Pennsylvania Concealed Carry Resources

This section catalogs Pennsylvania-specific resources for instructors, license holders, and applicants: state government agencies, county-level issuing authorities, advocacy organizations, statutory references, and reciprocity tools. Pennsylvania is a licensed-carry state, not a permitless or constitutional-carry state. A License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109 is required to carry a firearm concealed on or about the person or in a vehicle anywhere in the Commonwealth, and carrying that way without a license is an offense under 18 Pa.C.S. 6106. Open carry of a firearm by a person who may lawfully possess one is generally legal statewide without a license, with one major exception: in Philadelphia (a city of the first class), 18 Pa.C.S. 6108 requires a license to carry on the public streets or on public property. The Superior Court held 6108 unconstitutional as applied in Commonwealth v. Sumpter, 340 A.3d 977 (Pa. Super. 2025); the ruling is as-applied, not facial, and 6108 has not been repealed, so treat Philadelphia as still requiring a license until the Pennsylvania Supreme Court or the General Assembly resolves the question.

Pennsylvania is unusual among states because the issuing authority is the county sheriff, not a state agency, with one exception: in Philadelphia, the LTCF is issued by the Philadelphia Police Department's Gun Permits Unit (the chief of police of a city of the first class under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(b)). The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) operates the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) for background checks but does not issue LTCFs. Verify links and fees against the issuing authority before each class cycle.

Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)

The Pennsylvania State Police is the state agency most often involved in firearms transactions, even though it does not issue LTCFs. The PSP operates the PICS background-check system, manages firearms records, and publishes guidance for dealers, licensees, and law-enforcement partners.

• Pennsylvania State Police, Firearms Information (https://www.psp.pa.gov/firearms-information). Top-level page for PSP firearms guidance, including the PICS overview, licensing FAQs for dealers, and reporting requirements.
• Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) (https://www.psp.pa.gov/firearms-information/pages/pennsylvania-instant-check-system.aspx). PSP's instant background-check program established under 18 Pa.C.S. 6111.1. PICS is queried at every firearm sale through a licensed dealer in Pennsylvania, and the sheriff queries it before issuing an LTCF under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(d)(5). PICS also runs a challenge process for applicants who believe a denial was based on incorrect record information; the challenge runs through PSP, not the FBI.
• Pennsylvania State Police, Contact Us (https://www.psp.pa.gov/contact-us). General PSP contact information, including the Bureau of Records and Identification, which administers PICS.
• PSP Firearms Division phone: (717) 783-5598. PSP Headquarters: 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. The PSP does not give legal advice and does not interpret LTCF eligibility for individual applicants.

The PSP also publishes the annual Firearms Annual Report, which breaks down PICS volume, denial reasons, and LTCF totals by county.

County Sheriffs (LTCF Issuing Authorities)

In Pennsylvania, the sheriff of the county where the applicant resides issues the License to Carry Firearms under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109. An applicant must be 21 years of age or older (18 Pa.C.S. 6109(b)), and the sheriff must issue or refuse the license within 45 days of receiving the application (18 Pa.C.S. 6109(e)(1) and 6109(g)). A license is valid for five years unless sooner revoked (18 Pa.C.S. 6109(f)(1)). There are 67 counties, and procedures vary materially: some sheriffs accept walk-in applications, some require an appointment, some require a separately-scheduled fingerprint and photo session, and some accept payment by card while others require cash or check. Always send students to the sheriff's website for their home county.

A non-exhaustive list of county sheriff LTCF resources for Pennsylvania's most populated counties:

• Allegheny County Sheriff (Pittsburgh) (https://www.alleghenycounty.us/sheriff).
• Montgomery County Sheriff (https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/187/Sheriff).
• Bucks County Sheriff (https://www.buckscounty.gov/sheriff). Accepts applications by appointment; takes photograph and fingerprints in-house and issues many LTCFs the same day.
• Chester County Sheriff (https://www.chesco.org/175/Sheriff). Publishes a downloadable LTCF application packet.
• Delaware County Sheriff (https://www.delcopa.gov/sheriff).
• Lancaster County Sheriff (https://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/195/Sheriff).
• Lehigh County Sheriff (Allentown) (https://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Sheriff).
• York County Sheriff (https://yorkcountypa.gov/sheriff).
• Berks County Sheriff (Reading) (https://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Sheriff). Publishes a Firearm License Unit page with current fees and turnaround times.
• Westmoreland County Sheriff (https://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/170/Sheriff). The county's Links and Resources page includes the LTCF application packet.
• Erie County Sheriff (https://eriecountypa.gov/sheriff). Forms, Permits, and Fees page lists current LTCF fees.
• Monroe County Sheriff (Stroudsburg) (https://www.monroecountypa.gov/sheriff). Includes a Concealed Weapons FAQ and an LTCF packet.
• Dauphin County Sheriff (Harrisburg) (https://www.dauphincounty.gov/sheriff).

