Kentucky Weapon Restrictions for Concealed Carry

Prohibited Locations for Concealed Carry

Pursuant to Kentucky law, no CCDW license shall authorize any person to carry a concealed firearm into the following locations:

Absolute Prohibited Locations

1. Police stations or sheriff's offices
2. Detention facilities, prisons, or jails
3. Courthouses — specifically any courthouse solely occupied by the Court of Justice courtroom, or court proceeding
4. Government body meetings — any meeting of the governing body of a county, municipality, or special district; or any meeting of the General Assembly or a committee of the General Assembly
   • Exception: A member of the governing body who holds a CCDW license may carry a concealed deadly weapon at a meeting of the body of which he or she is a member
5. Establishments serving alcohol — 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
6. Schools and child-care facilities — any elementary or secondary school facility without the consent of school authorities as provided in KRS 527.070; any child-caring facility as defined in KRS 199.011; any day-care center as defined in KRS 199.894; or any certified family child-care home as defined in KRS 199.8982
   • Exception: Any owner of a certified child-care home may carry a concealed firearm into the owner's residence used as a certified child-care home
7. Restricted airport areas — any area of an airport to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property
8. Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law

Additional Location Restrictions

• State and local government property: Units of state and local governments have the authority to limit the carrying of concealed weapons on property owned or controlled by them (KRS 237.115)
• Postsecondary education facilities: Colleges, universities, technical schools, and community colleges have the authority to limit the carrying of concealed weapons on property owned or controlled by them (KRS 237.115). Carriers should check with these institutions prior to carrying on their property.
• Private premises: Kentucky law does not prohibit the owners of private premises from excluding persons carrying firearms. Failure to vacate private premises when asked to do so could result in a criminal trespass charge.

Related Statutory Prohibitions

• KRS 527.070 prohibits unlawful possession (whether carried openly or concealed) of a weapon on school property, except for certain specified exceptions
• KRS 244.125 prohibits loaded firearms (concealed or otherwise) in places where alcohol is sold by the drink, except for certain specified exceptions

Weapons Covered Under the CCDW License

The CCDW license covers the following concealed deadly weapons:

• Any weapon from which a shot, readily capable of producing death or serious physical injury, may be discharged
• Any knife other than an ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife
• Billy, nightstick, or club
• Blackjack or slapjack
• Nunchaku karate sticks
• Shiriken or death star
• Artificial knuckles made from plastic, or other similar hard material

Restricted Ammunition

Using restricted ammunition (armor-piercing ammunition or flanged ammunition as defined in KRS 237.060) during the commission of a felony is a separate criminal offense:

• Class D felony if no shot is fired
• Class C felony if a shot is fired and no person is killed or wounded
• Class B felony if a shot is fired and a person (other than the defendant or accomplice) is wounded
• Class A felony if a shot is fired and a person (other than the defendant or accomplice) is killed

The sentence for this offense shall be served consecutively to the sentence for the underlying offense. This provision does not apply to any person justified in acting pursuant to KRS Chapter 503 (self-defense/justification).

Vehicle Firearm Possession Protections (KRS 237.106)

• No person, including an employer, who is the owner, lessee, or occupant of real property shall prohibit any person who is legally entitled to possess a firearm from possessing a firearm, part of a firearm, ammunition, or ammunition component in a vehicle on the property
• An employer that fires, disciplines, demotes, or otherwise punishes an employee lawfully exercising this right shall be liable in civil damages
• A firearm may be removed from the vehicle or handled in the case of self-defense, defense of another, defense of property, or as authorized by the property owner/lessee/occupant
• Exceptions: This protection does not apply to U.S. government property where firearms are prohibited, detention facilities (KRS 520.010), or where Kentucky statutes specifically prohibit possession

Emergency/Disaster Protections (KRS 237.104)

No person, unit of government, or governmental organization shall, during a period of disaster or emergency (KRS Chapter 39A) or at any other time:

• Revoke, suspend, limit, or impair the right to purchase, transfer, loan, own, possess, carry, or use a firearm, firearm part, ammunition, ammunition component, or any deadly weapon
• Take, seize, confiscate, or impound a firearm or deadly weapon from any person

Exceptions: This protection does not apply to persons forbidden to possess firearms under KRS 527.040 or federal law, persons violating KRS 527.020, persons in possession of stolen firearms, persons using firearms in the commission of a criminal offense, or persons using firearms in violation of KRS Chapter 150.

License Compliance Requirements

• Possession of license: Failure to have the CCDW license in possession when carrying a concealed firearm or deadly weapon is a non-criminal violation punishable by a $25.00 fine
• Address change notification: License holders must notify Kentucky State Police within 30 days of changing a permanent address. Failure to do so is a noncriminal violation with a penalty of $25.00 payable to the clerk of the District Court

License Validity and Protection (KRS 237.102)

• The CCDW license is valid for five (5) years from the date of issuance unless suspended or revoked
• No person, unit of government, or governmental organization may suspend, revoke, limit, or impair the validity of a CCDW license except for reasons specified in KRS 237.110 and done in the manner specified therein
• No action taken pursuant to KRS Chapter 39A (emergency powers) shall apply to a CCDW license or its holder

Relevant Kentucky Revised Statutes

• KRS Chapter 237 — Firearms and concealed deadly weapons
• KRS Chapter 244 — Alcoholic beverage regulations
• KRS Chapter 527 — Offenses relating to firearms and weapons
• KRS 237.060 — Definitions (armor-piercing ammunition, flanged ammunition)
• KRS 237.106 — Vehicle firearm possession rights
• KRS 237.110 — CCDW licensing provisions
• KRS 237.115 — Government and postsecondary authority to limit concealed carry
• KRS 527.020 — Carrying concealed deadly weapon
• KRS 527.040 — Possession of firearm by convicted felon
• KRS 527.070 — Unlawful possession of weapon on school property