NY Concealed Carry Law Update: Permits and Sensitive Places (2026)
Short answerYes, with a license. This ny concealed carry law update confirms New York issues concealed carry licenses under Penal Law § 400.00, but carrying a handgun without one is a felony, and guns stay banned in listed sensitive places such as schools, transit and houses of worship.
Last verified: November 12, 2026 against Penal Law §§ 265.01-b, 265.01-d, 265.01-e, 265.03 and 400.00, the New York Attorney General gun law page, state criminal justice guidance and the Second Circuit opinion in Christian v. James
Is concealed carry legal in New York? Since September 1, 2022, the state has been a licensed carry state with no “proper cause” test, but with training, a vetting process and a long list of places where guns are off limits. Court rulings keep reshaping the details, so a ny concealed carry law update matters even if you read an older guide a year ago.
This page explains who can get a license, what the training involves, where you cannot carry and what changed in the courts through May 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. For the full picture of state gun rules, see our New York gun laws overview.
Key facts
- License needed: a concealed carry license from your county or city licensing officer under
Penal Law § 400.00. - Minimum age: 21, with an exception for honorably discharged veterans.
- Training: 16 hours in the classroom plus 2 hours of live fire, with a written test.
- Need to show a reason: no. The “proper cause” rule ended after NYSRPA v. Bruen on June 23, 2022.
- Sensitive places: guns are banned in the places listed in
Penal Law § 265.01-e, a class E felony. - Private property rule: struck down by the Second Circuit on May 18, 2026, as applied to private property open to the public.
- Out-of-state permits: not recognized in New York.
NY concealed carry law update: is concealed carry legal in New York?
Yes, if you hold a carry license. New York has two main handgun license types. A premises license lets you have a handgun at home or at your business only. A concealed carry license lets you carry on your person in public, subject to the sensitive place rules below.
Before Bruen, applicants outside a few counties had to show “proper cause” to carry. The Supreme Court struck that rule down on June 23, 2022. Lawmakers responded with the Concealed Carry Improvement Act, signed July 1, 2022 and in force for the training rules on September 1, 2022.
What changed in the latest NY concealed carry law update
- June 23, 2022: NYSRPA v. Bruen ends the proper cause requirement.
- July 1, 2022: Governor Hochul signs the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (S.51001/A.41001).
- September 1, 2022: the new training and licensing rules take effect.
- December 8, 2023 and later in 2024: the Second Circuit rules in Antonyuk v. James, keeping most of the law and blocking parts, including the requirement to list social media accounts and the private property default rule.
- April 2025: the U.S. Supreme Court declines to take up the Antonyuk challenge. A denial of review is not a ruling on the merits.
- May 18, 2026: in Christian v. James, the Second Circuit strikes down the private property default rule in
Penal Law § 265.01-d(1)as applied to private property open to the public, and upholds the ban in urban public parks on a facial challenge.
The Second Circuit covers New York, Connecticut and Vermont, so these rulings bind New York officials. The statute text itself has not been rewritten to match, so check the current wording before you rely on any one subsection.
How do you get a concealed carry license in New York?
You apply to your county licensing officer, usually a judge or the sheriff’s office, or in New York City to the NYPD License Division. Under Penal Law § 400.00, an applicant must:
- Be at least 21, unless honorably discharged from the armed forces, Coast Guard or New York National Guard.
- Submit the names and contact details of at least four character references who can speak to your good moral character.
- Complete the required training and give the licensing officer the certificate.
- Attend an in-person interview.
- Meet the general handgun license rules, including having no disqualifying conviction.
The statute also asks for a list of social media accounts from the past three years. The Second Circuit blocked that requirement in the Antonyuk litigation, so ask your licensing office whether it still collects it. A licensing officer must act on an application within six months, and may delay only for good cause with written notice. A denial can be appealed within 90 days of notice.
What training does a NY concealed carry license require?
The statute requires at least 16 hours of in-person classroom training approved by the Division of Criminal Justice Services and at least 2 hours of live-fire range training, plus a written exam. Premises license applicants do not need this course. Training costs are set by each instructor, not by the state.
State guidance says local officers have discretion to credit a recent course or relevant military or police training. Do not assume credit. Ask your licensing officer in writing before you skip any part of the course.
Where is concealed carry banned in NY?
A license does not let you carry everywhere. Penal Law § 265.01-e bans firearms, rifles and shotguns in sensitive locations, including:
- Government buildings and courts
- Health care, mental health and addiction treatment facilities
- Houses of worship
- Libraries, public playgrounds, public parks and zoos
- Child care programs, preschools and summer camps
- Shelters, including domestic violence shelters
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Public transit, including airports and bus and train terminals
- Bars, restaurants serving alcohol and on-site cannabis consumption spaces
- Theaters, stadiums, museums, gaming venues and similar venues
- Polling places
- Gatherings to protest or assemble
- Times Square in New York City
The offense applies when you know or reasonably should know that the place is covered. Exemptions exist for police, peace officers, active military, armed guards on duty, hunters and others listed in the statute. Privately owned land inside a park that is not open to the public, and the Forest Preserve, are carved out of the park rule.
