Washington Firearm Laws: Other Topics

The Headline

This section covers Washington firearm rules that do not fit cleanly into the other parts of this guide: private sales and the universal background check (RCW 9.41.113), the dealer-delivery process and the ten-business-day waiting period (RCW 9.41.090, RCW 9.41.092), the buyer training requirement (RCW 9.41.090, RCW 9.41.1132), the future permit-to-purchase requirement (RCW 9.41.121, effective May 1, 2027), juvenile possession (RCW 9.41.040, RCW 9.41.042), domestic-violence prohibitors, ammunition and magazine rules, antique and curio categories, the hunting-regulation overlay, tribal-land jurisdiction, the self-defense reimbursement statute (RCW 9A.16.110), and the federal framework that sits underneath all of it.

Washington is a heavily regulated firearms state. Most of what lands in this catch-all is regulated at the state level, often more strictly than the federal floor. Where another section of this guide owns the operative text (for example PROHIBITED_PLACES for RCW 9.41.300, or NFA_ITEMS for the state machine-gun and short-barreled-shotgun rules), this section cross-references that section rather than duplicating it.

Private firearm sales and the universal background check

Washington requires a background check on nearly all firearm transfers, including private sales between residents. Initiative 594 (approved November 2014, codified at RCW 9.41.113) routed private transfers through a licensed dealer who runs the federal NICS check and applies state requirements.

Operative rule (RCW 9.41.113): all firearm sales or transfers, in whole or part in this state, are subject to background checks unless specifically exempted. Where neither party is a licensed dealer, the parties must complete the transfer through a licensed dealer, who conducts the background check and meets all federal and state recordkeeping requirements. The dealer may charge a fee reflecting the fair market value of its administrative costs.

Exceptions in RCW 9.41.113(4) include:

• A transfer between immediate family members that is a bona fide gift or loan. The statute limits "immediate family" to spouses, domestic partners, parents, parents-in-law, children, siblings, siblings-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, first cousins, aunts, and uncles.
• The sale or transfer of an antique firearm.
• A temporary transfer necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, lasting only as long as immediately necessary, to a person not prohibited from possessing firearms.
• A temporary transfer intended to prevent suicide or self-inflicted great bodily harm.
• Any law enforcement or corrections agency or officer, United States marshal, member of the armed forces or national guard, or federal official acting within the scope of official duties.
• A federally licensed gunsmith receiving a firearm solely for service or repair.
• Certain temporary transfers: between spouses or domestic partners; at an authorized shooting range; at a lawful organized competition or while practicing for an organized performance using firearms; to a person under 18 for lawful hunting, sporting, or educational purposes under the direct supervision of a responsible adult; while the firearm remains in the transferor's presence; or while hunting where the hunting is legal and the recipient holds all required licenses.
• Acquisition by operation of law on the death of the former owner (with a 60-day window and a department-of-licensing notification requirement for a pistol).
• A sale or transfer to a licensed collector where the firearm is a curio or relic.
• A transfer, loan, gift, or bequest to or from a museum or historical society.

Penalty: a knowing violation of RCW 9.41.113 is a gross misdemeanor for the first offense and a class C felony for a second or subsequent knowing violation. A separate offense is charged for each firearm sold or transferred without complying with the background-check requirement. These penalties are set out in RCW 9.41.115, not in RCW 9.41.113 itself.

Federal overlay on top of the state rule:

• 18 U.S.C. 922(d) makes it a federal felony to transfer a firearm or ammunition to a person the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe is prohibited (felon, fugitive, unlawful drug user, person adjudicated mentally defective or committed, certain immigration categories, person under a qualifying restraining order, person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence).
• 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(5) generally bars firearm transfers between residents of different states except through a federal licensee.
• 18 U.S.C. 922(t) requires a NICS check for transfers through a federally licensed dealer.
• 18 U.S.C. 922(x) bars transfer of a handgun or handgun ammunition to a juvenile under 18, with narrow enumerated exceptions.

Buyer training requirement

Effective January 1, 2024, Washington requires proof of firearm safety training before a dealer may deliver a firearm. The requirement comes from House Bill 1143 (2023 c 161) and is enforced through RCW 9.41.090, with the program standards set out in RCW 9.41.1132. The training requirement is separate from the Concealed Pistol License; it gates every dealer firearm purchase, not just concealed carry.

Operative rule (RCW 9.41.090(1)(a)): a dealer may not deliver a firearm until the purchaser provides proof of completion of a recognized firearm safety training program within the last five years that complies with RCW 9.41.1132, or proof of exemption.

Under the version of RCW 9.41.1132 in effect now (until May 1, 2027), the training must, at a minimum, cover:

• Basic firearm safety rules.
• Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety.
• Firearms and suicide prevention.
• Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use.
• Safe handling of firearms.
• State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited transfers and locations where firearms are prohibited.
• State law on the use of deadly force for self-defense.
• Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and managing a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution.

The training must be sponsored by a federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, a college or university, a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or a firearms training school whose instructors are certified by such an organization. The current statute does not set a minimum number of hours and does not require a live-fire component (a live-fire requirement is added in the version of RCW 9.41.1132 that takes effect May 1, 2027). Proof of training is a certification made under penalty of perjury.

Exemptions (RCW 9.41.1132(4)) cover Washington general, limited, and specially commissioned peace officers and federal peace officers who carry a firearm as a normal part of their duties, and active members of the armed forces, national guard, or reserves who completed qualifying firearms training within the last five years. There is no general exemption for CPL holders. Confirm exemption status with the dealer at the point of sale.

The ten-business-day waiting period

The waiting period lives in RCW 9.41.092, not in RCW 9.41.090. Except as otherwise provided in the chapter, a licensed dealer may not deliver any firearm to a purchaser or transferee until (1) all required background checks are complete and the purchaser is not prohibited and has no voluntary waiver of firearm rights in effect, and (2) ten business days have elapsed from the date the dealer requested the background check.

Practical effects:

• A buyer cannot complete a background check and leave with a firearm the same day.
• The ten-business-day clock runs from the dealer's background-check request, not from payment.
• House Bill 1143 (2023) extended the ten-business-day waiting period to all firearm purchases. Before that, the longer waiting period applied to pistols and, under Initiative 1639 (2018), to semiautomatic assault rifles.
• The waiting period does not apply to sales to licensed dealers for resale or to antique firearms (RCW 9.41.090(6)).

Permit to purchase (effective May 1, 2027)

Washington enacted a permit-to-purchase requirement in 2025 (House Bill 1163, 2025 c 370). It is not yet in effect. The permit-to-purchase system, codified at RCW 9.41.121, takes effect May 1, 2027. As of that date, a dealer may not deliver a firearm until the purchaser produces a valid permit to purchase issued by the Washington State Patrol firearms background check program. The permit application requires fingerprints, a certificate of completion of a certified firearms safety training program (the post-2027 version of RCW 9.41.1132 adds a live-fire component), and an application fee. Until May 1, 2027, the training-plus-waiting-period framework above governs; do not assume a purchase permit is required before that date.

Juveniles and firearms

Under RCW 9.41.040(2)(a)(v), a person under 18 may not possess a firearm except as provided in RCW 9.41.042. Unlawful possession of a firearm by a juvenile is generally unlawful possession in the second degree, a class C felony.

RCW 9.41.042 lists the situations in which a person under 18 may possess a firearm, including:

• Attendance at a hunter safety or firearm safety course.
• Practice or target shooting at an authorized range or in an area where discharge is not prohibited.
• An organized competition or an organized performance that uses firearms.
• Hunting or trapping under a valid Title 77 license.
• In an area where discharge is permitted, while not trespassing, if the minor is at least 14, holds a hunter safety certificate, and is using a lawful firearm other than a pistol, or is under the supervision of a parent, guardian, or approved adult.
• Traveling with an unloaded firearm to or from any of the above activities.
• On real property under the control of a parent, relative, or legal guardian, with permission.
• At the minor's residence, with parental permission, for the self-defense purposes recognized in RCW 9A.16.020(3).
• Service as a member of the armed forces, national guard, or organized reserves, when on duty.

Of these, only the travel exception requires the firearm to be unloaded by its terms.

Separately, a person under 21 may not purchase a pistol or a semiautomatic assault rifle, and a person 18 to 20 may possess a pistol or semiautomatic assault rifle only in limited places and circumstances (RCW 9.41.240). The age-21 rule for semiautomatic assault rifles came from Initiative 1639 (2018).

Federal overlay: 18 U.S.C. 922(x) bars the transfer of a handgun or handgun ammunition to a person under 18 except in narrow enumerated cases.

Domestic-violence prohibitors

Washington layers state and federal prohibitors on domestic-violence convictions and protection orders.

• Unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree (RCW 9.41.040(1)) is a class B felony and applies to a person previously convicted, or found not guilty by reason of insanity, of any "serious offense."
• Unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree (RCW 9.41.040(2)) is a class C felony. It applies to other felonies and to a list of misdemeanor and gross-misdemeanor domestic-violence-related crimes (including fourth-degree assault, harassment, stalking, and the broader list of crimes committed on or after July 23, 2023 in RCW 9.41.040(2)(a)(i)(D)).
• It also applies to possession while the person is subject to a qualifying protection order, no-contact order, or restraining order described in RCW 9.41.040(2)(a)(ii), including an order under RCW 9.41.800.
• RCW 9.41.800 authorizes a court to order a person to surrender firearms and concealed pistol licenses and prohibits future possession while the order is in effect. Possessing a firearm in violation of such an order is itself unlawful possession of a firearm under RCW 9.41.040(2)(a)(ii).
• Federal 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) bars possession by a person subject to a qualifying domestic-violence protection order.
• Federal 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9) bars possession by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

The U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Rahimi (2024) upheld 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) against a Second Amendment challenge, so the federal protection-order prohibitor remains good law after Bruen.

Ammunition and magazine rules

Washington imposes no permit, registration, or background-check requirement on the purchase of ordinary ammunition. Federal 18 U.S.C. 922(d) still prohibits selling ammunition to a prohibited person.

Magazine-capacity restriction (RCW 9.41.370): no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any "large capacity magazine," defined in RCW 9.41.010 as an ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds. The ban targets the commercial chain, not mere continued possession of a magazine already owned. A violation is a gross misdemeanor. The statute took effect July 1, 2022 (2022 c 104).

Litigation status: the Washington Supreme Court upheld the magazine ban in State v. Gator's Custom Guns (decided May 8, 2025), in a 7-2 decision holding that magazines over 10 rounds are not protected "arms." The gun shop petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for review; confirm the current status of that petition before relying on the ban being final. See RESTRICTIONS for the full magazine framework.

Antique firearms and curios

Federal 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(16) defines an antique firearm as one manufactured in or before 1898, plus certain muzzleloaders and replicas. Washington follows the federal antique definition for most purposes. As a result, antique firearms typically:

• Are exempt from the universal background check (RCW 9.41.113(4)(b)).
• Are exempt from the dealer-delivery process and the ten-business-day waiting period (RCW 9.41.090(6)).
• Remain subject to the felon-in-possession bars under RCW 9.41.040 and federal 18 U.S.C. 922(g) in many circumstances. The federal "firearm" definition for prohibited-persons purposes excludes antiques, but state law can apply more broadly, so confirm with counsel in any case involving a prohibited person and an antique.

Curios and relics are ordinary firearms for state and most federal purposes. The collector (C&R) designation primarily affects how a licensed collector acquires and transfers firearms, not state carry or possession rules. RCW 9.41.113(4)(i) exempts a sale of a curio or relic to a licensed collector from the universal background check.

NFA items and Washington state law

NFA items (suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, machine guns, destructive devices, and any other weapons) are covered in detail in NFA_ITEMS. The short version for Washington:

• Suppressors are not listed among the weapons prohibited by RCW 9.41.190 and are lawful to possess if registered under federal law.
• Short-barreled rifles are lawful in Washington if the person is in compliance with applicable federal law (RCW 9.41.190(2)).
• Machine guns, short-barreled shotguns, bump-fire stocks, and undetectable firearms remain prohibited under RCW 9.41.190; a violation is a class C felony, and these items are declared contraband under RCW 9.41.220. The statute provides an affirmative defense for a machine gun or short-barreled shotgun acquired before July 1, 1994 and possessed in compliance with federal law.
• Federal NFA tax: under Public Law 119-21, the making and transfer tax is $200 for a machinegun or destructive device and $0 for other NFA items (including suppressors, SBRs, and short-barreled shotguns), effective for calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025, with the first qualifying quarter beginning January 1, 2026. The federal tax change does not override Washington's state-law bans on machine guns and short-barreled shotguns. Some ATF pages may still display the old $200 figure.

State preemption (RCW 9.41.290) prevents local jurisdictions from adding their own NFA-specific restrictions.

Self-defense reimbursement

RCW 9A.16.110 provides that when a person charged with a violent crime is found not guilty by reason of self-defense, the state reimburses the defendant for reasonable costs, including legal fees, loss of time, and other defense expenses. The trier of fact must find that the self-defense claim was sustained by a preponderance of the evidence, and the judge then sets the award. The provision is unusual nationally and reflects a deliberate Washington policy choice. See USE_OF_FORCE for the full self-defense framework.

Washington does not have a pretrial criminal-immunity statute on the Florida model. Self-defense is an affirmative defense raised at trial, not a basis for early dismissal. A criminal acquittal does not automatically bar a related civil suit.

Hunting overlay

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regulates hunting under RCW Title 77. Firearms used in hunting are subject to species-specific equipment rules that are independent of RCW Title 9.41. Key points:

• RCW 77.15.460 makes it a misdemeanor to possess a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle or on an off-road vehicle, and to negligently discharge a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway or from within a moving vehicle. A rifle or shotgun is not "loaded" for this purpose if the detachable magazine is not inserted. See VEHICLE_CARRY.
• A hunting license does not authorize concealed carry. A Concealed Pistol License under RCW 9.41.070, or one of the exceptions in RCW 9.41.060, is needed for that.
• Hunting on private land requires landowner permission; hunting on tribal land requires tribal authorization.

Tribal lands

Tribal nations in Washington may regulate firearms within their reservation boundaries. State firearms law generally applies to non-Indian persons on fee-patent land within a reservation, while tribal law governs tribal members and certain on-reservation conduct. The interplay is fact-specific. A person carrying through a reservation should:

• Check the specific tribe's regulations. Some tribal codes mirror state law; others add restrictions.
• Treat tribal gaming facilities as posted private property where firearms are typically prohibited regardless of CPL status.
• Recognize that tribal police may detain and refer to state or federal authorities for prosecution.

Federal framework and preemption

Federal firearms law sets a floor that no state can fall below, and Washington consistently legislates above that floor (universal background check, ten-business-day wait, magazine cap, assault-weapon manufacture-and-sale ban, buyer training). On substantive carry, possession, and transfer rules, Washington's stricter framework governs in-state conduct.

Two federal statutes come up often:

• 18 U.S.C. 926A (the Firearms Owners Protection Act safe-transport provision) protects interstate transport of an unloaded firearm in a locked container, with ammunition stored separately, when the person may lawfully possess the firearm at both the origin and the destination. It is an affirmative defense, not pretrial immunity. See TRANSPORT.
• The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. 926B (active officers) and 18 U.S.C. 926C (qualified retired officers), authorizes qualified current and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed nationwide, subject to the statute's conditions. LEOSA does not override every Washington location restriction; the prohibited-places rules in RCW 9.41.300 still apply where LEOSA does not preempt them.

If the OTHER section ever discusses secured-area airport or aircraft carry, the controlling federal statute is 49 U.S.C. 46505 (carrying a weapon or explosive aboard aircraft), not the general firearm provisions of 18 U.S.C. 924.

Recent and pending legislation worth tracking

• House Bill 1143 (2023 c 161): buyer training requirement and the ten-business-day waiting period for all firearms, effective January 1, 2024 (RCW 9.41.090, RCW 9.41.1132, RCW 9.41.092).
• Substitute House Bill 1240 (2023 c 162): assault weapon manufacture, import, distribution, and sale ban, effective April 25, 2023 (RCW 9.41.390), a gross misdemeanor.
• Senate Bill 5078 (2022 c 104): large-capacity magazine ban, effective July 1, 2022 (RCW 9.41.370).
• House Bill 1163 (2025 c 370): permit-to-purchase requirement, effective May 1, 2027 (RCW 9.41.121).
• Initiative 1639 (2018): enhanced background check, age-21 requirement and secure-storage rules for semiautomatic assault rifles, and a training-certification framework.

Where to look next

• Washington State Legislature, app.leg.wa.gov, for current RCW text. Search Chapter 9.41 RCW and Chapter 7.105 RCW directly.
• Washington Attorney General's office, atg.wa.gov, for opinions and advisories.
• Washington Department of Licensing, dol.wa.gov, for concealed pistol license information.
• Washington State Patrol firearms background check program for purchase and waiting-period mechanics.
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, wdfw.wa.gov, for hunting-overlay rules.
• Washington Courts, courts.wa.gov, for case law on RCW 9.41.

This catch-all reflects Washington law as of June 2026. Magazine-ban and assault-weapon-ban litigation, and the rollout of the 2027 permit-to-purchase system, continue to evolve. Confirm current status before relying on any provision affected by pending appellate review or pending rulemaking.

Washington Concealed Carry Laws: Overview

Washington's firearms laws, including those governing concealed carry, are primarily codified in Chapter 9.41 RCW. Washington is a licensed-carry state for concealed pistols: a person must hold a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to carry a pistol concealed on the person, and to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle. Washington is not a permitless (constitutional) concealed-carry state. Open carry of a pistol is generally lawful for a person who may lawfully possess the firearm, subject to location restrictions and to RCW 9.41.270 (carrying or displaying a weapon in a manner that warrants alarm).

The CPL system is shall-issue. Under RCW 9.41.070, the chief of police of a municipality or the sheriff of a county must issue a license to a qualifying applicant. The local agency cannot deny a qualified applicant on a discretionary basis.

Concealed Pistol License (CPL)

Washington issues a Concealed Pistol License rather than a broader "concealed carry permit." The license authorizes carrying a pistol concealed on the person. Key statutory features under RCW 9.41.070:

• Issuing authority: The local chief of police or county sheriff issues the license. Washington has no statewide permit office for issuance.
• Term: Five years from the date of issue.
• Minimum age: The applicant must be at least 21 years old. RCW 9.41.070(1)(c) lists being under 21 as a disqualifier.
• Shall-issue standard: The issuing authority must issue the license within 30 days of application (up to 60 days if the applicant lacks a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state ID, or has not been a Washington resident for the previous 90 consecutive days).
• Eligibility: The applicant must not be ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or RCW 9.41.045, prohibited under federal law, or subject to the other disqualifiers listed in RCW 9.41.070(1) (including a revoked CPL, certain protective or no-contact orders, being free on bond pending a felony, or an outstanding felony or misdemeanor warrant).
• Background check: The issuing authority checks the national instant criminal background check system, Washington State Patrol records, and the Health Care Authority database. An original license requires a fingerprint-based national check through the FBI.
• Nonresidents: A nonresident may apply for a Washington CPL. Under RCW 9.41.070(11), a nonresident's license may authorize carry anywhere in the state.

The original five-year license fee is $36 plus FBI charges passed on to the applicant; the renewal fee is $32 (RCW 9.41.070(5)-(6)).

Carry Rules and the License Requirement

RCW 9.41.050 sets the core carry rules:

• A person may not carry a pistol concealed on the person without a CPL, except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business (RCW 9.41.050(1)(a)).
• A CPL holder must carry the license at all times the license is required and display it on demand to a police officer. Failure to do so is a class 1 civil infraction (RCW 9.41.050(1)(b)).
• A person may not carry or place a loaded pistol in a vehicle unless the person holds a CPL and meets the conditions in RCW 9.41.050(2). A violation is a misdemeanor.

RCW 9.41.060 lists exceptions to the license requirement in RCW 9.41.050, including active law enforcement officers, members of the armed forces on duty, persons carrying a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper, persons engaged in lawful outdoor recreation such as hunting or fishing, and members of target-shooting or collecting clubs traveling to or from their activities.

State Preemption

RCW 9.41.290 is a strong state preemption statute. Washington "fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation" within the state, including registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, transfer, discharge, and transportation of firearms. Cities, towns, and counties may enact only firearms laws that are specifically authorized by state law (such as the location restrictions allowed under RCW 9.41.300) and that are consistent with Chapter 9.41 RCW. Local ordinances that are more restrictive than or exceed state law are preempted.

Prohibited Places

RCW 9.41.300 lists places where carrying a firearm is restricted regardless of CPL status, and authorizes certain local restrictions. Detailed coverage of current prohibited locations, including additions from recent legislation, appears in the Prohibited Places section.

Self-Defense

Washington has no statutory "stand your ground" provision and no statutory castle doctrine. The lawful use of force is governed by RCW 9A.16.020 (use of force, when lawful) and RCW 9A.16.050 (justifiable homicide by another person), as interpreted by the courts. Washington case law establishes that a person who is where the person may lawfully be and who is not the aggressor has no duty to retreat before using lawful force in self-defense (State v. Studd; State v. Reynaldo Redmond). There is no RCW section creating a "stand your ground" rule; the no-duty-to-retreat principle comes from case law applying these statutes.

Reciprocity

Washington has conditional statutory reciprocity under RCW 9.41.073. A person who holds a valid concealed pistol license or permit issued by another state is authorized to carry a concealed pistol in Washington without a Washington CPL, but only if all of the following are met:

• Reciprocal recognition: The issuing state recognizes and gives effect to concealed pistol licenses issued by Washington (RCW 9.41.073(1)(a)).
• Age floor: The issuing state does not issue concealed pistol licenses to persons under 21 years of age (RCW 9.41.073(1)(a)(i)).
• Background check: The issuing state requires mandatory fingerprint-based background checks of criminal and mental health history for all concealed pistol license applicants (RCW 9.41.073(1)(a)(ii)).
• Nonresident only: The reciprocity benefit applies to an out-of-state license holder only while that person is not a Washington resident, and the person must carry the pistol in compliance with Washington law (RCW 9.41.073(1)(b)). The person should be 21 or older and carry the out-of-state license while carrying in Washington.

Under RCW 9.41.073(2), the Washington Attorney General periodically publishes the official list of qualifying states. As of the July 25, 2025 update, the list was roughly ten states: Idaho (enhanced permit only), Kansas (standard license only), Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (enhanced permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota (Class 1 permits only), Ohio, South Dakota (unrestricted enhanced and gold permits only), and Utah (provisional permits not recognized). This list changes, so verify the current Attorney General list at atg.wa.gov before relying on it.

A nonresident from a state that is not on the qualifying list cannot carry on an out-of-state permit, but may still obtain a Washington nonresident CPL under RCW 9.41.070. See the Reciprocity section for full details.

Recent Changes to Washington Firearms Law

Washington has enacted several firearms measures in recent years. Verify current status before relying on any of these, as some have been litigated:

• Large-capacity magazines (RCW 9.41.370): Manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, or offering for sale a magazine over 10 rounds is prohibited, with limited exceptions. A violation is a gross misdemeanor (2022 c 104). The statute restricts commercial activity rather than mere possession. The ban has been challenged in court and remains in effect.
• Assault weapons (RCW 9.41.390): Manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, or offering for sale an "assault weapon" is prohibited, with limited exceptions. A violation is a gross misdemeanor. This ban took effect April 25, 2023 (2023 c 162).
• Enhanced background checks, safety training, and waiting period: Under Initiative 1639 (2019 c 3), the purchase of a semiautomatic assault rifle requires an enhanced background check, proof of completion of a recognized firearm safety training program, a minimum purchaser age of 21, and a waiting period. Washington has continued to expand purchasing requirements, including measures directed at a permit-to-purchase system. Confirm the current requirements and effective dates with the Department of Licensing before purchasing. The Permit Basics and Restrictions sections address purchasing law in detail.

Federal Law Still Applies

A Washington CPL does not override federal firearms law. As RCW 9.41.070 itself warns, a state license is not a defense to a federal prosecution. A person prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law (for example, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)) remains prohibited even if a Washington court has restored state firearm rights. Federal restrictions on carrying in secured areas of airports and aboard aircraft are enforced under 49 U.S.C. 46505.

Prohibited Persons and Restoration of Rights

• RCW 9.41.040 defines unlawful possession of firearms and the persons prohibited from possessing firearms, with penalties.
• RCW 9.41.041 sets out the general judicial process for restoration of the right to possess firearms; RCW 9.41.040(9) directs restoration petitions to that statute. RCW 9.41.041(1) permanently bars restoration for a person convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity of a felony sex offense, a class A felony, or a felony offense with a maximum sentence of at least 20 years, and RCW 9.41.041(2) requires a crime-free waiting period before petitioning. RCW 9.41.040(4) is a narrower provision covering only certain persons who received a probationary sentence under RCW 9.95.200 and a dismissal under RCW 9.95.240.
• RCW 9.41.047 addresses restoration of rights for a person prohibited because of involuntary commitment for mental health treatment under RCW 71.05.240, RCW 71.05.320, RCW 71.34.740, Chapter 10.77 RCW, or equivalent statutes of another jurisdiction.

Restoration of state firearm rights does not guarantee that a CPL or any other firearm permit will be issued, and it is not a defense to federal prosecution.

Legal Guidance

The Washington Attorney General's Office provides general information about firearms laws but is not authorized to give legal advice to private individuals on personal legal matters. Anyone with specific questions about how Washington firearms law applies to their situation should consult a private attorney. The Washington State Bar Association can help with finding legal counsel. This overview is general information, not legal advice.

Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL): Permit Basics

Overview

Washington requires a license to carry a pistol concealed. Under RCW 9.41.050(1)(a), a person may not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a license to carry a concealed pistol, except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business. The license is called a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) and is issued under RCW 9.41.070.

Washington is not a constitutional (permitless) concealed-carry state. A CPL is needed to carry concealed and to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle. Open carry of a pistol is generally lawful in Washington without a license for a person who may lawfully possess the firearm, subject to place restrictions in RCW 9.41.300 and the firearm definitions in RCW 9.41.010.

The CPL applies to pistols. RCW 9.41.010 defines a "pistol" as any firearm with a barrel less than 16 inches in length, or that is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand. Washington does not issue concealed carry licenses for any other class of firearm.

Penalties for Carrying Concealed Without a License

• Carrying a pistol concealed on the person without a CPL violates RCW 9.41.050(1)(a). Chapter 9.41 RCW does not assign a separate class to this violation, so the general penalty in RCW 9.41.810 applies: any violation of the chapter, except as otherwise provided, is a misdemeanor.
• Failure to carry the CPL in immediate possession and display it on demand when required is a class 1 civil infraction under RCW 9.41.050(1)(b) and chapter 7.80 RCW.
• Carrying or placing a loaded pistol in a vehicle without a CPL, or without meeting the on-person or secured conditions of RCW 9.41.050(2), is a misdemeanor.
• A person at least 18 years old who leaves an unloaded pistol in a vehicle must keep it locked within the vehicle and concealed from view; a violation of RCW 9.41.050(3) is a misdemeanor.

Nothing in RCW 9.41.050 permits possession of a firearm that is otherwise illegal to possess under state or federal law.

Exceptions to the License Requirement

RCW 9.41.060 lists persons to whom the carrying restrictions of RCW 9.41.050 do not apply, including, among others:

• Marshals, sheriffs, jail or prison wardens and their deputies, correctional and community corrections personnel meeting the training and background-check conditions, and other law enforcement officers of this or another state.
• Members of the armed forces, national guard, or organized reserves when on duty.
• Federal officers or employees duly authorized to carry a concealed pistol.
• Persons in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms, when carrying in the ordinary course of business.
• Members of target-shooting clubs going to or from practice, and firearm-collector club members going to or from collector shows.
• A person engaged in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, when the circumstances reasonably show participation in or travel to or from that activity.
• Any person carrying a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper.
• Certain officers retired for service or physical disability who hold the documentation described in RCW 9.41.060(10).