For any other county, search "[county name] county sheriff Pennsylvania license to carry firearms." The LTCF fee is fixed by statute, not set county-by-county. Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(h)(1) the base fee is $19 (which itself includes a $1.50 renewal-notice processing fee and a $5 Sheriff Fee Act administrative fee), and 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(h)(3) adds a further $1 for the Firearms License Validation System Account, for a total of $20 paid at application. The same total applies to a renewal. A sheriff may not charge any additional fee for the background check beyond what the statute allows (18 Pa.C.S. 6109(h)(4)), and selling or attempting to sell a license for more than the statutory amount is a summary offense (18 Pa.C.S. 6109(h)(7)). Any sheriff page quoting a higher application fee is incorrect; verify with a phone call before referring a student.

Philadelphia Police Department, Gun Permits Unit

Philadelphia is the only Pennsylvania jurisdiction where the License to Carry Firearms is not issued by the sheriff. Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(b), an applicant who resides in a city of the first class applies to the chief of police of that city, and in Philadelphia that authority is exercised through the Philadelphia Police Department's Gun Permits Unit. Philadelphia is also the only place where a license (or an exemption under 18 Pa.C.S. 6106(b)) is required to carry a firearm openly on the public streets or public property, under 18 Pa.C.S. 6108.

• Philadelphia Police Department, Gun Permits Unit (https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-or-renew-a-license-to-carry-firearms). The official Philadelphia LTCF page. Includes the application form, supporting-document list, current fee, and the address of the Gun Permits Unit.
• Gun Permits Unit physical address. 990 Spring Garden Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19123. Applicants must apply in person, by appointment.
• Philadelphia Police Department, Contact (https://www.phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-police-department). Top-level contact page; the non-emergency line is (215) 686-1776.

Philadelphia processing has historically been slower than the rest of Pennsylvania (reported turnaround can extend several weeks during periods of high application volume, though the statutory deadline remains 45 days under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(g)). The Gun Permits Unit also runs an in-person interview during appointments. Instructors who teach Philadelphia residents should confirm current turnaround on the city's LTCF page before quoting timelines in class.

Pennsylvania General Assembly and Statute Portals

Pennsylvania publishes its statutes through two complementary systems. The unofficial but widely-used Purdon's compilation is mirrored by Westlaw and the PA General Assembly's website. The official Pennsylvania Code (regulations) and Pennsylvania Bulletin (notices) are at pacodeandbulletin.gov.

• Pennsylvania General Assembly (https://www.legis.state.pa.us/). Top-level page. Search bills, session laws, and the consolidated statutes. Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) Chapter 61 governs firearms in Pennsylvania, including Section 6105 (persons not to possess firearms), Section 6106 (carrying firearms without a license), Section 6108 (carrying in Philadelphia), Section 6109 (License to Carry Firearms), and Section 6111 (firearm sale documentation and PICS).
• PA Consolidated Statutes, Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) (https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=18). Direct link to Title 18. Chapter 61 begins at Section 6101.
• PA Code and Bulletin (regulations) (https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/). The Pennsylvania Code is the codified administrative regulations. The Pennsylvania Bulletin is the weekly notice publication where new regulations are first published. Most PA firearms law lives in the statute, not the regulations, but PSP firearms-dealer compliance and Lethal Weapons Training Program requirements are partly regulatory.
• Pennsylvania Bulletin (current issues) (https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull). Useful when checking whether a recent regulation has gone effective.
• Co-Sponsorship Memos (https://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm). Posted in advance of bill introduction; signals what firearms legislation is being prepared in either chamber. Useful for tracking pending changes (constitutional carry proposals, magazine-capacity bills, red-flag bills) before they become law.

Key Pennsylvania Firearms Statutes to Bookmark

Pennsylvania Attorney General

The Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General (OAG) does not issue LTCFs but, under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(k), holds the power and duty to enter reciprocity agreements and to maintain and publish the official list of recognized states. The OAG also issues opinions, runs the Gun Violence Task Force in Philadelphia, and handles consumer-protection complaints.

• Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/). Top-level page. Includes the OAG opinions index and the consumer-protection complaint portal.
• OAG Opinions (https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/the-office/legal-opinions/). Pennsylvania Attorney General opinions are persuasive (not binding) on courts but generally control how Commonwealth agencies interpret an unclear statute.
• Consumer-protection complaints (https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/). For dealer disputes; not for criminal complaints.

