Where You Cannot Carry in Colorado: Prohibited Places

Prohibited Places for Concealed Carry in Colorado

Colorado law designates several categories of locations where carrying firearms (including concealed carry with a permit) is prohibited. The following information reflects current law as of July 1, 2024, when SB24-131 took effect.

1. Government Buildings (§ 18-12-105.3, C.R.S.)

A person shall not knowingly carry a firearm, whether loaded or not, in the following government buildings including their adjacent parking areas:

• State Legislative Buildings:

  • Buildings containing the chambers, galleries, or offices of the General Assembly or either house thereof
  • Buildings where a legislative hearing or meeting of the General Assembly is being conducted
  • Buildings where the official office of any member, officer, or employee of the General Assembly is located

• Local Government Buildings (unless the local government enacts a law permitting carry):

  • Buildings containing the chambers or galleries of a local government's governing body
  • Buildings where a meeting of a local government's governing body is being conducted
  • Buildings containing the official office of any elected member of a local government's governing body or of the chief executive officer of a local government

• Courthouses:

  • Any courthouse or other building or portion of a building used for court proceedings

Penalty: Unlawful carrying of a firearm in a government building is a class 1 misdemeanor.

Exceptions to the government buildings prohibition:

• Peace officers carrying pursuant to § 16-2.5-101(2)
• Members of the United States Armed Forces or Colorado National Guard engaged in lawful discharge of official duties
• Security personnel employed or retained by the entity that controls or operates the location, and security personnel described in § 24-33.5-216.7(5), while engaged in official duties
• Law enforcement personnel, defense counsel personnel, and court personnel carrying or possessing a firearm in the performance of official duties as part of lawful and common practices of a legal proceeding
• Concealed carry permit holders carrying a concealed handgun in the adjacent parking area only (not inside the building)
• A person securely storing a firearm in a vehicle as required by state law at a location described in this section
• A local government may enact an ordinance permitting carry at local government buildings

2. Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Licensed Child Care Centers (§ 18-12-105.5, C.R.S.)

A person shall not knowingly carry a firearm, either openly or concealed, in or on the real estate and all improvements erected thereon of:

• Licensed child care centers (excluding family child care homes) - centers licensed by the Department of Early Childhood or exempt from licensing pursuant to § 26.5-5-304(1)(b) that operate with stated educational purposes
• Public or private elementary, middle, junior high, high, or vocational schools
• Any public or private college, university, or seminary

Penalty: Violation is a class 1 misdemeanor.

Exceptions:

• Presenting an authorized public demonstration or exhibition pursuant to instruction in conjunction with an organized school or class
• Carrying out necessary duties and functions of an employee of an educational institution that require the use of a firearm
• Participation in an authorized extracurricular activity or on an athletic team
• Concealed carry permit holders carrying a concealed handgun:
  • On the real property of a public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school in accordance with § 18-12-214(3)
  • In a parking area of a licensed child care center or a public or private college, university, or seminary
• Security personnel employed or retained by a licensed child care center or a public or private college, university, or seminary while engaged in official duties
• When a licensed child care center is on the same real estate as another building or improvement that is not a school and is open to the public, carrying a firearm on an area of real estate or improvement that is not designated as a licensed child care center
• Law enforcement officers and security guards (existing law exemptions)
• Possession of a weapon for use in an educational program approved by a school

3. Polling Locations, Ballot Drop Boxes, and Central Count Facilities (§ 1-13-724, C.R.S.)

It is unlawful for any person to carry a firearm in any manner (openly or concealed) at:

• Any polling location, or within 100 feet of a ballot drop box or any building in which a polling location is located, on the day of any election or during the time when voting is permitted
• Any central count facility, or within 100 feet of any building in which a central count facility is located, during any ongoing election administration activity related to an active election

The designated election official shall visibly place a sign notifying persons of the 100-foot no-carry zone.

Penalty: Misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum $250 fine and up to 120 days' imprisonment in county jail; a second or subsequent offense is punishable by a maximum $1,000 fine and up to 364 days' imprisonment.

Exceptions:

• A person who carries a firearm they own on their private property that is within the 100-foot buffer zone, or while traveling directly between their private property and a place outside the buffer zone
• Uniformed security guards employed by a contract security agency acting within the scope of a contractual agreement for security services
• Security personnel described in § 24-33.5-216.7(5) while engaged in official duties

4. Local Government Restrictions (§ 29-11.7-104 and § 18-12-214, C.R.S.)

Local governments have additional authority to restrict firearms:

• A local government may prohibit open carry in a building or specific area within its jurisdiction. Signs must be posted at public entrances informing persons that open carry is prohibited.
• A local government may prohibit concealed carry permit holders from carrying a concealed handgun in a building or specific area within its jurisdiction. However, a local government may not impose criminal penalties for prohibited concealed carry. Signs must be posted at public entrances informing persons that concealed carry is prohibited.

5. Additional Notes

• Concealed carry permits authorize carry throughout the state except for places prohibited by state or local law (§ 18-12-214, C.R.S.).
• Carrying a concealed weapon in public without a permit is a class 1 misdemeanor (§ 18-12-105, C.R.S.).
• SB24-131 was approved by the Governor on May 31, 2024, and became effective July 1, 2024. This bill consolidated and strengthened prohibitions on carrying firearms in sensitive spaces, including government buildings, schools, child care centers, and election-related locations.
• Members of the General Assembly were temporarily exempt from the prohibition on carrying in state legislative buildings until January 5, 2025.

Key Statute References