Who Issues the License (Shall-Issue)

The CPL is issued by the chief of police of the municipality or the sheriff of the county where the applicant applies. Under RCW 9.41.070(1), the issuing authority shall issue the license within 30 days after the application is filed. If the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state identification card, or has not been a resident of the state for the previous 90 consecutive days, the issuing authority has up to 60 days. The agency may not refuse to accept completed applications during regular business hours.

Washington is a shall-issue state. The license must be issued unless a specific statutory disqualifier applies. A person may apply:

• To the municipality or county where the applicant resides, if the applicant lives in a municipality;
• To the county where the applicant resides, if the applicant lives in an unincorporated area; or
• Anywhere in the state, if the applicant is a nonresident (RCW 9.41.070(13)(c)).

The license is valid for five years from the date of issue.

Eligibility Requirements

Under RCW 9.41.070(1), the license must be issued unless the applicant:

1. Is ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or RCW 9.41.045, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law;
2. Holds a CPL that is in a revoked status;
3. Is under 21 years of age;
4. Is subject to a qualifying court order or injunction regarding firearms (for example under chapter 7.105 RCW or the no-contact and protection-order statutes listed in RCW 9.41.070(1)(d));
5. Is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a felony offense;
6. Has an outstanding arrest warrant from any court of competent jurisdiction for a felony or misdemeanor; or
7. Was ordered to forfeit a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e) within one year before applying.

A person convicted of a felony may not have firearm rights or concealed-carry privileges restored unless relieved of disabilities by the attorney general under 18 U.S.C. 925(c), or unless RCW 9.41.040(3) or (4) applies.

Application Contents

Under RCW 9.41.070(4), the application bears the applicant's full name, residential address, optional telephone number and email address, date and place of birth, race, gender, physical description, a complete set of fingerprints, signature, and the applicant's driver's license or state identification card number if used for identification. The signed application also serves as a waiver of confidentiality allowing release of mental-health and health-care information relevant to eligibility to an inquiring court or law enforcement agency.

A photograph may be required and printed on the license. Non-citizen applicants must meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.41.173.

A person who knowingly makes a false statement regarding citizenship or identity on the application is guilty of false swearing under RCW 9A.72.040; under RCW 9.41.070(12), the license is revoked and the person is permanently ineligible for a CPL.

Background Check

Under RCW 9.41.070(2), the issuing authority checks the national instant criminal background check system, the Washington State Patrol electronic database, the health care authority database, and other resources as appropriate to determine eligibility under RCW 9.41.040 and RCW 9.41.045 and under federal law. A background check for an original license is conducted through the Washington State Patrol criminal identification section and includes a national check by the FBI through submission of fingerprints.

Fees

RCW 9.41.070 sets the fees, which a political subdivision may not increase:

• Original five-year license: $36, plus any FBI charges passed on to the applicant.
• Renewal: $32.
• Replacement of a lost or damaged license: $10.
• Late renewal penalty (renewing after expiration): $10 in addition to the renewal fee.

Payment may be by cash, check, or money order, and the issuing authority may allow additional methods. A licensee may renew within 90 days before or after the expiration date, and a renewed license takes effect on the prior license's expiration date.

Training Requirement

Under the version of RCW 9.41.070 currently in effect, completion of a firearms safety training course is not a condition of obtaining a CPL.

This changes on May 1, 2027. As amended by the 2025 legislation (2025 c 370, House Bill 1163), RCW 9.41.070(1)(h) and (5) will require a CPL applicant to show a certificate of completion, within the last five years, from a concealed carry firearms safety training program certified under RCW 43.43.575. The certified program must include live-fire shooting exercises with a demonstration of safe handling and shooting proficiency, including a minimum of 50 rounds of ammunition fired at a range under an instructor's supervision. Applicants who qualify under RCW 9.41.1132(5) are exempt from the training requirement.

Firearm Purchase Requirements (Separate From the CPL)

Buying a firearm in Washington has its own requirements that apply whether or not the buyer holds a CPL:

• Safety training for purchase: Since January 1, 2024 (2023 c 161, House Bill 1143), a dealer may not deliver a firearm until the purchaser shows proof of completion, within the last five years, of a recognized firearm safety training program meeting RCW 9.41.1132, or proof of an exemption. See RCW 9.41.090.
• Waiting period: RCW 9.41.092 requires that 10 business days elapse from the date the dealer requests the background check before delivery, and that all required background checks confirm eligibility.
• Permit to purchase: The 2025 legislation (2025 c 370) creates a permit-to-purchase requirement under RCW 9.41.121, effective May 1, 2027. A valid permit to purchase will exempt a CPL applicant from the fingerprint requirement under RCW 9.41.070.

Reciprocity and Nonresidents

Washington recognizes out-of-state licenses only under the narrow conditions of RCW 9.41.073. The other state's license is honored in Washington only if (1) that state recognizes and gives effect to a Washington CPL, (2) that state does not issue concealed pistol licenses to persons under 21, and (3) that state requires a mandatory fingerprint-based background check of criminal and mental-health history. Recognition applies only while the license holder is not a Washington resident, and the holder must carry in compliance with Washington law.

Because few states meet all three conditions, the list of recognized states is short and often limited to specific enhanced-permit classes. The attorney general is required to publish the current list. Anyone relying on reciprocity should confirm their state's status before carrying in Washington at the attorney general's concealed pistol license reciprocity page (https://www.atg.wa.gov/concealed-weapon-reciprocity).

Key points for visitors and new residents:

• A nonresident from a state that does not appear on the recognized list generally may not carry concealed in Washington on a home-state permit.
• A nonresident may apply for a Washington CPL anywhere in the state (RCW 9.41.070(13)(c)).
• Once a person becomes a Washington resident, RCW 9.41.073(1)(b) means a home-state permit no longer authorizes concealed carry; the person must obtain a Washington CPL.

Denial and Court Review

If an application is denied, the issuing authority must provide written notice citing the specific statute and the grounds for denial. A person whose CPL application is denied may seek relief through a writ of mandamus in a court of competent jurisdiction under RCW 9.41.0975, directing that a wrongfully denied license be issued or that erroneous information be corrected. A person granted the writ is awarded reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.

Restoration of Firearm Rights

A person who has lost the right to possess firearms may petition for restoration:

• General restoration of the right to possess a firearm is governed by RCW 9.41.041.
• Restoration for a person prohibited because of an involuntary commitment for mental-health treatment (for example under RCW 71.05.240, RCW 71.05.320, RCW 71.34.740, or chapter 10.77 RCW) is governed by RCW 9.41.047.

A state court order restoring firearm rights restores rights only under Washington law. It does not restore federal firearm rights, and a person may still be subject to federal prosecution if prohibited under federal law. Restoration of state rights does not by itself guarantee issuance of a CPL.

State Versus Federal Law

By statute, the CPL and application carry a caution that state and federal law on firearm possession can differ, and that a state license is not a defense to a federal prosecution. A person prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law may be prosecuted in federal court even while holding a Washington CPL.

Key Statutes

Washington State Concealed Carry Laws

Overview

Washington requires a license to carry a pistol concealed. It is not a permitless ("constitutional") concealed-carry state. Under RCW 9.41.050(1)(a), a person may not carry a pistol concealed on their person, except in their place of abode or fixed place of business, without a license to carry a concealed pistol. The Concealed Pistol License (CPL) is governed by RCW 9.41.070 and the rest of Chapter 9.41 RCW (Firearms and Dangerous Weapons).

A CPL applies only to pistols. RCW 9.41.010(36) defines a "pistol" as any firearm with a barrel less than 16 inches in length, or one designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand. Washington does not issue concealed carry licenses for long guns or other firearm types.

Open carry of a pistol is generally lawful in Washington without a license for a person who may lawfully possess the firearm, subject to the restrictions described below. A license is required specifically for concealed carry and for carrying a loaded pistol in a vehicle.

When a License Is Required

Under RCW 9.41.050:

• A person may not carry a pistol concealed on their person without a CPL, except in their place of abode or fixed place of business (subsection (1)(a)).
• A person may not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a CPL and the pistol is on the licensee's person, the licensee is within the vehicle, or the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside. A violation is a misdemeanor (subsection (2)(b)).
• A person at least 18 years old may not leave an unloaded pistol in a vehicle unless it is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside. A violation is a misdemeanor (subsection (3)).

A licensee must have the CPL in immediate possession whenever required to have it and must display it on demand to a police officer or other person when required by law. A violation of that possession-and-display requirement is a class 1 civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW (RCW 9.41.050(1)(b)). Carrying a pistol concealed without a CPL in violation of RCW 9.41.050(1)(a) is a criminal offense; absent a specific grade in the statute, chapter 9.41 violations are generally punishable under the chapter's general penalty provision, RCW 9.41.810.

Exceptions to the License Requirement

RCW 9.41.060 lists persons to whom the carrying restrictions of RCW 9.41.050 do not apply, including:

• Marshals, sheriffs, jail or prison wardens and their deputies, corrections and community corrections personnel, and other law enforcement officers of this or another state (subject to the training and background-check conditions in the statute)
• Members of the U.S. armed forces, national guard, or organized reserves when on duty
• Officers or employees of the United States authorized to carry a concealed pistol
• Persons in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms, and their agents, carrying a pistol in the ordinary course of that business
• Members of organizations authorized to purchase or receive pistols from the United States or this state
• Members of target-shooting clubs while at, or going to or from, target practice, and members of firearm-collecting clubs while at, or going to or from, gun shows and exhibits
• Any person engaging in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, if, considering all the attendant circumstances (including whether the person has a valid hunting or fishing license), it is reasonable to conclude the person is participating in or traveling to or from a legitimate outdoor recreation activity (RCW 9.41.060(8))
• Any person carrying a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper (RCW 9.41.060(9))
• Law enforcement officers retired for service or physical disability who meet the documentation conditions in RCW 9.41.060(10)

Concealed Pistol License (CPL)

Issuing Authority and Term

RCW 9.41.070 directs the chief of police of a municipality or the sheriff of a county to issue a CPL within 30 days after an application is filed, valid for 5 years from the date of issue. If the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state identification card, or has not been a resident of the state for the previous consecutive 90 days, the issuing authority has up to 60 days to issue the license. Washington is a shall-issue state: the application must be granted unless a statutory disqualifier applies.

Where to Apply

Under RCW 9.41.070(13) (renumbered (11) in the version effective May 1, 2027), a person may apply:

• To the municipality or county in which the applicant resides, if the applicant lives in a municipality
• To the county in which the applicant resides, if the applicant lives in an unincorporated area
• Anywhere in the state, if the applicant is a nonresident

A background check for an original license is conducted through the Washington State Patrol criminal identification section and includes a national fingerprint-based check by the FBI (RCW 9.41.070(2)(d)).

Disqualifiers

Under RCW 9.41.070(1), the application must be denied if the applicant:

• Is ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or RCW 9.41.045, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law
• Has a CPL that is in a revoked status
• Is under 21 years of age
• Is subject to a court order or injunction regarding firearms under chapter 7.105 RCW or the other domestic-violence and protection-order statutes listed in the section
• Is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a felony offense
• Has an outstanding arrest warrant for a felony or misdemeanor from any court of competent jurisdiction
• Has been ordered to forfeit a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e) within one year before applying

A person convicted of a felony may not have firearm rights or the privilege to carry a concealed pistol restored unless granted relief from disabilities by the attorney general under 18 U.S.C. 925(c), or RCW 9.41.040(3) or (4) applies. The categories of persons ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 (which include certain felony and domestic-violence convictions and persons subject to involuntary mental-health commitment) therefore also disqualify a CPL applicant.

Fees

Fees are set by statute in RCW 9.41.070:

The application fee is nonrefundable. No other state or local branch of government may impose additional charges for issuance or renewal. Payment may be by cash, check, or money order, and an issuing authority may allow additional methods.

Renewal

A licensee may renew within 90 days before or after the expiration date; a license so renewed takes effect on the prior license's expiration date (RCW 9.41.070(9), renumbered (7) in the 2027 version). Renewing after expiration requires the $10 late renewal penalty in addition to the renewal fee. The Department of Licensing mails a renewal notice approximately 90 days before expiration for licenses expiring on or after August 1, 2018.

Military Renewal by Mail

By October 1, 2019, agencies that issue CPLs were required to develop a mail (and optionally online) renewal process for members of the armed forces, national guard, and reserves who cannot renew in person because of out-of-state military assignment, reassignment, or deployment. The applicant must provide a copy of the order designating the out-of-state service period, apply within 90 days before or after expiration, and pay the renewal fee (and late penalty if applicable). A license renewed under this provision takes effect on the prior license's expiration date and is valid for one year (RCW 9.41.070(15), renumbered (13) in the 2027 version).

Temporary Emergency License and False Statements

The chief of police or sheriff may issue a temporary emergency license for good cause pending review, but it does not exempt the holder from any records-check requirement (RCW 9.41.070(10)). A person who knowingly makes a false statement regarding citizenship or identity on a CPL application is guilty of false swearing under RCW 9A.72.040, the CPL is revoked, and the person is permanently ineligible for a CPL (RCW 9.41.070(12)).

Reciprocity

Washington's recognition of out-of-state licenses is governed by RCW 9.41.073, which is narrow and conditional. A person licensed to carry a pistol in another state may carry a concealed pistol in Washington only if all of the following are true:

1. The other state recognizes and gives effect to a Washington CPL; and
2. The other state does not issue concealed pistol licenses to persons under 21 years of age; and
3. The other state requires mandatory fingerprint-based background checks of criminal and mental health history for all CPL applicants.

This recognition applies only while the license holder is not a resident of Washington, and the holder must carry in compliance with Washington law (RCW 9.41.073(1)(b)). The attorney general periodically publishes the list of states whose laws meet these requirements (RCW 9.41.073(2)). Because most states do not satisfy all three conditions, a nonresident generally cannot rely on an out-of-state permit to carry concealed in Washington; verify the current attorney general list before traveling. A nonresident who wants to carry concealed in Washington may apply for a Washington nonresident CPL under RCW 9.41.070. Once a person becomes a Washington resident, they must obtain a Washington CPL to continue carrying concealed.

Prohibited Locations

RCW 9.41.300 makes it unlawful to enter the following places while knowingly possessing or controlling a weapon (subsection (1)):

• The restricted access areas of a jail or law enforcement facility, or other place used for confinement (subsection (1)(a))
• Areas of a building used in connection with court proceedings, including courtrooms, jury rooms, judges' chambers, and adjacent restricted areas (subsection (1)(b))
• The restricted access areas of a public mental health facility licensed for inpatient hospital care and state institutions for the care of the mentally ill (subsection (1)(c))
• The portion of an establishment classified by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board as off-limits to persons under 21 years of age, such as the bar area of a tavern (subsection (1)(d))
• The restricted access areas of a commercial service airport designated in the TSA-approved security plan, including passenger screening checkpoints at or beyond the screening point (subsection (1)(e))
• The premises of a public library (subsection (1)(f))
• The premises of an accredited zoo or aquarium (subsection (1)(g))
• The premises of a transit station or transit facility (subsection (1)(h))

The library, zoo or aquarium, and transit restrictions in subsections (1)(f), (g), and (h) were added by 2024 legislation (2024 c 285, Senate Bill 5444). Importantly, RCW 9.41.300(14) provides that subsections (1)(f), (g), and (h) do not apply to a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm under RCW 9.41.070. In other words, a CPL holder carrying concealed is not barred from libraries, zoos and aquariums, or transit facilities by this statute, but the jail, court, mental-health-facility, liquor, and airport restrictions still apply to everyone (with a limited check-the-firearm exception for some facilities under subsections (9) and (10)). A violation of RCW 9.41.300(1) or (2) is a gross misdemeanor (subsection (16)).

RCW 9.41.300(2) also makes it unlawful to knowingly open carry a firearm or other weapon at a permitted demonstration, or within 250 feet of one after a law enforcement officer directs the person to leave. This open-carry restriction does not apply to lawful concealed carry by a CPL holder (subsection (2)(e)).

Separate statutes restrict weapons in other specific places, including:

• Schools and school facilities, RCW 9.41.280
• Child care premises, RCW 9.41.282
• Voting facilities, RCW 9.41.284
• State capitol grounds and municipal buildings (open carry), RCW 9.41.305

Federal law independently restricts firearms in federal buildings, post offices, and secured areas of airports, and prohibits carrying a weapon onto an aircraft under 49 U.S.C. 46505.

Preemption

Under RCW 9.41.290, the state fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation, including registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, transfer, discharge, and transportation. Cities, towns, counties, and other municipalities may enact only firearms laws specifically authorized by state law, such as those allowed in RCW 9.41.300, and consistent with chapter 9.41 RCW. Local ordinances that are more restrictive than or exceed state law are preempted and void.

Open Carry and Intimidating Display

Open carry of a pistol is generally lawful for a person who may lawfully possess it, but RCW 9.41.270(1) makes it unlawful to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm or other weapon in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of others. A violation is a gross misdemeanor, and a person convicted loses their CPL (RCW 9.41.270(2)). The statute does not apply to acts in one's own abode or fixed place of business, to self-defense or defense of others against presently threatened unlawful force, or to the other situations listed in subsection (3).

Duty to Inform

Washington has no statute requiring a CPL holder to proactively notify a law enforcement officer that they are carrying. However, under RCW 9.41.050(1)(b) the licensee must carry the CPL and display it on demand to a police officer; failure to do so is a class 1 civil infraction.

Self-Defense

Washington has no statutory "stand your ground" provision and no statutory castle doctrine. Use of force is governed by statute as construed by case law.

• RCW 9A.16.020 (Use of force - when lawful) provides in subsection (3) that force is not unlawful when used by a party about to be injured, or by another lawfully aiding that person, in preventing or attempting to prevent an offense against the person or a malicious interference with property lawfully in their possession, so long as the force is not more than is necessary.
• RCW 9A.16.050 (Homicide - when justifiable) provides that homicide is justifiable in the lawful defense of the slayer or certain others when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design to commit a felony or do great personal injury and imminent danger of that design being accomplished, or in actually resisting an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer or in a dwelling or place of abode.

Washington case law establishes that a person who is in a place they may lawfully be and who is not the aggressor has no duty to retreat before using lawful force (see State v. Studd and State v. Reynaldo Redmond). This no-duty-to-retreat rule comes from case law interpreting the statutes above, not from a separate "stand your ground" statute.

License Revocation

A CPL is subject to revocation under RCW 9.41.075, for example when the licensee becomes ineligible to possess a firearm, is convicted of a disqualifying offense, or is subject to an order surrendering weapons. (The prior draft cited "RCW 9.41.0765," which is not a valid RCW section.) Courts and agencies have immunity and a writ-of-mandamus remedy is available to a person whose license is improperly denied or revoked under RCW 9.41.0975; the version of RCW 9.41.070 effective May 1, 2027 expressly routes judicial relief from a denial to superior court under RCW 9.41.0975.

Surrender of Firearms (Protection and Risk Orders)

Under RCW 9.41.800 and the compliance provisions in RCW 9.41.801 and RCW 9.41.802, a court issuing certain protection, no-contact, or extreme risk protection orders may require a person to surrender firearms and any CPL and may prohibit future possession or licensing during the order. Extreme risk protection orders are governed by chapter 7.105 RCW.

Federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA)

Qualified active law enforcement officers may carry concealed under 18 U.S.C. 926B, and qualified retired or separated officers under 18 U.S.C. 926C, independent of a state CPL. In Washington, the LEOSA certification process for retired officers is administered through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. A qualified retired officer generally needs the photographic identification from the former agency certifying good-standing separation plus a current firearms qualification.

Recent and Pending Legislative Changes

Permit to Purchase and CPL Training (HB 1163, 2025 c 370, effective May 1, 2027)

The version of RCW 9.41.070 effective May 1, 2027 adds a disqualifier (subsection (1)(h)) for an applicant who has not produced a certificate of completion from a certified concealed carry firearms safety training program within the last five years, or proof of exemption. The required training must be certified under RCW 43.43.575 and must include live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range with a minimum of 50 rounds of ammunition demonstrating safe handling and proficiency (RCW 9.41.070(5) in that version). The 2025 act also creates a separate permit to purchase firearms (application under RCW 9.41.121); an applicant presenting a valid permit to purchase is exempt from the fingerprint requirement on a CPL application.

Large Capacity Magazines (RCW 9.41.370)

RCW 9.41.370 (enacted 2022 c 104, Senate Bill 5078) prohibits manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, or offering for sale any large capacity magazine, with limited exceptions for the military and law enforcement and certain dealer transfers. A "large capacity magazine" is an ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds (RCW 9.41.010(25)). A violation is a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW. The statute restricts sale, manufacture, import, and distribution; it does not by its terms criminalize simple possession. The ban has been challenged in court and remains in effect.

Assault Weapons (RCW 9.41.390)

RCW 9.41.390 (enacted 2023 c 162, House Bill 1240, effective April 25, 2023) prohibits manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, or offering for sale any assault weapon, with limited exceptions for the military, law enforcement, certain dealer and out-of-state transfers, and receipt by operation of law upon the former owner's death. A violation is a gross misdemeanor. Like the magazine statute, it targets the commercial supply chain rather than mere possession of weapons already owned.

State NFA-Type Restrictions

Independent of federal law, Washington restricts certain short-barreled and machine-gun-type weapons under chapter 9.41 RCW (for example RCW 9.41.190, governing unlawful firearms including machine guns and certain short-barreled shotguns). Anyone considering NFA items should confirm both the federal rules and the separate Washington restrictions before acquiring or possessing such a firearm.

Key Statutory References

Key Resources

• Washington State Legislature: app.leg.wa.gov - full text of Chapter 9.41 RCW
• Washington Attorney General - Firearms: atg.wa.gov - reciprocity list and FAQ
• Washington Department of Licensing - Firearms: dol.wa.gov
• Local law enforcement - your city police department or county sheriff's office handles CPL applications

This content is for general information only and is not legal advice. Firearms laws change often and several Washington provisions are the subject of ongoing litigation. Confirm the current statute text and consult a qualified Washington attorney before carrying a concealed firearm.

Open Carry in Washington

Washington does not have a statute that bans the open carrying of a pistol. A person who is at least 21 years old and may legally possess a firearm can generally open carry a handgun in public without a license. This is different from concealed carry, which requires a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) under RCW 9.41.070. There is no statute that affirmatively grants an "open carry permit," and none is needed, but several statutes restrict how and where a firearm may be openly carried.

The General Rule

No Washington statute prohibits openly carrying a firearm by a person eligible to possess one. The right to bear arms is protected by Article I, section 24 of the Washington Constitution, which the firearms preemption statute (RCW 9.41.290) and the prohibited-places statute (RCW 9.41.300) both reference.

Open carry is only available to a person who is not disqualified from possessing firearms. Washington's unlawful-possession statute, RCW 9.41.040, makes it a crime for certain people (such as those with qualifying felony convictions or certain protection orders) to possess any firearm, openly or concealed. Open carry does not create an exception to that prohibition. RCW 9.41.050(4) makes the same point: nothing in the carry statute permits possession of firearms that are illegal to possess under state or federal law.

Age also limits open carry. Under RCW 9.41.240(2), a person who is at least 18 but under 21 may possess a pistol only in the person's place of abode, at the person's fixed place of business, or on real property under the person's control, unless an exception in RCW 9.41.042, 9.41.050, or 9.41.060 applies (such as lawful outdoor recreation or carrying the pistol unloaded in a closed opaque case). None of those exceptions covers ordinary open carry in public, so in practice a person must be at least 21 to open carry a pistol in public in Washington.

Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry

The line between lawful open carry and unlawful unlicensed concealed carry matters. Under RCW 9.41.050(1)(a), except in a person's place of abode or fixed place of business, a person may not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a CPL. If a holstered handgun is openly visible, no license is required. Once it is concealed (for example, under a jacket or in a bag carried on the person), a CPL is required.

Two vehicle rules also distinguish the two:

• Under RCW 9.41.050(2), a person may not carry or place a loaded pistol in a vehicle without a CPL, and the licensee must keep the pistol on his or her person, stay in the vehicle while the pistol is there, or lock it in the vehicle concealed from outside view. Violation is a misdemeanor.
• Under RCW 9.41.050(3), a person at least 18 years old who leaves an unloaded pistol in a vehicle must lock it within the vehicle and conceal it from outside view. Violation is a misdemeanor.

A person without a CPL may transport a pistol in a vehicle only if it is unloaded. The CPL itself is issued by the chief of police of a municipality or the sheriff of a county on a shall-issue basis under RCW 9.41.070, requires the applicant to be at least 21 years old, and is valid for five years. The current version of RCW 9.41.070 (effective until May 1, 2027) does not require an applicant to complete a firearms safety training course, so training is not currently a condition for a Washington CPL. A training requirement was added by the 2025 Legislature (2025 c 370) and takes effect May 1, 2027. After that date, applicants will need proof of a certified concealed carry firearms safety training course under RCW 9.41.070 and RCW 43.43.575. Until then, the listed conditions are eligibility to possess firearms, the minimum age, fingerprinting, and the background check.

Brandishing and Carrying That Warrants Alarm

The main statute that limits how a firearm may be openly carried is RCW 9.41.270. It is unlawful to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm or other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons. A violation is a gross misdemeanor, and a person convicted of it loses any concealed pistol license. Open carry by itself, without more, does not violate this statute, but the manner of carry can.

RCW 9.41.270(3) lists exceptions. The statute does not apply to acts committed in a person's place of abode or fixed place of business, to a person acting to protect himself, herself, or another against presently threatened unlawful force, to peace officers performing their duties, to a person making or assisting a lawful felony arrest, or to a person engaged in government-sponsored military activities.

Where Open Carry Is Specifically Prohibited

Two statutes single out open carry. Both exempt a person lawfully carrying concealed under a valid CPL.

State capitol grounds and local government meeting buildings (RCW 9.41.305). It is unlawful to knowingly open carry a firearm or other weapon at the west state capitol campus grounds, buildings on the state capitol grounds, any state legislative office, or any location of a public state legislative hearing or meeting during the hearing or meeting. The ban also covers city, town, county, or other municipal buildings used in connection with meetings of the governing body, and any location of a public meeting or hearing of that governing body during the meeting. A first violation is a misdemeanor; a second or subsequent violation is a gross misdemeanor. Law enforcement and on-duty military are exempt, and the section does not apply to lawful concealed carry under a valid CPL.

Permitted demonstrations (RCW 9.41.300(2)). It is unlawful to knowingly open carry a firearm or other weapon while knowingly at a permitted demonstration, whether the weapon is carried on the person or in a vehicle. It is also unlawful to knowingly open carry within 250 feet of the perimeter of a permitted demonstration after a law enforcement officer advises the person of the demonstration and directs the person to leave until unarmed, though that 250-foot rule does not apply on private property the person owns or leases. A "permitted demonstration" includes a gathering for which a government permit was issued, or a gathering of 15 or more people assembled for a single event at a public place that the local chief executive, sheriff, or chief of police has declared permitted. A violation is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.300(16)). Lawful concealed carry by a CPL holder is exempt under RCW 9.41.300(2)(e).

General Prohibited Places

Beyond the open-carry-specific rules above, RCW 9.41.300(1) bars any firearm (open or concealed) from a list of places, including the restricted access areas of jails and law enforcement facilities, areas of any building used in connection with court proceedings, restricted access areas of certain public mental health facilities, the area of an establishment that the liquor and cannabis board has classified as off-limits to people under 21 (the bar area of a tavern), and the restricted access areas of a commercial service airport beyond the security screening checkpoint. The 2024 amendments added the premises of a public library, the premises of an accredited zoo or aquarium, and the premises of a transit station or transit facility. A violation of RCW 9.41.300(1) is a gross misdemeanor.

A CPL changes the analysis for some of these locations. Under RCW 9.41.300(14), the library, zoo or aquarium, and transit restrictions do not apply to a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm under RCW 9.41.070. The current statute does not list public parks or playgrounds among the places where firearms are barred under RCW 9.41.300.