Pennsylvania Hunting and Public-Land Resources

Pennsylvania has two relevant land managers: the PA Game Commission (State Game Lands) and DCNR (state parks and forests). Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(m.2), an LTCF holder may carry on Commonwealth property notwithstanding certain agency rules, but specific facilities and seasonal closures can change the analysis.

• Pennsylvania Game Commission (https://www.pgc.pa.gov/). Manages State Game Lands and publishes the annual Hunting and Trapping Digest with in-effect rules on firearm transport during open seasons. PGC also runs the required Hunter-Trapper Education program for first-time license applicants.
• DCNR State Parks and Forests (https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks). Publishes facility-by-facility rules, including which buildings are posted as off-limits to firearms, and designates specific shooting areas on state forest lands.

Federal Resources

Pennsylvania licensees and instructors operate within both state and federal firearms law. The federal layer governs interstate transport, NFA items, federally-prohibited persons, and federally-restricted locations (federal buildings, post offices, federal courthouses, and the secured areas of airports).

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) (https://www.atf.gov/). Federal regulator for FFL licensees and NFA registration. Publishes the State Laws and Published Ordinances guide, which includes the Pennsylvania chapter.
• ATF Firearms Forms (https://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-forms). Form 4473 (purchase background check), Form 4 (NFA transfer), and Form 1 (NFA make).
• National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) (https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/nics). Pennsylvania is a point-of-contact state that runs its own PICS check under 18 Pa.C.S. 6111 and 6111.1 for in-state dealer sales and LTCF applications, rather than sending those queries directly to the FBI. A federal NICS denial appeal goes through the FBI; a state PICS challenge stays in Pennsylvania.
• U.S. Department of Justice (https://www.justice.gov/). Federal firearm prosecutions in Pennsylvania go through the state's three U.S. Attorney's Offices (Eastern, Middle, Western Districts).
• U.S. Courts (PACER) (https://www.pacer.gov/). Federal district-court case lookup for the three Districts of Pennsylvania.
• 18 U.S.C. 922 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922). The core federal firearms statute. Subsection 922(g) lists the categories of persons who may not possess firearms; persons merely under indictment for a felony are covered separately by 922(n), not 922(g). A person prohibited under federal law is also disqualified from a Pennsylvania LTCF under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(e)(1)(xiv).
• Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/926B and https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/926C). The federal carry authority for qualified active (926B) and qualified retired (926C) law enforcement officers. LEOSA is a federal authority that exists alongside, not within, the Pennsylvania LTCF program.
• 49 U.S.C. 46505 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/46505). The federal statute governing carrying a concealed or accessible weapon into an airport sterile area or onto an aircraft. This, not the general firearms provisions of 18 U.S.C. 924, is the controlling federal airport-carry offense.

Reciprocity and Travel Resources

Under 18 Pa.C.S. 6109(k) and 6109(m), the Attorney General negotiates reciprocity agreements and maintains the official list of states whose permits Pennsylvania recognizes and which states recognize a Pennsylvania LTCF. The OAG's list is the controlling source.

• Pennsylvania Attorney General, Reciprocity Agreements (https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/reciprocity/). The official Pennsylvania reciprocity page. Lists which states' permits are valid in Pennsylvania (recognition) and which states honor a Pennsylvania LTCF. The list is updated as agreements change. Treat third-party reciprocity maps as a starting point only and verify against this page.
• Handgunlaw.us, Pennsylvania page (https://handgunlaw.us/states/pennsylvania.pdf). Widely-used third-party reciprocity reference. The handgunlaw.us PDF is generally accurate and is updated quickly after a new bilateral agreement is announced, but it is not authoritative; the OAG list controls.
• USCCA Reciprocity Map (https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/). Another widely-used third-party reciprocity resource. Useful for visualizing reciprocity at a glance, but verify against the OAG list before traveling.
• Florida nonresident concealed-weapon license (https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Concealed-Weapon-License). Some Pennsylvania residents (particularly those in Philadelphia or Allegheny County) obtain a Florida nonresident permit because Florida's reciprocity footprint differs from Pennsylvania's. Florida is a common second-permit choice for instructors working with multi-state students.
• Utah nonresident concealed-firearm permit (https://bci.utah.gov/concealed-firearm/). Another widely-recognized nonresident permit. Pennsylvania does not require its own residents to hold a Utah permit, but nonresident Pennsylvania workers occasionally use one to extend reciprocity.