NY concealed carry law update: the private property rule
The 2022 law made it a crime to carry onto private property unless the owner posted clear and conspicuous signs or gave express consent. Critics called it the “vampire rule” because owners had to invite you in. Courts blocked it. In Christian v. James, decided May 18, 2026, the Second Circuit held the provision unconstitutional as applied to private property open to the public, such as stores.
Still your risk: a business owner can still ban guns by posting a sign, and a trespass charge can follow if you ignore it. The court ruling removed the automatic ban, not the owner’s right to say no.
NY concealed carry law update: penalties at a glance
| Conduct | Law | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Carrying a firearm in a sensitive location | Penal Law § 265.01-e | Class E felony |
| Possessing a loaded firearm outside your home or business without a license | Penal Law § 265.03(3) | Class C felony |
| Criminal possession of a firearm | Penal Law § 265.01-b | Class E felony |
| Carrying onto private property without the owner’s consent | Penal Law § 265.01-d | Class E felony, but not enforceable as applied to property open to the public after May 18, 2026 |
Under Penal Law § 70.00, a class E felony carries a maximum prison term of four years and a class C felony up to 15 years. A judge sets the real sentence, and first offenders often receive less.
Renewal and recertification
Carry licenses must be renewed or recertified every three years. In New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties the license itself expires and must be renewed. Elsewhere in the state it is recertified with the State Police. A renewal application keeps the license alive until the officer decides it, so file early. Anyone renewing a carry license in an expiring jurisdiction may have to finish the training course again, at the officer’s discretion.
A felony or serious offense conviction revokes the license, and so can a domestic violence protection order finding.
New York City rules
New York City follows the state sensitive place list and applies it in the five boroughs, and Times Square is listed by name. Applications go to the NYPD License Division, and the city license expires every three years. State guidance also says that in the city, guns carried in a vehicle must be unloaded, in a case and out of sight. For more, read our New York City gun laws guide.
Does New York honor out-of-state carry permits?
No. New York does not recognize permits from other states, so a Pennsylvania or Florida permit does not make you legal here. Visitors should read our page on what guns are legal in NY without a permit and talk to a New York attorney before they bring a gun into the state.
Real New York scenarios
- A shop owner in Rochester with a valid carry license still cannot carry into the county courthouse, because government buildings and courts are sensitive places.
- A driver on the Thruway who stops at a rest area with a loaded handgun and no license faces a class C felony charge, not a traffic ticket.
- A shopper in Albany with a license can enter a store that has posted no sign, but must leave if the owner posts a ban or asks.
Myths and facts about NY concealed carry
- Myth: New York still requires a special reason to carry. Fact: The proper cause test ended in 2022.
- Myth: A license lets you carry anywhere. Fact: Sensitive places stay off limits.
- Myth: The Supreme Court upheld the whole law in 2025. Fact: It declined to review one case, which says nothing about the merits.
NY concealed carry law update: frequently asked questions
Is concealed carry legal in New York?
Yes, with a concealed carry license issued under Penal Law § 400.00. You must be 21 or older, finish the required training and pass the licensing officer’s review. Carrying a loaded handgun in public without a license is a felony.
Is concealed carry legal in NY without a permit?
No. A loaded handgun outside your home or business without a license can be charged as a class C felony under Penal Law § 265.03. New York does not have permitless carry, and it does not honor permits from other states.
Does New York have concealed carry laws that still need a reason?
No. Since Bruen on June 23, 2022, you do not have to show a special need to carry. You do still have to show good moral character, finish training and pass the interview and background review.
How many training hours does a NY concealed carry license need?
The law requires 16 hours of in-person classroom instruction and 2 hours of live-fire training, plus a written exam. Premises license applicants do not need the course. Ask the licensing officer whether any earlier training can be credited.
Can you carry a concealed gun in a New York park?
Generally no. Public parks are on the sensitive place list, and on May 18, 2026 the Second Circuit upheld the ban in urban public parks on a facial challenge. The court did not decide a rural park challenge, so treat every public park as off limits.
Can a store ban guns after the 2026 ruling?
Yes. The ruling removed the automatic ban on private property open to the public, but an owner can still post a clear sign or tell you to leave. Ignoring that can lead to a trespass charge.
How often must a NY carry license be renewed?
Every three years. In New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester the license expires and is renewed. In the rest of the state it is recertified with the State Police on the same three-year schedule.
What changed on this page
- November 12, 2026: first publication, checked against Penal Law §§ 265.01-b, 265.01-d, 265.01-e, 265.03 and 400.00 and the May 18, 2026 Second Circuit opinion in Christian v. James. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections page and editorial policy.
If this affects you
To apply for a license, contact your county licensing officer, or the NYPD License Division if you live in New York City. If you face a gun charge or a license denial, talk to a New York-licensed criminal defense attorney, and the New York State Bar Association lawyer referral service can help you find one. For lawful force, see our New York self defense laws page, and browse guns, knives and self-defense laws.