Federal Restricted Areas

Open carry is also limited by federal law in certain places. Carrying a concealed dangerous weapon or explosive into the sterile (secured) area of an airport or onto an aircraft is a federal crime under 49 U.S.C. 46505, separate from Washington's airport restriction in RCW 9.41.300(1)(e). Federal facilities and other federally controlled property carry their own prohibitions regardless of state open-carry rules.

State Preemption

Washington fully occupies the field of firearms regulation. Under RCW 9.41.290, the state preempts the entire field of firearms regulation, including possession, carrying, and transportation. Cities, towns, and counties may enact only firearms ordinances specifically authorized by state law, such as those allowed by RCW 9.41.300 (for example, restricting discharge of firearms, or restricting possession in a municipally operated stadium or convention center). Local ordinances that are more restrictive than state law are preempted. This means open-carry rules are largely uniform statewide, with the place-based exceptions written into RCW 9.41.300 and RCW 9.41.305 rather than left to local choice.

Exceptions to the Carry Restrictions

RCW 9.41.060 lists people and activities exempt from the carry restrictions of RCW 9.41.050, including law enforcement officers, members of the armed forces and national guard on duty, licensed firearms dealers in the ordinary course of business, members of target-shooting and collector clubs going to or from organized activities, people engaged in lawful outdoor recreation such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, and anyone carrying a pistol unloaded in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper.

Key Statutes

Practical Notes

• Open carry of a pistol is generally lawful for a person 21 or older who may legally possess a firearm, but the manner of carry must not intimidate others or warrant alarm under RCW 9.41.270. A person 18 to 20 may possess a pistol only at home, at a fixed place of business, or on property under their control, with narrow exceptions (RCW 9.41.240(2)).
• A CPL is required to carry concealed and to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle. Open carry of a holstered, visible handgun does not require a license.
• A Washington CPL does not currently require firearms training. That changes on May 1, 2027, when a certified training course becomes a condition of licensing under RCW 9.41.070 and RCW 43.43.575.
• Open carry is specifically prohibited on the state capitol campus and at local government meeting locations (RCW 9.41.305) and at permitted demonstrations (RCW 9.41.300(2)). A valid CPL allows lawful concealed carry in those settings.
• This page is general information, not legal advice. Verify the current statute text at the Washington State Legislature website (https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/) and consult an attorney for specific situations.

Constitutional Carry in Washington

Washington is NOT a constitutional carry (permitless carry) state for concealed pistols. To carry a pistol concealed on your person, you must hold a valid Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL) or qualify for a narrow statutory exception. This sets Washington apart from the states that allow any law-abiding adult to carry concealed without a license.

The License Requirement

Under RCW 9.41.050(1)(a), a person may not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a license to carry a concealed pistol, except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business. A CPL holder must keep the license in immediate possession whenever the law requires it and must display it on demand to a police officer. Failing to carry or display the license is a class 1 civil infraction under RCW 9.41.050(1)(b), handled through chapter 7.80 RCW.

The license requirement also reaches firearms in vehicles. Under RCW 9.41.050(2)(a), a person may not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless that person has a CPL and the pistol is on the licensee's person, the licensee remains in the vehicle, or the pistol is locked in the vehicle and concealed from view. A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.050(2)(b)). A person at least 18 years old who leaves an unloaded pistol in a vehicle must keep it locked in the vehicle and concealed from view; a violation is a misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.050(3)).

Because Washington requires a license for concealed carry, there is no provision of state law that authorizes permitless concealed carry. Talk of "constitutional carry" coming to Washington refers to proposals, not current law.

Open Carry Without a License

Washington's licensing scheme applies to concealed carry and to loaded pistols in vehicles. It does not impose a general license requirement to openly carry a pistol. Open carry of a pistol is generally lawful for a person who may legally possess a firearm, subject to other restrictions in chapter 9.41 RCW. For example, the carrying restrictions in RCW 9.41.050 do not bar lawful open carry, and the exceptions in RCW 9.41.060 (such as a person in his or her place of abode, fixed place of business, or on real property under his or her control) confirm that no concealed pistol license is needed for those situations.

Open carry is not unlimited. Among other limits, RCW 9.41.300 lists places where firearms are prohibited, and separate statutes restrict the open carry of weapons at permitted demonstrations and on the Capitol grounds. Carrying or displaying a weapon in a manner that warrants alarm can also be charged under RCW 9.41.270.

How a Concealed Pistol License Works

A CPL is the lawful path to concealed carry. Under RCW 9.41.070, the chief of police of a municipality or the sheriff of a county shall issue a CPL within 30 days after a complete application is filed (up to 60 days if the applicant does not hold a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state ID card, or has not been a state resident for the previous 90 consecutive days). This is a shall-issue standard: the applicant's right to a license may be denied only for the specific disqualifiers listed in the statute.

Key features confirmed by RCW 9.41.070:

• Minimum age 21. An applicant under 21 years of age is ineligible (RCW 9.41.070(1)(c)).
• Eligibility tracks firearm-possession law. The license is denied if the applicant is ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or RCW 9.41.045, or is prohibited under federal law (RCW 9.41.070(1)(a)). Other disqualifiers include a revoked CPL, certain protection or no-contact orders, being free on bond for a felony, an outstanding felony or misdemeanor warrant, and a recent firearm forfeiture order.
• Background check. The issuing authority checks the national instant criminal background check system and state databases, and an original license requires a national fingerprint-based check through the FBI (RCW 9.41.070(2)).
• Five-year term. The license is valid for five years from the date of issue (RCW 9.41.070(1)).
• Fees. The nonrefundable fee for an original five-year license is $36 plus FBI charges passed on to the applicant; the renewal fee is $32 (RCW 9.41.070(5) and (6)).
• Nonresidents. A nonresident may apply for a Washington CPL, which is valid anywhere in the state (RCW 9.41.070).

The license carries a printed warning that federal and state firearm-possession law can differ and that a state license is not a defense to a federal prosecution.

Exceptions to the Carry Restrictions

RCW 9.41.060 lists people and situations exempt from the RCW 9.41.050 carry restrictions. These include law enforcement officers, members of the armed forces, the national guard, and organized reserves when on duty, and federal officers authorized to carry. The exception list also covers a person in his or her place of abode, fixed place of business, or on real property under his or her control, and certain transport situations. These are statutory carve-outs from the license requirement, not a general permitless-carry right.

Qualified active and retired law enforcement officers may carry concealed under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C. That is a federal authority, not a Washington exemption, and it has its own qualification and documentation requirements.

No Reciprocity for Out-of-State Permits

Washington does not have statutory concealed-carry reciprocity and does not recognize concealed pistol licenses or permits issued by other states. A visitor with a valid out-of-state permit generally may not carry a pistol concealed in Washington on that out-of-state credential. A nonresident who wants to carry concealed in Washington must obtain a Washington nonresident CPL under RCW 9.41.070.

Related Restrictions to Know

Washington has enacted firearm restrictions beyond carry licensing. These are sale and transfer restrictions, not carry rules, but they affect what gun owners can buy in the state:

• Large-capacity magazines. Under RCW 9.41.370, no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale a large-capacity magazine, defined as an ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds (RCW 9.41.010). A violation is a gross misdemeanor. The statute took effect July 1, 2022 (2022 c 104). The ban restricts sale and manufacture; it does not itself criminalize simple possession of magazines already owned. The law has been the subject of litigation, and the Washington Supreme Court has addressed its validity, so check the current status before relying on it.
• Assault weapons. Under RCW 9.41.390, no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale an assault weapon, with limited exceptions. A violation is a gross misdemeanor. The statute took effect April 25, 2023 (2023 c 162). Like the magazine law, it restricts new sales and transfers rather than imposing a general ban on possessing weapons lawfully owned before the effective date.

Washington has also adopted purchase-side requirements in recent legislation, including safety-training and waiting-period rules for firearm purchases. Those requirements are addressed in the application and purchasing sections of this guide. Confirm the current statutory text and effective dates with the Department of Licensing before relying on any specific date.

State Preemption

Washington preempts local firearm regulation. Under RCW 9.41.290, the state fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation, including licensing, possession, purchase, sale, transfer, and transportation. Cities, towns, and counties may enact only those firearm laws specifically authorized by state law, such as the location restrictions allowed under RCW 9.41.300, and any local ordinance must be consistent with state law. Local rules that are more restrictive than or exceed state law are preempted. This means concealed-carry rules are set statewide, not by individual municipalities.

Self-Defense: Statute Plus Case Law

Washington has no statute labeled "stand your ground" and no codified castle-doctrine statute. The lawful use of force is governed by RCW 9A.16.020, which lists when the use of force is not unlawful, including force used by a person about to be injured (or someone lawfully aiding that person) in preventing an offense against the person, so long as the force is not more than necessary. Justifiable homicide is governed by RCW 9A.16.050, which permits deadly force in the lawful defense of the slayer or others when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design to commit a felony or to do great personal injury and imminent danger of that design being accomplished.

Washington case law, not statute, supplies the no-duty-to-retreat rule. Washington courts have held that a person who is where he or she may lawfully be, and who is not the aggressor, has no duty to retreat before using lawful force in self-defense (State v. Studd; State v. Reynaldo Redmond). Do not look for a Washington "stand your ground" statute, because there is none. The protection comes from the use-of-force statutes as interpreted by the courts.

Bottom Line

Washington requires a Concealed Pistol License under RCW 9.41.070 to carry a pistol concealed and to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle. It is not a constitutional-carry state for concealed carry, it does not recognize other states' permits, and a nonresident must obtain a Washington nonresident CPL to carry concealed here. Open carry of a pistol is generally lawful without a license for a person who may legally possess a firearm, subject to the location and conduct limits in chapter 9.41 RCW.

Where You Cannot Carry a Firearm in Washington

Holding a valid Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL) lets you carry a concealed pistol in most public places, but a CPL does not override the locations where state and federal law make firearm possession a crime. Some of these restrictions apply to everyone, including CPL holders. Others have a specific carve-out for CPL holders. Read each location carefully, because the exemptions are not uniform.

The main Washington statutes are RCW 9.41.300 (weapons prohibited in certain places), RCW 9.41.305 (open carry on capitol grounds and municipal meeting buildings), RCW 9.41.280 (schools), and RCW 9.41.282 (child care centers). State preemption is governed by RCW 9.41.290.

Statewide Prohibited Places (RCW 9.41.300)

Under RCW 9.41.300(1), it is unlawful to enter the following places when you knowingly possess or knowingly have under your control a weapon. "Weapon" here means any firearm, an explosive as defined in RCW 70.74.010, or an instrument or weapon listed in RCW 9.41.250 (RCW 9.41.300(17)).

1. Restricted access areas of a jail, a law enforcement facility, or any place used to confine a person who is arrested, charged, convicted, held for extradition, held as a material witness, or otherwise confined by court order. Restricted access areas do not include common areas of ingress and egress open to the general public (RCW 9.41.300(1)(a)).
2. Areas of any building used in connection with court proceedings, including courtrooms, jury rooms, judges' chambers, offices and areas used to conduct court business, waiting areas, and adjacent corridors. The restricted area is the minimum necessary, and does not include common areas of ingress and egress to the building when court areas can be protected without restricting that access (RCW 9.41.300(1)(b)).
3. Restricted access areas of a public mental health facility licensed or certified for inpatient hospital care, and state institutions for the care of the mentally ill, excluding facilities used solely for evaluation and treatment (RCW 9.41.300(1)(c)).
4. The portion of an establishment classified by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board as off-limits to persons under 21 years of age. This is the bar area of a tavern or similar premises (RCW 9.41.300(1)(d)).
5. Restricted access areas of a commercial service airport designated in the airport security plan approved by the federal Transportation Security Administration, including passenger screening checkpoints at or beyond the point where screening begins. This does not include airport drives, general parking, walkways, and the unscreened shops and terminal areas (RCW 9.41.300(1)(e)).
6. The premises of a public library established under chapter 27.12 RCW (RCW 9.41.300(1)(f)).
7. The premises of a zoo or aquarium accredited or certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Zoological Association of America, or a facility with a current species survival plan memorandum (RCW 9.41.300(1)(g)).
8. The premises of a transit station or transit facility, using the definitions in RCW 9.91.025. This does not include a transit vehicle as defined in that section (RCW 9.41.300(1)(h)).

A violation of RCW 9.41.300(1) is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.300(16)).

How the CPL exemption applies to these locations

The exemptions are not the same for every location, so this is where the most common mistakes happen:

• Libraries, zoos and aquariums, and transit stations and facilities (items 6, 7, and 8): a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm under RCW 9.41.070 is exempt from these prohibitions (RCW 9.41.300(14)). A CPL holder may carry concealed in these places.
• Jails and law enforcement facilities (item 1): the prohibition does not apply to a CPL holder who, upon entering, directly and promptly goes to the facility administrator or the administrator's designee and obtains written permission to possess the firearm, or who checks the firearm. The person reclaims it on leaving and must depart immediately (RCW 9.41.300(9)).
• Public mental health facilities (item 3): the prohibition does not apply to an administrator or employee, or to a person who, upon entering, promptly obtains written permission from the administrator or designee (RCW 9.41.300(10)).
• Courts, the bar area of taverns, and airport restricted access areas (items 2, 4, and 5): there is no general CPL exemption. A CPL does not let you carry into these areas.

The bar-area prohibition (item 4) does not apply to the proprietor of the premises or employees while engaged in their employment (RCW 9.41.300(11)). The zoo and aquarium prohibition (item 7) does not apply to employees of a zoo, aquarium, or animal sanctuary while engaged in their employment if the weapon is owned by the facility and kept to protect employees, animals, or the public (RCW 9.41.300(12)).

Permitted demonstrations (open carry restriction)

It is unlawful to knowingly open carry a firearm or other weapon while knowingly at a permitted demonstration, whether you carry it on your person or in a vehicle (RCW 9.41.300(2)(a)). It is also unlawful to open carry within 250 feet of the perimeter of a permitted demonstration after a law enforcement officer advises you of the demonstration and directs you to leave until you no longer possess the weapon, except on private property you own or lease (RCW 9.41.300(2)(b)). A "permitted demonstration" is a permitted gathering, or a gathering of 15 or more people assembled for a single event at a public place that a local executive, sheriff, or chief of police has declared permitted (RCW 9.41.300(2)(d)).

This subsection does not apply to the lawful concealed carry of a firearm by a person who has a valid CPL (RCW 9.41.300(2)(e)). A violation of RCW 9.41.300(2) is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.300(16)).

General exceptions

Subsection (1) does not apply to a person engaged in military activities sponsored by the federal or state governments while on official duties, to law enforcement personnel, or to security personnel while on official duties, with a narrow exception that the court-proceedings restriction in (1)(b) still applies to a law enforcement officer or corrections officer present at a courthouse as a party to certain protection order or domestic violence actions (RCW 9.41.300(7) and (8)). Color guards and honor guards affiliated with the U.S. military, the Washington National Guard, or the state Department of Veterans Affairs are exempt from the library, zoo, and transit restrictions for burial or interment ceremonies (RCW 9.41.300(13)).

Signage

The perimeter of any location covered by RCW 9.41.300(1) must be posted at reasonable intervals to alert the public that possession of firearms is restricted (RCW 9.41.300(6)). Courthouses must designate and mark restricted areas and provide a locked box or a designated official for weapon storage during a visit (RCW 9.41.300(1)(b)).

Capitol Grounds and Municipal Meeting Buildings (RCW 9.41.305)

It is unlawful to knowingly open carry a firearm or other weapon at:

• The west state capitol campus grounds, any buildings on the state capitol grounds, any state legislative office, or any location of a public state legislative hearing or meeting during the hearing or meeting (RCW 9.41.305(1)(a)).
• City, town, county, or other municipality buildings used in connection with meetings of the governing body, or the location of a public meeting or hearing of that governing body during the hearing or meeting (RCW 9.41.305(1)(b)).

Law enforcement and military personnel acting in their official capacity are exempt (RCW 9.41.305(3)). Nothing in this section applies to the lawful concealed carry of a firearm by a person who has a valid CPL (RCW 9.41.305(5)). A first violation is a misdemeanor, and second and subsequent violations are gross misdemeanors (RCW 9.41.305(4)). Municipalities must post notice signs at the locations described in (1)(b) (RCW 9.41.305(6)).

Schools (RCW 9.41.280)

It is unlawful to knowingly carry onto or possess on public or private elementary or secondary school premises, school-provided transportation, areas of facilities while being used exclusively by schools, or areas used for official school board meetings, any firearm or other listed dangerous weapon (RCW 9.41.280(1)). A first violation is a misdemeanor, and second and subsequent violations are gross misdemeanors (RCW 9.41.280(2)(a) and (b)). A conviction for the firearm offense results in revocation of any CPL for three years, and the person cannot apply for a CPL during that period (RCW 9.41.280(2)(c)).

A CPL holder, or a person exempt from the licensing requirement under RCW 9.41.060, is allowed only while picking up or dropping off a student, or attending an official school board meeting held off school-owned or leased property (RCW 9.41.280(3)(e)). A CPL does not authorize general carry inside a school building. The statute also exempts, among others, a nonstudent at least 18 years old whose firearm is secured within an attended vehicle or concealed from view within a locked unattended vehicle while conducting legitimate business at the school (RCW 9.41.280(3)(f)), and law enforcement officers (RCW 9.41.280(3)(h)). Schools must post "GUN-FREE ZONE" signs (RCW 9.41.280(7)).

Child Care Centers (RCW 9.41.282)

It is unlawful to carry onto or possess on licensed child care center premises, center-provided transportation, or areas used exclusively by a center, any firearm or other listed dangerous weapon (RCW 9.41.282(1)). A violation is a gross misdemeanor, and a firearm conviction triggers a three-year CPL revocation (RCW 9.41.282(2)). The prohibition does not apply to family day care provider homes, or to a CPL holder (or a person exempt under RCW 9.41.060) while picking up or dropping off a child (RCW 9.41.282(3)). Centers must post "GUN-FREE ZONE" signs (RCW 9.41.282(4)).

Stadiums and Convention Centers

Cities, towns, counties, and other municipalities may restrict the possession of firearms in any stadium or convention center they operate, but those restrictions cannot apply to a pistol in the possession of a person licensed under RCW 9.41.070 or exempt from the licensing requirement under RCW 9.41.060, or to a firearms showing, demonstration, or lecture (RCW 9.41.300(3)(b)). A CPL holder generally may carry a concealed pistol in a publicly operated stadium or convention center despite a local possession restriction.

Private Property and Businesses

Private property owners and businesses may prohibit firearms on their premises and ask you to leave. Refusing to leave after being asked can expose you to a trespass charge under Washington's criminal trespass laws. A CPL does not override a private owner's decision to bar firearms.

Washington State Ferries

Washington State Ferries are operated by the state Department of Transportation under state rules. Ferry terminals can fall within the transit station and transit facility category in RCW 9.41.300(1)(h), from which CPL holders are exempt under RCW 9.41.300(14). Open display of weapons and unlawfully possessed firearms are not allowed. Lawful concealed carry by a CPL holder is generally permitted. Check current Washington State Ferries rules before you travel, because vessel and terminal policies can change.

Federal Prohibited Places

Federal law applies on top of Washington law and a Washington CPL does not exempt you from it:

• Federal facilities. It is a federal crime to knowingly possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a federal facility, which is a building or part of a building owned or leased by the federal government where federal employees regularly perform their duties. The penalty is a fine or imprisonment of up to one year. In a federal court facility, the penalty is a fine or up to two years. Possession with intent that the weapon be used in a crime carries up to five years (18 U.S.C. 930).
• Gun-Free School Zones Act. Federal law makes it unlawful to knowingly possess a firearm in a school zone, generally within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a public, parochial, or private school. A key exception applies to a person licensed to carry by the state in which the school zone is located, where the state verifies the applicant's qualification before issuing the license. A Washington CPL satisfies this exception within Washington (18 U.S.C. 922(q)).
• Aircraft. It is a federal crime to have a concealed dangerous weapon that is or would be accessible to you in flight when on, or attempting to get on, an aircraft, or to place a loaded firearm in inaccessible property on an aircraft except as allowed by regulation (49 U.S.C. 46505). Combined with the airport restricted access area rule in RCW 9.41.300(1)(e), this is why firearms must be unloaded, in a locked hard case, and declared at the airline counter for checked baggage.

State Preemption (RCW 9.41.290)

Washington fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation. Cities, towns, counties, and other municipalities may enact only firearms laws that are specifically authorized by state law, such as the local-authority provisions in RCW 9.41.300, and that are consistent with chapter 9.41 RCW. Local laws that are inconsistent with, more restrictive than, or that exceed state law are preempted and void (RCW 9.41.290). Because of preemption, the prohibited places in this section come from state statute, not from a patchwork of city ordinances, except where the legislature has expressly given local governments authority (for example, discharge restrictions and stadium or convention center possession rules under RCW 9.41.300(3)).

Proposed Expansions

Legislation has been introduced in recent sessions to add more prohibited places, such as parks and playgrounds, certain state and local public buildings, and county fairgrounds, sometimes with a CPL carve-out. As of the statute text current here, those locations are not in RCW 9.41.300, and none of these proposals should be treated as law unless and until enacted and effective. Confirm the current statute and any new session laws before relying on this.

Key Statutes

This information is for general reference only and is not legal advice. Verify the current statutes and consult a Washington attorney for your specific situation.

Carrying Firearms in Vehicles in Washington

Washington requires a license to carry a pistol concealed and to keep a loaded pistol in a vehicle. It is not a permitless concealed-carry state. Open carry of a pistol by a person who may lawfully possess one is generally allowed without a license, but loaded long guns in vehicles are restricted by separate law. This section explains how the rules apply when you transport a firearm by car.

General Rule: A Loaded Pistol in a Vehicle Requires a CPL

Under RCW 9.41.050(2)(a), a person may not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) and one of the following is true:

• The pistol is on the licensee's person;
• The licensee is within the vehicle at all times the pistol is there; or
• The licensee is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.

A violation of RCW 9.41.050(2) is a misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.050(2)(b)).

Separately, RCW 9.41.050(1)(a) prohibits carrying a pistol concealed on your person, except in your place of abode or fixed place of business, without a CPL. A CPL holder must keep the license in immediate possession and display it on demand; failure to do so is a class 1 civil infraction (RCW 9.41.050(1)(b)).

Definition of "Pistol"

The CPL requirement applies to pistols. RCW 9.41.010(36) defines a "pistol" as "any firearm with a barrel less than 16 inches in length, or [that] is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand." Rifles and shotguns are not pistols and are not subject to the CPL requirement, though other vehicle rules apply (see "Long Guns in Vehicles" below).

Definition of "Loaded"

RCW 9.41.010(30) provides that a firearm is "loaded" when:

• There is a cartridge in the chamber of the firearm;
• Cartridges are in a clip that is locked in place in the firearm;
• There is a cartridge in the cylinder of the firearm (revolvers);
• There is a cartridge in the tube or magazine that is inserted in the action; or
• There is a ball in the barrel and the firearm is capped or primed (muzzle loaders).

Transporting a Pistol Without a CPL

If you do not hold a CPL, the practical way to transport a pistol in a vehicle is to keep it unloaded and cased. RCW 9.41.060(9) exempts "any person while carrying a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper" from the restrictions in RCW 9.41.050. This is the primary lawful method for moving a pistol by car without a license.

Other exceptions in RCW 9.41.060 that can apply to travel include:

• Outdoor recreation (RCW 9.41.060(8)): a person engaging in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, if, considering all attendant circumstances (including whether the person holds a valid hunting or fishing license), it is reasonable to conclude the person is participating in lawful outdoor activities or traveling to or from a legitimate outdoor recreation area.
• Target-shooting club members (RCW 9.41.060(6)) when at, going to, or coming from their place of target practice.
• Firearm-collector club members (RCW 9.41.060(7)) when at, going to, or coming from collector gun shows and exhibits.

Leaving a Pistol Unattended in a Vehicle

Loaded pistol (CPL holders): If a CPL holder leaves a loaded pistol in the vehicle while away from it, the pistol must be locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle (RCW 9.41.050(2)(a)(iii)).

Unloaded pistol: A person at least 18 years of age who has an unloaded pistol may not leave it in a vehicle unless the unloaded pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle (RCW 9.41.050(3)(a)). A violation is a misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.050(3)(b)).

For reference, RCW 9.41.010(39) defines "secure gun storage" as a locked box, gun safe, or other secure locked storage space designed to prevent unauthorized use or discharge of a firearm, and the act of keeping an unloaded firearm stored by such means.

Long Guns in Vehicles

Rifles and shotguns do not require a CPL, but they are not free of vehicle rules. Under RCW 77.15.460, it is unlawful to possess a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle or on an off-road vehicle (a long gun is "loaded" for this purpose when there is a shell or cartridge in the chamber, or a muzzle loader is loaded and capped or primed). It is also unlawful to discharge a firearm from a moving motor vehicle. These offenses are misdemeanors (RCW 77.15.460(3)). Limited exceptions apply, such as on-duty law enforcement.

Open Carry in and Around Vehicles

No Washington statute broadly prohibits the open carry of a firearm by a person who may lawfully possess one, and the CPL requirement reaches only pistols carried concealed. Two limits matter:

• RCW 9.41.270 makes it a gross misdemeanor to carry, exhibit, display, or draw a firearm in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of others. Self-defense and being in your own home or fixed place of business are among the statutory exceptions.
• RCW 9.41.300(2) makes it unlawful to knowingly open carry a firearm at, or (after a warning by an officer) within 250 feet of, a permitted demonstration. This applies whether the firearm is carried on the person or in a vehicle. It does not apply to lawful concealed carry by a valid CPL holder.

Restricted Locations That Affect Vehicle Carry

Even with a CPL, you cannot carry a weapon into the places listed in RCW 9.41.300(1)(a) through (e), which include:

• Restricted-access areas of jails and law enforcement facilities and other places of confinement (RCW 9.41.300(1)(a));
• Court-related areas such as courtrooms, jury rooms, judges' chambers, and adjacent restricted areas (RCW 9.41.300(1)(b));
• Restricted-access areas of public mental-health facilities licensed for inpatient hospital care (RCW 9.41.300(1)(c));
• The portion of an establishment classified by the state liquor and cannabis board as off-limits to persons under 21 (the bar area of a tavern) (RCW 9.41.300(1)(d)); and
• The restricted-access (secured) areas of a commercial service airport, including passenger screening checkpoints (RCW 9.41.300(1)(e)).

The 2024 Legislature (2024 c 285) added three more locations to RCW 9.41.300(1): libraries (RCW 9.41.300(1)(f)), accredited zoos and aquariums (RCW 9.41.300(1)(g)), and transit stations and transit facilities (RCW 9.41.300(1)(h)). These three additions do not apply to a person licensed to carry a concealed firearm under RCW 9.41.070 (RCW 9.41.300(14)). A valid CPL holder may therefore lawfully carry a concealed pistol in a library, in an accredited zoo or aquarium, and at a transit station or transit facility. A person without a CPL remains barred from carrying a weapon in those three places.

A violation of RCW 9.41.300(1) or (2) is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.300(16)). Separately, RCW 9.41.280 prohibits possessing dangerous weapons, including firearms, on public and private school grounds, but the statute's exceptions are the vehicle-carry rules for schools. A CPL holder, or a person exempt from the licensing requirement under RCW 9.41.060, may possess a pistol while picking up or dropping off a student (RCW 9.41.280(3)(e)). A nonstudent at least 18 years of age who is legally in possession of a firearm may keep it secured within an attended vehicle, or concealed from view within a locked unattended vehicle, while conducting legitimate business at the school (RCW 9.41.280(3)(f)), and a nonstudent at least 18 may keep an unloaded firearm secured in a vehicle while conducting legitimate business at the school (RCW 9.41.280(3)(g)). RCW 9.41.305 prohibits the open carry of weapons on the west side of the state capitol campus and in municipal buildings during certain public meetings. The airport parking lots, drives, and walkways outside the screening checkpoint are not part of the secured area (RCW 9.41.300(1)(e)), so transporting a firearm to long-term parking is generally treated like ordinary vehicle carry up to the checkpoint.

