New York is a licensed-carry state. You cannot lawfully possess or carry a handgun in New York without a license to carry under Penal Law 400.00. There is...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
New York is a licensed-carry state. You cannot lawfully possess or carry a handgun in New York without a license to carry under Penal Law 400.00. There is no constitutional or permitless carry. After the Supreme Court struck down New York's "proper cause" standard in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), the Legislature passed the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA, effective September 1, 2022). The CCIA removed proper cause but added new eligibility and training requirements, including a "good moral character" finding, an in-person interview, character references, and a mandatory live firearms safety course. Most of the CCIA was upheld by the Second Circuit in Antonyuk v. James (2024), though some applications remain in active litigation.
Licenses are administered at the county level by a local licensing officer (typically a Supreme Court or County Court judge, or in some counties a sheriff or county-designated official). Because licensing is decentralized, the out-of-pocket cost varies by county. The Penal Law caps the core county license fee at a low statutory amount, but applicants also pay for fingerprinting, photos, notarization, and the required training course, none of which the state caps.
The master licensing statute is Penal Law 400.00. The statutory fee schedule is in Penal Law 400.00(14).
New York does not issue a separate document called a "concealed carry permit." The state issues a single pistol or revolver license under Penal Law 400.00. A "carry concealed" license is the type issued under Penal Law 400.00(2)(f), which allows carry "without regard to employment or place of possession." Other license types (premises-only for a home or business) are also issued under section 400.00.
New York City runs its own separate, stricter handgun licensing system through the NYPD License Division (NYC Administrative Code 10-131; Title 38 of the Rules of the City of New York). NYC fees and procedures differ from the county system described below. NYC applicants should contact the NYPD License Division directly.
Penal Law 400.00(14) sets the only statewide statutory fees. Outside New York City and the counties of Nassau and Westchester, the licensing officer collects and pays into the county treasury:
| Statutory Fee (Penal Law 400.00(14)) | Amount |
|---|---|
| License to carry or possess a pistol or revolver (set by the county legislature within the statutory band) | Not less than $3.00 and not more than $10.00 |
| Each amendment to a license | $3.00 ($5.00 in Suffolk County) |
| Duplicate license | $5.00 |
| Processing a license transfer between counties | $5.00 |
| License issued to a gunsmith or dealer in firearms | $10.00 |
In New York City and in Nassau and Westchester counties, the statute sets the annual gunsmith license fee at $25.00 and the dealer license fee at $50.00, and lets the city council or county legislative body fix the fee charged for a license to carry or possess a handgun. That is why Westchester's posted processing fee is much higher than the $3 to $10 band that applies elsewhere.
The processing fee for a license, or a renewal, is waived in all counties for qualified retired law enforcement, specifically a qualified retired police officer, a qualified retired sheriff, undersheriff, or deputy sheriff of New York City, a qualified retired bridge and tunnel officer, sergeant or lieutenant, a qualified retired uniformed court officer, a qualified retired court clerk in the first and second judicial departments, and a retired correction officer, each as defined in the Criminal Procedure Law sections cross-referenced in Penal Law 400.00(14). This waiver covers the processing or renewal fee, not every county or vendor charge.
The figures below are approximate out-of-pocket totals for a new carry license, drawn from each county's published guidance, not from the Penal Law. County fees and vendor charges change without notice, so confirm current amounts with your county licensing authority before applying.
| County | County/Application Fees | Fingerprinting (LiveScan) | Training Course | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westchester | About $175.00 (set locally) | Included (handled by Dept. of Public Safety) | $200 to $500+ | About $375 to $675+ |
| Jefferson | $136.75 (all-inclusive packet) | Included in total | $200 to $500+ | About $337 to $637+ |
| Dutchess | $25.00 | About $89.75 (via IdentoGo) | $200 to $500+ | About $315 to $615+ |
| Genesee | $25.00 ($5 packet + $20 submission) | About $89.75 (via IdentoGo) | $200 to $500+ | About $315 to $615+ |
| Oswego | $20.00 | About $89.75 (via IdentoGo) | $200 to $500+ | About $310 to $610+ |
Passport-style photos ($7 to $16), notarization, and reference-related costs are extra and vary by county.
