Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) Permit Basics

Bottom Line

A Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) is issued by your county sheriff (or, in Philadelphia, the chief of police) under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109. It is valid for 5 years and authorizes you to carry a firearm concealed on your person or in a vehicle anywhere in the Commonwealth. To apply you must be at least 21 years old, pass a background check run through the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS), and pay the $19 statutory license fee plus a $1 validation-system fee. The sheriff has 45 days to issue or deny. Pennsylvania is a shall-issue state in practice: the sheriff must issue unless one of the disqualifiers in 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(e)(1) applies, and a denial is reviewable in the Court of Common Pleas under 18 Pa.C.S. 6114.

Pennsylvania is a licensed-carry state, not a constitutional-carry (permitless) state. You need the LTCF to carry concealed or to carry in a vehicle.

What the LTCF Is

The LTCF is Pennsylvania's only state-issued concealed-carry license. 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(a) states its purpose: "A license to carry a firearm shall be for the purpose of carrying a firearm concealed on or about one's person or in a vehicle throughout this Commonwealth." It is the credential that satisfies 18 Pa.C.S. 6106, which makes carrying a firearm concealed on the person (outside your home or fixed place of business) or carrying a firearm in any vehicle, without a valid license, an offense.

The grade of that 6106 offense matters. Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6106(a)(1), unlicensed carry is a felony of the third degree. Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6106(a)(2), it drops to a misdemeanor of the first degree if the person is otherwise eligible to possess a valid license and has not committed any other criminal violation.

A few things the LTCF is not:

• It is not a permit to purchase a firearm. Pennsylvania has no purchase permit. Handgun transfers are run through PICS at the dealer or the county sheriff's office at the point of sale under 18 Pa.C.S. 6111.
• It is not an open-carry license. Open carry of a firearm by a person who may lawfully possess one is legal statewide without any license, with one exception. In a city of the first class (Philadelphia), 18 Pa.C.S. 6108 prohibits carrying a firearm on public streets or public property unless the person is licensed or is exempt from licensing under 6106(b). Note that 6108 was declared unconstitutional as applied on June 23, 2025 by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in Commonwealth v. Sumpter, 340 A.3d 977 (Pa. Super. 2025), a holding recorded in the statute's own annotation. Treat the area as unsettled and carry the LTCF in Philadelphia.
• It is not a federal credential. Even with a Pennsylvania LTCF, federal restrictions still apply, including gun-free school zones under 18 U.S.C. 922(q) and federal facilities under 18 U.S.C. 930.
• It is not a hunting permit. The separate Sportsman's Firearm Permit under 18 Pa.C.S. 6106(c), issued by the county treasurer for a fee of not more than $6 and valid for five years, lets a licensed hunter, trapper, or angler carry a firearm in connection with that activity. It is not a substitute for the LTCF for general self-defense carry.

Who Issues the LTCF

Pennsylvania's licensing model is decentralized. Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(b), a resident applies to the sheriff of the county in which he resides, except that a resident of a city of the first class applies to the chief of police of that city. Philadelphia is the only city of the first class, so:

• In 66 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, you apply to the county sheriff of the county where you live.
• Philadelphia residents apply to the Philadelphia chief of police (the Police Department's Gun Permits Unit).
• Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) is a home-rule county, but the sheriff still issues the LTCF there. Only Philadelphia is a separate licensing authority by statute.

The application form is uniform statewide. 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(c) requires that "the application for a license to carry a firearm shall be uniform throughout this Commonwealth and shall be on a form prescribed by the Pennsylvania State Police," and that "issuing authorities shall use only the application form prescribed by the Pennsylvania State Police." Counties may add local administrative steps (in-person appointments, a photograph, online scheduling), but no county may impose substantive eligibility criteria beyond what 6109 and 6105 already require.