Federal law applies independently at airports and on aircraft. Carrying or attempting to carry a weapon onto an aircraft, or into a sterile area, is a federal crime under 49 U.S.C. 46505, separate from any state offense.

Employers, both public and private, may set workplace rules barring firearms on the job or on company property, and Washington courts have upheld that authority (Cherry v. Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle, 116 Wn.2d 794 (1991); Pacific Northwest Shooting Park Ass'n v. City of Sequim, 158 Wn.2d 342 (2006); Chan v. City of Seattle, 164 Wn. App. 549 (2011)).

State Preemption of Local Vehicle-Carry Rules

RCW 9.41.290 provides that the state "fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation," including possession, transfer, and transportation of firearms. Cities, towns, and counties may enact only firearm laws specifically authorized by state law (such as RCW 9.41.300) and consistent with state law. Local ordinances that are more restrictive than or exceed state law are preempted. Local governments may still regulate the discharge of firearms in areas where there is a reasonable likelihood that people, animals, or property could be harmed (RCW 9.41.300(3)).

Visitors and Out-of-State Permit Holders

Washington has conditional statutory reciprocity. Under RCW 9.41.073, a person who holds a valid concealed pistol license or permit from another state may carry a concealed pistol in Washington without a Washington CPL if all of these conditions are met:

• The issuing state recognizes and gives effect to concealed pistol licenses issued by Washington;
• The issuing state requires a mandatory fingerprint-based background check of permit applicants for criminal and mental-health history and has substantially equivalent eligibility requirements (including not issuing licenses to people under 21); and
• The person is 21 years of age or older and carries the out-of-state license along with government-issued photo identification.

Recognition under RCW 9.41.073 applies only while the holder is not a Washington resident, and the holder must carry in compliance with Washington law (RCW 9.41.073(1)(b)). Once a person becomes a Washington resident, out-of-state recognition no longer applies and a Washington CPL is required to carry concealed.

The Washington Attorney General is required by law to publish, and maintains, the official current list of qualifying states. As of mid-2025 the list included roughly ten states, for example Idaho (enhanced permit only), Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (enhanced permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Utah. The list changes as states amend their laws, so confirm the current list at atg.wa.gov before relying on it. A nonresident from a state that does not qualify can still apply for a nonresident Washington CPL under RCW 9.41.070.

Retired Law Enforcement Officers (LEOSA)

The federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act lets qualified retired or separated officers carry concealed nationwide, including in vehicles (18 U.S.C. 926C; active-duty and other qualified officers are covered by 18 U.S.C. 926B). A qualified retired officer must carry the photographic identification required by the federal statute along with proof of annual firearms qualification. Washington documents eligibility through the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and RCW 36.28A.090 directs the development of that firearms qualification. Separately, RCW 9.41.060(10) gives Washington officers who retired for service or physical disability the same carry privilege as a CPL holder, provided they hold the required documentation from their former agency and are not otherwise disqualified.

Assault Weapons and Large-Capacity Magazines

These restrictions apply regardless of whether the firearm is in a vehicle:

• Assault weapons (RCW 9.41.390): Effective April 25, 2023, no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer to sell an assault weapon, subject to limited exceptions. The law does not ban continued possession of a lawfully owned assault weapon. A violation is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.390(4)).
• Large-capacity magazines (RCW 9.41.370): No person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer to sell a large-capacity magazine, defined as one that accepts more than 10 rounds (RCW 9.41.010(25)). The statute does not prohibit mere possession. A violation is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.370(3)). The Washington Supreme Court upheld this ban in Gator's Custom Guns v. Ferguson (2025), so it is currently enforceable.

Key Statutes

Quick Reference

• A loaded pistol in a vehicle requires a CPL; without one, transport the pistol unloaded in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper (RCW 9.41.050(2); RCW 9.41.060(9)).
• A CPL holder who leaves a loaded pistol in a vehicle must lock it inside and keep it concealed from outside view (RCW 9.41.050(2)(a)(iii)).
• A loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle is a misdemeanor (RCW 77.15.460).
• Even CPL holders are barred from courts, jails, restricted airport areas, the bar area of taverns, and mental-health facility restricted areas (RCW 9.41.300(1)(a) through (e)); violations are gross misdemeanors. A valid CPL holder is exempt from the library, zoo/aquarium, and transit restrictions added in 2024 and may carry concealed there (RCW 9.41.300(14)).
• Washington has conditional reciprocity: it recognizes an out-of-state permit only if the issuing state is on the attorney general's qualifying list. Check the current list at atg.wa.gov, or consider a nonresident Washington CPL (RCW 9.41.073; RCW 9.41.070).
• This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and several Washington firearm laws have been litigated. Verify current statutes before you travel.

Washington Concealed Carry Reciprocity

Overview

Washington does not have broad concealed carry reciprocity, and it does not automatically recognize every other state's permit. Recognition is conditional and narrow, but Washington does recognize some out-of-state permits. Under RCW 9.41.073, enacted in 2004, Washington recognizes another state's concealed pistol license or permit when that state's law meets three specific conditions. A person who holds a qualifying out-of-state license may carry a concealed pistol in Washington without a Washington CPL, but a permit from a state that does not meet all three conditions is not valid in Washington.

Recognition under RCW 9.41.073 applies only while the out-of-state license holder is not a Washington resident, the holder is 21 years of age or older, and the holder carries the out-of-state license and a government-issued photo ID while carrying the pistol in compliance with Washington law. A Washington resident cannot rely on an out-of-state permit to carry concealed in Washington.

The Washington Attorney General's Office reviews other states' laws, sends an annual survey to each state, and publishes the official, current list of reciprocal states at atg.wa.gov. As of the last published update on July 25, 2025, Washington recognized permits from 10 states, several with permit-type restrictions described below. The list changes, so always verify the current Attorney General list before you travel.

Statutory Requirements for Recognition (RCW 9.41.073)

For another state's concealed pistol license or permit to be recognized in Washington, RCW 9.41.073 requires that the issuing state:

1. Recognize and give effect to concealed pistol licenses issued under Washington law (mutual recognition).
2. Not issue concealed pistol licenses or permits to persons under 21 years of age, and have eligibility requirements substantially equivalent to Washington's.
3. Require a mandatory fingerprint-based background check of both criminal and mental health history for all concealed pistol license applicants.

In addition, the out-of-state holder must be 21 years of age or older, must not be a Washington resident, and must carry the out-of-state license together with a government-issued photo identification.

The Attorney General has stated that this law "is clear, unambiguous, and confers no discretion on the Attorney General or any other Washington entity to ignore or waive any of its requirements."

States Recognized by Washington

A valid permit from the following states is recognized in Washington, provided the holder is not a Washington resident and carries in accordance with Washington law. The qualifications shown come directly from the Attorney General's published list (last updated July 25, 2025). Confirm the current list at atg.wa.gov, because states are added or removed as their laws change.

Some states recognize a Washington concealed pistol license even though Washington does not recognize their permits. If that is the case, you must carry in accordance with the law of the state you are visiting. Check the destination state's law before traveling with your pistol.

Complete State-by-State Status

The following table lists all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with the reason recognition is or is not established, per the Washington Attorney General's Office (last updated July 25, 2025).

Common Reasons States Are Not Recognized

The most frequent disqualifying factors are:

• Issuing permits to persons under 21 (for example Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas).
• No mandatory mental health background check (for example Alaska, Colorado, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, Virginia, Wyoming).
• No mandatory fingerprint-based background check (for example Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia).
• A state that does not recognize out-of-state licenses at all (California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island).

Several states fail on more than one of these criteria.

When You Are Not Covered: the Washington CPL

If your state is not on the recognized list above, you cannot carry a pistol concealed in Washington on your out-of-state permit. Your options are to obtain a Washington Concealed Pistol License, to carry openly if you are 21 or older and otherwise allowed to possess the firearm, or to refrain from carrying concealed. A nonresident from a non-qualifying state can still apply for a Washington nonresident CPL under RCW 9.41.070, described below.

License Required to Carry Concealed (RCW 9.41.050)

Under RCW 9.41.050, except in a person's place of abode or fixed place of business, a person may not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a concealed pistol license (or a recognized out-of-state permit under RCW 9.41.073). The same statute also requires a concealed pistol license to carry or place a loaded pistol in a vehicle. Carrying a loaded pistol in a vehicle without a license is a misdemeanor under RCW 9.41.050(2). The exceptions to RCW 9.41.050 are listed in RCW 9.41.060 and cover categories such as on-duty law enforcement officers and members of the armed forces on duty.

Non-Resident Washington CPL (RCW 9.41.070)

Washington allows non-residents to apply for a Washington Concealed Pistol License under RCW 9.41.070. Key points confirmed by the statute:

• The license is issued by the chief of police of the municipality or the sheriff of the county. A non-resident may apply anywhere in the state.
• The applicant must be at least 21 years of age.
• The license is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.
• The standard issuance window is 30 days. It extends to up to 60 days if the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state identification card, or has not been a Washington resident for the previous 90 consecutive days.
• The original license fee is $36 plus FBI charges passed on to the applicant. Renewal is $32. A lost or damaged license replacement is $10.
• A background check is run through the national instant criminal background check system, state databases, and the health care authority database. An original license requires a full set of fingerprints submitted to the Washington State Patrol for an FBI check, so applicants generally apply in person.
• A non-citizen may apply but must meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.41.173.

A CPL applicant is disqualified for the reasons listed in RCW 9.41.070(1), which include being ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or 9.41.045 or under federal law, being under 21, being subject to a qualifying firearms-related court order, being free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a felony, having an outstanding arrest warrant for a felony or misdemeanor, or being under a recent firearm forfeiture order.

Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA)

The federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. 926B (active qualified officers) and 18 U.S.C. 926C (qualified retired or separated officers), authorizes qualified officers to carry a concealed firearm across state lines, independent of state reciprocity. LEOSA is a federal authorization, not a Washington exemption.

In Washington, the Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) administers only the firearms certification component of the LEOSA process for retired or separated officers. A WSCJTC firearms certificate alone is not sufficient. A retired or separated officer must also carry the photographic LEOSA identification card issued by the former employing agency certifying that the officer left in good standing. The state implementation provision is RCW 36.28A.090.

Other Washington Laws That Affect Visitors

Large Capacity Magazines (RCW 9.41.370)

Under RCW 9.41.370, no person in Washington may manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale a large capacity magazine (defined as holding more than 10 rounds), subject to limited exceptions. A violation is a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW. The statute regulates commercial activity and importation; it does not by its terms criminalize simple possession of a magazine you already own. This ban has been the subject of litigation, including State v. Gator's Custom Guns v. Ferguson, and remains in effect statewide. Confirm current status before relying on it.

Assault Weapons (RCW 9.41.390)

Under RCW 9.41.390, effective in 2023, no person in Washington may manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale an assault weapon, subject to limited exceptions. Separately, under RCW 9.41.124, as amended by Initiative 1639, a Washington licensed dealer may not sell a semiautomatic assault rifle to a person who is not a Washington resident. A visitor should not plan to purchase these firearms in Washington.

Buying a Firearm While Visiting

Washington requires a waiting period for firearm purchases: under RCW 9.41.092, a dealer may not deliver a firearm until 10 business days have elapsed from the background check request. A separate permit-to-purchase requirement under RCW 9.41.121 takes effect May 1, 2027 and is not yet in force. Dealer sales are also governed by federal residency rules. A visiting non-resident generally cannot complete a handgun purchase from a Washington dealer because federal law requires handgun transfers to be made to a resident of the dealer's state. See the purchase and training sections of this guide for current details before attempting any purchase in Washington.

Open Carry

Washington generally permits the open carry of a pistol without a license by a person 21 or older who may lawfully possess one. A person 18 to 20 years old may possess a pistol only in their place of abode, fixed place of business, or on real property under their control (RCW 9.41.240(2)), so public open carry is not an option in that age range. Open carry of a loaded pistol in a vehicle still requires a concealed pistol license under RCW 9.41.050(2), and open carry is prohibited in the restricted locations set by state law. Open carry does not depend on reciprocity.

Practical Guidance for Travelers

• Coming to Washington: do not assume your out-of-state permit is valid here. Unless your state appears on the recognized list above (with the correct permit type), you are 21 or older, and you are not a Washington resident, you must obtain a Washington CPL or not carry concealed. Carry your out-of-state license and a government-issued photo ID.
• Washington CPL holders traveling out of state: confirm whether your destination recognizes the Washington CPL. Some states recognize Washington licenses even though Washington does not recognize theirs. Verify directly with the destination state.
• Carry in compliance with the host state's law: even where your permit is recognized, you must follow that state's rules on carry locations, magazine capacity, and duty to inform.
• Federal transport protection: the Firearm Owners Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. 926A, protects transporting a firearm between two places where you may lawfully possess and carry it, if the firearm is unloaded and neither it nor the ammunition is readily accessible from the passenger compartment (in a vehicle without a separate compartment, it must be in a locked container other than the glove box or console). This protects transport only. It does not authorize concealed carry.

Federal Legislation to Watch

A federal Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (such as H.R. 38) has been introduced in Congress in past sessions and would require states, including Washington, to recognize valid out-of-state concealed carry permits. No such bill has become law. Until one does, Washington reciprocity is governed solely by RCW 9.41.073 and the Attorney General's published list.

Key Statutes

Disclaimer

Concealed carry and reciprocity laws change. The Attorney General's recognized-states list was last updated July 25, 2025. Verify current status with the Washington State Attorney General's Office and the Washington State Department of Licensing before traveling with a firearm. This guide is informational and is not legal advice.

Use of Force and Self-Defense in Washington State

Washington's self-defense law is built from a small set of statutes in Chapter 9A.16 RCW, read together with decades of case law from the Washington Supreme Court. Washington has no statute that uses the labels "stand your ground" or "castle doctrine." Instead, the right to use force, including deadly force, comes from RCW 9A.16.020 and RCW 9A.16.050, and the absence of a duty to retreat comes from court decisions interpreting those statutes. Concealed pistol license holders should understand both the statutory text and the way courts apply it.

When Force Is Lawful (RCW 9A.16.020)

RCW 9A.16.020 lists the situations in which "the use, attempt, or offer to use force upon or toward the person of another is not unlawful." The provisions most relevant to a private citizen are:

• Force "used by a party about to be injured, or by another lawfully aiding him or her, in preventing or attempting to prevent an offense against his or her person, or a malicious trespass, or other malicious interference with real or personal property lawfully in his or her possession, in case the force is not more than is necessary" (RCW 9A.16.020(3)).
• Force "reasonably used by a person to detain someone who enters or remains unlawfully in a building or on real property lawfully in the possession of such person," so long as the detention is reasonable in duration and manner and the premises did not reasonably appear to be open to the public (RCW 9A.16.020(4)).
• Force used to prevent a mentally ill, mentally incompetent, or mentally disabled person from committing an act dangerous to any person, or to enforce necessary restraint for that person's protection, only for as long as is necessary to obtain legal authority for the restraint or custody (RCW 9A.16.020(6)).

The statute also covers force used by public officers, by a person arresting someone who has committed a felony, and by common carriers expelling unruly passengers (RCW 9A.16.020(1), (2), (5)).

The recurring limit in RCW 9A.16.020(3) is that the force used must be "not more than is necessary." Washington defines "necessary" in RCW 9A.16.010(1): no reasonably effective alternative to the use of force appeared to exist, and the amount of force used was reasonable to effect the lawful purpose intended.

Limit on the defense (RCW 9A.16.025)

A person is not justified in using force against another based on the discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of the victim's actual or perceived gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. This includes situations involving an unwanted nonforcible advance or a prior romantic or sexual relationship (RCW 9A.16.025).

Justifiable Homicide by a Private Citizen (RCW 9A.16.050)

When force results in death, the controlling statute for a private citizen is RCW 9A.16.050, "Homicide - By other person - When justifiable." Homicide is justifiable when committed either:

1. In the lawful defense of the slayer, or of the slayer's spouse, parent, child, brother, or sister, or of any other person in the slayer's presence or company, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain to commit a felony or to do some great personal injury, and there is imminent danger of that design being accomplished (RCW 9A.16.050(1)); or
2. In the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer, in the slayer's presence, or upon or in a dwelling or other place of abode in which the slayer is present (RCW 9A.16.050(2)).

Two points follow from the text. First, deadly force in self-defense requires a reasonable belief in imminent danger of a felony or of great personal injury, not merely a fear of any unlawful contact. Second, "Deadly force" is defined in RCW 9A.16.010(2) as the intentional application of force through the use of firearms or any other means reasonably likely to cause death or serious physical injury.

The reasonableness standard

Washington courts judge a self-defense claim from the standpoint of a reasonably prudent person knowing all that the defendant knew at the time. The standard combines an objective measure of reasonableness with the subjective facts and circumstances as they appeared to the person using force. If the response is found reasonable, charges may not be pursued; where the facts are disputed, the question of reasonableness goes to a jury.

Excusable Homicide (RCW 9A.16.030)

Distinct from justifiable homicide, RCW 9A.16.030 makes a homicide excusable "when committed by accident or misfortune in doing any lawful act by lawful means, without criminal negligence, or without any unlawful intent." This is the current statutory text. Earlier versions of the statute used a "without ordinary caution" phrasing that the legislature has since replaced.

No Duty to Retreat (Case Law, Not Statute)

Washington imposes no duty to retreat before using lawful force in self-defense, but this rule comes from court decisions rather than from any statute. The Washington Supreme Court has held that there is no duty to retreat when a person is assaulted in a place where he or she has a right to be (State v. Studd, 1999; State v. Reynaldo Redmond, 2003). A person who is not the aggressor and who is somewhere they may lawfully be is not required to flee before standing their ground.

There is an important limit. The absence of a duty to retreat does not relax the requirement that the force used be reasonable and necessary. Whether less drastic alternatives were available is part of the totality of the circumstances a jury may weigh in deciding whether the response was reasonable.

Do not treat this as a statutory "stand your ground" law. Washington has no RCW section by that name. The protection exists only as case law construing RCW 9A.16.020 and RCW 9A.16.050.

Defense of Others

The right to use force extends to defending another person. RCW 9A.16.020(3) authorizes force used "by another lawfully aiding" a person about to be injured, and RCW 9A.16.050(1) authorizes justifiable homicide in defense of family members and of "any other person in his or her presence or company." The same conditions apply: a reasonable ground to apprehend a felony or great personal injury, and imminent danger.

Defense of Property

RCW 9A.16.020(3) permits reasonable, non-deadly force to prevent a malicious trespass or other malicious interference with real or personal property lawfully in a person's possession, when the force is not more than is necessary. Washington law does not authorize deadly force to protect property alone. Deadly force becomes lawful only when the situation also satisfies RCW 9A.16.050, meaning a reasonable belief in imminent danger of a felony or of death or great personal injury to a person, or the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon or in a dwelling.

Defense in the Home (No Statutory Castle Doctrine)

Washington has no statute labeled a "castle doctrine," and there is no statutory presumption of reasonableness for force used against an intruder. What Washington provides is the dwelling clause of RCW 9A.16.050(2): homicide is justifiable in the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony "upon or in a dwelling, or other place of abode" in which the person is present. Combined with the no-duty-to-retreat case law, this gives strong protection to a person defending their home, but the person must still reasonably believe that force, including deadly force, is necessary to resist a felony or to prevent death or great personal injury. Reasonableness and necessity still control.

Reimbursement After a Justified Defense (RCW 9A.16.110)

RCW 9A.16.110 provides that no person shall be placed in legal jeopardy for protecting, by any reasonable means necessary, themselves, their family, or their property, or for coming to the aid of another who is in imminent danger of or the victim of a violent crime as defined in RCW 9.94A.030.

If a person charged with such a crime is found not guilty by reason of self-defense, the state must reimburse the defendant for all reasonable costs, including lost time, legal fees, and other defense expenses. To award those costs, the trier of fact must find that the self-defense claim was sustained by a preponderance of the evidence (RCW 9A.16.110(2)). This is not an independent cause of action, and a judge may deny or reduce the award if the defendant was engaged in criminal conduct substantially related to the events (RCW 9A.16.110(3)).

What to Expect After Using Force

Even when a use of force is ultimately found justified, a concealed carry holder should expect the following:

• A criminal investigation. Law enforcement will investigate the incident and review it under the totality of the circumstances.
• A charging decision. If the facts clearly show a lawful defense, charges may not be filed. If the facts are disputed, charges may be filed and a jury may decide whether the response was reasonable.
• Potential civil liability. A criminal acquittal or a decision not to charge does not by itself bar a civil suit.
• A possible cost award. If a finding of self-defense is made in a qualifying case, the defendant may recover reasonable costs under RCW 9A.16.110.

Peace Officer Use of Force (Context Only)

A separate body of law governs use of force by peace officers. It does not set the standard for a private citizen's self-defense, but concealed carry holders may encounter it during or after an incident. RCW 9A.16.040 sets a "good faith" justifiable-homicide standard for peace officers and public officers. Chapter 10.120 RCW, enacted by E2SHB 1310 (Laws of 2021) and later amended, sets a civil "reasonable care" standard: an officer may use physical force only in the circumstances listed in RCW 10.120.020(1), and may use deadly force only when necessary to protect against an immediate threat of serious physical injury or death (RCW 10.120.020(2)). Chapter 10.116 RCW separately bans chokeholds and neck restraints by officers (RCW 10.116.020) and restricts certain tactics.

The Washington Legislature has expressly stated that the peace-officer standard does not narrow a private citizen's rights. The note following RCW 9A.16.040 recognizes that "private citizens' permissible use of deadly force under the authority of RCW 9.01.200, 9A.16.020, or 9A.16.050 is not restricted and remains broader than the limitations imposed on peace officers."

Key Definitions (RCW 9A.16.010)

Relevant Statutes

Bottom Line for Concealed Carry Holders

• Deadly force is lawful only on a reasonable belief in imminent danger of a felony or of death or great personal injury (RCW 9A.16.050). Defense of property alone does not justify deadly force.
• The force used must be no more than necessary (RCW 9A.16.020(3); RCW 9A.16.010(1)).
• There is no duty to retreat from a place where you may lawfully be, but that rule comes from case law (State v. Studd; State v. Redmond), not from a statute, and it does not excuse an unreasonable response.
• Washington has no statutory "stand your ground" or "castle doctrine" provision. Do not rely on labels from other states. Rely on the text of Chapter 9A.16 RCW and how Washington courts apply it.
• Even a justified use of force can lead to investigation, charges, and civil litigation. Knowing the law before you carry is part of carrying responsibly.

This summary is general information, not legal advice. Self-defense outcomes turn on specific facts, and case law continues to shape how these statutes are applied. Consult a Washington attorney for advice about your situation.

Castle Doctrine and Self-Defense Law in Washington

Washington does not have a statutory "castle doctrine" and does not have a statutory "stand your ground" law. There is no RCW section by either name. Self-defense in Washington is governed by the general use-of-force statutes in Chapter 9A.16 RCW, as interpreted by Washington courts. The "no duty to retreat" rule that people associate with stand-your-ground laws exists in Washington, but it comes from case law, not from a statute.

This section explains the actual legal framework so you can understand it accurately rather than relying on labels that do not apply in Washington.

The Governing Statutes

Washington's self-defense rules live in two main statutes:

• RCW 9A.16.020 governs when the use of force is lawful (non-deadly and deadly force alike).
• RCW 9A.16.050 governs when a homicide committed by a private person is justifiable (deadly force resulting in death).

The definition of "deadly force" is set out separately in RCW 9A.16.010(2): the intentional application of force through the use of firearms or any other means reasonably likely to cause death or serious physical injury.

Lawful Use of Force (RCW 9A.16.020)

RCW 9A.16.020 lists the situations in which the use, attempt, or offer to use force toward another person is not unlawful. The provision most relevant to private self-defense is subsection (3):

Whenever used by a party about to be injured, or by another lawfully aiding him or her, in preventing or attempting to prevent an offense against his or her person, or a malicious trespass, or other malicious interference with real or personal property lawfully in his or her possession, in case the force is not more than is necessary.

The key limit in that text is "in case the force is not more than is necessary." Washington law ties the amount of force to what is necessary, and RCW 9A.16.010(1) defines "necessary" to mean that no reasonably effective alternative to the use of force appeared to exist and that the amount of force used was reasonable to effect the lawful purpose intended.

Other subsections of RCW 9A.16.020 cover force by public officers, citizen arrest after a felony, reasonable detention of a trespasser, force by a common carrier expelling a passenger, and force used to restrain a person who is mentally ill, mentally incompetent, or mentally disabled from committing a dangerous act. Those are situational and are not the general self-defense rule for a permit holder.

Justifiable Homicide by a Private Person (RCW 9A.16.050)

When deadly force results in death, the controlling statute for a private citizen is RCW 9A.16.050. It states that homicide is justifiable when committed either:

1. In the lawful defense of the person using force, or of that person's husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister, or of any other person in his or her presence or company, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain to commit a felony or to do some great personal injury, and there is imminent danger of that design being accomplished; or
2. In the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer, in his or her presence, or upon or in a dwelling, or other place of abode, in which he or she is.

Subsection (2) is the closest thing Washington has to a "castle" provision. It allows justifiable use of deadly force to actually resist an attempt to commit a felony upon the person, or upon or in a dwelling or other place of abode in which the person is. It is narrower than a true castle-doctrine statute: it is tied to resisting an attempted felony, and the general standard of necessity and reasonableness still applies. There is no statutory presumption of reasonableness for force used inside the home, and no statutory civil or criminal immunity of the kind found in true castle-doctrine states.

Excusable Homicide (RCW 9A.16.030)

Separately, RCW 9A.16.030 provides that a homicide is excusable when committed by accident or misfortune in doing a lawful act by lawful means, without criminal negligence and without unlawful intent. This is distinct from justifiable self-defense and applies to accidents, not deliberate defensive force.

No Duty to Retreat (Case Law, Not Statute)

Washington recognizes that a person who is assaulted in a place where he or she has a right to be, and who is not the aggressor, has no duty to retreat before using lawful force in self-defense. This rule is established by the Washington Supreme Court, not by any RCW section.

• State v. Studd, 137 Wn.2d 533 (1999), addressed self-defense jury instructions and the no-duty-to-retreat principle.
• State v. Redmond, 150 Wn.2d 489 (2003), held that a person who is where he has a right to be has no duty to retreat when threatened with assault and may stand his ground and defend himself.

Because this rule comes from court decisions interpreting RCW 9A.16.020 and RCW 9A.16.050, it can be refined by future cases. Do not expect to find a statute titled "stand your ground" in Washington, because none exists. The protection is real but is grounded in case law applying the general use-of-force statutes.

Reasonableness Is the Central Standard

Whether force is justified in Washington turns on reasonableness and necessity judged from the standpoint of a reasonably prudent person in the same situation. Washington jury instructions evaluate the defender's actions based on the conditions as they reasonably appeared at the time, not on hindsight. The practical points for a permit holder:

• Force must be no more than is necessary under RCW 9A.16.020.
• Deadly force under RCW 9A.16.050 requires a reasonable apprehension of a design to commit a felony or to inflict great personal injury, together with imminent danger, or the actual resistance of an attempted felony as described in subsection (2).
• There is no duty to retreat if you are not the aggressor and are somewhere you have a right to be, but you are still limited to force that is reasonable and necessary.

