Massachusetts LTC and FID Fees and Costs

State Licensing Fees

Massachusetts state-level licensing fees are set by M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131 (LTC) and M.G.L. c. 140, Section 129B (FID). The state fee is collected by the local licensing authority and remitted to the Commonwealth.

State fee waivers apply for active and retired law enforcement officers, active military, and certain other categories enumerated in c. 140, Section 131 and Section 129B.

Local Fees and Municipal Practice

The statute caps the state portion at $100. Some municipalities collect additional non-statutory fees for fingerprinting, photo capture, or appointment processing. These vary by department and are typically modest ($20-$50). Confirm the total at the time of application with the issuing department.

Training Course Cost

The required Basic Firearms Safety Course under M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131P is not free. Prices vary widely by instructor and region:

Some police departments run their own low-cost courses; some municipalities subsidize courses for residents. Massachusetts has no state subsidy program for basic firearms training as of the 2024 reform.

Chapter 135 of 2024 Live-Fire Cost Concerns

A live-fire cost-study provision in Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 directed the Secretary of Public Safety and Security to study and report on the implementation of the new mandatory live-fire component added to the Basic Firearms Safety Course, with explicit attention to whether the requirement is becoming cost-prohibitive and whether facilities are reasonably available in all regions of the Commonwealth. The directive acknowledges that the live-fire requirement, mandatory for applicants with no LTC or FID issued before August 1, 2024, adds a recurring cost that some applicants in range-poor regions cannot absorb without a long drive.

Background Check Cost

• The state and federal background checks (Massachusetts CHSB / WMS query plus FBI NICS) are covered by the $100 state fee.
• Live Scan fingerprinting is administered by MorphoTrust / IDEMIA at state-contracted enrollment centers. The fingerprint fee is approximately $25-$50 depending on package, paid separately from the state license fee.

Renewal Costs

The renewal fee is the same $100 state portion. Holders who let the license expire and apply for reissuance pay the initial fee structure and may, depending on department practice, need to redo certain steps (fingerprinting, course renewal).

Appeal Costs

A denial, restriction, or revocation may be appealed de novo to the District Court for the judicial district of the issuing authority under M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131(f). There is no statutory appeal fee for the filing itself, but counsel fees and any court costs apply. Many denied applicants represent themselves; experienced firearms counsel fees in Massachusetts typically range from $1,500 to $5,000 for a District Court appeal.

Replacement and Change-of-Address

A change of address must be reported to the Firearms Records Bureau and to the licensing authority of the new municipality within 30 days of the move.

Federal Fees

• NICS check (FBI) - no fee to the applicant; cost is absorbed by the federal government.
• NFA (Title II) tax stamp - for any NFA-regulated item (suppressor, SBR, SBS, etc., as detailed in the NFA_ITEMS section), the federal $200 making-tax or transfer-tax stamp applies under 26 U.S.C. 5811, in addition to any Massachusetts state restrictions.

Total First-Year Cost Estimate

A realistic first-time LTC applicant in Massachusetts should plan for:

That estimate excludes the firearm itself, holster, secure storage device (required under c. 140, Section 131L), ammunition for ongoing practice, and any optional advanced training.

Fee Statute References

Massachusetts does not have a low-income fee waiver program for non-public-safety applicants; the suitability appeal process is the only statutory cost-relief mechanism for an applicant who cannot afford the licensing pipeline.