Storage | Colorado Concealed Carry

Colorado Firearm Storage Requirements

Safe Storage on Premises (§ 18-12-114, C.R.S.)

Colorado law requires that firearms be responsibly and securely stored when not in use to prevent access by unsupervised juveniles and other unauthorized users.

It is unlawful to fail to responsibly and securely store a firearm upon any premises that a person owns or controls when:

• The person knows or reasonably should know that a juvenile can gain access to the firearm without the permission of the juvenile's parent or guardian; or
• A resident of the premises is ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to state or federal law.

Penalty: Failure to comply is a class 2 misdemeanor.

Safe Storage in Vehicles (§ 18-12-114.5, C.R.S.)

Colorado law prohibits knowingly leaving a firearm in an unattended vehicle unless specific storage requirements are met:

• The firearm must be stored in a locked container, and the container must be in:
  • A locked vehicle;
  • The locked trunk of a locked vehicle; or
  • A locked recreational vehicle.

Additional Requirements by Firearm Type:

Handguns:

• The storage container must be hard-sided (unless the owner is disabled)
• The container must be placed out of plain view

Non-Handgun Firearms (long guns, etc.):

• The storage container may be hard-sided or soft-sided
• If stored in a soft-sided container, the firearm must have a locking device installed while stored

Penalty: Unsafe storage of a firearm in a vehicle is a civil infraction.

Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms (§ 18-12-113, C.R.S.)

A person who owns a firearm that has been lost or stolen must report the loss or theft to a law enforcement agency within five days after discovering the loss or theft.

Penalties:

• First offense: Civil infraction, punishable by a $25 fine
• Second or subsequent offense: Misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine

Relevance to Concealed Carry Permit Holders

These storage requirements apply to all firearm owners in Colorado, including concealed carry permit holders. Permit holders should be particularly aware of the vehicle storage requirements, as carrying a concealed handgun in a vehicle is common practice. When a concealed handgun is not being carried on the person and is left in an unattended vehicle, it must comply with the locked hard-sided container requirements outlined in § 18-12-114.5, C.R.S.

Key Statutory References