Reimbursement After a Successful Self-Defense Claim (RCW 9A.16.110)

RCW 9A.16.110 provides that no person in Washington shall be placed in legal jeopardy for protecting, by any reasonable means necessary, himself or herself, his or her family, or his or her real or personal property, or for coming to the aid of another who is in imminent danger of, or the victim of, a violent crime as defined in RCW 9.94A.030. If a person charged with one of the listed crimes is found not guilty by reason of self-defense, the statute directs the state to reimburse reasonable costs of the defense, including lost time and legal fees, once the trier of fact finds the self-defense claim was sustained by a preponderance of the evidence. The court may reduce or deny the award if the defendant was engaged in criminal conduct substantially related to the events. This is a reimbursement mechanism, not a grant of pretrial immunity from prosecution.

A Limit Worth Knowing (RCW 9A.16.025)

RCW 9A.16.025 provides that a person is not justified in using force against another based on the discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of the victim's actual or perceived gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. This forecloses a so-called "panic" defense.

Practical Takeaways for Permit Holders

• Washington has no statutory castle doctrine and no statutory stand-your-ground law. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong about the statutes.
• Your defensive rights come from RCW 9A.16.020 (lawful use of force), RCW 9A.16.050 (justifiable homicide by a private person), and the no-duty-to-retreat rule from State v. Studd and State v. Redmond.
• Deadly force is limited to defending against an apprehended felony or great personal injury with imminent danger, or actually resisting an attempted felony, and only with force that is reasonable and necessary.
• Washington does not provide statutory civil immunity or a pretrial immunity hearing for self-defense. RCW 9A.16.110 offers reimbursement of defense costs only after an acquittal by reason of self-defense.
• This section is general legal information, not legal advice. Use-of-force outcomes are fact-specific and are decided case by case. Consult a Washington attorney about your situation.

Relevant Statutes

• RCW 9A.16.010 - Definitions, including "necessary" and "deadly force"
• RCW 9A.16.020 - Use of force, when lawful
• RCW 9A.16.025 - Use of force, when unjustified (victim identity)
• RCW 9A.16.030 - Homicide, when excusable
• RCW 9A.16.050 - Homicide by other person, when justifiable
• RCW 9A.16.110 - Defending against violent crime, reimbursement
• RCW 9.94A.030 - Definition of "violent crime" referenced by RCW 9A.16.110

Key Cases

• State v. Studd, 137 Wn.2d 533 (1999)
• State v. Redmond, 150 Wn.2d 489 (2003)

Duty to Inform Law Enforcement in Washington

Washington has no statutory duty to inform. A concealed pistol license (CPL) holder is not required to proactively tell a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a concealed pistol during a traffic stop or other contact. Nothing in Chapter 9.41 RCW (Firearms and Dangerous Weapons) imposes an affirmative duty to announce that you are armed.

What Washington law does require is narrower: if you are carrying under a CPL, you must keep the license on you and show it to an officer when asked. The license requirement itself comes from RCW 9.41.050, which makes a CPL necessary to carry a concealed pistol in the first place.

What the Statute Actually Requires

RCW 9.41.050 governs the carrying of firearms in Washington. Two parts of it matter for police contact:

• License required to carry concealed. Under RCW 9.41.050(1)(a), except in your place of abode or fixed place of business, you may not carry a pistol concealed on your person without a CPL. This is the license trigger. It is not a duty-to-inform provision.
• License on person, displayed on demand. Under RCW 9.41.050(1)(b), every licensee must have the CPL in immediate possession at all times the license is required, and must display it on demand to any police officer, or to any other person when required by law to do so. A violation of this subsection is a class 1 civil infraction under Chapter 7.80 RCW, not a crime.

So the obligation is reactive, not proactive. You do not have to volunteer that you are armed, but if an officer demands to see your CPL while you are carrying concealed, you must produce it. The penalty for failing to have or display the license is a civil infraction, not a criminal charge.

RCW 9.41.070, which sets out CPL issuance requirements, application procedures, and the conditions of the license, contains no duty-to-inform language either. No section of Chapter 9.41 RCW requires a permit holder to disclose their armed status to law enforcement.

Key Points

• No affirmative duty. Washington law does not require a CPL holder to proactively inform an officer that they are carrying concealed, including during a traffic stop.
• Carry and produce the license. Under RCW 9.41.050(1)(b), you must keep the CPL in your immediate possession whenever you are carrying concealed under the license, and display it on demand to a police officer.
• Failure to display is a civil infraction. Not having or showing the CPL on demand is a class 1 civil infraction under Chapter 7.80 RCW (RCW 9.41.050(1)(b)). There is no separate criminal penalty for failing to volunteer that you are armed, because no duty-to-inform statute exists.
• Open carry. Washington generally allows open carry of a pistol by a person who may lawfully possess one, without a license, subject to place restrictions. There is no duty to inform while open carrying either. A CPL is what RCW 9.41.050(1)(a) requires for concealed carry, and RCW 9.41.050(2) requires a CPL to carry or place a loaded pistol in a vehicle.

People the License Rules Do Not Apply To

RCW 9.41.060 lists who is exempt from RCW 9.41.050 entirely. The provisions on carrying concealed do not apply to, among others:

• Law enforcement officers of this or another state, and certain marshals, sheriffs, jail or prison wardens and their deputies, correctional personnel, and community corrections officers who meet the statute's training and background-check conditions (RCW 9.41.060(1)).
• Members of the armed forces, national guard, or organized reserves when on duty (RCW 9.41.060(2)).
• Federal officers or employees authorized to carry a concealed pistol (RCW 9.41.060(3)).
• A person carrying a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper (RCW 9.41.060(9)).
• Qualifying retired law enforcement officers who hold the documentation described in RCW 9.41.060(10).

These exemptions go to whether a CPL is needed at all, not to any duty to inform.

Do Not Confuse This With the Mental Health Duty to Warn

Washington has a separate "duty to warn" that applies to mental health professionals, not to people carrying firearms. RCW 71.05.120(3) preserves a mental health provider's duty to warn or to take reasonable precautions to protect a reasonably identifiable victim when a patient has communicated an actual threat of physical violence. That duty is discharged by reasonable efforts to communicate the threat to the victim and to law enforcement. This is a clinician's obligation under the mental health code. It has nothing to do with a CPL holder's interaction with police.

Practical Recommendations

• Although not legally required, many firearms attorneys and law enforcement trainers suggest calmly informing an officer that you are carrying during any contact, as a de-escalation and safety practice.
• If an officer asks whether you are armed or demands your CPL, answer truthfully and produce the license. RCW 9.41.050(1)(b) requires you to display the CPL on demand.
• Keep your CPL accessible and separate from the firearm so you can present it without reaching toward the gun.

Note on Scope

This analysis rests on the text of Washington's firearms statutes. RCW 9.41.050 and RCW 9.41.070 set out the carry and licensing rules, and neither imposes a duty to inform. The conclusion that Washington has no duty-to-inform law is supported by the absence of any such provision anywhere in Chapter 9.41 RCW. Always confirm current law, since the firearms chapter has been amended frequently in recent sessions.

Training Requirements for a Washington Concealed Pistol License

Washington is not a permitless concealed-carry state. To carry a pistol concealed, or to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle, you need a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) issued under RCW 9.41.070. This page explains what training the law does and does not require, both for the CPL itself and for buying a firearm in Washington. The rules are changing: a major training requirement for the CPL takes effect May 1, 2027, and the firearm-purchase training requirement is already in force.

No Training Is Required for a CPL (Through April 30, 2027)

Under the version of RCW 9.41.070 in effect through April 30, 2027, Washington does not require any firearms course, safety class, or live-fire qualification as a condition of getting a CPL. The license is shall-issue. The chief of police of your municipality or the sheriff of your county must issue the license within 30 days of a complete application (up to 60 days if you do not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state ID card, or have not been a state resident for the previous 90 consecutive days), unless a statutory disqualifier applies.

The CPL is valid for five years from the date of issue (RCW 9.41.070(1)). The applicant must be at least 21 years old, must not be ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or 9.41.045 or prohibited under federal law, and must not fall under the other disqualifiers in RCW 9.41.070(1) (such as a revoked CPL, certain firearm-related court orders, being free on bond pending a felony, or an outstanding warrant). The issuing authority runs a background check through the national instant criminal background check system and state databases, and an original license requires a full set of fingerprints submitted to the Washington State Patrol (RCW 9.41.070(2)).

So, as a matter of current law, you can obtain a Washington CPL without taking any class.

CPL Training Requirement Effective May 1, 2027

This changes. Under 2025 c 370 (Substitute House Bill 1163), RCW 9.41.070 is amended effective May 1, 2027 to add a training prerequisite for the CPL. Beginning that date, an applicant who cannot produce a certificate of completion of a certified concealed carry firearms safety training program completed within the last five years, or proof of an exemption, is disqualified from a CPL (RCW 9.41.070(1)(h)).

Under the amended RCW 9.41.070(5)(a), the qualifying training must:

• Be a concealed carry firearms safety training program certified by the Washington State Patrol under RCW 43.43.575;
• Include live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range; and
• Include a demonstration by the applicant of safe handling of, and shooting proficiency with, firearms, with a minimum of 50 rounds of ammunition fired at a range under the supervision of an instructor.

Applicants who qualify for an exemption under RCW 9.41.1132(5) are excused from the training requirement (RCW 9.41.070(5)(b)). The Washington State Patrol is directed by RCW 43.43.575 (also effective May 1, 2027) to set up the program that certifies these training courses and to develop the documentation used to prove completion or exemption.

If you are reading this before May 1, 2027, no CPL training is required yet. If you are planning a renewal or a new application around that date, confirm the current status with your issuing law enforcement agency, because the requirement is part of a package of 2025 changes that takes effect together.

Training Is Already Required to Buy a Firearm

Separate from the CPL, Washington already requires firearm safety training as a condition of purchasing a firearm. This requirement was enacted by 2023 c 161 (Substitute House Bill 1143) and took effect January 1, 2024.

Under RCW 9.41.090(1)(a) (the version in effect through April 30, 2027), a dealer may not deliver a firearm to a purchaser until the purchaser provides proof of completion of a recognized firearm safety training program within the last five years that complies with RCW 9.41.1132, or proof that the purchaser is exempt.

RCW 9.41.1132 sets the minimum content of that training. The program must include instruction on:

• Basic firearms safety rules;
• Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety;
• Firearms and suicide prevention;
• Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use;
• Safe handling of firearms;
• State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited transfers and locations where firearms are prohibited;
• State laws on the use of deadly force for self-defense; and
• Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and managing a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution.

The training must be sponsored by a federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, a college or university, a nationally recognized organization that customarily offers firearms training, or a firearms training school whose instructors are certified by such an organization. Proof is a certification stating under penalty of perjury that the training met the minimum requirements (RCW 9.41.1132(2)).

The purchase training requirement does not apply to certain peace officers (general authority, limited authority, specially commissioned, and federal peace officers as defined in RCW 10.93.020 who have arrest powers and carry a firearm as a normal part of their duties), or to active-duty military, active National Guard members, and armed forces reservists who completed qualifying firearms training within the last five years (RCW 9.41.1132(4)).

Note that the current purchase-training standard does not require a live-fire range component. That live-fire element is added for the permit-to-purchase system that takes effect May 1, 2027, described below.

Ten-Business-Day Waiting Period for Purchases

Independent of training, a licensed dealer may not deliver a firearm until all required background checks clear and ten business days have elapsed from the date the dealer requested the background check (RCW 9.41.092). This applies in addition to the training-proof requirement in RCW 9.41.090.

Permit to Purchase and Live-Fire Training Effective May 1, 2027

The 2025 legislation also creates a permit-to-purchase system. Effective May 1, 2027, RCW 9.41.121 establishes an application, processed through the Washington State Patrol firearms background check program, for a permit to purchase firearms. An applicant must submit a completed application, a full set of fingerprints, the application fee, and a certificate of completion of a certified firearms safety training program within the last five years (or proof of exemption) as provided in RCW 9.41.1132 (RCW 9.41.121(2)).

For the permit-to-purchase program, RCW 9.41.1132 (the version effective May 1, 2027) adds a live-fire shooting component to the required training topics: live-fire exercises on a firing range with a demonstration of safe handling and shooting proficiency (RCW 9.41.1132(1)(i)). A permit to purchase is valid for five years and, by its terms, does not authorize the holder to carry a concealed pistol (RCW 9.41.121(11) and (13)). The 2027 version of RCW 9.41.1132 also expands the list of exempt persons to include tribal police officers and certain licensed armed private investigators and armed security guards (RCW 9.41.1132(5)).

LEOSA Firearms Qualification for Retired or Separated Officers

Retired and separated law enforcement officers who want to carry concealed nationwide under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA, 18 U.S.C. 926C) need an annual firearms qualification. In Washington, the Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) administers this qualification under the Washington State LEOSA statute, RCW 36.28A.090. (Active-duty officers carry under 18 U.S.C. 926B; the retired/separated provision is 18 U.S.C. 926C.)

Key points from the WSCJTC process:

• The applicant must have served at least 10 years as a law enforcement officer, separated in good standing, not be prohibited from possessing a firearm, and have a Washington primary residence with a Washington driver's license or ID card.
• Qualification can be completed on-site at a WSCJTC LEOSA course, through a local department that conducts LEOSA certifications, or with a certified instructor from the WSCJTC instructor directory.
• An instructor administering the test must hold a current WSCJTC Handgun Instructor Level I or higher certification earned within the past three years.
• The certification must be renewed each year.
• A WSCJTC firearms certificate alone does not authorize LEOSA carry. The officer must also carry a photographic LEOSA identification card issued by the former employing agency that identifies the person as a former law enforcement officer (18 U.S.C. 926C(d)(2)).

Out-of-State Permits and Reciprocity

Washington does have conditional concealed-carry reciprocity, but an out-of-state permit is never a substitute for the training a Washington CPL itself will require once the May 1, 2027 prerequisite is in effect.

Under RCW 9.41.073, a nonresident who holds a valid concealed pistol license or permit from another state may carry a concealed pistol in Washington without a Washington CPL, but only if all of these conditions are met:

• The issuing state recognizes and gives effect to concealed pistol licenses issued by Washington (reciprocal recognition);
• The issuing state does not issue concealed pistol licenses to persons under 21, and it requires mandatory fingerprint-based background checks of criminal and mental-health history for all applicants; and
• The person is at least 21 years old, is not a Washington resident, and carries the out-of-state license along with government-issued photo identification, while carrying in compliance with Washington law (RCW 9.41.073(1) and (2)).

The Washington Attorney General is required by RCW 9.41.073(2) to publish the official, current list of qualifying states, available at atg.wa.gov. As of the mid-2025 update, that list included roughly ten states, such as Idaho (enhanced permit only), Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (enhanced permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Utah, several with permit-type restrictions. The list changes as other states amend their laws, so verify the current Attorney General list before relying on an out-of-state permit.

A nonresident whose permit comes from a state that is not on the qualifying list cannot carry concealed in Washington on that out-of-state license. Washington does, however, issue nonresident CPLs under RCW 9.41.070, and a nonresident may apply anywhere in the state (RCW 9.41.070(11)(c)). When the May 1, 2027 CPL training requirement is in effect, nonresident applicants will be subject to the same certified concealed carry training prerequisite as residents.

Key Statutes

• RCW 9.41.070 - Concealed pistol license: application, fee, renewal (and, effective May 1, 2027, the concealed carry firearms safety training prerequisite)
• RCW 9.41.073 - Concealed pistol license reciprocity: conditional recognition of qualifying out-of-state licenses
• RCW 9.41.090 - Dealer deliveries: proof of recognized firearm safety training required before delivery
• RCW 9.41.092 - Ten-business-day waiting period and background check before dealer delivery
• RCW 9.41.1132 - Firearm sales and transfers: firearms safety training program content and exemptions
• RCW 9.41.121 - Permit to purchase firearms application (effective May 1, 2027)
• RCW 43.43.575 - Washington State Patrol firearms safety training certification program (effective May 1, 2027)
• RCW 9.41.040 / RCW 9.41.045 - Persons ineligible to possess firearms
• RCW 36.28A.090 - Washington State LEOSA law
• 18 U.S.C. 926C - Federal LEOSA, retired or separated officers
• 18 U.S.C. 926B - Federal LEOSA, active officers

Washington State Concealed Pistol License (CPL): Application Process

Washington calls its concealed carry permit a Concealed Pistol License (CPL). The license is governed primarily by RCW 9.41.070. Washington is not a permitless concealed carry state. Under RCW 9.41.050(1)(a), a person may not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a CPL, except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business. A CPL is also required to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle under RCW 9.41.050(2). Open carry of a pistol by a person who may lawfully possess one is generally legal without a license, but this section covers the concealed license only.

Penalties tied to the license requirement:

• Carrying a concealed pistol without a CPL has no separate grade in RCW 9.41.050, so the general penalty in RCW 9.41.810 applies, making it a misdemeanor.
• Failure to carry the CPL in immediate possession while carrying concealed is a class 1 civil infraction under RCW 9.41.050(1)(b).
• Carrying or placing a loaded pistol in a vehicle without a CPL (or outside the conditions allowed for a licensee) is a misdemeanor under RCW 9.41.050(2).

The CPL is issued on a shall-issue basis. RCW 9.41.070(1) directs the issuing authority to issue the license unless one of the listed disqualifiers applies. The license is valid for five years from the date of issue.

Where to Apply

Under RCW 9.41.070(13), a person may apply for a CPL:

• To the municipality or to the county in which the applicant resides, if the applicant resides in a municipality.
• To the county in which the applicant resides, if the applicant resides in an unincorporated area.
• Anywhere in the state, if the applicant is a nonresident.

In practice this means residents apply at the city police department or the county sheriff's office with jurisdiction over their residence, and nonresidents may apply at any Washington law enforcement agency that issues CPLs. The issuing authority is the chief of police of a municipality or the sheriff of a county, per RCW 9.41.070(1). The statute requires the issuing authority to accept completed applications during regular business hours.

Some agencies use online intake or appointment scheduling platforms, but an in-person appearance is still required for fingerprinting and identity verification.

Application Contents

Per RCW 9.41.070(4), the license application must bear:

• Full name
• Residential address
• Telephone number (at the applicant's option)
• Email address (at the applicant's option)
• Date and place of birth
• Race and gender
• Physical description
• A complete set of fingerprints
• Signature of the applicant
• Driver's license number or state identification card number, if used for identification

A signed CPL application constitutes a waiver of confidentiality and a written request that the Health Care Authority, mental health institutions, and other health care facilities release information relevant to the applicant's eligibility to an inquiring court or law enforcement agency. This waiver language appears directly in RCW 9.41.070(4).

The application also asks about the applicant's eligibility under RCW 9.41.040 and federal law, place of birth, and U.S. citizenship. An applicant who is not a U.S. citizen must provide country of citizenship, a U.S.-issued alien or admission number, and the basis for any exemption from federal prohibitions on firearm possession by aliens, and must meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.41.173. Applicants are not required to produce a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship.

Application Steps

1. Obtain and complete the application form at your local issuing agency (city police department or county sheriff's office). Some agencies offer online submission or appointment scheduling.

2. Appear in person to submit the application. In-person appearance supports fingerprinting and identity verification.

3. Provide identification. Applicants generally present valid picture identification such as a Washington driver's license or state ID. Whether the standard 30-day or extended 60-day processing window applies depends on having a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state ID and 90 consecutive days of state residency (see Processing Time below).

4. Submit fingerprints. The application for an original license includes a complete set of fingerprints forwarded to the Washington State Patrol. RCW 9.41.070(2)(d) requires the original-license background check to include a national fingerprint-based check by the FBI.

5. Background check. Under RCW 9.41.070(2), the issuing authority checks the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the Washington State Patrol electronic database, the Health Care Authority electronic database, and other agencies or resources as appropriate to determine whether the applicant is ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or 9.41.045 or under federal law. The original license also requires the FBI fingerprint check described above. An applicant may request and receive a copy of the background check results from the issuing authority.

6. Pay the application fee (see Fees below).

7. Processing time. Under RCW 9.41.070(1):

   • 30 days for an applicant who has a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state ID and has been a resident for the previous 90 consecutive days.
   • Up to 60 days if the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state ID, or has not been a resident for the previous 90 consecutive days.

8. Issuance. If approved, the license is issued for five years from the date of issue. The original is delivered to the licensee, a duplicate is sent to the Director of Licensing within seven days, and the issuing authority preserves a record for six years.

A temporary emergency license may be issued for good cause pending review, but it does not exempt the holder from any records-check requirement and must be easily distinguishable from a regular license (RCW 9.41.070, temporary emergency license provision).

Fees

RCW 9.41.070 sets the statutory CPL fees. Local agencies may pass through FBI fingerprint charges, so the total collected can be higher than the base statutory fee.

No other state or local branch or unit of government may impose additional charges for issuance or renewal beyond what the statute allows. Payment must be accepted by cash, check, or money order; additional payment methods may be allowed at the option of the issuing authority (RCW 9.41.070, payment subsection).

Eligibility Requirements

Under RCW 9.41.070(1), the CPL must be issued unless the applicant falls within a disqualifier. The disqualifiers stated in RCW 9.41.070(1) are that the applicant:

• Is ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or 9.41.045, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law
• Has a CPL that is in revoked status
• Is under 21 years of age
• Is subject to a court order or injunction regarding firearms under chapter 7.105 RCW or one of the listed domestic-relations or protection-order statutes
• Is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a felony offense
• Has an outstanding arrest warrant from any court of competent jurisdiction for a felony or misdemeanor
• Has been ordered to forfeit a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e) within one year before filing the application

The cross-referenced ineligibility grounds in RCW 9.41.040 include, among others, felony convictions (unless firearm rights have been restored), certain domestic violence and harassment convictions, involuntary commitment for mental health treatment, and being subject to qualifying protection orders. A person convicted of a felony cannot have the privilege to carry a concealed pistol restored unless granted relief from disabilities by the U.S. Attorney General under 18 U.S.C. 925(c), or RCW 9.41.040(3) or (4) applies.

U.S. citizenship is not required. A non-citizen may apply if eligible to possess a firearm under federal law and the additional requirements of RCW 9.41.173 are met.

Carrying Requirements

A licensee must keep the CPL in immediate possession at all times when carrying a concealed pistol and must display it on demand to a police officer or when otherwise required by law. A violation is a class 1 civil infraction under RCW 9.41.050(1)(b).

Renewal Process

• A licensee may renew within 90 days before or after the expiration date of the license (RCW 9.41.070, renewal subsection). A renewed license takes effect on the prior license's expiration date.
• The renewal fee is $32. A licensee renewing after the expiration date must pay an additional $10 late renewal penalty.
• The Department of Licensing mails (or, if an email address was provided, may email) a renewal notice roughly 90 days before expiration for licenses expiring on or after August 1, 2018.
• Service members unable to renew because of out-of-state military assignment, reassignment, or deployment may renew within 90 days after returning to Washington, with documentation, and are not charged the late penalty. Agencies must offer a mail renewal process for these service members, and may offer online renewal.

If the license has been expired long enough that it can no longer be renewed within the 90-day window, the person must apply as a new applicant.

Replacement Licenses

A lost or damaged license can be replaced for $10, paid to the issuing authority (RCW 9.41.070, replacement subsection). Applicants who move should update their address with the Department of Licensing as required for their Washington driver's license; agencies treat the residential address on file as controlling.

Denial and Judicial Relief

Under current law (the version of RCW 9.41.070 effective until May 1, 2027), the issuing authority must deny a license to anyone found prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or state law.

A person whose CPL application is wrongfully refused may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a writ of mandamus directing the issuing agency to issue the license, under RCW 9.41.0975(2). The same statute authorizes mandamus to correct erroneous information that resulted in a wrongful denial of a firearm purchase. RCW 9.41.0975(1) also grants good-faith immunity to officials and agencies for various licensing and background-check actions.

A person who knowingly makes a false statement about citizenship or identity on a CPL application is guilty of false swearing under RCW 9A.72.040, the license is revoked, and the person becomes permanently ineligible for a CPL (RCW 9.41.070).

Reciprocity

Washington has conditional statutory reciprocity under RCW 9.41.073. A person who holds a valid concealed pistol license or permit from another state may carry a concealed pistol in Washington without a Washington CPL only if all of these conditions are met:

1. The issuing state recognizes and gives effect to concealed pistol licenses issued by Washington (reciprocal recognition).
2. The issuing state requires a fingerprint-based background check of permit applicants covering criminal and mental health history, and has eligibility requirements substantially equivalent to Washington's, including not issuing licenses to persons under age 21.
3. The person is 21 years of age or older and carries the out-of-state license or permit along with valid government-issued photo identification.
4. The person is not a resident of Washington. RCW 9.41.073(1)(b) applies the recognition to an out-of-state license holder only while the holder is not a resident of this state, and the holder must carry the handgun in compliance with Washington law. A Washington resident cannot rely on an out-of-state permit and must obtain a Washington CPL to carry concealed.

The Washington Attorney General is required by law to review other states' laws and publish the official, current list of qualifying states at atg.wa.gov. As of the July 25, 2025 update, the recognized states were roughly ten: Idaho (Enhanced Permit only), Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (Enhanced Permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota (Class 1 permits only), Ohio, South Dakota (Unrestricted Enhanced and Gold permits only), and Utah (Provisional permit not recognized). This list changes as states amend their laws, so always verify the current Attorney General list before relying on out-of-state reciprocity.

A nonresident from a state that does not qualify for reciprocity can still carry concealed in Washington by obtaining a Washington nonresident CPL. RCW 9.41.070(13) allows a nonresident to apply for a Washington CPL anywhere in the state. The same eligibility rules apply, and the extended processing window of up to 60 days typically applies to nonresidents.

LEOSA (Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act)

LEOSA is a federal authority, not a Washington exemption. Qualified active law enforcement officers carry under 18 U.S.C. 926B, and qualified retired or separated officers carry under 18 U.S.C. 926C. A retired or separated officer relying on 18 U.S.C. 926C must carry the photographic identification required by that statute and meet the annual firearms qualification standard.

In Washington, retired and separated officers commonly obtain a LEOSA firearms qualification through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) process:

• The officer must hold a photographic identification card from the former employing agency certifying that the officer separated in good standing. WSCJTC does not issue a substitute photo ID.
• The officer qualifies with a certified firearms instructor and receives a LEOSA firearms certificate. Any WSCJTC-certified firearms instructor may issue the certificate to an applicant who meets the minimum qualification standards.
• Applications are submitted through the WSCJTC Acadis portal with the agency-issued retirement credentials and a completed qualification sheet.

WSCJTC fees are non-refundable and have historically run higher for qualification at the WSCJTC range than at an outside range. Verify current fees and procedures directly with WSCJTC, because LEOSA is a separate federal pathway and is not a Washington CPL.

Changes Effective May 1, 2027 (Enacted)

Washington enacted significant CPL changes in 2025 (2025 c 370, the HB 1163 legislation). These are law, but the affected version of RCW 9.41.070 takes effect May 1, 2027. Until that date, the requirements described above control. Beginning May 1, 2027, RCW 9.41.070 adds:

• A concealed carry firearms safety training requirement. An applicant must show a certificate of completion from a training program certified under RCW 43.43.575 within the last five years, including live-fire shooting exercises with a minimum of 50 rounds of ammunition fired at a range under instructor supervision (RCW 9.41.070(5)). Applicants who qualify for an exemption under RCW 9.41.1132(5) are excused from the training requirement.
• Interaction with a permit to purchase. An applicant who presents a valid permit to purchase firearms issued under RCW 9.41.121 is exempt from the fingerprint-check requirement on the CPL application (RCW 9.41.070(2)(d) and (4)).
• Written denial notices. If an application is denied, the issuing authority must send a written notice citing the specific statute and the grounds for denial, and explaining how to request reconsideration (RCW 9.41.070(2)(e)).
• Judicial review. If the issuing authority upholds a denial after reconsideration, the applicant may seek relief in superior court under RCW 9.41.0975 (RCW 9.41.070(2)(e)).
• Annual reporting. Issuing authorities must submit aggregate, anonymized application data to the Washington State Patrol firearms background check program for statewide analysis (RCW 9.41.070(14)).

