Colorado is generally an open carry state at the state level. There is no state statute that broadly prohibits the open carrying of firearms. To lawfully...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Colorado is generally an open carry state at the state level. There is no state statute that broadly prohibits the open carrying of firearms. To lawfully possess a firearm in Colorado, a person must be at least 18 years old and must not have any state or federal prohibitions [C.R.S. 18-12-108; see also Colorado Department of Public Safety firearms FAQ].
However, open carry is significantly regulated by local authorities and restricted in certain sensitive locations by state law.
According to the Colorado Department of Public Safety:
"The actual open carrying of firearms is regulated by local county and municipal authorities. Confirmation of open carry municipal code restrictions would have to be done with those local authorities."
This means that individual cities and counties may enact their own restrictions or prohibitions on open carry. Most city municipal codes are posted online for public review. Persons wishing to open carry should verify the specific rules of the municipality or county they are in.
Notable local restrictions include:
Local governments that prohibit open carry of firearms in a building or specific area must post signs at public entrances informing persons that open carry is prohibited [C.R.S. 29-11.7-104(1)].
Colorado's preemption framework for firearms regulation is nuanced:
Pending legislation: A bill has been introduced (amending C.R.S. 29-11.7-104) that would limit local governments to prohibiting open carry of firearms other than handguns, and would explicitly state that local governments do not have authority to prohibit open carrying of a handgun. If enacted, this would significantly expand open carry rights by preventing municipal handgun bans. Persons should verify the current status of this legislation.
Effective July 1, 2024, SB24-131 ("Prohibiting Carrying Firearms in Sensitive Spaces," Session Laws Ch. 301) significantly expanded the locations where carrying firearms is prohibited. For government buildings and educational facilities, the act prohibits carrying firearms both openly and concealed, and violations are a class 1 misdemeanor. The act also amended the existing polling location restrictions under C.R.S. 1-13-724, though those restrictions remain limited to open carry (see below).
Exceptions for government buildings include:
Note: Separate from SB24-131, C.R.S. 18-12-105.5 also addresses unlawful carrying and possession of weapons on school, college, or university grounds.
Exceptions for educational facilities include:
Important: The prohibition at polling locations and election facilities under C.R.S. 1-13-724 (originally enacted by HB22-1086, the "Vote Without Fear Act") applies specifically to openly carrying a firearm. Unlike the government buildings and educational facilities provisions above, this section was not expanded to cover concealed carry. SB24-131's amendments to C.R.S. 1-13-724 added security personnel described in C.R.S. 24-33.5-216.7(5) to the list of exceptions and updated legislative declaration language, but retained the "openly carry" scope of the prohibition in subsections (3)(a) and (3)(b).
Penalties for violations at polling locations (per HB22-1086 as amended):
Exceptions at polling locations include:
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 U.S. ___ (2022), affirmed that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. The Court held that firearms regulations must be consistent with the historical tradition of firearm regulation in America.
Significantly, the Court noted a historical consensus that States could not altogether prohibit the public carry of arms. The Court observed that antebellum courts consistently held that concealed-carry prohibitions were constitutional only if they did not similarly prohibit open carry. As the Court stated: "[T]hese antebellum state-court decisions evince a consensus view that States could not altogether prohibit the public carry of 'arms' protected by the Second Amendment." This historical analysis supports the view that open carry enjoys strong constitutional protection, even as concealed carry may be regulated.
Colorado law allows a person to carry a firearm in a vehicle if its use is for lawful protection of such person or another's person or property [C.R.S. 18-12-105(2)]. A handgun is not considered concealed when a person is in a private automobile or other private transportation [C.R.S. 18-12-105(2)].
Under Title 33 (wildlife laws), it is unlawful to possess any firearm other than a pistol or revolver in or on a motor vehicle unless the chamber is unloaded [C.R.S. 33-6-125].
Open carry is permitted in Colorado National Forests, subject to both state laws and federal regulations. A firearm may not be discharged in the following areas:
Some forests or districts have additional restrictions on discharging a firearm. Check with local forest authorities before visiting.
Per 16 USC 1a-7b, a person may possess a firearm in any national park if such possession complies with the laws of the state in which the park is located. Colorado's state laws therefore apply in Colorado national parks.
However, firearms are prohibited in federal facilities - defined as buildings or parts thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government where federal employees are regularly present for official duties. In national parks, such facilities may include visitor centers, administrative offices, and maintenance buildings, and will be clearly marked with signs at all public entrances [18 USC 930].
Colorado prohibits gun registration [C.R.S. 29-11.7-102].
Several additional Colorado statutes may affect persons who open carry:
SB25-003 ("Semiautomatic Firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices"), signed by the Governor on April 10, 2025, prohibits the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, and purchase of specified semiautomatic firearms on or after August 1, 2026, with certain exceptions including completion of required firearms safety courses. This law does not directly change open carry rules but affects the types of firearms that may be lawfully acquired going forward.
| Statute | Subject |
|---|---|
| C.R.S. 18-12-105 | Unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon; vehicle exceptions |
| C.R.S. 18-12-105.5 | Weapons on school, college, or university grounds |
| C.R.S. 18-12-105.6 | Preemption of local travel restrictions; reciprocity |
| C.R.S. 18-12-106 | Prohibited use of weapons |
| C.R.S. 18-12-108 | Possession of weapons by previous offenders |
| C.R.S. 18-12-108.5 | Possession of weapons by juveniles |
| C.R.S. 18-12-113 | Failure to report lost or stolen firearm |
| C.R.S. 18-12-114 | Secure firearm storage required |
| C.R.S. 18-12-115 | Waiting period for firearm sales |
| C.R.S. 18-12-203 | Concealed handgun permit requirements |
| C.R.S. 29-11.7-102 | Prohibition on gun registration |
| C.R.S. 29-11.7-103 | Prohibition on local regulation of firearm types |
| C.R.S. 29-11.7-104 | Local government authority to regulate open carry; posting requirements |
| C.R.S. 33-6-125 | Wildlife laws - firearms in vehicles |
| C.R.S. 1-13-724 | Vote Without Fear Act - firearms at polling locations (HB22-1086) |
| SB24-131 (Session Laws Ch. 301) | Sensitive spaces firearms prohibition (effective July 1, 2024) |
| SB25-003 (Session Laws Ch. 68) | Semiautomatic firearms restrictions (signed April 10, 2025) |
| HB 13-1224 | Large-capacity ammunition magazine prohibition |
This page covers one part of our Colorado concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Colorado guideBrowse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.