A Kentucky license to carry concealed deadly weapon (CCDW license) does not open every door. State law names places where the license does not...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
A Kentucky license to carry concealed deadly weapon (CCDW license) does not open every door. State law names places where the license does not authorize carry, and schools, colleges, and private property owners add rules of their own. Carrying without a license does not shrink or expand that map, because a person may carry without a license in the same locations as persons with valid licenses under KRS 237.109(1).
They bind everyone carrying a concealed deadly weapon in Kentucky, whether under a CCDW license or under permitless carry. They also bind cities and counties, which cannot write their own version of these rules. KRS 65.870(1) preempts local regulation of firearms and ammunition, including carrying, and any conflicting local ordinance is null and void. Because the state occupies the whole field, cities and counties generally cannot pass their own gun ordinances, apart from the government-building carve-out described below.
A CCDW license does not authorize carrying a concealed deadly weapon into any of these:
The drinking restriction reaches any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense beer or alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to that purpose, under KRS 237.110(16)(e).
Schools carry a separate state offense. Knowingly possessing a firearm or other deadly weapon on public or private school property is a Class D felony under KRS 527.070, subject to statutory exemptions that include ROTC and school teams, certain peace, military, and civil officers, board-authorized persons, hunters, and approved gun and knife shows, and the school must post a sign warning of that offense.
Government buildings follow a narrow local rule. Under KRS 237.115(2), a state, city, county, or urban-county legislative body may prohibit or limit concealed carry only in the portion of a building it owns, leases, or controls, must post signs at the entrance to the restricted area, and cannot attach a criminal penalty. Campuses are broader: under KRS 237.115(1), colleges, universities, technical schools, community colleges, and other postsecondary facilities may control deadly weapons on any property they own or control.
Private property owners may also close their doors. Under KRS 237.110(17), a private business, day-care center, family child-care home, or licensed health-care facility may ban concealed carry, must post signs if the premises are open to the public, and may respond to a violation by denying entry or removing the person rather than by criminal charge.
Three groups keep carry rights inside places that are otherwise closed to license holders:
Under KRS 237.137(1), off-duty peace officers authorized by their employing agency and certified retired peace officers may carry concealed firearms at any location in Kentucky where an on-duty peace officer may carry.
Your vehicle is treated separately. Under KRS 237.106(1), no owner, lessee, occupant, or employer may prohibit a person legally entitled to possess a firearm from keeping a firearm, part of a firearm, ammunition, or an ammunition component in a vehicle on the property, though the owner may still bar a person who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. That vehicle protection does not reach federal property, detention facilities, or property where a specific KRS section bars firearms.
The consequence depends on which rule you broke. Violating a local government's concealed-carry restriction inside its own building carries no criminal penalty under KRS 237.115(2), only denial of entrance, removal, or employee discipline. A posted private-business ban works the same way: it is not a crime, but it supports denial of entry or removal under KRS 237.110(17). School property is different, because KRS 527.070 makes knowing possession there a Class D felony. A knowing violation of the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act is punishable by a fine and imprisonment of not more than 5 years under 18 U.S.C. 924(a)(4), served consecutively to any other sentence and deemed a misdemeanor for other purposes of law.
| Place or property | What the law does | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol-service area | License does not authorize carry into the portion licensed for on-premises consumption | KRS 237.110(16)(e) |
| Local government building | Legislative body may restrict only the portion it owns, leases, or controls, with posted signs and no criminal penalty | KRS 237.115(2) |
| College or university property | Institution may control deadly weapons on property it owns or controls | KRS 237.115(1) |
| Private business or child-care premises | Owner may ban carry and must post signs if open to the public; remedy is denial of entry or removal | KRS 237.110(17) |
| Vehicle on someone else's property | Owner or employer generally cannot bar a firearm or ammunition kept in the vehicle | KRS 237.106(1) |
| Vehicle rule limits | Exceptions for federal property, detention facilities, and property where a specific KRS section bars firearms | KRS 237.106(1) |
| School property, state law | Class D felony for knowing possession, with statutory exemptions and a posted warning sign | KRS 527.070 |
| School zone, federal law | Fine and imprisonment of not more than 5 years, consecutive to any other sentence | 18 U.S.C. 924(a)(4) |
| Local government building violation | No criminal penalty, only denial of entrance, removal, or employee discipline | KRS 237.115(2) |
The CCDW license adds what permitless carry does not:
The license does not authorize carry into any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense beer or alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, and the listed place is the portion primarily devoted to that purpose.
Generally no. KRS 237.106(1) bars an owner, lessee, occupant, or employer from prohibiting a person legally entitled to possess a firearm from keeping a firearm, ammunition, or components in a vehicle on the property. That protection does not extend to federal property, detention facilities, or property where a specific KRS section bars firearms.
Under KRS 237.110(17), a private business may ban concealed carry and must post signs if the premises are open to the public, and the response is denial of entry or removal rather than criminal charge.
KRS 65.870(1) preempts local regulation of firearms and ammunition, including carrying, and a conflicting ordinance is null and void. The exception is a legislative body restricting the portion of a building it owns, leases, or controls, with posted signs and no criminal penalty.
KRS 527.070 makes knowing possession of a firearm or other deadly weapon on public or private school property a Class D felony, subject to the statutory exemptions. Federal law adds a fine and imprisonment of not more than 5 years for a knowing violation of the Gun-Free School Zones Act, served consecutively to any other sentence.
No. KRS 237.137(1) lets off-duty peace officers authorized by their agency and certified retired peace officers carry concealed firearms at any location in Kentucky where an on-duty peace officer may carry.
No. A person carrying without a license may carry in the same locations as persons with valid licenses issued under Kentucky 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.