Vermont Concealed Carry Laws Explained

Vermont Concealed Carry Laws

Vermont is the original permitless-carry state. A person who may legally possess a firearm under federal and Vermont law may carry it concealed without a permit, training, or fee. Concealed carry is not regulated by a permit system; it is regulated only by general criminal-law restrictions on dangerous-weapon use and by location-specific prohibitions.

Statutory Framework

13 V.S.A. § 4003 - Carrying a dangerous or deadly weapon with intent to injure another

This is the only Vermont statute that criminalizes the act of carrying a weapon. It applies only when carry is paired with the intent to injure another person.

• Standard offense: up to two years and a $2,000 fine.
• Aggravated offense (intent to injure multiple persons): up to 10 years and a $25,000 fine.

Carry alone, without intent to injure, is not a crime under § 4003.

13 V.S.A. § 4004 - Possession of firearms on school property

Knowing possession of a firearm or dangerous or deadly weapon in a school building or on a school bus is a misdemeanor. Possession on school grounds with intent to injure is a felony. Exceptions exist for law enforcement on duty and school-sanctioned uses (such as authorized instruction).

13 V.S.A. § 4017 - Persons posing a risk; certain restrictions

A statutory framework addressing certain prohibited persons and risk-based restrictions.

13 V.S.A. § 4019 - Transfers of firearms by unlicensed persons

Unlicensed transferors must conduct most firearm transfers through a licensed dealer, who must run a background check. Exceptions include transfers between immediate family members (spouse, parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, great-grandparent, great-grandchild, and step- equivalents) and transfers to or from law enforcement.

13 V.S.A. § 4020 - Minimum age to purchase

The sale of a firearm to a person under 21 is prohibited, with exceptions for law enforcement, active or veteran members of the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces, and persons who have completed a Vermont hunter safety course or equivalent approved course.

13 V.S.A. § 4021 - Large-capacity ammunition feeding devices

Possession, sale, transfer, manufacture, or import of magazines or similar devices that accept more than 10 rounds for a long gun or more than 15 rounds for a handgun is prohibited, except for devices lawfully possessed on or before April 11, 2018.

13 V.S.A. § 4053 - Extreme Risk Protection Orders

A court order may prohibit a person from possessing firearms based on a finding of significant risk.

Eligibility to Carry Concealed

Vermont sets no permit-based eligibility because no permit exists. To carry concealed lawfully, a person must:

• Be legally eligible to possess a firearm under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g) and § 922(n)). Disqualifiers include felony conviction, misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, certain restraining orders, unlawful drug use, adjudication as mentally defective or involuntary commitment, illegal-alien status, dishonorable discharge, fugitive status, and indictment for a crime punishable by more than one year.
• Be legally eligible to possess a firearm under Vermont law, including not being subject to a final relief-from-abuse order or an ERPO under 13 V.S.A. § 4053 that prohibits possession.
• Not be carrying with intent to injure another person (13 V.S.A. § 4003).
• For handgun possession by minors, comply with 18 U.S.C. § 922(x) (federal handgun-possession-by-juvenile restrictions, with limited exceptions for hunting, target practice, and similar supervised use).

How Concealment Is Defined

Vermont law does not define "concealed" or require any particular method of carry. Both fully concealed carry (under clothing, in a bag) and open carry are lawful for any person who may lawfully possess a firearm. There is no statutory requirement that a firearm be visible, holstered, or unloaded while carried.

Carry by Non-Residents

Non-residents who are legally eligible to possess a firearm under federal and Vermont law may carry concealed in Vermont without any Vermont-issued permit and without an out-of-state permit. Vermont does not have or need a reciprocity table because no permit is required.

Locations Where Concealed Carry Is Prohibited or Restricted

Even though Vermont allows permitless concealed carry, certain locations remain off-limits under state or federal law. See the Prohibited Places section for the full list. Key prohibitions include:

• School property (13 V.S.A. § 4004)
• Federal buildings and property (18 U.S.C. § 930)
• Federal courthouses
• Courthouses and court-related facilities under Vermont Judiciary security policies
• Private property where the owner has prohibited firearms

Duty to Inform

Vermont has no statutory duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you are carrying a firearm during a traffic stop or other encounter. Volunteering the information is not legally required, though many carriers do so as a matter of practice.

Federal Firearm Laws Still Apply

• Gun Control Act of 1968 (18 U.S.C. Chapter 44) - federal prohibited-person, transfer, and dealer rules.
• Gun-Free School Zones Act (18 U.S.C. § 922(q)) - generally prohibits possessing a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, with exceptions including possession by a licensed permittee in the state issuing the permit (an exception that does not benefit Vermont permitless carriers because Vermont issues no permit).
• 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) and § 922(g)(9) - restraining-order and domestic-violence misdemeanor prohibitions.

Practical Notes

• Carrying alcohol-impaired or drug-impaired is regulated by general criminal-law principles and may aggravate any charge arising from misuse; see the Under Influence section.
• Carrying in a motor vehicle is lawful; see the Vehicle Carry section.
• Carrying a loaded firearm into another state is governed by that state's laws and by the federal "safe passage" provision (18 U.S.C. § 926A) only while in transit; see the Transport section.

Citation Summary