Kentucky imposes no duty to tell a law enforcement officer that you are carrying a concealed weapon; under KRS 237.110(15) the licensee must carry the...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Kentucky imposes no duty to tell a law enforcement officer that you are carrying a concealed weapon; under KRS 237.110(15) the licensee must carry the license while carrying concealed and display it upon an officer's request, and the statute requires nothing more. The duty to display is set off by the request of a law enforcement officer. Failing to carry or display is a noncriminal violation with a $25 penalty and no court costs.
The rule is written for the person carrying under a license. Kentucky imposes no duty to tell a law enforcement officer that you are carrying a concealed weapon; the licensee must carry the license while carrying concealed and display it upon an officer's request, and the statute requires nothing more.
The Department of Kentucky State Police is required to issue provisional licenses, effective July 15, 2026, under KRS 237.118(2). The Department of Kentucky State Police is not yet accepting applications from people ages 18 to 20, and its concealed carry page says the online portal is expected to be updated this fall.
A petitioner for a domestic violence order of protection who holds a temporary permit has a parallel carrying duty:
KRS 237.110(15) reads: "The licensee shall carry the license at all times the licensee is carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon and shall display the license upon request of a law enforcement officer". In practice that is two obligations. The license must be displayed to a law enforcement officer upon request.
The statute names one trigger for display: the request of a law enforcement officer. The obligation to have the license on you runs the entire time you are carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon. A temporary permit issued to a domestic violence petitioner is valid for 45 days and cannot be extended or reissued under KRS 403.754(5).
Failing to carry or display the license is a noncriminal violation with a $25 penalty and no court costs. The $25 is payable to the clerk of the District Court. A licensee who does not display the license on an officer's request while carrying a concealed firearm faces that noncriminal $25 penalty, with no court costs assessed.
| Rule | What it says | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Carry the license | The licensee shall carry the license at all times while carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon | |
| Display it | Must display upon officer request | |
| What triggers display | Request of a law enforcement officer | |
| Penalty for failing | $25 noncriminal violation, no court costs |
The CCDW license gives two things permitless carry alone does not:
No, Kentucky imposes no duty to tell a law enforcement officer that you are carrying a concealed weapon, and under KRS 237.110(15) the licensee must carry the license while carrying concealed and display it upon an officer's request, and the statute requires nothing more. When the officer asks, the license must be displayed to a law enforcement officer upon request.
Failing to carry or display the license is a noncriminal violation with a $25 penalty and no court costs. The $25 penalty is payable to the clerk of the District Court.
KRS 237.110(15) calls it a noncriminal violation with a penalty of $25. That $25 penalty carries no court costs.
A temporary permit is valid for 45 days and cannot be extended or reissued. While it is in force, the holder shall carry the permit at all times the permit holder is carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon.
Once a license expires it is void and cannot be used for any purpose other than surrender to the sheriff in exchange for a renewal license, under KRS 237.110(14)(b). A licensee who files the renewal application after the expiration date pays a $15 late fee in addition to the license fees.
A paper replacement request for a lost, stolen, or destroyed license costs $15 under KRS 237.110(12). An electronic replacement request costs $25.
This page covers one part of our Kentucky concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Kentucky 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.