Eligibility

18 Pa.C.S. 6109(e)(1) is the operative section. It directs that a license "shall be issued if, after an investigation not to exceed 45 days, it appears that the applicant is an individual concerning whom no good cause exists to deny the license," and then lists the people to whom a license shall not be issued:

• An individual whose character and reputation is such that the individual would be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety (6109(e)(1)(i)).
• An individual convicted of an offense under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (6109(e)(1)(ii)).
• An individual convicted of a crime enumerated in 18 Pa.C.S. 6105 (6109(e)(1)(iii)).
• An individual who, within the past ten years, has been adjudicated delinquent for a 6105 crime or a controlled-substance offense (6109(e)(1)(iv)).
• An individual who is not of sound mind or who has ever been committed to a mental institution (6109(e)(1)(v)).
• An individual addicted to or an unlawful user of marijuana, or a stimulant, depressant, or narcotic drug (6109(e)(1)(vi)).
• A habitual drunkard (6109(e)(1)(vii)).
• An individual charged with or convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, except as provided in 18 Pa.C.S. 6123 (waiver of disability or pardons) (6109(e)(1)(viii)).
• A resident of another state who does not hold a current carry license or permit from that state, if that state issues one (6109(e)(1)(ix)).
• An alien who is illegally in the United States (6109(e)(1)(x)).
• An individual discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions (6109(e)(1)(xi)).
• A fugitive from justice, excluding fugitive status based only on a nonmoving or moving summary Title 75 (vehicles) offense (6109(e)(1)(xii)).
• An individual otherwise prohibited from possessing or transferring a firearm under 18 Pa.C.S. 6105 (6109(e)(1)(xiii)).
• An individual prohibited from possessing or acquiring a firearm under the statutes of the United States (6109(e)(1)(xiv)). The principal federal disability list is 18 U.S.C. 922(g), which covers categories such as felony-equivalent convictions, qualifying domestic-violence convictions, active qualifying protective orders, and prior involuntary commitments. (Persons under indictment are barred from receiving or shipping firearms under 18 U.S.C. 922(n), not 922(g).)

Two items deserve emphasis.

Age 21. 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(b) limits LTCF eligibility to an individual "who is 21 years of age or older." This applies even to active-duty military and to applicants who already hold a state ID at 18.

Character and reputation. The character-and-reputation standard in 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(d)(3) and 6109(e)(1)(i) is the main area of sheriff discretion. An applicant denied on this ground may seek judicial review under 18 Pa.C.S. 6114, which routes the appeal through the local-agency-review procedures of 2 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 Subch. B. In practice, denials that survive review tend to rest on documented conduct (violence, threats, instability) rather than on a generalized concern.

What the Application Asks For

18 Pa.C.S. 6109(c) fixes the core content of the application. The form must:

• Be uniform statewide and on the PSP-prescribed form.
• Set forth one reason for obtaining the license: self-defense, employment, hunting and fishing, target shooting, gun collecting, or another proper reason. The statute does not require the sheriff to weigh whether the stated reason is a good one.
• Be dated and signed by the applicant.
• Contain a fixed certification statement, reproduced verbatim on the form, in which the applicant certifies (among other things) that "I have never been convicted of a crime that prohibits me from possessing or acquiring a firearm under Federal or State law. I am of sound mind and have never been committed to a mental institution," that the applicant authorizes the sheriff (or, in a first-class city, the chief of police) to inspect only records relevant to the application, and that the applicant "will promptly notify" the sheriff (or Philadelphia chief of police) if the applicant "knowingly become[s] ineligible to legally possess or acquire firearms." The applicant signs subject to the penalties prescribed by law for a knowing false statement.

The PSP form (the SP4-127 application) collects additional identifying information (name, date of birth, physical description, address, and character references) as a matter of form design. Those specific data fields are part of the application form, not separate requirements enumerated in the text of 6109(c). Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(e)(4), the sheriff must require a photograph of the licensee on the license, in a form compatible with the Commonwealth Photo Imaging Network. Fingerprinting is not required by 6109; some counties collect it and others do not.

The Sheriff's Investigation

Once an application is filed, 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(d) directs the sheriff to:

1. Investigate the applicant's record of criminal conviction (6109(d)(1)).
2. Investigate whether the applicant is under indictment for, or has ever been convicted of, a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year (6109(d)(2)).
3. Investigate whether the applicant's character and reputation are such that the applicant will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety (6109(d)(3)).
4. Investigate whether the applicant would be precluded from a license under 6109(e)(1) or 18 Pa.C.S. 6105(h) (6109(d)(4)).
5. Conduct a criminal background, juvenile delinquency, and mental health check following the procedures in 18 Pa.C.S. 6111, receive a unique approval number, and record the date and number on the application (6109(d)(5)).

