Constitutional Carry in Utah: What the Law Allows

Utah Constitutional Carry Law

Overview

Utah enacted constitutional carry provisions under Utah Code § 53-5a-102.2, effective May 7, 2025. This statute was enacted by Chapter 208 of the 2025 General Session. The law allows permitless carry of firearms, grounded in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Utah Constitution, Article I, Section 6.

Age-Based Carry Rights

Individuals 21 Years Old or Older (Without a Permit)

Under § 53-5a-102.2(1)(b), an individual 21 years old or older may open or conceal carry, without a concealed carry permit:

• An unloaded or loaded firearm on a public street or in any other place not prohibited by state statute or federal law
• An unloaded or loaded handgun in a vehicle in which the individual is lawfully present
• An unloaded rifle, shotgun, or muzzle-loading rifle in a vehicle in which the individual is lawfully present

Individuals 18–20 Years Old (Without a Permit)

Under § 53-5a-102.2(1)(a), an individual 18 years old or older but younger than 21 without a provisional carry permit may only carry in an open manner:

• An unloaded rifle, shotgun, or muzzle-loading rifle in a vehicle in which the individual is lawfully present
• An unloaded or loaded handgun in a vehicle in which the individual is lawfully present
• An unloaded firearm that the individual may otherwise lawfully carry, on a public street

Individuals 18+ With a Concealed Carry Permit

Under § 53-5a-102.2(1)(c), an individual 18 years old or older with a concealed carry permit (issued under § 53-5a-303), temporary concealed carry permit (§ 53-5a-304), provisional concealed carry permit (§ 53-5a-305), or a concealed carry permit lawfully issued by another state, may open or conceal carry a loaded or unloaded firearm:

• In a vehicle in which the individual is lawfully present
• On a public street
• In any other place not prohibited by state statute or federal law

Prohibited Locations

For Permitless Open Carriers (18-20 and 21+)

Under § 53-5a-102.2(2)(a), an individual openly carrying a firearm under Subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b) without a concealed carry permit may not carry the firearm in:

1. Secure areas established under § 76-8-311.1 where dangerous weapons are prohibited and notice is posted
2. Public or private elementary or secondary schools (§ 76-11-205)
3. Institutions of higher education (§ 76-11-205.5)
4. Daycare premises (§ 76-11-206)
5. Airport secure areas (§ 76-11-218)
6. Houses of worship or private residences where dangerous weapons are prohibited (§ 76-11-219)
7. Any other place prohibited by state statute or federal law

For Permitless Concealed Carriers (21+ Only)

Under § 53-5a-102.2(2)(b), an individual 21 years old or older concealing a firearm without a concealed carry permit under Subsection (1)(b) may not carry the firearm in:

1. Secure areas established under § 76-8-311.1 where dangerous weapons are prohibited and notice is posted
2. Public or private elementary or secondary schools (§ 76-11-205)
3. Institutions of higher education (§ 76-11-205.5)
4. Daycare premises (§ 76-11-206)
5. Airport secure areas (§ 76-11-218)
6. Houses of worship or private residences where dangerous weapons are prohibited (§ 76-11-219)
7. Any other place prohibited by state statute or federal law

Note: The prohibited locations for permitless open carry under (2)(a) and permitless concealed carry under (2)(b) are identical. However, (2)(a) applies to all permitless open carriers (ages 18+), while (2)(b) applies only to 21+ permitless concealed carriers.

For Concealed Carry Permit Holders

Under § 53-5a-102.2(2)(c), permit holders may not carry in:

1. Secure areas under § 76-8-311.1 with posted notice
2. Airport secure areas (§ 76-11-218)
3. Houses of worship or private residences where prohibited (§ 76-11-219)
4. Any other place prohibited by state statute or federal law

Note: Utah concealed carry permit holders have fewer restricted locations than permitless carriers — notably, they are not restricted from schools, institutions of higher education, or daycares.

Additional Restrictions for Specific Permit Holders

Under § 53-5a-102.2(2)(d):

• Individuals 18–20 with a provisional concealed carry permit issued under § 53-5a-304 may not carry in any manner on or about the premises of a public or private elementary or secondary school (§ 76-11-205)
• Individuals carrying with a permit from another state may not carry at schools (§ 76-11-205), institutions of higher education (§ 76-11-205.5), or daycares (§ 76-11-206)

Private Property Rights

Under § 53-5a-102.2(3), the law does not prohibit:

• A vehicle owner or lawful possessor from prohibiting another individual from carrying a firearm in their vehicle
• An owner or lawful lessee of private real property from prohibiting another individual from possessing a firearm on the property (subject to exceptions in § 53-5a-102.3)

Vehicle Carry

Under § 53-5a-102.2(4), an individual is lawfully present in a vehicle while carrying a firearm if:

• The vehicle is in the lawful possession of the individual, or
• The individual has consent of the person lawfully in possession of the vehicle

Pending Legislation

As of the source date, proposed 2026 General Session legislation that may affect § 53-5a-102.2 includes:

• H.B. 84 (and substitutes S1, S2, S3)
• H.B. 166
• H.B. 180 (and substitutes S1, S2)
• S.B. 260