Nebraska Concealed Carry Laws Explained

Constitutional Carry (Permitless Carry)

Effective September 2, 2023, Nebraska enacted LB 77, allowing constitutional (permitless) carry. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. §28-1202.01(1), a person other than a minor or a prohibited person may carry a concealed handgun anywhere in Nebraska, with or without a permit under the Concealed Handgun Permit Act.

• Minimum age: 21 years old
• No permit, background check, or safety training required for eligible persons
• LB 77 does not eliminate the Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) system
• Existing valid permits remain in effect
• Minors and prohibited persons cannot carry concealed under any circumstances (Neb. Rev. Stat. §28-1202)

Prohibited Persons

It is the individual's responsibility to know whether they are a prohibited person under state or federal law. A prohibited person carrying concealed commits a Class I misdemeanor (first offense) or Class IV felony (second or subsequent offense) per §28-1202.

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Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP)

Although permitless carry is now legal, Nebraska continues to issue Concealed Handgun Permits through the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP). Reasons to obtain a CHP include:

• Reciprocity: Carry in other states that recognize Nebraska permits
• Handgun purchases: A valid CHP exempts the holder from the separate handgun purchase certificate requirement (Neb. Rev. Stat. §69-2403)
• Background check exemption: A CHP may be used in lieu of a point-of-sale NICS background check at federally licensed dealers

Permit Requirements (Neb. Rev. Stat. §69-2433)

The NSP must issue a permit within 45 days of a properly completed application if the applicant meets all qualifications (§69-2430(3)):

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Not be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a handgun under federal law
• Possess sufficient eyesight (demonstrated by a current Nebraska driver's license or optometrist/ophthalmologist statement)
• No felony conviction (regardless of age of conviction)
• No misdemeanor crime of violence conviction within the preceding 10 years
• No conviction for a crime of domestic violence (regardless of age)
• No conviction for possession of a controlled substance within 10 years (includes drug paraphernalia and marijuana possession of one ounce or less)
• No conviction for firearms law violations or unlawful use of a weapon within 10 years
• Not found to be a mentally ill and dangerous person in the previous 10 years; not currently adjudged mentally incompetent
• Nebraska resident for at least 180 days (waived for military personnel stationed in Nebraska and new residents with a valid out-of-state concealed carry permit)
• Not on parole, probation, house arrest, or work release
• Provide proof of training

Training Requirements (Neb. Rev. Stat. §69-2429, §69-2432)

"Proof of training" means a document certifying the applicant either:

1. Successfully completed an NSP-approved handgun training and safety course within the previous 3 years, or
2. Is an active or reserve Armed Forces or National Guard member with equivalent handgun training within the previous 3 years

Minimum curriculum topics (Title 272, Chapter 21, Section 024):

• Avoiding criminal attack and conflict resolution
• Handgun operation and safe handling
• Ammunition handling and safety
• Proper storage practices (including child safety)
• Shooting fundamentals
• Federal, state, and local firearms laws
• Use of force, self-defense, and justifiable homicide laws
• Suicide prevention training (added September 2, 2023 per §69-2432)

Fees

Application Process

• Initial applications must be submitted in person at an NSP Troop Area office or the Criminal Identification Division
• Required documentation: completed/signed/notarized application, photo ID, proof of citizenship or lawful status, proof of training
• Fingerprints and photograph taken at time of application
• Renewals may be submitted online at nebraska.gov
• Must update information with the DMV first, then allow up to 3 days before requesting CHP changes

Permit Duration and Renewal

• Permits are valid for 5 years
• NSP sends expiration notice at least 4 months before expiration (by mail or email)
• Permits may be renewed up to 4 months before expiration
• Permits may be renewed up to 30 business days after expiration
• After 30 business days past expiration, the holder must restart the entire process (new training, documentation, and $100 fee)

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Definitions (Neb. Rev. Stat. §69-2429)

• Concealed handgun: A handgun that is entirely obscured from view. If any part is visible, it is not concealed.
• Handgun: Any firearm with a barrel less than 16 inches in length, or any firearm designed to be held and fired with a single hand.

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Prohibited Locations (Neb. Rev. Stat. §28-1202.01(3))

Concealed handguns are prohibited in or on the following locations, regardless of permit status:

• Police, sheriff, or Nebraska State Patrol stations or offices
• Detention facilities, prisons, or jails
• Courtrooms or buildings containing a courtroom
• Polling places during a bona fide election
• Meetings of governing bodies of counties, public school districts, municipalities, or other political subdivisions
• Meetings of the Legislature or a committee of the Legislature
• Financial institutions
• Professional or semiprofessional athletic events
• Buildings, grounds, vehicles, or sponsored activities/athletic events of any school (public, private, college, career school, or university)
• Places of worship
• Hospitals, emergency rooms, or trauma centers
• Political rallies or fundraisers
• Establishments deriving over one-half of total income from alcoholic liquor sales
• Any place where firearms are prohibited by state or federal law

No sign is required for places listed in the statute. The prohibition applies whether or not a sign is posted.

