Kentucky has no statute that prohibits carrying a firearm openly, so an adult who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry it openly without a license....
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Kentucky has no statute that prohibits carrying a firearm openly, so an adult who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry it openly without a license. Open carry of a handgun is limited to persons 18 and older, because a person under 18 may not possess a handgun except in the listed situations. A person must be at least 21 years old to carry concealed without a license.
Kentucky's only carry offense is carrying a concealed weapon, and it reaches a firearm or other deadly weapon carried concealed on or about the person under KRS 527.020(1). No Kentucky statute sets a minimum age for open carry, and because KRS 527.100(1) bars a person under 18 from possessing a handgun except in the listed situations, open handgun carry is limited to persons 18 and older.
Persons age 21 or older who may otherwise lawfully possess a firearm may also carry concealed deadly weapons without a license under KRS 237.109(1).
Because the concealed weapon offense reaches only a weapon carried concealed, an adult who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry it openly in Kentucky without a license.
Cities, counties, and other local government units are barred from regulating firearms, ammunition, or their carrying under KRS 65.870(1), apart from the government building carve-out. Any local ordinance, regulation, or other action that violates that preemption law is null, void, and unenforceable under KRS 65.870(2).
In a vehicle, a loaded or unloaded firearm kept in a factory-installed glove compartment, center console, or seat pocket is not deemed concealed under KRS 527.020(8).
Knowingly carrying a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public or private school building or bus, or on school grounds, is unlawful possession of a weapon on school property under KRS 527.070(1), subject to the listed exemptions. An adult who is not a pupil may keep a firearm inside a vehicle on school property if it is not removed from the vehicle, except for a purpose permitted in the statute, or brandished, under KRS 527.070(3)(a).
Colleges, universities, technical schools, and other postsecondary facilities may control the possession of deadly weapons on any property they own or control under KRS 237.115(1). A local government unit may restrict concealed carry only inside the specific portion of a government building it occupies, must mark that portion with posted signs, and cannot attach a criminal penalty to a violation, under KRS 237.115(2).
A private business enterprise that is not a public employer may ban concealed carry on its premises, must post signs on or about the premises if they are open to the public, and a violation is not a crime but is a basis for denial of entry or removal, under KRS 237.110(17). A property owner or employer generally cannot prohibit a person legally entitled to possess a firearm from keeping a firearm, ammunition, or ammunition components in a vehicle on the property under KRS 237.106(1).
Nothing in the permitless carry statute allows the carrying or possession of a deadly weapon where it is prohibited by federal law, even for a person otherwise eligible to carry without a license, under KRS 237.109(2).
The CCDW license adds two things that permitless carry alone does not provide.
No. The only carry offense applies to a firearm carried concealed, so an adult who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry it openly without a license.
No statute sets a minimum age for open carry, and because a person under 18 may not possess a handgun except in the listed situations, open handgun carry is limited to persons 18 and older.
Local government units are barred from regulating firearms, ammunition, or their carrying, apart from the government building carve-out. A local ordinance, regulation, or other action that violates that preemption law is null, void, and unenforceable under KRS 65.870(2).
A loaded or unloaded firearm in a factory-installed glove compartment, center console, or seat pocket is not deemed concealed, whether or not it is locked.
No. Knowingly carrying a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public or private school building or bus, or on school grounds, is unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, subject to the listed exemptions. An adult who is not a pupil may keep a firearm inside a vehicle on school property if it is not removed from the vehicle, except for a purpose permitted in the statute, or brandished.
A private business may ban concealed carry on its premises and must post signs if the premises are open to the public, and violating a posted ban is not a crime but can lead to denial of entry or removal.
No. Nothing in the permitless carry statute allows the carrying or possession of a deadly weapon where it is prohibited by federal law.
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.