Concealed Carry in Florida: With and Without a License

Florida changed how concealed carry works in 2023. Many gun owners still ask the same two questions. Do I need a license? And if I do not need one, why would I get one anyway?

This page answers both in plain terms. It is general education, and it flags the points you should confirm before relying on them.

What changed in 2023

Before the change, a person generally needed a state license to carry a concealed firearm. In 2023 the Legislature changed the law so that many adults may carry a concealed weapon or firearm without that license. People often call this "permitless carry" or "constitutional carry."

The change did not make carry legal for everyone, everywhere. It removed the license requirement for people who otherwise qualify. The other rules stayed in place.

Who generally qualifies to carry without a license

Under the statute, a person may carry concealed without a license if he or she meets most of the same conditions required to get a license. In general terms, that means:

• Not falling into a prohibited category, such as a felony conviction
• Meeting the statute's age requirement
• Meeting the other eligibility conditions in the licensing law

You do not need the license's firearm-training certificate to carry without a license. Many owners get training anyway.

If you are not sure whether you are in a prohibited category, read our page on who can own and buy a firearm.

The age question: in flux for adults 18 to 20

The licensing statute sets the age at 21, and the license-free carry law borrows that rule.

In June 2026, a Florida appeals court ruled that the age-21 rule is unconstitutional as applied to adults aged 18 to 20. That court sits in South Florida. Other courts have not all ruled on the question. The statute itself has not been changed.

If you are 18, 19, or 20, do not treat this as settled. Talk to a lawyer before you carry.

What did not change

Prohibited places still apply. The law says a person carrying without a license is bound by the same prohibited-places list as a license holder. See our page on prohibited places.

Prohibited persons are still prohibited. A felony conviction or a domestic violence injunction, for example, still bars you.

Other crimes still apply. Carrying lawfully does not excuse what you do with the gun. Showing it to scare someone, firing it where you may not, or carrying while committing another offense can all bring charges.

What "concealed" means

Florida law defines a concealed firearm as a firearm carried on or about a person in a way that hides it from the ordinary sight of another person. A holster under a jacket is the common example.

The line between concealed and visible can matter. Florida's open-carry statute says a person carrying concealed lawfully does not violate it by briefly and openly displaying the firearm, unless the gun is intentionally displayed in an angry or threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense. Open carry itself is a separate and changing topic. We cover it on its own page.

Why some people still get the license

A state license can be useful even when you do not need it to carry in Florida.

Travel to other states. Some other states honor a Florida license. A license-free carrier may not get the same treatment, because those states look at the license, not at Florida's statute. Check the current reciprocity list from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the law of the state you are visiting, before you travel.

Buying a firearm. Florida has a mandatory waiting period between buying and receiving a firearm: 3 days, not counting weekends and legal holidays, or until the background check is done, whichever is later. A person holding a Florida concealed weapons or firearms license is exempt from that state waiting period.

Training and a record. The license process includes a firearm-safety requirement. Many owners want that training regardless of the law.

Getting the license

The state agency that issues the license is the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. An application generally requires:

• An application form and fee
• Fingerprints
• Proof of a firearm-safety course
• A background check

A license is valid for 7 years. Processing times and fees change. Check the agency's current instructions rather than relying on this page.

When you are stopped or questioned

With or without a license, Florida law requires a person carrying a concealed weapon or firearm to carry valid identification and to show it when a law enforcement officer asks. Not doing so is a noncriminal violation with a $25 penalty.

We cover what to do in a police encounter on a separate page.

Practical points

• Know the places list. Most arrests of lawful carriers happen because of a place, not because of the gun.
• Know the vehicle rule. Carrying in a car has its own statute.
• Do not carry while impaired. A lawful gun and a drinking night can become a charge.
• Keep the gun secure. An unattended gun in a vehicle or home is a common source of theft and of storage-law problems.

The bottom line

Permitless carry removed a license requirement. It did not remove the rest of Florida's gun law. Knowing the limits is what keeps a lawful carrier lawful.

Charged with a carry offense, or unsure whether you crossed a line? Call (305) 209-0384 for a free consultation. We answer 24/7. Se habla español.

General information, not legal advice. Reading this page creates no lawyer-client relationship, and no result is promised. Laws change; confirm the current law before you act. Law last checked October 27, 2026.