unless: (1) the transfer is made through a firearms dealer... or (2) the transferee presents a valid transferee permit issued under section 624.7131."

Minn. Stat. § 624.7134 (private transfers) statute

A person who wishes to acquire a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon from a dealer may obtain a one-year transferee permit from the chief of police or county sheriff after a NICS / Minnesota CIS background check. The chief or sheriff must issue or deny within 30 days. Permit-to-Carry holders need not apply separately; the PTC qualifies as a transferee permit.

"The chief of police or sheriff shall issue a transferee permit or deny the application within 30 days of application."

Minn. Stat. § 624.7131 (transferee permit) statute

Section 624.7132 requires that every person who agrees to transfer a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon report the transfer in writing to the chief of police where the transferee resides (or the county sheriff if no local chief exists), who must run state and federal background checks before delivery. No report is required if the transferee presents a valid transferee permit under § 624.7131 or a valid Permit to Carry under § 624.714. The reports are case-specific records, not a state firearm registry.

"every person who agrees to transfer a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon shall report the following information in writing to the chief of police of the organized full-time police department of the municipality where the proposed transferee resides or to the appropriate county sheriff if there is no such local chief of police."

Minn. Stat. § 624.7132 (report of transfer) statute

Federal law requires that handguns be purchased from a federally licensed dealer only by buyers 21 or older, while long guns may be purchased from an FFL at 18. Minnesota § 624.713 generally prohibits persons under 18 from possessing a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon, with limited supervised exceptions.

"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) / Minn. Stat. § 624.713 (state) atf

Minnesota does not require firearm registration. The Legislature's declared policy in § 624.711 is non-regulation of long guns commonly used for hunting and non-confiscation of lawfully possessed pistols and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons. Dealer transfer reports under § 624.7132 are case-specific records, not a state firearm registry.

"It is not the intent of the legislature... to confiscate or otherwise restrict the use of pistols or semiautomatic military-style assault weapons by law-abiding citizens."

Minn. Stat. § 624.711 (declaration of policy) statute

Minnesota enacted an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law effective January 1, 2024. A family or household member, a chief law enforcement officer, a city or county attorney, or a guardian may petition the court; the court may issue an order after hearing on clear-and-convincing evidence that the respondent presents a significant danger to others or significant risk of suicide. Orders run six months to one year and require surrender of firearms.

"Upon receipt of the petition for an order after a hearing, the court must schedule and hold a hearing within 14 days."

Minn. Stat. §§ 624.7171–624.7178 (Extreme Risk Protection Orders) statute

Article 14 of Chapter 52 (Laws 2023) created Minnesota's Extreme Risk Protection Order regime, codified at Minn. Stat. §§ 624.7171–624.7178. Article 14 was effective January 1, 2024. The chapter was signed into law by Governor Walz on May 19, 2023.

"Sections 1 to 9 are effective January 1, 2024, and apply to firearm permit background checks made on or after that date."

Laws 2023, Chapter 52, Article 14 (HF 14 / SF 2909) — ERPO statute

Minnesota has no state assault-weapon ban and preempts local governments from adopting one. Section 471.633 reserves all regulation of firearms, ammunition, and components to the Legislature, with narrow exceptions for local regulation of discharge and for adopting regulations identical to state law.

"The legislature preempts all authority of a home rule charter or statutory city... to regulate firearms, ammunition, or their respective components to the complete exclusion of any order, ordinance or regulation by them."

Minn. Stat. § 471.633 (preemption); no AWB statute statute

Minnesota imposes no magazine-capacity limit, and § 471.633 bars cities, counties, and towns from imposing one. 'Components' is the operative preemptive term.

"The legislature preempts all authority... to regulate firearms, ammunition, or their respective components."

Minn. Stat. § 471.633 (preemption); no capacity statute statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration and tax-stamp approval.

"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

Minnesota prohibits ownership, possession, or operation of machine guns, trigger activators (bump stocks), machine-gun conversion kits, and short-barreled shotguns. Federally registered NFA suppressors and short-barreled rifles are NOT on the state prohibited list, so they are lawful for civilian possession subject to federal NFA compliance. The 2024 Legislature added 'binary trigger' to the trigger-activator definition (Ch. 127, Art. 36, § 2), but that provision was permanently enjoined by Ramsey County District Court (Aug. 18, 2025) as violating the Minnesota Constitution's single-subject clause; the state's appeal is pending in the MN Court of Appeals.