A further change scheduled for 2026 is noted in the official statute (HB 2632). Confirm the current text of RCW 9.41.070 at app.leg.wa.gov before relying on any provision near these effective dates.

Key Statutes

Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL) Renewal

Outside your own place of abode or fixed place of business, Washington requires a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to carry a pistol concealed on your person, and a CPL is required to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle. The license, its application, fees, and renewal are all governed by RCW 9.41.070. Washington is a shall-issue state: the chief of police of a municipality or the sheriff of a county must issue or renew the license unless the applicant is disqualified under the statute (RCW 9.41.070(1)).

Note on timing: RCW 9.41.070 currently runs in two versions. The text described below as current is the version effective until May 1, 2027. A second version takes effect May 1, 2027 and adds a live-fire training requirement and a data-reporting duty. The statute also carries a notice that a further 2026 amendment (House Bill 2632) is scheduled to change this section. Confirm the operative text before relying on a specific subsection number, because the subsection numbering shifts between the two versions.

License Duration

A Washington CPL is valid for five years from the date of issue (RCW 9.41.070(1)).

Renewal Window and Deadlines

• Renewal window: A licensee may renew within 90 days before or 90 days after the expiration date of the license (RCW 9.41.070(9)(a)).
• Late renewal: Renewing after the expiration date requires a $10 late renewal penalty in addition to the renewal fee (RCW 9.41.070(9)(a)).
• A renewed license takes effect on the expiration date of the prior license, not the date of application, so there is no gap or overlap in coverage (RCW 9.41.070(9)(a)).
• Beyond the 90-day late window: The statute only authorizes renewal within that 90-day-before or 90-day-after period. A person who lets a license lapse past that window generally must apply for a new original license rather than renew. Confirm the procedure with your issuing agency, because practice varies by jurisdiction.

Renewal Notices from the Department of Licensing

For CPLs that expire on or after August 1, 2018, the Department of Licensing (DOL) mails a renewal notice approximately 90 days before the license expiration date to the address listed on the application, or sends it to the email address the licensee provided at the time of application (RCW 9.41.070(9)(b)).

The notice must contain:

• The date the CPL will expire
• The amount of the renewal fee
• The penalty for late renewal
• Instructions on how to renew the license

The statute does not excuse a late renewal because a notice was not received. Keep your address current with the issuing authority and DOL.

Where to Renew

Applications, including renewals, are filed based on residency (RCW 9.41.070(13)):

• A resident of a municipality may apply to the municipality or to the county in which the applicant resides.
• A resident of an unincorporated area applies to the county in which the applicant resides.
• A nonresident may apply anywhere in the state.

The issuing authority cannot refuse to accept completed applications during regular business hours (RCW 9.41.070(1)). Specific procedures such as walk-in service, appointments, or online renewal are set by each local agency. Contact your issuing agency for its process.

Renewal Requirements (Current, Effective Until May 1, 2027)

To renew, the applicant must continue to qualify under RCW 9.41.070 and must not fall into any disqualifier. Under RCW 9.41.070(1), the license must be issued unless the applicant:

• Is ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or RCW 9.41.045, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law
• Holds a CPL that is in revoked status
• Is under 21 years of age
• Is subject to a court order or injunction regarding firearms under chapter 7.105 RCW or the other listed family-law and harassment statutes
• Is free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal, or sentencing for a felony offense
• Has an outstanding warrant for arrest for a felony or misdemeanor
• Has been ordered to forfeit a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e) within one year before applying

The issuing authority runs a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, the Washington State Patrol database, the Health Care Authority database, and other resources, and these checks apply to both new and renewal applications (RCW 9.41.070(2)). A full fingerprint-based FBI check is required for an original license; the statute ties that fingerprint submission to the original application, so a renewal generally does not require a new set of fingerprints (RCW 9.41.070(2), (4)).

Non-citizen applicants must meet the additional requirements of RCW 9.41.173 and provide proof of compliance at application (RCW 9.41.070(4)).

No training is required to obtain or renew a Washington CPL under the current version of the statute. That changes on May 1, 2027 (see below).

New Training Requirement (Effective May 1, 2027)

Under the version of RCW 9.41.070 that takes effect May 1, 2027 (enacted by 2025 c 370, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1163), an applicant for issuance of a CPL, including a renewal, must complete a concealed carry firearms safety training program certified under RCW 43.43.575. The training must include (RCW 9.41.070(5)(a)):

• Live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range
• A demonstration by the applicant of safe handling of, and shooting proficiency with, firearms
• A minimum of 50 rounds of ammunition firing training at a firing range under the supervision of an instructor

An applicant who cannot produce a certificate of completion within the last five years, or proof of an exemption, is disqualified (RCW 9.41.070(1)(h), effective May 1, 2027). Applicants who can demonstrate they are exempt under RCW 9.41.1132(5) do not have to complete the training (RCW 9.41.070(5)(b)).

In the post-2027 version, an applicant who presents a valid permit to purchase firearms issued under RCW 9.41.121 is exempt from the fingerprint requirement on a CPL application (RCW 9.41.070(2)(d), (4)).

New Reporting Requirement (Effective May 1, 2027)

Beginning not later than one year after May 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, issuing authorities must submit aggregate license application data to the Washington State Patrol firearms background check program for statewide analysis. Not later than 18 months after May 1, 2027, the program reports to the legislature on application, issuance, and denial numbers, anonymized demographic data, the disqualifiers cited in denials, appeals, and revocations (RCW 9.41.070(14), effective May 1, 2027).

Fees

All fees are nonrefundable and are set by statute. No other state or local unit of government may impose additional charges for issuing or renewing the license (RCW 9.41.070).

Because the original fee adds the federal fingerprint processing charge on top of the $36 base, the total an applicant pays for an original license is commonly higher than $36; the exact total depends on the FBI charge passed through by the agency.

Renewal Fee Distribution (RCW 9.41.070(6))

The $32 renewal fee is distributed as follows:

• $15.00 to the state general fund
• $14.00 to the issuing authority for enforcing chapter 9.41 RCW
• $2.16 to the firearms range account in the general fund
• $0.84 to the concealed pistol license renewal notification account created in RCW 43.79.540

Late Renewal Penalty Distribution (RCW 9.41.070(9)(a))

The $10 late penalty is distributed as follows:

• $3.00 to the limited fish and wildlife account, used first for printing and distributing a firearms safety and legal-limits pamphlet and then to support volunteer instructors in the basic firearms safety training program run by the Department of Fish and Wildlife
• $7.00 to the issuing authority for enforcing chapter 9.41 RCW

Payment Methods

Payment must be accepted by cash, check, or money order at the applicant's option. The issuing authority may allow additional payment methods at its option (RCW 9.41.070(8)).

Processing Time

The issuing authority must act within 30 days after the application is filed. If the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or Washington state identification card, or has not been a resident for the previous 90 consecutive days, the issuing authority has up to 60 days (RCW 9.41.070(1)).

Military Service Exception

A member of the armed forces, including the National Guard and reserves, who cannot renew on time because of an out-of-state assignment, reassignment, or deployment may renew within 90 days after returning to Washington, if the person provides the issuing authority, no later than 90 days after the date of discharge or of the order back to this state (RCW 9.41.070(14)):

• A copy of the original order designating the period of out-of-state military service, and
• If applicable, a copy of the discharge or amended or subsequent order back to this state

A license renewed under this provision takes effect on the expiration date of the prior license, and the licensee pays only the standard renewal fee with no late penalty (RCW 9.41.070(14)).

Mail and Online Renewal for Deployed Military (RCW 9.41.070(15))

By October 1, 2019, agencies that issue CPLs were required to develop and implement a mail-application renewal procedure, and may develop an online process, for a service member who cannot renew in person because of out-of-state military service. The applicant must provide a copy of the original deployment or assignment order, apply within the 90-day-before or 90-day-after window, and pay the renewal fee plus any applicable late penalty. A license renewed through this process takes effect on the expiration date of the prior license and is valid for one year (RCW 9.41.070(15)).

Temporary Emergency License

The chief of police or county sheriff may issue a temporary emergency license for good cause while a full review is pending. A temporary emergency license does not exempt the holder from any records-check requirement and must be easily distinguishable from a regular license (RCW 9.41.070(10)).

Protection Orders and Their Effect on a CPL

A person who is subject to a court order or injunction regarding firearms under chapter 7.105 RCW is disqualified from holding or renewing a CPL (RCW 9.41.070(1)(d)). Chapter 7.105 RCW is Washington's consolidated civil protection order chapter, which covers domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, antiharassment, vulnerable adult, and extreme risk protection orders.

An extreme risk protection order specifically requires the respondent to surrender all firearms and any concealed pistol license issued under RCW 9.41.070, and bars the respondent from possessing or obtaining a firearm or a CPL while the order is in effect (the surrender requirements are set out in RCW 7.105.340 and are referenced in the temporary order statute, RCW 7.105.330).

A person who becomes subject to a qualifying order cannot renew a CPL and may have an existing license surrendered or revoked. Violating a firearms-surrender provision can carry criminal consequences. Consult the specific order and chapter 7.105 RCW for the exact terms.

False Statements on Applications

A person who knowingly makes a false statement regarding citizenship or identity on a CPL application is guilty of false swearing under RCW 9A.72.040. In addition to any other penalty, that person's CPL is revoked and the person is permanently ineligible for a CPL (RCW 9.41.070(12)).

Replacement Licenses

A lost or damaged license may be replaced for a $10 fee paid to the issuing authority (RCW 9.41.070(7)).

Preemption

A political subdivision of the state cannot modify the requirements of RCW 9.41.070 or chapter 9.41 RCW, and cannot ask an applicant to voluntarily submit information not required by the statute (RCW 9.41.070(11)). This is reinforced by Washington's general firearms preemption statute, RCW 9.41.290.

Out-of-State Permits and Reciprocity

Washington has conditional statutory reciprocity under RCW 9.41.073. A person who holds a valid concealed pistol license or permit from another state may carry a concealed pistol in Washington without a Washington CPL, but only when all of the following are met:

• The issuing state recognizes and gives effect to concealed pistol licenses issued by Washington (reciprocal recognition).
• The issuing state requires a fingerprint-based background check of permit applicants covering criminal and mental-health history and otherwise has substantially equivalent eligibility requirements, including not issuing licenses to persons under 21.
• The person is 21 years of age or older and carries the out-of-state license or permit together with valid government-issued photo identification.
• The person is not a resident of Washington. The statute applies to an out-of-state license holder only while the holder is not a resident of this state, and the holder must carry the handgun in compliance with Washington law (RCW 9.41.073(1)(b)).

The Washington Attorney General is required by law to publish and maintain the official, current list of states that qualify for reciprocity. As of the mid-2025 list, roughly ten states qualified, including Idaho (enhanced permit only), Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (enhanced permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Utah, several with permit-type restrictions. The list changes as other states amend their laws, so verify the current list at atg.wa.gov before relying on it.

Because reciprocity is limited to nonresidents, a Washington resident cannot carry concealed on an out-of-state permit, even one from a qualifying state. A person who moves to Washington and keeps a former home-state permit must obtain a Washington CPL; carrying concealed without one is unlawful (RCW 9.41.050).

A nonresident whose home-state permit does not qualify cannot carry concealed in Washington on that permit alone. That person may instead apply for a Washington nonresident CPL under RCW 9.41.070, which a nonresident may file for anywhere in the state.

Retired Law Enforcement (LEOSA)

Retired or separated law enforcement officers carry under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, codified at 18 U.S.C. 926C, which is separate from the Washington CPL. LEOSA requires an annual firearms qualification that meets the active-duty standard of the agency or state. In Washington, qualification and credentialing for retired officers are handled administratively through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission rather than under RCW 9.41.070. Qualification fees and equipment requirements are set by that agency, so confirm current amounts and requirements directly with it.

Important Notes

• Outside your own place of abode or fixed place of business, carrying a pistol concealed requires a valid, unexpired CPL, as does carrying a loaded pistol in a vehicle. Carrying concealed elsewhere without a valid license is unlawful (RCW 9.41.050(1)(a)).
• A CPL covers pistols only. The statutory term is concealed pistol license, not concealed weapons permit.
• The license carries a federal-law warning: a state license is not a defense to a federal prosecution if you are prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm (RCW 9.41.070(4)).
• Washington recognizes out-of-state concealed pistol licenses only from states that qualify under its reciprocity statute, RCW 9.41.073. A nonresident from a non-qualifying state who wants to carry concealed in Washington must obtain a Washington nonresident CPL under RCW 9.41.070. Check the Attorney General's current reciprocity list at atg.wa.gov before traveling.
• No training is required to renew a CPL under current law. The live-fire training requirement applies to issuance and renewal on or after May 1, 2027 (RCW 9.41.070(5), effective May 1, 2027).

Key Statutes

Fees and Costs for a Washington Concealed Pistol License

Washington requires a license to carry a pistol concealed. Under RCW 9.41.070, a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) is issued by the chief of police of the city or the sheriff of the county on a shall-issue basis, and it is also what allows you to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle. Carrying a concealed pistol without a license is a misdemeanor under RCW 9.41.050(1). The fees below are set by state statute, so the base amounts are the same statewide. Some real-world costs (such as the federal fingerprint charge) are added on top and can vary by issuing agency.

Concealed Pistol License (CPL) Fees

All CPL fee amounts are fixed by RCW 9.41.070. No other state or local unit of government may add its own charge for issuing or renewing the license.

New (Original) CPL

• Statutory application fee: $36.00, plus any additional fingerprint charge imposed by the FBI that is passed on to the applicant (RCW 9.41.070(5)). An original license requires a complete set of fingerprints submitted through the Washington State Patrol for a national FBI check, so the real-world total an applicant pays is usually a few dollars higher than the $36 statutory fee. As an example, the City of Bellevue lists a combined total of about $48 once the FBI fingerprint charge is included.
• The fee is nonrefundable and is paid at the time of application.
• The license is valid for five years from the date of issue.
• The issuing authority must act within 30 days of the application. That window extends to up to 60 days if the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state ID card, or has not been a Washington resident for the previous 90 consecutive days (RCW 9.41.070(1)).

CPL Renewal

• Renewal fee: $32.00 (RCW 9.41.070(6)).
• Late renewal: a licensee who renews after the expiration date must pay a $10.00 late penalty in addition to the $32.00 renewal fee, for a total of $42.00 (RCW 9.41.070(9)(a)).
• Renewal window: you may renew beginning 90 days before the expiration date and up to 90 days after it. A license renewed in that window takes effect on the prior license's expiration date (RCW 9.41.070(9)(a)).
• If you let the license lapse more than 90 days past expiration, you can no longer renew and must apply as a new applicant at the original-license fee.
• A national FBI fingerprint check is required for an original license. For renewals the issuing authority conducts the check through state and federal databases, so fingerprinting is generally not repeated.
• Members of the armed forces, national guard, and reserves who cannot renew on time because of an out-of-state assignment or deployment may renew within 90 days after returning to Washington and are not charged the late penalty (RCW 9.41.070(14)).

Replacement CPL

• Fee: $10.00 for a lost or damaged license, paid to the issuing authority (RCW 9.41.070(7)).

Payment Methods

Payment may be made by cash, check, or money order. An issuing authority may, at its option, allow additional payment methods such as credit or debit cards (RCW 9.41.070(8)).

How the Original Fee Is Distributed

RCW 9.41.070(5) splits the $36.00 original fee as follows:

The $32.00 renewal fee is distributed in a similar way, minus the fingerprint share (RCW 9.41.070(6)).

Eligibility Affecting the Application

These requirements come from RCW 9.41.070 and do not change the fee, but failing them means the application is denied:

• At least 21 years of age.
• Not ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or 9.41.045, and not prohibited under federal law.
• Not subject to a disqualifying court order, outstanding felony or misdemeanor warrant, or pending felony status listed in RCW 9.41.070(1).

A nonresident may apply for a Washington CPL at any issuing authority in the state (RCW 9.41.070(13)(c)). Applicants who are not United States citizens are not automatically barred; they must meet the additional documentation requirements of RCW 9.41.173.

Costs Tied to Buying a Firearm

Several Washington requirements add cost or delay to a firearm purchase even though they are not part of the CPL fee.

Background Check and Dealer Transfer Fee

All firearm sales and transfers, including most private transfers, must go through a licensed dealer for a background check under RCW 9.41.113. For a transfer the dealer is facilitating, RCW 9.41.113(e) allows the dealer to charge a fee that reflects the fair market value of the administrative costs of the transfer. The statute does not set a fixed amount or cap, and in practice these fees commonly run about $25-$50.

Ten-Business-Day Waiting Period

Under RCW 9.41.092, a licensed dealer may not deliver a firearm until the background check is complete and ten business days have elapsed from the date the dealer requested the check. This requirement was enacted by House Bill 1143 (2023 c 161) and took effect January 1, 2024. It is a delay rather than a fee, but it is a real cost in time.

Firearms Safety Training Requirement

Since January 1, 2024, a person buying or receiving a firearm must show proof of completing a recognized firearms safety training program within the last five years, or qualify for an exemption (RCW 9.41.1132). Course pricing is set by private training providers, not by statute.

Permit to Purchase (Effective May 1, 2027)

House Bill 1163 was enacted in 2025 (2025 c 370) and creates a permit-to-purchase system. Most of the act, including the permit requirement, takes effect May 1, 2027. Under RCW 9.41.121:

• A permit to purchase firearms will be required before a dealer may deliver a firearm (RCW 9.41.090, effective May 1, 2027).
• The permit will be valid for five years and renewable.
• An applicant must show a certificate of completion of a certified firearms safety training program within the last five years (RCW 9.41.121, RCW 9.41.1132).
• The Washington State Patrol firearms background check program will set a permit application fee sufficient to cover the program's direct and indirect costs, plus a fingerprint processing fee under RCW 43.43.742 (RCW 9.41.121(11)). The statute does not fix a dollar amount; check the Washington State Patrol for the current schedule once the program is operating.

State Background Check Fee (Replaced the Assault Rifle Transfer Fee)

Initiative 1639 (2018) authorized a fee of up to $25.00 on each sale or transfer of a semiautomatic assault rifle (former RCW 9.41.090(7)). That fee was repealed effective January 1, 2024, when House Bill 1143 (2023 c 161) deleted the subsection. Its replacement is broader. Under RCW 43.43.580(4)(a), the dealer must charge every firearm purchaser or transferee a fee for the state background check, no matter what type of firearm is being transferred. The Washington State Patrol sets the fee at the amount needed to operate the state firearm background check system, and it may not exceed $18.00. The fee does not apply to background checks connected with pawned firearms (RCW 43.43.580(4)(b)). This charge is separate from the dealer's own administrative fee under RCW 9.41.113.

Local Firearms and Ammunition Taxes

Seattle Firearms and Ammunition Tax

Seattle imposes a tax on retail firearm and ammunition sales within the city, upheld by the Washington Supreme Court in Watson v. City of Seattle (2017):

The tax applies only to licensed retail sellers inside Seattle city limits. The court held the measure is a valid exercise of the city's taxing authority under RCW 35.22.280 and is not barred by the firearms preemption statute (RCW 9.41.290), because that statute preempts local regulation of firearms, not local taxation. Other Washington cities could enact similar taxes under their own taxing authority.

Federal NFA Items and Washington Restrictions

A federal making or transfer tax applies to National Firearms Act items. Under Pub. L. 119-21, the federal NFA tax is $200 for a machinegun or destructive device and $0 for other NFA items (such as suppressors and short-barreled rifles), effective for calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025, with the first qualifying quarter starting January 1, 2026. Older ATF pages may still show $200 across the board.

Washington law restricts several NFA-type items separately from the federal tax. RCW 9.41.190 makes it unlawful to possess a machine gun, bump-fire stock, or short-barreled shotgun. A short-barreled rifle is allowed only if the owner is in compliance with applicable federal law (RCW 9.41.190(2)), meaning federal NFA registration is still required even where state law permits the item.

LEOSA Credential Fees (Retired Officers)

Qualified retired law enforcement officers carry under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. 926C (active officers under 18 U.S.C. 926B). This is a federal authorization, not a Washington exemption. Retired officers who qualify through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) pay program fees set by the Commission. As published by WSCJTC:

• WSCJTC issues no refunds.
• A ballistic vest is required to qualify at the WSCJTC range, and the applicant must supply their own.
• These amounts are administrative program fees, not statutory figures; confirm the current schedule with WSCJTC.

Protection Order Costs

A protection order under chapter 7.105 RCW can require a person to surrender all firearms, dangerous weapons, and any concealed pistol license (RCW 7.105.310, which directs the court to act under RCW 9.41.800). Filing costs depend on the order type:

• No fee for service of process may be charged to a petitioner seeking relief under chapter 7.105 RCW (RCW 7.105.105(9)(a)).
• A filing fee may be charged for an antiharassment protection order, except that no filing fee may be charged when the petition involves stalking, a hate crime, a single act of violence or threat of violence, nonconsensual sexual conduct or a sex offense, or conduct that would constitute domestic violence, or when the court finds the petitioner cannot afford the cost (RCW 7.105.105(9)(b)).
• In practice this means petitions tied to domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault are generally filed without a filing fee.

Possessing or accessing firearms while an order to surrender weapons is in effect can lead to arrest and criminal or civil penalties (RCW 9.41.810; chapter 9.41 RCW violations are misdemeanors except where a provision sets a higher grade).

Key Statutes

Important Notes

• Base CPL fees are statewide because RCW 9.41.070 sets them and forbids local add-ons. The main variable is the federal FBI fingerprint charge passed through on an original license.
• A CPL is required to carry a pistol concealed and to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle. There is no permit fee for lawful open carry of a pistol by a person who may possess one.
• Washington offers conditional reciprocity under RCW 9.41.073. A person who is 21 or older and holds a valid concealed pistol license or permit from another state may carry a concealed pistol in Washington without a Washington CPL if the issuing state recognizes and gives effect to Washington licenses, requires a fingerprint-based background check for criminal and mental-health history, and does not issue licenses to people under 21. The recognition applies only while the holder is not a Washington resident (RCW 9.41.073(1)(b)); a Washington resident cannot carry on an out-of-state permit and needs a Washington CPL. Carry the out-of-state license together with a government-issued photo ID, and carry in compliance with Washington law. The Washington Attorney General publishes the official, current list of qualifying states at atg.wa.gov. As of the mid-2025 update the list was roughly ten states, including Idaho (enhanced permit only), Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (enhanced permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Utah. The list changes, so confirm the current AG list before relying on it. A nonresident from a state that does not qualify may still apply for a Washington nonresident CPL at any issuing authority (RCW 9.41.070).
• The permit-to-purchase fee and the WSCJTC LEOSA fees are not fixed in the statutes cited above, and the state background check fee is a cap ($18 under RCW 43.43.580) rather than a set amount. Verify current dollar amounts with the issuing agency before relying on them.
• Fees and effective dates change through legislation. RCW 9.41.070 itself carries a noted 2026 change; check the current version of any statute cited here for the latest amounts.

Washington Weapon and Firearm Restrictions

Washington regulates which firearms and accessories a person may make, sell, buy, and possess, who is barred from possessing firearms at all, and how lawful transfers must be processed. These rules apply on top of the licensing rules for carrying a concealed pistol. The definitions that drive most of these restrictions are set out in RCW 9.41.010, and the criminal prohibitions and penalties are spread across Chapter 9.41 RCW.

Assault Weapons (RCW 9.41.390)

Washington enacted its assault weapon law through House Bill 1240 (2023 c 162). The operative ban is RCW 9.41.390, and it took effect immediately on April 25, 2023.

What the ban does and does not cover

RCW 9.41.390(1) makes it unlawful to manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any assault weapon, except for the narrow situations listed in the statute. The law does not ban simple possession. A person who lawfully owned an assault weapon before the effective date may keep it.

Limited exceptions in RCW 9.41.390(2) include sales to the United States or Washington armed forces or to law enforcement agencies, certain dealer transactions involving out-of-state buyers, the out-of-state sale of a licensed dealer's existing stock acquired before January 1, 2023 (only during the 90 days after April 25, 2023), and receipt of an assault weapon by operation of law on the death of the former lawful owner.

A violation of RCW 9.41.390 is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.390(4)). A violation is also treated as an unfair or deceptive act under the Consumer Protection Act, Chapter 19.86 RCW (RCW 9.41.395).

Definition of "assault weapon" (RCW 9.41.010(2))

Under RCW 9.41.010(2)(a), "assault weapon" includes:

• Specifically named firearm models listed in the statute, regardless of manufacturer.
• A semiautomatic rifle with an overall length of less than 30 inches.
• A conversion kit, part, or combination of parts from which an assault weapon can be assembled, or from which a firearm can be converted into an assault weapon, if those parts are possessed or controlled by the same person.
• A semiautomatic, center fire rifle that can accept a detachable magazine and has one or more listed features (such as a pistol grip, a folding or telescoping stock, a threaded barrel, or a forward grip).
• A semiautomatic, center fire rifle with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds.
• A semiautomatic pistol that can accept a detachable magazine and has one or more listed features.
• A semiautomatic shotgun with one or more listed features.

RCW 9.41.010(2)(c) excludes from the definition: antique firearms, any firearm made permanently inoperable, and any firearm that is manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action.

Large Capacity Magazines (RCW 9.41.370)

A "large capacity magazine" is an ammunition feeding device that can accept more than 10 rounds, plus any conversion kit, part, or combination of parts from which such a device can be assembled if held by the same person (RCW 9.41.010(25)). The definition carves out certain fixed tubular .22 rimfire devices and tubular magazines that are part of certain lever action firearms.

RCW 9.41.370(1) makes it unlawful to manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any large capacity magazine, except for the limited military and law enforcement supply situations in RCW 9.41.370(2). As with the assault weapon law, this is a supply-side restriction. RCW 9.41.370 does not by its terms criminalize simple possession of a magazine a person already owns. A person who violates RCW 9.41.370 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.370(3)).

The large capacity magazine restriction was challenged in court. The Washington Supreme Court upheld the law, and the restriction remains in effect statewide. Anyone planning a purchase should treat over-10-round magazines as unavailable for retail sale inside Washington.

Machine Guns, Short-Barreled Weapons, and Other Unlawful Firearms (RCW 9.41.190, RCW 9.41.220)

RCW 9.41.190(1) makes it unlawful to manufacture, own, buy, sell, loan, furnish, transport, or possess any machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, or any part designed solely for use in those weapons. It is also unlawful to assemble or repair any of them. A violation is a class C felony (RCW 9.41.190(5)).

There is an important distinction for short-barreled rifles. RCW 9.41.190(2) provides that owning, buying, selling, transporting, or possessing a short-barreled rifle is not unlawful if the person is in compliance with applicable federal law. In practice that means a short-barreled rifle registered under the National Firearms Act and possessed in compliance with federal requirements is allowed under state law. Machine guns and short-barreled shotguns do not get the same general exception. State law continues to bar them except for narrow licensed-manufacturer and pre-July 1, 1994 affirmative-defense situations described in RCW 9.41.190(3) and (4).

A "short-barreled rifle" is a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches, or any weapon made from a rifle with an overall length under 26 inches. A "short-barreled shotgun" is a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches, or any weapon made from a shotgun with an overall length under 26 inches (RCW 9.41.010).

Items that are illegally held are declared contraband and are subject to seizure (RCW 9.41.220).

Federal National Firearms Act tax note

For the federal items that remain lawful in Washington when federally compliant, such as a short-barreled rifle, the federal transfer and making tax under the National Firearms Act applies. Under Public Law 119-21, the tax is $200 for a machine gun or destructive device and $0 for other National Firearms Act items, effective for calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025, with the first qualifying quarter starting January 1, 2026. The federal change does not lift Washington's separate state ban on machine guns and short-barreled shotguns.

Prohibited Persons (RCW 9.41.040)

RCW 9.41.040 lists who may not possess a firearm in Washington and grades the offense:

• Unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree (for example, after a conviction for a serious offense as defined in the statute) is a class B felony (RCW 9.41.040(1)(b)).
• Unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree (for example, after another felony, certain domestic violence and other gross misdemeanor convictions, or while subject to certain protection orders) is a class C felony (RCW 9.41.040(2)(b)).