Regardless of county, most carry applicants incur these baseline costs:
| Cost Item | Typical Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprinting (electronic LiveScan, often via IdentoGo) | About $89.75 | Covers the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and FBI background checks; set by the vendor, not the Penal Law |
| Firearms safety course (Penal Law 400.00(19)) | $200 to $500+ | Mandatory for carry licenses; 16 classroom hours plus 2 live-fire hours; price set by private instructors |
| Statewide recertification | No state fee | Submitted free through the NY State Police; county amendment fees still apply separately |
Several counties direct applicants to schedule electronic fingerprinting through IdentoGo (operated by IDEMIA). Oswego County, for example, instructs applicants to use uenroll.identogo.com or call 877-472-6915 with service code 157QJJ. The LiveScan fee of about $89.75 covers both the DCJS and FBI background checks. Some counties (for example, Jefferson) take fingerprints in-house at the sheriff's office for a separate fee.
Before a carry license under Penal Law 400.00(2)(f) is issued or renewed, the applicant must complete an in-person live firearms safety course taught by a duly authorized instructor, with curriculum approved by DCJS and the Superintendent of State Police. "Duly authorized instructor" is defined in Penal Law 265.00(19).
Penal Law 400.00(19) sets the structure:
That is 18 hours total. The statute lists the following classroom topics:
To pass, the applicant must score at least 80 percent on a written test for the classroom curriculum and meet the live-fire proficiency level set by DCJS and State Police rules. On passing, the instructor issues a certificate of completion in the applicant's name, endorsed and affirmed under penalty of perjury. An applicant renewing a license that was issued before the CCIA took effect only has to complete this training for the first renewal after the effective date.
Training prices are not regulated by the state. Expect $200 to $500 or more depending on the provider and location.
Separate from the statewide 400.00(19) course, Penal Law 400.00(4-c) and Penal Law 400.00(1)(l) require Westchester County applicants to submit a certificate of successful completion of a firearms safety course and test, issued in the applicant's name and endorsed and affirmed under penalty of perjury by a duly authorized instructor, at the time of application.
New York requires periodic recertification to the State Police. The interval depends on the license type:
Failure to recertify acts as a revocation of the license under Penal Law 400.00(10)(b).
The State Police charge no fee for recertification. Per New York State Police guidance, there are no fees for recertification, but existing county fees for new applications and amendments still apply. Recertification is submitted through the State Police system at firearms.troopers.ny.gov or by paper form. Key points from State Police guidance:
The amounts below come from each county's own published materials. They are not set by the Penal Law and can change. Verify before relying on them.
Source: Westchester County Department of Public Safety and County Clerk
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Processing Fee (New Application) | About $175.00 (*) |
| Amendment - Restriction Change (e.g., to full carry) | $125.00 |
| Amendment - Other (add/remove gun, address change) | $25.00 |
| Local Recertification | About $175.00 (*) |
| Transfer (to or from another county) | $5.00 each direction |
| Duplicate/Lost/Mutilated Replacement | $5.00 |
| Dealer License (new or renewal) | $150.00 |
| Gunsmith License (new or renewal) | $75.00 |
(*) The local processing and recertification fees are waived for the qualified retired law enforcement categories described under Penal Law 400.00(14).
Westchester accepts pistol license applications through the Department of Public Safety Pistol License Unit (914-995-2709), which handles fingerprinting, the interview, and the background investigation, then forwards the matter to the County Clerk and the court. Applicants requesting a carry-concealed restriction change complete a Restriction Change Worksheet. Westchester also requires the county-specific safety course certificate under Penal Law 400.00(4-c) in addition to the statewide 400.00(19) course.
Source: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Records Division
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Application Fee | $136.75 |
| - County application fee | $10.00 |
| - Fingerprinting (in-house) | $21.00 |
| - Photos | $16.00 |
| - LiveScan fee (DCJS and FBI) | $89.75 |
| Transfer (in or out of county) | $5.00 |
| Amendment to permit | $3.00 |
| Pre-printed packet (if supplied) | $5.00 |
Payment is by cash, check, or postal money order payable to "Sheriff of Jefferson County." The full $136.75 is collected at the processing appointment, not at initial submission. All fees are non-refundable, and amendment fees are cash only.
Source: Dutchess County Sheriff's Office
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application submission | $25.00 (postal money order) |
| Amendment form | $3.00 per form |
| Card fee (per card) | $10.00 |
All fees are non-refundable. Applications are mailed with a postal money order to the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, Pistol Permits, 108 Parker Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. The $25.00 fee does not cover fingerprinting; expect about $89.75 for LiveScan via IdentoGo and $200 to $500+ for the required course.