"any person... who owns or has in possession or under the person's control a machine gun or any trigger activator or machine gun conversion kit, is guilty of a crime."

Minn. Stat. § 609.67 (machine guns / SBSs / trigger activators) statute

Minnesota preempts all local regulation of firearms, ammunition, and components, to the exclusion of any city, county, or town ordinance, except that local governments may regulate the discharge of firearms and may adopt regulations identical to state law. Local regulation inconsistent with the statute is void.

"Local regulation inconsistent with this section is void."

Minn. Stat. § 471.633 statute

Effective August 1, 2023, Article 13 of Chapter 52 enacted Minnesota's universal background check by adding Minn. Stat. § 624.7134, requiring all private transfers of pistols and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons to go through a federally licensed dealer or to involve a valid transferee permit. The chapter was signed by Gov. Walz on May 19, 2023.

"An unlicensed person shall not transfer a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon to another unlicensed person unless: (1) the transfer is made through a firearms dealer... or (2) the transferee presents a valid transferee permit."

Laws 2023, Chapter 52, Article 13 (UBC) statute

Effective January 1, 2024, Article 14 of Chapter 52 created Minnesota's Extreme Risk Protection Order law (codified at Minn. Stat. §§ 624.7171–624.7178), authorizing courts to order temporary surrender of firearms from individuals who pose a significant danger to others or themselves on clear-and-convincing evidence at a hearing.

"Sections 1 to 9 are effective January 1, 2024."

Laws 2023, Chapter 52, Article 14 (ERPO) statute

On July 16, 2024, the Eighth Circuit struck down Minnesota's age-21 minimum for a Permit to Carry as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment as applied to 18-to-20-year-olds. SCOTUS denied cert on April 21, 2025, permanently lowering the de facto PTC age to 18 in Minnesota notwithstanding the unamended statutory text.

"The judgment is affirmed."

Worth v. Jacobson, 108 F.4th 677 (8th Cir. 2024) court

The 2024 Legislature added 'binary triggers' to the § 609.67 trigger-activator definition in Chapter 127 (signed May/June 2024, effective January 1, 2025). On August 18, 2025, Ramsey County District Court (Castro, J.) permanently enjoined the binary-trigger provision as violating the Minnesota Constitution's single-subject clause. The state's appeal was argued before the MN Court of Appeals on March 25, 2026; decision pending. Binary triggers are currently legal in Minnesota.

"Recent History: 2024 c 127 art 36 s 2."

Laws 2024, Chapter 127 (binary triggers) — enjoined statute

The 2024 Legislature added 'binary triggers' to the Minn. Stat. § 609.67 trigger-activator definition. Effective January 1, 2025. On August 18, 2025, the Ramsey County District Court (Castro, J.) permanently enjoined the binary-trigger provision as violating the Minnesota Constitution's single-subject rule. The state's appeal was argued in the MN Court of Appeals on March 25, 2026; decision pending.

Laws 2024, Chapter 127, Article 36, § 2 (enjoined)

The Minnesota Supreme Court held that the judicially created duty to retreat when reasonably possible applies to a person claiming self-defense after committing felony second-degree assault-fear with a 'device designed as a weapon and capable of producing death or great bodily harm.' Minnesota remains a duty-to-retreat-outside-the-home state.

State v. Blevins, A22-0432 (Minn. 2024)

The Eighth Circuit affirmed summary judgment striking Minn. Stat. § 624.714 subd. 2(b)(2)'s age-21 minimum as facially unconstitutional under the Second Amendment for otherwise qualified 18-to-20-year-olds. The U.S. Supreme Court denied cert on April 21, 2025. County sheriffs now issue Permits to Carry to applicants 18 and older.

Worth v. Jacobson, 108 F.4th 677 (8th Cir. 2024)

Article 14 of 2023 Chapter 52 created Minnesota's first ERPO ('red flag') statute, codified at Minn. Stat. §§ 624.7171–624.7178. Family or household members, chief law enforcement officers, city/county attorneys, and guardians may petition the court for an order barring firearm possession; orders run six months to one year on clear-and-convincing evidence.

Laws 2023, Chapter 52, Article 14

Article 13 of 2023 Chapter 52 added Minn. Stat. § 624.7134, requiring private transfers of pistols and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons to either go through a federally licensed dealer (with NICS check) or involve a valid transferee permit. The omnibus was signed by Gov. Walz on May 19, 2023.

Laws 2023, Chapter 52, Article 13 (SF 2909)