The background check is run through PICS, the Pennsylvania Instant Check System operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. Pennsylvania is a point-of-contact state: PSP runs its own PICS check (querying state records and the federal databases) rather than the sheriff or dealer contacting the FBI's NICS directly. A PICS denial is a categorical bar; a PICS approval clears the database review but does not, by itself, resolve the separate character-and-reputation question.

Decision Timeline

18 Pa.C.S. 6109(g) requires the sheriff, within 45 days of receiving the application, to issue or refuse to issue the license on the basis of the 6109(d) investigation and the accuracy of the application. If the sheriff refuses, the refusal must be in writing, must state the specific reasons, and must be sent by certified mail to the applicant. The 45-day cap on the investigation is repeated in 6109(e)(1).

A denial may be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas under 18 Pa.C.S. 6114, which applies the judicial-review procedures of 2 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 Subch. B (review of local agency action). Under 6114, a judgment sustaining a refusal does not bar a new application after one year. Counties vary in how close they run to the 45-day cap; larger counties tend to use most of it.

Term and Validity

18 Pa.C.S. 6109(f)(1): "A license to carry a firearm issued under subsection (e) shall be valid throughout this Commonwealth for a period of five years unless extended under paragraph (3) or sooner revoked." Two points:

• Statewide. The LTCF is honored in every Pennsylvania county. A license issued in Erie County is valid in Philadelphia, and vice versa.
• Five years. The term runs from the date of issuance. Renewal is a fresh application under 6109. Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(f)(2), the sheriff must send a renewal application at least 60 days before expiration, but "failure to receive a renewal application shall not relieve a licensee from the responsibility to renew the license."

There is one narrow grace provision. 18 Pa.C.S. 6106(b)(12) carves out an exception to the 6106 carry offense for a person who held a valid LTCF that "expired within six months prior to the date of arrest" and who "is otherwise eligible for renewal." This is an exception in a 6106 prosecution, not affirmative authorization to keep carrying on an expired license, and it does not reach licenses expired more than six months or applicants with a new disqualifying condition.

A military deployment extension is available under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(f)(3) and (4): an LTCF held by a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Pennsylvania National Guard on federal active duty deployed overseas, scheduled to expire during deployment, is extended until 90 days after the deployment ends. Possession of the license together with a copy of the deployment orders is, during the extension, a defense to a charge under 6106 or 6108.

Fee

The license fee is set by 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(h)(1) at $19. That $19 base fee includes a renewal-notice processing fee of $1.50 (6109(h)(1)(i)) and a $5 administrative fee under section 14(2) of the Sheriff Fee Act (6109(h)(1)(ii)). In addition to the $19, 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(h)(3) requires the applicant to pay another $1, which the sheriff remits to the Firearms License Validation System Account in the General Fund. Total statutory cost is therefore about $20.

The fee is payable at the time of application (6109(h)(5)). Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(h)(4), no fee other than those provided in 6109(h) or the Sheriff Fee Act may be assessed "for the performance of any background check." Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(h)(6), if the application is denied, all fees are refunded except the $5 Sheriff Fee Act administrative fee; there is no refund if a license is issued and later revoked. Selling or attempting to sell a license for more than the statutory amount is a summary offense under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(h)(7).

A temporary emergency license is available under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(m.1) for a person facing imminent danger who cannot wait for a regular LTCF. The applicant submits evidence of imminent danger (defined in 6109(m.1)(10) to include a written document from the Attorney General, a district attorney, a chief law enforcement officer, or a judicial officer, or a police report), a sworn affidavit attesting to eligibility, the regular application form, and a temporary-license fee not exceeding the actual cost of the background check or $10, whichever is less. The temporary license is valid for 45 days and may not be renewed; a person may not receive another temporary emergency license unless at least five years have passed. If the sheriff's investigation comes back clean, the sheriff issues a regular license effective for the balance of the five-year period (6109(m.1)(9)).

What the LTCF Authorizes (and Doesn't)

The LTCF authorizes you to carry a firearm concealed on your person, or in a vehicle, anywhere in Pennsylvania, subject to place restrictions and federal law.