Advocacy Organizations and Industry Resources

These organizations are not government sources, and their guidance is not authoritative on Pennsylvania law. They are useful for tracking pending legislation, mobilizing on rule changes, and accessing legal-defense resources.

• NRA-ILA Pennsylvania (https://www.nraila.org/states/pennsylvania/). Tracks pending firearms legislation and publishes alerts during the General Assembly session.
• NRA Political Victory Fund, Pennsylvania (https://www.nrapvf.org/pennsylvania/). Tracks endorsements and grades for state-level offices.
• Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) (https://www.ccrkba.org/). National advocacy organization with state-by-state action alerts and legislative scorecards.
• Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists (https://www.pfsc.org/). Pennsylvania's largest sportsmen's federation, engaged in firearms and conservation advocacy.
• Firearm Owners Against Crime (FOAC) (https://www.foac-pac.org/). Pennsylvania-specific gun-rights PAC. Publishes a weekly newsletter with state legislative updates.
• Gun Owners of America (https://www.gunowners.org/). National gun-rights organization with state-level engagement.
• CeaseFirePA (https://www.ceasefirepa.org/). Pennsylvania-based gun-violence-prevention advocacy group. Useful as a counter-perspective resource when teaching the policy module of an LTCF course.
• U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) (https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/). Publishes training materials, the reciprocity map, and self-defense liability insurance.
• National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) (https://www.nssf.org/). Trade association for the firearms industry. Publishes the Don't Lie for the Other Guy straw-purchase prevention campaign that PSP and PA dealers participate in.

Pennsylvania Lethal Weapons Training Program (Act 235)

Pennsylvania's Lethal Weapons Training Act (Act 235 of 1974) governs certification for privately-employed agents (security guards, armored-car drivers, private investigators) who carry lethal weapons in the course of their employment. Act 235 is administered by the PSP, not the sheriff, and it is separate from the LTCF. An LTCF authorizes private concealed carry; an Act 235 certification authorizes carrying in a security-officer capacity on duty.

• PSP Lethal Weapons Training Program (https://www.psp.pa.gov/lethal-weapons-training). Top-level program page. Lists approved training schools, current certification fees, and the renewal cycle.

Instructors who train private-security students should know that the Act 235 curriculum is set by PSP and is materially different from a private LTCF course; a generic concealed-carry course does not satisfy Act 235 requirements.

Records, Background Checks, and Related State Services

Several state services produce documents or perform checks that intersect with LTCF eligibility.

• PSP Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) (https://epatch.pa.gov/). Pennsylvania's online criminal-history record-check portal. A student who is uncertain whether a prior conviction disqualifies them under 18 Pa.C.S. 6105 should pull their own CHRI before paying the application fee.
• Megan's Law Public Website (https://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/). PSP-operated sex-offender registry. Some sex-offense convictions disqualify an applicant from an LTCF.
• Pennsylvania Driver and Vehicle Services (https://www.dmv.pa.gov/). PennDOT's driver-services portal. The LTCF application accepts a Pennsylvania driver license or state ID regardless of REAL ID status.
• PA Unified Judicial System Web Portal (https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/). Searchable public docket for state-court cases. Useful when a student needs to confirm whether an old case was dismissed, expunged, or still open.
• PA Board of Pardons (https://www.bop.pa.gov/). Where Pennsylvania residents apply for a pardon, one path to restoring firearm rights after a disqualifying conviction. Pennsylvania law also recognizes pardons and limited relief in connection with disabilities under 18 Pa.C.S. 6105 and 6123. The process is multi-year and discretionary; refer students to a private attorney before they begin.

How to Verify a Pennsylvania Source Before Class

A practical workflow for instructors:

1. Open the OAG Reciprocity page and the issuing-authority page (county sheriff or Philadelphia Police Gun Permits Unit) at the start of every quarter, and confirm the application fee, renewal fee, and current turnaround.
2. Re-download the LTCF application packet from the issuing-authority page and compare any revision date against the version in your training packet.
3. Pull current statute text from the PA General Assembly site when teaching any specific Chapter 61 section.
4. Cross-check reciprocity claims against the OAG list, not against handgunlaw.us or USCCA maps.
5. When a question depends on PSP procedure (PICS, Act 235, dealer recordkeeping), check the PSP firearms page.
6. When a question depends on Philadelphia-specific procedure, check the Philadelphia Police Gun Permits Unit page; Philadelphia rules sometimes differ from the rest of the state.

When sources conflict, the issuing authority controls for licensing and program administration, the statute (followed by case law) controls for the underlying legal question, and the OAG controls for reciprocity.