Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) - Fees and Costs

Statutory Fee Framework

Under Colorado law, sheriffs are required to establish and collect fees for issuing and renewing concealed handgun permits that reflect the actual direct and indirect costs of processing permit applications.

Maximum Statutory Fees (Sheriff's Portion)

• New Permit: Maximum fee of $100 (§ 18-12-205(2)(b), C.R.S.)
• Renewal Permit: Maximum fee of $50 (§ 18-12-211(1), C.R.S.)

These statutory maximums are in addition to the cost of the required background check. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sets the background check fee amount separately.

Background Check / Processing Fees (Set by CBI)

The background check component typically includes:

• CBI Fingerprint Processing: $17.50
• InstaCheck (NICS): $13.00
• FBI Fingerprint Processing: $22.00

These fees total approximately $52.50 for the background investigation portion.

Total Fees by County (Examples)

Total fees vary by county because each sheriff sets local processing fees within the statutory maximum. Common totals reported by Colorado counties include:

County-Specific Fee Examples

• Arapahoe County: New $152.50; Renewal $63; Late renewal adds $15; Replacement $15
• Boulder County: New $152.50 (plus credit card fees); Renewal $63 (plus credit card fees); Late renewal $78 ($63 + $15 late fee); Replacement $15 (plus credit card fees)
• Morgan County: New $152.50; Renewal $38 (note: this county reports a lower renewal fee)
• San Miguel County: New $105; Renewal $63
• Park County: New $100 permit fee + $52.50 background investigation (paid as separate payments); Late fee $15; Replacement $15

Late Renewal Fee

• A $15 late fee is required by state law for any permit that has expired (§ 18-12-211, C.R.S.).
• No permit may be renewed more than six months after its expiration date. After six months, the permit is deemed permanently expired and the applicant must submit a new application at the full new-permit fee.

Replacement Permit Fee

• $15 for a duplicate or substitute permit if the original is lost, stolen, or destroyed.
• A notarized Lost/Destroyed Permit form must be submitted.
• Lost or stolen permits must be reported to the issuing sheriff's office within 3 business days.

Payment Methods

Accepted payment methods vary by county but generally include:

• Cash
• Personal check, cashier's check, or money order (typically made payable to the county sheriff's office)
• Credit/debit card (often with an additional processing/convenience fee, commonly 2.39% or a flat fee such as $3.95)
• American Express is not accepted in some counties (e.g., Arapahoe County)

Training Course Fees (Separate from Permit Fees)

Training course fees are separate from the permit application fees and are paid directly to the training provider. Per HB24-1174 (effective July 1, 2025), new applicants must complete an 8-hour concealed handgun training class, and renewal applicants must complete a 2-hour refresher class, both from a verified instructor.

Example training costs (vary by provider and county):

• New Permit Training Course: ~$150 (e.g., Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office course)
• Renewal Refresher Course: ~$75 (e.g., Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office course)

Permit Validity

• Permits are valid for five years (§ 18-12-211, C.R.S.).
• Renewal may be submitted up to 120 days before the expiration date.
• A 6-month grace period exists after expiration for late renewal (with the $15 late fee).

Processing Timeline

• By statute, the sheriff has 90 days from receipt of the application to approve or deny the permit.
• In practice, many counties process permits within approximately 4-6 weeks.
• No temporary permits are issued during the processing period.

Key Statutory References