The LTCF does not override:

• K-12 school property. 18 Pa.C.S. 912(b) makes possession of a weapon in the buildings, on the grounds of, or in a conveyance to or from an elementary or secondary school a misdemeanor of the first degree. Section 912(c) provides a defense for a weapon "possessed and used in conjunction with a lawful supervised school activity or course" or "possessed for other lawful purpose," but that defense is narrow and should not be relied on for routine personal carry.
• Court facilities. 18 Pa.C.S. 913(a)(1) makes knowingly possessing a firearm in a court facility an offense, graded a misdemeanor of the third degree under 913(b)(1). Under 913(b)(3), if the person was carrying under 6106(b) or under a 6109 license and merely failed to check the firearm before entering, the offense is a summary offense. Section 913(e) requires each county to provide lockers for temporarily checking firearms at court facilities.
• Federal restrictions. Federal gun-free school zones under 18 U.S.C. 922(q), federal facilities under 18 U.S.C. 930, U.S. Postal Service property under USPS regulations, and the secured area of an airport or the cabin of an aircraft under 49 U.S.C. 46505 all still apply, regardless of your LTCF.
• Private property. A property owner may bar firearms; remaining after being told to leave is handled under trespass law.

Carrying while intoxicated is addressed separately in Pennsylvania's UNDER_INFLUENCE section.

State preemption under 18 Pa.C.S. 6120 bars a county, municipality, or township from regulating "the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth." A local ordinance that purports to add carry restrictions on LTCF holders is preempted. During a declared emergency, 18 Pa.C.S. 6107 restricts carry on public streets and public property, but it expressly exempts a person actively defending life or property, a person licensed under 6109, and a person exempt from licensing under 6106(b).

How Pennsylvania Compares to Neighboring States

Pennsylvania sits toward the more permissive end of the Mid-Atlantic but is not a constitutional-carry state.

• Ohio. Constitutional carry since 2022; residents 21+ may carry concealed without a permit, and Ohio still issues a CCW for reciprocity.
• West Virginia. Constitutional carry since 2016; residents 21+ may carry concealed without a permit, and WV still issues a permit for reciprocity and for 18-to-20-year-olds.
• New York. Permit required for carry; extensive eligibility review and a broad sensitive-place statute after Bruen.
• New Jersey. Shall-issue after Bruen, but with a broad sensitive-place statute that limits practical carry.
• Maryland. Shall-issue after Bruen; training and fingerprinting still required.
• Delaware. Discretionary issuance by the Superior Court after publication and affidavits.

The practical takeaway: Pennsylvania is more permissive than New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware (no training requirement, clean shall-issue framework with judicial review of denials), and less permissive than Ohio and West Virginia (which do not require a permit for residents to carry concealed).

Non-Resident LTCFs

Pennsylvania issues LTCFs to non-residents, but 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(e)(1)(ix) disqualifies a non-resident who does not hold a current carry license or permit from their home state, if their home state issues one. Procedure varies by county (some accept non-resident applications by mail). A non-resident applicant typically submits the PSP application, the $19 fee plus the $1 validation fee and any county photo fee, a copy of the home-state driver's license, a copy of a current home-state carry permit, and the required references. A non-resident LTCF is the same instrument as a resident LTCF and runs for the same five years.

Revocation

18 Pa.C.S. 6109(i) lets the issuing authority revoke an LTCF "for good cause," and requires revocation for any 6109(e)(1) disqualification that arises during the term. The notice must be in writing, must state the specific reason, and must be sent by certified mail, with electronic notice to the Pennsylvania State Police. The licensee must surrender the license within five days of receipt; an individual who violates this provision commits a summary offense. A revocation may be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas under 18 Pa.C.S. 6114.

The certification in 6109(c) runs the other way too: a licensee who knowingly becomes ineligible to possess or acquire firearms must promptly notify the issuing sheriff (or Philadelphia chief of police). A final protection-from-abuse order under 23 Pa.C.S. 6108 can require relinquishment of firearms and any firearm license.

Private Sales and Background Checks

Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6111(c), a private (unlicensed) seller who wants to sell or transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person "shall do so only upon the place of business of a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer or county sheriff's office," which then runs the same PICS procedure as if it were the seller. Transfers between spouses, between a parent and child, and between a grandparent and grandchild are exempt. Because "firearm" for purposes of Chapter 61 is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. 6102 as a pistol or revolver with a barrel under 15 inches, a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches, a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches, or any firearm under 26 inches overall, the 6111(c) dealer-or-sheriff requirement reaches handguns and short-barreled weapons. Private sales of ordinary long guns (standard rifles and shotguns) are not covered and may be transferred privately without a PICS check.

Key PA Statutes Referenced in This Section