These state prohibitions exist alongside the federal prohibited-person categories in 18 U.S.C. 922(g), which include felons, persons subject to certain domestic violence restraining orders, persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, and others. A person who is barred federally is barred regardless of state status. Note that being under indictment is addressed by 18 U.S.C. 922(n), not 922(g).

Restoration of the Right to Possess a Firearm (RCW 9.41.041)

A person prohibited under RCW 9.41.040 may petition a superior court to restore the right to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.041, subject to several limits.

• Certain convictions can never be the basis for restoration: a felony sex offense, a class A felony, or a felony with a maximum sentence of at least 20 years (RCW 9.41.041(1)).
• For other prohibiting convictions, the person must have spent a required number of consecutive years in the community without a new disqualifying conviction: five years for a felony, or three years for nonfelony crimes (RCW 9.41.041(2)(a)).
• The petitioner must also have no pending charges, must have completed all sentencing conditions other than nonrestitution fines and fees, and must otherwise be eligible to pass a background check (RCW 9.41.041(2)(b)).

A state court order restores only the state right to possess a firearm. It does not by itself remove any separate federal disability, and it is not a license. Restoration of state rights does not guarantee that a concealed pistol license will be issued.

Mental Health Prohibitions and Restoration (RCW 9.41.047)

RCW 9.41.047 governs firearm prohibitions tied to mental health commitments and certain criminal findings. At the time a person is committed for treatment under RCW 71.05.240, RCW 71.05.320, RCW 71.34.740, RCW 71.34.750, or Chapter 10.77 RCW, or is found not guilty by reason of insanity, the court must order surrender of firearms and any concealed pistol license and must notify the person that possession is unlawful until the right is restored.

A person prohibited on these grounds may, on discharge, petition the superior court for restoration under RCW 9.41.047(3). The petitioner generally must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that court-ordered treatment is complete, that the underlying condition has been successfully managed, that the person no longer presents a substantial danger, that symptoms are not reasonably likely to recur, and that no extreme risk protection order is in effect. A person found not guilty by reason of insanity faces additional waiting and eligibility requirements.

Background Checks for Sales and Transfers (RCW 9.41.113)

Washington requires a background check for nearly all firearm sales and transfers, including private sales, gun show sales, and online sales (RCW 9.41.113(1)). When neither party is a licensed dealer, the parties must process the transfer through a licensed dealer, who runs the background check as if selling from inventory (RCW 9.41.113(3)).

RCW 9.41.113(4) lists exceptions, including bona fide gifts or loans between certain immediate family members, transfers of antique firearms, short-term transfers to prevent imminent harm, transfers to prevent suicide, certain transfers at an authorized shooting range or organized competition, and certain transfers by operation of law on the death of an owner.

A knowing violation of RCW 9.41.113 is a gross misdemeanor, and a repeat violation is a class C felony (RCW 9.41.115). Each firearm transferred without the required check is a separate offense.

Purchase Requirements: Safety Training and Waiting Period (RCW 9.41.090, RCW 9.41.092, RCW 9.41.1132)

House Bill 1143 (2023 c 161), effective January 1, 2024, added requirements that a dealer must satisfy before delivering any firearm to a purchaser. Under RCW 9.41.090(1), a dealer may not deliver a firearm until:

• The purchaser provides proof of completing a recognized firearm safety training program within the last five years that meets the standards in RCW 9.41.1132, or proof of an exemption.
• The Washington State Patrol firearms background check program confirms the purchaser is eligible to possess a firearm under state and federal law.
• The requirements and time periods in RCW 9.41.092 are met.

RCW 9.41.092 sets a waiting period: the dealer may not deliver the firearm until 10 business days have elapsed from the date the dealer requested the background check.

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Chapter 7.105 RCW)

Washington allows family, household members, and law enforcement to seek an extreme risk protection order against a person who poses a significant danger of harming themselves or others with a firearm. These orders are now part of the unified civil protection order statute, Chapter 7.105 RCW (for example, the temporary extreme risk protection order provisions in RCW 7.105.330). An extreme risk protection order can require the person to surrender firearms and prohibits the person from possessing or buying firearms while the order is in effect.

Voluntary Waiver of Firearm Rights (RCW 9.41.350)

RCW 9.41.350 lets a person voluntarily waive their own firearm rights by filing a form with the clerk of the court. Once accepted, the waiver is entered into the national background check system, and possession or purchase of a firearm becomes unlawful for that person under RCW 9.41.040(7). The person may file a revocation no sooner than seven calendar days after filing the waiver. Records of a voluntary waiver are confidential and may not be used against the person in a legal proceeding.

Key Statutes Referenced

This page explains the law in general terms and is not legal advice. Firearm restrictions change frequently in Washington and several provisions are subject to ongoing litigation. Confirm the current statute text and consult a Washington attorney before acting.

Carrying a Firearm Under the Influence in Washington

Washington does not have a standalone criminal statute that makes it a crime to carry a concealed pistol while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The simple act of carrying concealed while intoxicated is not, by itself, a separate offense. Washington instead addresses the intersection of firearms and intoxication through a firearm forfeiture provision, the concealed pistol license (CPL) rules, several general criminal statutes, and federal law. The practical risk is real: a person carrying concealed while under the influence can lose the firearm by court order and can be disqualified from holding a CPL.

Firearm Forfeiture for Carrying Concealed While Under the Influence (RCW 9.41.098)

The most directly applicable Washington statute is RCW 9.41.098, the firearm forfeiture statute. Under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e), the superior courts and the courts of limited jurisdiction may order forfeiture of a firearm proven to be:

"In the possession of a person who is in any place in which a concealed pistol license is required, and who is under the influence of any drug or under the influence of intoxicating liquor, as defined in chapter 46.61 RCW."

Several points matter here:

• This applies to a person carrying in a manner that requires a CPL, which in Washington means carrying a pistol concealed on the person, or carrying a loaded pistol in a vehicle. It is the act of carrying concealed (or loaded in a vehicle) while impaired that triggers the provision.
• The standard for "under the influence" is defined by reference to chapter 46.61 RCW, Washington's DUI chapter, not by a fixed firearm-specific blood alcohol number. Under RCW 46.61.502, a person is under the influence at an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher within two hours of driving, a THC concentration of 5.00 nanograms per milliliter or higher, or while actually affected by liquor, cannabis, or any drug.
• Forfeiture does not depend on having a CPL. The provision reaches anyone carrying concealed in a place where a CPL would be required while under the influence.

A court may order the firearm destroyed or otherwise disposed of after a forfeiture order (RCW 9.41.098(2)). The owner may seek return of the firearm only on the limited grounds in RCW 9.41.098(3), such as a showing that there was no probable cause to believe a violation occurred, that the firearm was stolen, or that the owner neither knew of nor consented to the act that led to forfeiture. A law enforcement officer may confiscate a firearm found in the possession of a person under these circumstances (RCW 9.41.098(4)).

Carrying concealed while intoxicated is therefore not a crime in itself under state law, but it exposes the carrier to permanent loss of the firearm by court order.

Concealed Pistol License Consequences

A forfeiture under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e) carries a licensing consequence. Under RCW 9.41.070, the concealed pistol license statute, an applicant is disqualified from obtaining a CPL if the applicant has been ordered to forfeit a firearm under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e) within one year before filing the application. Washington's separate revocation statute, RCW 9.41.075, requires a law enforcement agency to revoke an existing CPL when the licensee is ordered to forfeit a firearm, with graduated revocation of one year for a first forfeiture, two years for a second, and five years for a third or later forfeiture (RCW 9.41.075(1)(d) and (3)). That revocation trigger cross-references RCW 9.41.098(1)(d), the forfeiture prong for a firearm possessed when a person commits or is arrested for a felony or a crime in which a firearm was used or displayed, which is a different prong than the under-the-influence forfeiture at RCW 9.41.098(1)(e). The consequence that attaches squarely to an under-the-influence forfeiture is the one-year bar on obtaining a CPL under RCW 9.41.070.

Related Criminal Statutes

Washington has no firearm-specific intoxication crime, but general criminal statutes can apply to an impaired person who handles or uses a firearm.

Reckless endangerment (RCW 9A.36.050). A person is guilty of reckless endangerment when he or she recklessly engages in conduct, not amounting to a drive-by shooting, that "creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person." Reckless endangerment is a gross misdemeanor. Handling a firearm while significantly impaired could support a reckless endangerment charge depending on the conduct.

Intoxication and mental state (RCW 9A.16.090). Washington law treats voluntary intoxication as no excuse for a crime, but allows intoxication to be considered when proving a required mental state:

"No act committed by a person while in a state of voluntary intoxication shall be deemed less criminal by reason of his or her condition, but whenever the actual existence of any particular mental state is a necessary element to constitute a particular species or degree of crime, the fact of his or her intoxication may be taken into consideration in determining such mental state."

This is directly relevant to any use-of-force incident. Intoxication does not by itself excuse criminal conduct, and it can cut against a person trying to show the reasonable belief that a lawful self-defense claim requires.

Prohibited places (RCW 9.41.300). Washington restricts weapons in certain locations. RCW 9.41.300 makes it unlawful to knowingly possess or control a weapon in the restricted access areas of jails and law enforcement facilities, the areas of buildings used in connection with court proceedings, restricted areas of airports, and similar locations. The statute also bars carrying in that part of an establishment classified by the state liquor and cannabis board as off-limits to persons under 21, which covers the bar area of a tavern. These restrictions are not framed as "under the influence" rules, but they overlap heavily with places where alcohol is served, and they create separate exposure for an impaired carrier.

Local Ordinances and Preemption (RCW 9.41.290)

Washington fully preempts the field of firearms regulation. RCW 9.41.290 states that the state "fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation within the boundaries of the state," and that cities, towns, and counties "may enact only those laws and ordinances relating to firearms that are specifically authorized by state law, as in RCW 9.41.300, and are consistent with this chapter." Local laws that are inconsistent with, more restrictive than, or that exceed state law are preempted.

A 1984 attorney general opinion (AGO 1984 No. 27) discussed whether a city or county could make it an offense to possess a firearm while intoxicated. That opinion interpreted the 1983 version of the preemption statute and concluded that the question would not turn on preemption but on the state constitutional right to bear arms. The preemption statute was substantially strengthened in 1985 (1985 c 428), after that opinion, to occupy the entire field and to permit only specifically authorized local ordinances. Under the current statute, a local criminal ordinance regulating firearm possession while intoxicated would likely be preempted unless specifically authorized by state law. Anyone relying on the older opinion should treat it as dated on the preemption point. The safer assumption is that the controlling rules on carrying concealed while under the influence are the state forfeiture statute and the general criminal statutes described above, not a patchwork of local ordinances.

Federal Prohibitions

Unlawful drug users (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3)). Federal law makes it unlawful for any person "who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance" to possess firearms or ammunition. This is a status-based prohibition on possession, separate from any question of being intoxicated at a given moment. The Washington State Patrol applies this to, among others, a person convicted of using or possessing a controlled substance within the past year, a person with multiple recent arrests for controlled substance use or possession, or a person shown by a recent drug test to use a controlled substance unlawfully.

LEOSA (18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C). Qualified active and retired law enforcement officers who carry under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act must meet the statute's conditions, which include that the officer "is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance." LEOSA is a federal authority for qualifying officers, not a state exemption, and it does not protect an officer who is impaired.

Cannabis Considerations

Washington has legalized recreational cannabis, but firearm consequences remain because of federal law.

• Federal prohibition. Cannabis is still a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. A regular cannabis user is an unlawful user under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) and is federally barred from possessing firearms or ammunition, regardless of Washington legality.
• State impairment standard. RCW 46.61.502 sets a per se DUI threshold of a THC concentration of 5.00 nanograms per milliliter or higher within two hours of driving. That standard governs driving, not carrying, but the firearm forfeiture statute (RCW 9.41.098(1)(e)) ties "under the influence" to chapter 46.61 RCW, so the same impairment concepts apply to an impaired carrier.
• ATF Form 4473. The federal firearm transfer form asks whether the buyer is "an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance," and warns that using or possessing marijuana remains unlawful under federal law even where a state has legalized it. Answering falsely is a federal crime.

Practical Takeaways for CPL Holders

• No standalone crime, but real consequences. Washington has no specific "carrying under the influence" criminal offense, but a person who carries concealed while under the influence can have the firearm forfeited by court order under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e).
• The standard tracks DUI, not a separate firearm number. "Under the influence" for forfeiture is defined by reference to chapter 46.61 RCW, which means a 0.08 alcohol concentration, a 5.00 nanogram THC concentration, or actual impairment by liquor, cannabis, or any drug.
• A forfeiture can cost you the license. A forfeiture under RCW 9.41.098(1)(e) within the past year disqualifies a CPL applicant under RCW 9.41.070. Washington's revocation statute, RCW 9.41.075, separately requires revocation and graduated revocation periods when a licensee is ordered to forfeit a firearm, though its trigger cross-references the forfeiture prong at RCW 9.41.098(1)(d).
• Self-defense gets harder. Under RCW 9A.16.090, voluntary intoxication does not excuse criminal conduct, and impairment can undermine the reasonable belief that a self-defense claim requires.
• Cannabis carries federal risk. A regular cannabis user is a prohibited person under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) regardless of state legalization.
• Voluntary waiver option. A person concerned about their own access to firearms may file a voluntary waiver of firearm rights under RCW 9.41.350, which bars firearm possession until lawfully revoked. This is unrelated to intoxication but is the correct statute for that mechanism.

This overview is general information, not legal advice. Statutes and their subsection numbering change. Verify the current text of any cited statute and consult a Washington attorney for advice on a specific situation.

Firearm Storage Requirements in Washington

Washington does not impose a blanket rule that every firearm be stored in a specific way at all times. Instead, the law creates criminal liability for unsafe storage when a prohibited person gains access, defines what "secure gun storage" means, requires firearms dealers to offer storage devices and post warnings, requires owners to report a lost or stolen firearm, and sets rules for keeping pistols in vehicles. This section explains the storage obligations a CPL holder needs to know, with each rule tied to the Washington statute that creates it.

What "Secure Gun Storage" Means

RCW 9.41.010 defines the term that runs through Washington's storage statutes. Under RCW 9.41.010(39), "secure gun storage" means:

1. A locked box, gun safe, or other secure locked storage space that is designed to prevent unauthorized use or discharge of a firearm; and
2. The act of keeping an unloaded firearm stored by such means.

A trigger lock or similar device designed to prevent unauthorized use or discharge of the firearm is treated as an acceptable alternative in the statutes that reference secure storage. The storage standards in this area were established by Initiative Measure No. 1639, approved by voters on November 6, 2018, and effective July 1, 2019.

Unsafe Storage Liability (RCW 9.41.360)

RCW 9.41.360 does not order you to store a firearm in any particular place. Subsection (6) says plainly: "Nothing in this section mandates how or where a firearm must be stored." What it does is create a crime called community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm. A person who stores or leaves a firearm in a location where the person knows, or reasonably should know, that a prohibited person may gain access to it can be charged if a prohibited person actually obtains access and possession and a harmful outcome follows.

First Degree (Class C Felony)

Community endangerment due to unsafe storage in the first degree applies when a prohibited person obtains access and possession of the firearm and causes personal injury or death with it. It is a class C felony punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW (maximum 5 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine).

Second Degree (Gross Misdemeanor)

Community endangerment due to unsafe storage in the second degree applies when a prohibited person obtains access and possession of the firearm and:

• Causes the firearm to discharge;
• Carries, exhibits, or displays the firearm in a public place in a manner that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or warrants alarm for the safety of other persons; or
• Uses the firearm in the commission of a crime.

It is a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW (maximum 364 days imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine).

When the Crime Does Not Apply

Under RCW 9.41.360(3), subsection (1) does not apply if:

1. The firearm was in secure gun storage, or secured with a trigger lock or similar device designed to prevent the unauthorized use or discharge of the firearm;
2. The prohibited person is barred on the basis of age and accessed the firearm with the lawful permission of a parent or guardian and under adult supervision, or in accordance with RCW 9.41.042 (permissible firearm possession by children);
3. The prohibited person obtained, or obtained and discharged, the firearm in a lawful act of self-defense; or
4. The prohibited person's access was the result of an unlawful entry, provided the unauthorized access or theft is reported to a local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where it occurred within five days of the time the victim of the unlawful entry knew or reasonably should have known the firearm had been taken.

Using a locked box, gun safe, or trigger lock is therefore a complete defense to this offense.

For purposes of this section, RCW 9.41.360(5) defines "prohibited person" as a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law. If a death or serious injury occurs, RCW 9.41.360(4) allows the prosecuting attorney to decline to prosecute even where technically sufficient evidence exists, in situations where prosecution would serve no public purpose or would defeat the purpose of the law.

This section was enacted by Initiative Measure No. 1639 (2019 c 3 s 5) and took effect July 1, 2019.

Storing a Pistol in a Vehicle (RCW 9.41.050)

RCW 9.41.050 governs how a pistol may be kept in a vehicle, and the rule turns on whether the pistol is loaded.

Under RCW 9.41.050(2)(a), a person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed pistol and:

1. The pistol is on the licensee's person;
2. The licensee is within the vehicle at all times that the pistol is there; or
3. The licensee is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.

A violation is a misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.050(2)(b)).

Under RCW 9.41.050(3)(a), a person at least 18 years of age who is in possession of an unloaded pistol shall not leave the unloaded pistol in a vehicle unless it is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle. A violation is a misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.050(3)(b)).

In short, a loaded pistol left in a car requires a CPL plus locking it inside and out of view, and even an unloaded pistol left in a car must be locked inside and concealed from view.

Reporting a Lost or Stolen Firearm (RCW 9.41.368)

RCW 9.41.368, enacted in 2024 (2024 c 286 s 1), requires an owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm who suffers its loss or theft to report the facts and circumstances to the local law enforcement agency where the loss or theft occurred within 24 hours after first discovering it, unless the delay is for good cause shown. The report must include, to the extent known:

• The firearm's caliber, make, model, manufacturer, and serial number;
• Any other distinguishing number or identification mark on the firearm; and
• The circumstances of the loss or theft, including the date, place, and manner.

A person who fails to report commits a civil infraction subject to a monetary penalty of up to $1,000. If multiple firearms are lost or stolen in a single event, only a single penalty applies (RCW 9.41.368(3)).

Dealer Storage and Warning Requirements (RCW 9.41.365 and 9.41.368(4))

RCW 9.41.365 places three duties on every registered firearms dealer:

1. When selling or transferring any firearm, offer to sell or give the purchaser or transferee a secure gun storage device, or a trigger lock or similar device designed to prevent the unauthorized use or discharge of the firearm.

2. Conspicuously post, in a prominent location, a warning sign provided by the Department of Licensing, in block letters at least one inch in height:

   WARNING: YOU MAY FACE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION IF YOU STORE OR LEAVE AN UNSECURED FIREARM WHERE A PERSON WHO IS PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING FIREARMS CAN AND DOES OBTAIN POSSESSION.

3. Upon the sale or transfer of a firearm, deliver a written warning to the purchaser or transferee, in block letters not less than one-fourth inch in height, with the same WARNING text.

A dealer who violates RCW 9.41.365 commits a class 1 civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW and may be fined up to $250.

Separately, under RCW 9.41.368(4), the local licensing authority that issues a firearm dealer's license must provide signage, to be posted at each point of sale in block letters not less than one inch in height, stating:

FAILURE TO KEEP FIREARMS IN SECURE GUN STORAGE, OR SECURED WITH A TRIGGER LOCK OR SIMILAR DEVICE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE UNAUTHORIZED USE OR DISCHARGE OF THE FIREARM MAY SUBJECT YOU TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES. FAILURE TO REPORT THE LOSS OR THEFT OF A FIREARM MAY SUBJECT YOU TO A CIVIL PENALTY UP TO $1,000.

Persons 18 to 20: Storing a Semiautomatic Assault Rifle in Transit (RCW 9.41.240)

A person under 21 may not purchase a pistol or semiautomatic assault rifle, and except as otherwise provided, no one may sell or transfer a semiautomatic assault rifle to a person under 21 (RCW 9.41.240(1)). A person at least 18 but less than 21 may possess a semiautomatic assault rifle only in a place of abode, at a fixed place of business, on real property under the person's control, or, under RCW 9.41.240(3)(d), for the specific purpose of moving to a new place of abode, traveling between the place of abode and real property under the person's control, or selling or transferring the firearm in accordance with this chapter. In each of those transit situations the semiautomatic assault rifle must be unloaded and either in secure gun storage or secured with a trigger lock or similar device designed to prevent the unauthorized use or discharge of the firearm. This provision was added by Initiative 1639 (2019 c 3 s 13).

Voluntary Waiver of Firearm Rights and Dealer Temporary Storage

Washington gives a person who wants to limit their own access to firearms two related tools.

Under RCW 9.41.350, a person may file a voluntary waiver of firearm rights with the clerk of the court in any Washington county. Once the form is accepted, the person's possession or control of a firearm is unlawful under RCW 9.41.040(7), and the waiver is entered into the national instant criminal background check system. The person may file a revocation no sooner than seven calendar days after filing the waiver. This is a self-directed means of reducing access during a period of crisis, and the records are exempt from public disclosure.

Under RCW 9.41.380, the Legislature encourages an expansion of safe storage to better prevent suicide by veterans, military members, and their families. That statute also provides that a dealer who allows a person to temporarily store a firearm on the dealer's premises in a locked locker, box, or container not accessible to the dealer does not, by doing so, create a special relationship for civil liability purposes.

Proposed Mandatory Storage Legislation

Washington has, in recent sessions, considered bills that would impose affirmative secure-storage requirements for firearms kept in residences and vehicles. As of this writing, no such mandatory secure-storage requirement has been enacted into the firearms chapter (chapter 9.41 RCW). The storage obligations currently in force are the ones described above. Because gun storage law in Washington has changed repeatedly, confirm the current status of any pending bill before relying on it.

Key Takeaways for CPL Holders

1. There is no statute that dictates how or where every firearm must be stored. RCW 9.41.360(6) says so directly.
2. Negligent storage carries criminal liability. If you know or should know a prohibited person could access your firearm and one does, the charge ranges from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony under RCW 9.41.360, depending on the outcome.
3. Secure storage is a complete defense. A locked box, gun safe, or trigger lock eliminates liability under RCW 9.41.360(3).
4. Vehicle rules apply regardless of CPL status. A loaded pistol in a vehicle requires a CPL and either your presence or locking it inside and out of view; even an unloaded pistol left in a vehicle must be locked inside and concealed from view (RCW 9.41.050).
5. Report a lost or stolen firearm within 24 hours. Failure to report is a civil infraction with a penalty of up to $1,000 (RCW 9.41.368).
6. Dealers must offer a storage device and post warnings. Those duties sit with the dealer, not the buyer, but the warnings describe the criminal exposure every owner should keep in mind (RCW 9.41.365).

Washington State Transportation Laws for Concealed Carry

Overview

Washington regulates how firearms, including pistols, are carried and transported in vehicles and in public places. The core rules are in Chapter 9.41 RCW (Firearms and Dangerous Weapons). A separate fish and wildlife statute, RCW 77.15.460, governs loaded rifles and shotguns in vehicles. Washington is not a permitless concealed carry state: a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) issued under RCW 9.41.070 is required to carry a pistol concealed and to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle. Open carry of a pistol is generally lawful without a license for a person who may legally possess it, subject to the location limits below.

Key Definitions

Under RCW 9.41.010:

• "Firearm" means a weapon or device from which a projectile may be fired by an explosive such as gunpowder. It does not include a flare gun or other pyrotechnic distress signaling device or a powder-actuated construction tool.
• "Pistol" means any firearm with a barrel less than 16 inches in length, or that is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand.
• "Loaded" is defined broadly in RCW 9.41.010(30). A firearm is "loaded" if a cartridge is in the chamber, if cartridges are in a clip locked in place in the firearm, if a cartridge is in the cylinder of a revolver, if a cartridge is in a tube or magazine that is inserted in the action, or, for a muzzle loader, if there is a ball in the barrel and the firearm is capped or primed. This means a pistol that has a loaded magazine inserted is "loaded" under Washington law even if the chamber is empty. To count as unloaded, a pistol must have no round in the chamber and no loaded magazine inserted in it.
• The license Washington issues is a "concealed pistol license" (CPL). It applies only to pistols, not to rifles, shotguns, or other weapons.

Transporting Firearms in Vehicles

With a Concealed Pistol License

A person may not carry or place a loaded pistol in a vehicle unless that person has a CPL and one of the following is true (RCW 9.41.050(2)(a)):

• The pistol is on the licensee's person;
• The licensee is within the vehicle at all times the pistol is there; or
• The licensee is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle.

A CPL holder may carry the pistol loaded and concealed on the person or in the vehicle throughout the state, subject to the prohibited places below. A licensee must keep the CPL in immediate possession at all times a license is required and must display it on demand to any police officer (RCW 9.41.050(1)(b)).

Without a Concealed Pistol License

It is unlawful to carry a pistol concealed on the person without a CPL, except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business (RCW 9.41.050(1)(a)). Two vehicle rules apply to people without a CPL:

• Loaded pistol: Carrying or placing a loaded pistol in a vehicle without a CPL is unlawful. Remember that a pistol with a loaded magazine inserted counts as loaded even when the chamber is empty. A violation is a misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.050(2)).
• Unloaded pistol: A person at least 18 years of age in possession of an unloaded pistol may not leave the unloaded pistol in a vehicle unless it is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle. A violation is a misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.050(3)).

A person without a CPL may lawfully transport a pistol under the exceptions in RCW 9.41.060, which include:

• Carrying a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper (RCW 9.41.060(9)). This is the common way to transport a pistol without a license. To qualify as unloaded, the pistol must have no round in the chamber and no loaded magazine inserted in it.
• Engaging in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, or traveling to or from a legitimate outdoor recreation area, when the surrounding circumstances make it reasonable to conclude the person is doing so (RCW 9.41.060(8)).

RCW 9.41.060 also exempts on-duty law enforcement and military members, licensed dealers in the ordinary course of business, members of target-shooting and collector clubs going to or from their activities, and certain retired officers.

Long Guns (Rifles and Shotguns)

No license is required to possess or transport a rifle or shotgun. The main vehicle limit is RCW 77.15.460:

• It is unlawful to carry, transport, convey, possess, or control a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle or upon an off-road vehicle, except as allowed by department rule. A violation is a misdemeanor.
• A rifle or shotgun is not considered loaded if the detachable clip or magazine is not inserted in or attached to it (RCW 77.15.460(5)). Note that this rifle-and-shotgun rule is narrower than the general "loaded" definition in RCW 9.41.010(30), which treats a pistol with a magazine inserted in the action as loaded even when no round is chambered.
• Exceptions include on-duty law enforcement officers and persons holding a disability hunting designation under RCW 77.32.237.

Machine Guns, Short-Barreled Shotguns, and Similar Weapons

RCW 9.41.190 makes it unlawful to own, transport, or possess any machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, with limited exceptions. A violation is a class C felony. Two points matter for transport:

• Short-barreled rifles are an exception: they are lawful to own, transport, and possess if the person is in compliance with applicable federal law (RCW 9.41.190(2)), which for a National Firearms Act item means proper federal registration and tax stamp.
• Machine guns and short-barreled shotguns remain unlawful under state law except for narrow exemptions; possession of a machine gun or short-barreled shotgun acquired before July 1, 1994 and held in compliance with federal law is an affirmative defense (RCW 9.41.190(4)).

Federal NFA transfer tax was changed by Pub. L. 119-21. The making and transfer tax is $200 for a machinegun or destructive device and $0 for other NFA items, effective for calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025, with the first qualifying quarter starting January 1, 2026. The change in federal tax does not change Washington's separate state ban on machine guns and short-barreled shotguns.