Source: Genesee County Clerk
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Packet | $5.00 |
| Submit Completed Application | $20.00 |
| Duplicate Permit (paper to plastic) | $18.00 |
| Duplicate Permit (existing plastic card) | $11.00 |
| Amendments | $3.00 |
| Plastic Card Fee | $3.00 |
| Transfer (into or out of county) | $5.00 + $6.00 |
| Pistol Permit Photo | $7.00 |
Genesee application fees total about $25.00 ($5 packet plus $20 submission). LiveScan fingerprinting (about $89.75) and the required course are separate.
Source: Oswego County Clerk's Office
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application (obtained at Clerk's office) | $20.00 |
| Adding or removing a handgun | $3.00 per gun |
| New card fee | $5.00 |
| Name change amendment | $3.00 + $5.00 card fee |
| Transfer out of county | $5.00 |
| Transfer into county | $15.00 (total) |
| Background check (if 5+ years since last) | $5.00 |
Fingerprinting is scheduled separately through IdentoGo (uenroll.identogo.com or 877-472-6915, service code 157QJJ); the LiveScan fee (about $89.75) is paid to the vendor. A handgun safety course certificate and fingerprinting receipt must accompany the application. Applicants must be over 21 and Oswego County residents. Contact: Oswego County Clerk's Office, 46 E. Bridge St., Oswego, NY 13126, 315-349-8620.
Under Penal Law 400.00(14), the processing fee for a license or renewal is waived in all counties for the qualified retired law enforcement categories listed in that subdivision (qualified retired police officers, certain retired sheriffs and deputies, retired bridge and tunnel officers, retired uniformed court officers, retired court clerks in the first and second judicial departments, and retired correction officers). Westchester County applies this waiver to both its local processing fee and its local recertification fee. The statutory waiver covers the processing or renewal fee; it does not waive vendor fingerprinting charges, photo fees, or the cost of the required course. Confirm the scope of any waiver with your county.
The CCIA added requirements that, while not line-item fees, add time and effort. Under Penal Law 400.00(1), a carry applicant must be at least 21 (with a narrow exception for certain honorably discharged service members), must be of "good moral character," which the statute defines as "having the essential character, temperament and judgement necessary to be entrusted with a weapon and to use it only in a manner that does not endanger oneself or others," and must not fall within the listed disqualifiers. Under Penal Law 400.00(1)(o), a carry applicant must meet in person with the licensing officer for an interview and must provide the names and contact information of at least four character references, plus household and other information. The same paragraph also calls for a list of the applicant's current and former social media accounts from the past three years; that social-media-disclosure provision was challenged in the Antonyuk litigation and its enforcement has been contested, so verify its current status before relying on it.
DCJS maintains and annually publishes a list of out-of-state convictions that include the essential elements of a New York "serious offense." A person convicted of such an offense on or after April 3, 2021 may be prohibited from possessing firearms or obtaining a license, unless relieved by a pardon, certificate of relief from disabilities, or certificate of good conduct. The list is informational and does not substitute for legal advice. The serious-offense cross-reference appears in Penal Law 400.00(1-b) and Penal Law 265.00.
New York limits a lawful magazine to 10 rounds. Possessing a large capacity ammunition feeding device is criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a class D felony, under Penal Law 265.02(8). (The earlier seven-round load limit was struck down by the courts; the 10-round device limit remains.)
| Statute | Subject |
|---|---|
| Penal Law 400.00 | Licensing and other firearm provisions (master statute) |
| Penal Law 400.00(1)(b) | Definition of "good moral character" |
| Penal Law 400.00(1)(o) | In-person interview, four character references, social media list |
| Penal Law 400.00(2)(f) | Carry-concealed license type |
| Penal Law 400.00(10)(b) | Statewide five-year recertification (general) |
| Penal Law 400.00(10)(d) | Three-year recertification/renewal for carry licenses |
| Penal Law 400.00(14) | Statutory fee schedule and retired-law-enforcement fee waiver |
| Penal Law 400.00(19) | Required firearms safety course (16 classroom + 2 live-fire hours, 80% test) |
| Penal Law 400.00(4-c) | Westchester County safety course certificate |
| Penal Law 265.00(19) | Definition of "duly authorized instructor" |
| Penal Law 265.01-d | Criminal possession in a restricted location |
| Penal Law 265.01-e | Criminal possession in a sensitive location |
| Penal Law 265.02(8) | Possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device (class D felony) |
| Penal Law 265.45 | Failure to safely store firearms |
| Penal Law 35.15 | Justification and duty to retreat outside the home |
| NYC Admin. Code 10-131; 38 RCNY | Separate New York City handgun licensing |
Fees and requirements change. Always confirm current fees, intervals, and procedures with your county licensing authority before applying. This guide is for general information and is not legal advice.
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