Exceptions to Prohibited Places

• Financial institutions may authorize their security personnel to carry concealed while on duty (§28-1202.01(4)(a))
• Places of worship may authorize security personnel to carry concealed on their property, provided: written notice is given to the congregation, security personnel meet state requirements, and it does not violate any property lease (§28-1202.01(4)(b))
• Qualified law enforcement officers and qualified retired law enforcement officers carrying pursuant to federal 18 U.S.C. 926B or 926C are exempt from location restrictions (§28-1202.01(10))

Private Property Restrictions

Property owners, entities, or employers controlling a place or premises may prohibit concealed handguns. For public-access locations, the prohibition is only enforceable if:

• A conspicuous sign is posted, or
• A direct request is made (by the person in control or authorized representative) to remove the handgun

There is no specific sign design required by law, but the NSP strongly recommends using the standard sign available on its website.

Vehicle Storage at Prohibited Locations (§28-1202.01(6))

A person may carry a concealed handgun into a public parking area of a prohibited location if, before exiting the vehicle, the handgun is locked inside:

• The glove box, trunk, or other vehicle compartment
• A storage box securely attached to the vehicle
• For motorcycles (other than autocycles): a hardened compartment securely attached to the motorcycle

This does not apply if federal law prohibits firearms in the parking area.

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Duty to Inform Law Enforcement (Neb. Rev. Stat. §28-1202.04)

Whenever a person carrying a concealed handgun is contacted by a peace officer or emergency services personnel, the person must immediately inform them that they are carrying a concealed handgun.

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Discharge Reporting Requirement (Neb. Rev. Stat. §69-2442)

Any injury to a person or damage to property resulting from the discharge of a concealed handgun must be reported to the Nebraska State Patrol within 10 days. Failure to report is a criminal offense.

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Penalties (§28-1202.01(8))

Affirmative Defense (§28-1202.01(9))

It is an affirmative defense to a prohibited-location violation that the defendant was engaged in a lawful business or employment and the circumstances justified carrying for self-defense. This defense is not available if the defendant refuses to remove the handgun after being asked by someone in control of the premises.

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Additional Carry Rules

• Number of handguns: Nebraska statute does not limit the number of concealed handguns a person may carry
• Knives: A CHP does not authorize concealed carry of a knife with a blade over 3.5 inches
• Employer vehicles: Employers may prohibit employees from carrying concealed handguns in employer-owned vehicles (§28-1202.01(7))

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Reciprocity

The Nebraska Attorney General's Office determines which other states' concealed handgun permits are recognized in Nebraska, pursuant to the Concealed Handgun Permit Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§69-2427 through 69-2449). The current list of recognized states is published by the Nebraska State Patrol.

Note: Under constitutional carry, any non-prohibited person 21 or older may carry concealed in Nebraska regardless of their home state. However, a Nebraska CHP remains valuable for carry in states that require a permit and have reciprocity with Nebraska.

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Law Enforcement Officers

Law enforcement officers do not need a permit to carry concealed off duty. They are authorized under existing state law and the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (18 U.S.C. §§926B, 926C, commonly known as HR218). This federal authorization does not supersede state laws allowing private property owners to restrict firearms.

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Permit Privacy (Neb. Rev. Stat. §69-2444)

CHP application and holder information is confidential and is not a public record. The NSP maintains records available only to law enforcement agencies upon request.

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Local Preemption

LB 77 includes a state preemption provision: "Counties, cities, and villages shall not have the power to regulate the ownership, possession, storage, transportation, sale, or transfer of firearms or other weapons, except as expressly provided by state law." Local jurisdictions may still restrict concealed carry on property they control with conspicuous notice, though this has been the subject of ongoing litigation (notably lawsuits filed against Omaha and Lincoln in December 2023 over executive orders restricting concealed carry on city-controlled property).

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Key Statute References

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Sources: Nebraska State Patrol (statepatrol.nebraska.gov); Nebraska Legislature (nebraskalegislature.gov); Nebraska Attorney General (ago.nebraska.gov); Douglas County Sheriff (sheriff.douglascounty-ne.gov). Content current as of April 2026.

This information is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for specific legal questions.