Assault Weapons and Large Capacity Magazines

• Assault weapons (RCW 9.41.390): Effective April 25, 2023 (2023 c 162, HB 1240), it is unlawful to manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale an assault weapon as defined by statute. The legislature stated its intent was to limit prospective sales while allowing existing legal owners to retain the assault weapons they already own, so continued possession and transport of a lawfully owned assault weapon is not banned by this section. A violation is a gross misdemeanor. Bringing an assault weapon into Washington from another state can constitute prohibited "import."
• Large capacity magazines (RCW 9.41.370): It is unlawful to manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale a large capacity magazine (over 10 rounds). The statute does not prohibit simple possession, so transport of a previously acquired magazine is not banned by its terms. A violation is a gross misdemeanor. This ban was challenged in Gator's Custom Guns v. Ferguson; the magazine restriction remains in effect, so do not bring magazines into Washington for sale or transfer.

Untraceable Firearms and Unfinished Frames or Receivers

• Untraceable firearms (RCW 9.41.326): After March 10, 2023, no person may knowingly or recklessly possess, transport, or receive an untraceable (unserialized) firearm unless the person is a law enforcement agency or a federally licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer. Exceptions cover permanently inoperable firearms, antique firearms, firearms manufactured before 1968, and firearms that have been serialized by a federal licensee under RCW 9.41.328. Do not transport a home-built unserialized firearm in Washington.
• Unfinished frames or receivers (RCW 9.41.327): The same possession, transport, and receipt ban applies to unfinished frames or receivers unless they have been imprinted with a serial number issued by a federal licensee. For both statutes, a first violation is a civil infraction with a $500 penalty, repeat violations are misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors, and a violation involving three or more items at a time is a gross misdemeanor.

Minors and Firearm Transportation

A person under 18 is generally barred from possessing a firearm, but RCW 9.41.042 lists exceptions. A minor may possess a firearm when:

• Attending a hunter safety or firearms safety course;
• Practicing or target shooting at an authorized range or any area where discharge is not prohibited;
• Engaging in or practicing for an organized competition or performance that uses firearms;
• Hunting or trapping under a valid license;
• On real property controlled by a parent, relative, or legal guardian, with permission; or
• At the minor's residence with the permission of a parent or guardian for a lawful purpose under RCW 9A.16.020(3).

The travel exception is narrower than the possession exceptions. A minor may travel with an unloaded firearm only to or from the activities in RCW 9.41.042(1) through (5): safety courses, range practice, organized competitions or performances, licensed hunting or trapping, and supervised or certified use in areas where discharge is permitted (RCW 9.41.042(6)). Travel to or from the real property and residence exceptions is not covered, so a minor may not transport a firearm to a relative's property or to the minor's home in reliance on those exceptions.

Prohibited Places and Transport Routes

Even with a CPL, a firearm may not be taken into the places listed in RCW 9.41.300(1), which affects where you can stop while transporting a firearm:

• Restricted access areas of a jail, law enforcement facility, or other place of confinement;
• Areas of a building used in connection with court proceedings;
• Restricted access areas of a public mental health facility for inpatient care;
• The portion of an establishment classified by the state liquor and cannabis board as off-limits to persons under 21 (the bar area of a tavern);
• Restricted access areas of a commercial service airport designated in the TSA-approved security plan, including passenger screening checkpoints at or beyond the point screening begins;
• Public libraries;
• Zoos and aquariums; and
• Transit stations and transit facilities (this does not include transit vehicles such as buses and light rail cars, which are excluded from the definition).

Important CPL exemptions:

• A CPL holder is exempt from the prohibitions on libraries, zoos and aquariums, and transit stations and facilities (RCW 9.41.300(14)).
• A CPL holder may enter a jail's restricted area only if, on entry, the person promptly obtains written permission from the facility administrator or checks the firearm (RCW 9.41.300(9)).
• A CPL holder is not exempt from the court, mental health, liquor-board off-limits, and airport restrictions above.

Penalty: violating RCW 9.41.300(1) is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.300(16)). The statute does not escalate this to a felony for repeat offenses. Premises covered by subsection (1) must be posted at reasonable intervals.

Permitted Demonstrations

It is unlawful to knowingly open carry a firearm at a permitted demonstration, or within 250 feet after an officer directs you to leave, including carrying it in a vehicle at the demonstration (RCW 9.41.300(2)). This subsection does not apply to lawful concealed carry by a valid CPL holder (RCW 9.41.300(2)(e)).

Schools

School premises are governed by RCW 9.41.280, not RCW 9.41.300. It is unlawful to knowingly carry onto or possess a firearm on public or private elementary or secondary school premises, on school-provided transportation, or in facility areas being used exclusively by a school. A first violation is a misdemeanor and a second or subsequent violation is a gross misdemeanor; a conviction under subsection (1)(a) results in revocation of any CPL for three years (RCW 9.41.280(2)). A person in possession of a pistol who holds a CPL issued under RCW 9.41.070, or who is exempt from the licensing requirement under RCW 9.41.060, may possess the pistol while picking up or dropping off a student, and while attending official school board meetings held off school district-owned or leased property (RCW 9.41.280(3)(e)). A separate vehicle exception allows a nonstudent at least 18 years old who is conducting legitimate business at the school to keep a firearm secured within an attended vehicle, or concealed from view within a locked unattended vehicle (RCW 9.41.280(3)(f) and (g)).

Under federal law, the Gun-Free School Zones Act (18 U.S.C. 922(q)) restricts firearms within 1,000 feet of a school, but exempts a person licensed by the state to carry. A Washington CPL holder is within that exemption, though the separate state prohibition on school property still applies.

Child Care Centers

Licensed child care centers have their own statute, RCW 9.41.282, with rules parallel to the school rules. It is unlawful to carry onto or possess a firearm on licensed child care center premises, on child care center-provided transportation, or in facility areas being used exclusively by a child care center. A violation is a gross misdemeanor, and a conviction involving a firearm results in revocation of any CPL for three years (RCW 9.41.282(2)). A CPL holder, or a person exempt from licensing under RCW 9.41.060, may possess a pistol while picking up or dropping off a child at the center, and a person at least 18 years old conducting legitimate business at the center may keep a firearm secured within an attended vehicle or concealed from view within a locked unattended vehicle (RCW 9.41.282(3)). Family day care provider homes are not covered by this prohibition.

Voting Facilities and Outdoor Music Festivals

RCW 9.41.284 prohibits knowingly carrying or possessing firearms in ballot counting centers, voting centers, student engagement hubs, and county elections and voter registration offices. A CPL holder may carry a concealed pistol in a voting center, student engagement hub, or elections and voter registration office, but no firearm, whether concealed or openly carried, may be possessed in a ballot counting center (RCW 9.41.284(4)). Separately, RCW 70.108.150 makes it unlawful for anyone except law enforcement officers to carry, transport, or possess any firearm while on the site of an outdoor music festival, and it contains no CPL exception.

Public Transportation

Washington State Ferries

Washington State Ferries are operated as part of the state highway system. A CPL holder may carry consistent with state law, and a person without a CPL should keep a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper (RCW 9.41.060(9)). Federally controlled security zones at terminals may impose additional limits.

Buses, Light Rail, and Transit Facilities

RCW 9.41.300(1)(h) restricts firearms at transit stations and transit facilities, but the statute expressly excludes transit vehicles from that definition, so buses and rail cars are not covered by this prohibition. A CPL holder is in any event exempt from the transit station and facility restriction (RCW 9.41.300(14)). Individual transit agencies may post their own rules, so check posted signage.

Amtrak and Passenger Rail

Amtrak sets its own firearms policy under federal authority. Firearms must be unloaded, in a locked hard-sided container, and declared in advance; Amtrak does not allow firearms in carry-on baggage. This applies to Amtrak Cascades service in Washington.

Aircraft and Airport Secured Areas

Carrying a concealed dangerous weapon that would be accessible in flight, or placing a loaded firearm on an aircraft in air transportation, is a federal crime under 49 U.S.C. 46505. Firearms flown commercially must be unloaded, in a locked hard-sided case, and declared to the airline as checked baggage. Washington also makes the TSA-screened restricted areas of a commercial service airport off-limits under RCW 9.41.300(1)(e).

Vehicle Storage and Parking Lots

Washington has no statute that requires employers to let employees store firearms in personal vehicles on company property:

• Private employers may generally prohibit firearms on their property, including parking lots.
• There is no state law granting a "guns in locked cars" right against an employer.
• Violating an employer's firearms policy is not by itself a crime, but it can be grounds for discipline or termination.

Law Enforcement Interactions

Washington has no statutory "duty to inform" that requires a CPL holder to volunteer that they are armed during a traffic stop. However, a licensee must carry the CPL and display it on demand to a police officer (RCW 9.41.050(1)(b)), and CPL status may be visible to officers when a driver's license is queried. Answer truthfully if asked.

Interstate Transportation

Federal Safe Passage (FOPA)

Under 18 U.S.C. 926A, a person may transport a firearm through any state, including Washington, if:

1. The person may lawfully possess and carry the firearm at both the origin and destination;
2. The firearm is unloaded;
3. The firearm and any ammunition are not readily accessible from the passenger compartment; and
4. In a vehicle without a separate compartment, the firearm and ammunition are in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

FOPA is generally treated by courts as a defense rather than absolute immunity, so a traveler may still face arrest and have to raise it. It does not override state assault weapon or large capacity magazine bans, and lengthy stops can take a trip outside its protection.

Reciprocity

Washington has a conditional out-of-state reciprocity statute, RCW 9.41.073. A person who holds a valid concealed pistol license or permit from another state may carry a concealed pistol in Washington without a Washington CPL, but only if all of these conditions are met: the issuing state recognizes and gives effect to Washington concealed pistol licenses; the issuing state does not issue concealed pistol licenses or permits to persons under 21; and the issuing state requires mandatory fingerprint-based background checks of criminal and mental health history for all applicants. The person must be 21 or older, must not be a Washington resident, and must carry the out-of-state license along with government-issued photo identification while carrying in Washington.

The Washington Attorney General is required to publish, and keep current, the official list of states whose licenses qualify. As of the mid-2025 update that list included roughly ten states, such as Idaho (enhanced permit only), Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (enhanced permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Utah. The list changes as other states amend their laws, so always confirm the current list at atg.wa.gov before relying on a home-state permit. If your state is not on the list, your out-of-state permit is not recognized in Washington.

Practical points for visitors:

• A nonresident may openly carry a pistol where otherwise lawful, since open carry does not require a license for a person who may possess a firearm.
• A nonresident from a non-qualifying state should transport a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper (RCW 9.41.060(9)).
• A nonresident may apply for a Washington nonresident CPL under RCW 9.41.070, which is available regardless of whether the person's home state qualifies for reciprocity.

Neighboring Jurisdictions

• Oregon does not honor a Washington CPL and requires an Oregon license to carry concealed.
• Idaho's enhanced permit is recognized by Washington under the current Attorney General list, but Idaho's own carry laws differ from Washington's, so confirm current Idaho law before carrying there.
• British Columbia, Canada, has very restrictive firearms laws, and bringing a firearm into Canada requires advance authorization through the Canadian Firearms Program.

Extreme Risk Protection Orders

Under chapter 7.105 RCW, a Washington court may issue an extreme risk protection order requiring a person to surrender firearms and any concealed pistol license. A person subject to such an order is prohibited from possessing or transporting firearms for the duration of the order, and violating the order is a criminal offense.

Key Statute References

Preemption and Other Notes

• State preemption (RCW 9.41.290): Washington fully occupies the field of firearms regulation, including transportation, and local governments may enact only firearms laws specifically authorized by state law, such as those permitted in RCW 9.41.300. Local ordinances that are more restrictive than state law are preempted.
• The CPL applies only to pistols and does not authorize concealed carry of rifles, shotguns, or other weapons.
• Tribal lands within Washington may have their own firearms rules, and state law may not apply on tribal land.
• This summary is informational and not legal advice. Verify current statutes at app.leg.wa.gov before relying on this information, since several restrictions are recent and subject to litigation.

Washington State Preemption of Firearms Laws

Washington maintains one of the broadest firearms preemption statutes in the country, codified at RCW 9.41.290. The statute limits the ability of cities, counties, towns, and other municipalities to enact their own firearms regulations and establishes the state legislature as the controlling authority over nearly all aspects of firearms law. The result for a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) holder is that the rules for carrying are set at the state level and are the same statewide, except where the legislature has specifically authorized local action.

The Preemption Statute

RCW 9.41.290 (State preemption) provides:

The state of Washington hereby fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation within the boundaries of the state, including the registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, acquisition, transfer, discharge, and transportation of firearms, or any other element relating to firearms or parts thereof, including ammunition and reloader components. Cities, towns, and counties or other municipalities may enact only those laws and ordinances relating to firearms that are specifically authorized by state law, as in RCW 9.41.300, and are consistent with this chapter. Such local ordinances shall have the same penalty as provided for by state law. Local laws and ordinances that are inconsistent with, more restrictive than, or exceed the requirements of state law shall not be enacted and are preempted and repealed, regardless of the nature of the code, charter, or home rule status of such city, town, county, or municipality.

Source: 1994 sp.s. c 7 s 428; 1985 c 428 s 1; 1983 c 232 s 12.

Constitutional Background

Washington's preemption framework operates against two state constitutional provisions:

• Article XI, Section 11 (home rule). Grants cities, counties, towns, and townships the power to "make and enforce within its limits all such local police, sanitary and other regulations as are not in conflict with general laws." This delegated police power yields where the state has enacted a general law that occupies the field.
• Article I, Section 24 (right to bear arms). Provides that "[t]he right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired." Washington courts have long held that this right is subject to reasonable regulation by the state under its police power.

RCW 9.41.290 uses its field-preemption language to override municipal home rule authority over firearms. Where the state has spoken, local police power over firearms ceases.

Scope of the Preemption

The preemption is both express and broad:

• Express field preemption. The statute uses the words "fully occupies and preempts the entire field," the strongest preemptive language available under Washington law.
• Broad subject matter. It covers "registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, acquisition, transfer, discharge, and transportation of firearms, or any other element relating to firearms or parts thereof, including ammunition and reloader components." The word "including" signals that the list is illustrative, not exhaustive.
• Universal applicability. Preemption applies "regardless of the nature of the code, charter, or home rule status" of the municipality.
• Automatic repeal. Local laws that are "inconsistent with, more restrictive than, or exceed the requirements of state law" are not merely prohibited. They are "preempted and repealed."
• Equal penalties. Any authorized local ordinance must carry the same penalty as state law.

No Local Permit-to-Purchase Requirements

Under RCW 9.41.110, every city, town, and political subdivision is barred from creating its own purchase-permit scheme. The statute provides that, except as otherwise provided in chapter 9.41 RCW, every city, town, and political subdivision "is prohibited from requiring the purchaser to secure a permit to purchase or from requiring the dealer to secure an individual permit for each sale." A local government cannot layer its own purchase-permit on top of state law.

Limited Local Authority Allowed by RCW 9.41.300

Despite the broad preemption, RCW 9.41.300 authorizes a few specific areas of local firearms regulation. These are the exceptions, and they are read narrowly.

Discharge restrictions (RCW 9.41.300(3)(a))

Cities, towns, counties, and other municipalities may restrict the discharge of firearms in any portion of their jurisdiction "where there is a reasonable likelihood that humans, domestic animals, or property will be jeopardized." Such ordinances may not abridge the Article I, section 24 right to bear arms in defense of self or others. Most cities have ordinances of this kind, and they are valid because state law authorizes them.

Stadium and convention center restrictions (RCW 9.41.300(3)(b))

A city, town, county, or other municipality may restrict the possession of firearms in any stadium or convention center it operates, with two carve-outs. The restriction does not apply to:

• Any pistol in the possession of a person licensed under RCW 9.41.070 (a CPL holder) or exempt from the licensing requirement under RCW 9.41.060; or
• Any showing, demonstration, or lecture involving the exhibition of firearms.

In other words, a CPL holder's concealed pistol is protected even where a municipality otherwise restricts firearms in its stadium or convention center.

Firearms sales locations (RCW 9.41.300(4))

Cities, towns, and counties may restrict the areas in which firearms may be sold, but a firearms business may not be treated more restrictively than other businesses in the same zone, and any required cessation period may not be shorter than for other businesses (RCW 9.41.300(4)(a)). They may also restrict the location of a firearms business to not less than 500 feet from primary or secondary school grounds where the business has a storefront, regular business hours, and visible signage advertising firearms for sale, with grandfathering for existing businesses (RCW 9.41.300(4)(b)).

Disposition of forfeited firearms (RCW 9.41.098)

Local governments retain authority over the manner in which firearms forfeited to them are disposed of.

Violations of local ordinances adopted under RCW 9.41.300(3) must carry the same penalty as provided by state law (RCW 9.41.300(5)).

State-Level Prohibited Places (RCW 9.41.300(1))

Because preemption pushes the place-restriction decision up to the state, the controlling list of off-limits locations is in state law, not local ordinance. Under RCW 9.41.300(1), it is unlawful to knowingly possess or knowingly have under your control a weapon (including a firearm) in:

• (a) The restricted access areas of a jail or law enforcement facility, or any place used for confinement. Restricted access areas do not include common areas of egress or ingress open to the general public.
• (b) Areas of a building used in connection with court proceedings, including courtrooms, jury rooms, judge's chambers, and adjacent corridors. The restricted area must be the minimum necessary.
• (c) The restricted access areas of a public mental health facility licensed or certified by the department of health for inpatient hospital care, and state institutions for the care of the mentally ill (excluding evaluation and treatment only facilities).
• (d) That portion of an establishment classified by the state liquor and cannabis board as off-limits to persons under 21 (the bar area of a tavern).
• (e) The restricted access areas of a commercial service airport designated in the TSA-approved security plan, including passenger screening checkpoints. This does not include airport drives, general parking, walkways, or shops and terminal areas outside the screening checkpoints.
• (f) The premises of a library established or maintained under chapter 27.12 RCW.
• (g) The premises of a zoo or aquarium accredited or certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Zoological Association of America, or a facility with a current species survival plan memorandum.
• (h) The premises of a transit station or transit facility as defined in RCW 9.91.025 (this does not include a transit vehicle).

The libraries, zoos and aquariums, and transit locations in (f), (g), and (h) were added by the legislature in 2024 (2024 c 285 s 1). Any person who violates RCW 9.41.300(1) is guilty of a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.300(16)).

How these prohibitions apply to CPL holders

The exemptions are not uniform across the list, so read them carefully:

• A CPL holder licensed under RCW 9.41.070 is exempt from the library, zoo or aquarium, and transit prohibitions in (1)(f), (g), and (h) (RCW 9.41.300(14)). A valid CPL lets you carry concealed in those locations.
• A CPL holder is not automatically exempt from the jail, court, mental health, bar, or airport prohibitions in (1)(a) through (e). For the jail restriction in (1)(a), a CPL holder may proceed directly to the facility administrator on entry, obtain written permission, or check the firearm (RCW 9.41.300(9)). The mental health restriction in (1)(c) has a similar permission mechanism (RCW 9.41.300(10)).

Open carry at permitted demonstrations (RCW 9.41.300(2))

Separate from the place list, RCW 9.41.300(2) makes it unlawful to knowingly open carry a firearm or other weapon at a permitted demonstration, or within 250 feet of the perimeter of a permitted demonstration after a law enforcement officer has advised the person and directed them to leave. This does not apply on private property owned or leased by the person, and it does not apply to the lawful concealed carry of a firearm by a person who holds a valid CPL (RCW 9.41.300(2)(e)). A violation is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.300(16)).

Other State Place Restrictions

Several firearms place restrictions sit outside RCW 9.41.300 in their own statutes, and they too are state law rather than local ordinance:

• School facilities: RCW 9.41.280.
• Child care premises: RCW 9.41.282.
• Voting facilities: RCW 9.41.284.

Open Carry at Government Buildings (RCW 9.41.305)

RCW 9.41.305, first enacted in 2021 (2021 c 261 s 2) and amended in 2022 and 2023 (2022 c 106 s 2; 2023 c 470 s 3006), prohibits the open carry of a firearm or other weapon (as defined in RCW 9.41.300(1)(b)) at:

• The west state capitol campus grounds, any building on the state capitol grounds, any state legislative office, and any public state legislative hearing or meeting during the hearing or meeting; and
• City, town, county, or other municipality buildings used in connection with meetings of the governing body, and any location of a public meeting or hearing of that governing body during the meeting.

Key points for carriers:

• This section reaches open carry only. It does not apply to the lawful concealed carry of a firearm by a person who holds a valid CPL (RCW 9.41.305(5)).
• A first violation is a misdemeanor. Second and subsequent violations are a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.305(4)).
• On-duty law enforcement and military personnel are exempt (RCW 9.41.305(3)).
• A municipality must post signs giving notice of the restriction at the municipal locations described in subsection (1)(b) (RCW 9.41.305(6)).

How Courts Have Read the Preemption Statute

Watson v. City of Seattle (2017) - taxation is not regulation

Seattle enacted an ordinance imposing a tax on each firearm and on rounds of ammunition sold within the city, dedicating the revenue to gun violence research and prevention. The Washington Supreme Court held that RCW 9.41.290 preempts the local regulation of firearms but does not preempt taxation, and that the ordinance was a valid revenue measure authorized by Seattle's taxing authority under RCW 35.22.280(32). The decision drew a careful line: a municipality may tax firearms sales even though it may not regulate firearms.

Cherry v. Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (1991) - internal employment rules

The Washington Supreme Court held that RCW 9.41.290 does not preempt internal employment rules limiting on-duty possession of firearms by public employees. The preemption statute targets regulatory firearms laws and ordinances directed at the general public, not a government employer's workplace rules for its own employees.

Pacific Northwest Shooting Park Ass'n v. City of Sequim (2006) - proprietary capacity

The Washington Supreme Court held that a city acting in a proprietary capacity, as the owner leasing its convention center for a gun show, may impose conditions on firearms sales through a use permit. The conditions related to private use of the city's property and were not laws of general application to the public.

Chan v. City of Seattle (2011) - parks ban preempted

The Washington Court of Appeals struck down Seattle's ban on firearms in public parks as preempted by RCW 9.41.290. Seattle was acting as a general regulator of the public, not as an employer or proprietary property owner, and RCW 9.41.300 does not list parks among the places where local governments may restrict firearms.

City of Seattle v. Ballsmider (1993) - discharge ordinance upheld

The Court of Appeals upheld a Seattle ordinance prohibiting the discharge of firearms within city limits as authorized by the discharge exception now found in RCW 9.41.300(3)(a). The court's broad reading of the older "Notwithstanding RCW 9.41.290" language prompted the 1994 legislature to tighten the statute and narrow local authority.

Attorney General opinions

The Washington Attorney General has opined that RCW 9.41.290 preempts a city from enacting a general ban on possession of firearms on city property or in city-owned facilities, reasoning that the legislature carefully enumerated the specific places where possession is prohibited and did not authorize a general municipal ban (AGO 2008 No. 8).

Practical Takeaways for CPL Holders

1. State law controls statewide. A CPL holder's carry rights and restrictions are the same in Seattle, Spokane, and rural counties. Cities cannot invent their own prohibited-carry zones beyond what the legislature has authorized.
2. A valid CPL preserves concealed carry in many sensitive places. Concealed carry by a CPL holder is expressly protected from the open-carry bans at government meetings and at permitted demonstrations, and from the library, zoo, aquarium, and transit prohibitions in RCW 9.41.300(1)(f) through (h).
3. Some prohibitions still apply to CPL holders. Jails, courthouse court areas, mental health facilities, bar areas, and the secured side of airports remain off-limits, subject to the narrow permission and check procedures in the statute.
4. Local discharge ordinances are valid. Most cities prohibit discharging firearms in populated areas, and RCW 9.41.300(3)(a) authorizes them.
5. A city generally cannot ban guns on its property as to the public, but it may set rules for its own employees and may impose conditions when it leases its property for private use.
6. Firearms taxes are allowed. Under Watson, a municipality may tax firearms and ammunition sales without running afoul of preemption.

Resources

• Local law enforcement (your city police or county sheriff) issues the CPL and is a primary source for questions about Washington carry rules.
• Washington State Department of Licensing maintains the statewide records of issued firearms licenses.
• Washington State Attorney General publishes guidance on concealed weapons and firearms law.
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) provides information on federal firearms law.

Key Statutes

Washington Red Flag Law: Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO)

Washington's "red flag" law lets a court temporarily restrict a person's access to firearms through an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO). The framework began with Initiative 1491 in 2016 (formerly chapter 7.94 RCW) and was recodified into the unified civil protection order statute, chapter 7.105 RCW, effective July 1, 2022 (2021 c 215). An ERPO is a civil order. It does not require a criminal charge or conviction, and it is separate from criminal no-contact orders.

What an ERPO Is For

An ERPO is available when a respondent poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having in the respondent's custody or control, purchasing, possessing, accessing, receiving, or attempting to purchase or receive, a firearm (RCW 7.105.100(1)(e); RCW 7.105.225(1)(e)). Unlike other protection orders, an ERPO addresses firearm access only. It does not order the respondent to stay away from, or stop contacting, a specific person. For that kind of personal protection, a separate protection order (such as a domestic violence protection order) must be sought.

Who Can Petition for an ERPO

Under RCW 7.105.100(1)(e), a petition for an extreme risk protection order may be filed by:

• An intimate partner of the respondent, or a family or household member of the respondent; or
• A law enforcement agency.

The petition must allege that the respondent poses a significant danger as described above, and must identify the information the petitioner can provide about the respondent's firearms, including the number, types, and locations of any firearms the petitioner believes are in the respondent's current ownership, possession, custody, access, or control (RCW 7.105.100(1)(e)).

What an ERPO Does

Upon issuing an ERPO, including a temporary order, the court orders the respondent to surrender all firearms in the respondent's custody, control, or possession, and any concealed pistol license (CPL) issued under RCW 9.41.070, to the local law enforcement agency. For orders other than ex parte temporary orders, the court also directs law enforcement to revoke any CPL issued to the respondent (RCW 7.105.340(1)).

While the order is in effect, the respondent may not have in the respondent's custody or control, access, possess, purchase, receive, or attempt to purchase or receive, a firearm or a concealed pistol license (RCW 7.105.330(3)(g)). The respondent also cannot obtain a new CPL during that period.

How to Obtain an ERPO

Step 1: File a Petition

The petition is filed under penalty of perjury and must state the specific facts and circumstances for which relief is sought (RCW 7.105.105(3)). It must allege that the respondent poses a significant danger of personal injury through firearm access and identify the respondent's known firearms (RCW 7.105.100(1)(e)). A petitioner may file on their own or with an attorney.

Step 2: Temporary ERPO

If the court finds reasonable cause to believe the respondent poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others in the near future through firearm access, it shall issue a temporary extreme risk protection order (RCW 7.105.330(2)). A temporary ERPO:

• Must be served by a law enforcement officer (RCW 7.105.330(5)).
• Requires the respondent to surrender all firearms and any CPL (RCW 7.105.330(3)(g); RCW 7.105.340).
• Expires upon the full hearing on the petition unless reissued by the court (RCW 7.105.330(4)). An ex parte temporary protection order is issued initially for a period not to exceed 14 days, which may be extended for good cause (RCW 7.105.100(8)).

If the court declines to issue a temporary ERPO, it must state the particular reasons for the denial (RCW 7.105.330(6)).

Step 3: Full Hearing

A full hearing is held before the temporary order expires. At an ERPO hearing the court may examine the petitioner, respondent, and witnesses under oath, or consider their sworn declarations, and shall ensure a reasonable search of criminal history and civil protection order records (RCW 7.105.215(1)). In deciding whether grounds exist, the court may consider any relevant evidence, including recent acts or threats of violence, a pattern of acts or threats within the past 12 months, violation of a prior protection order, unlawful or reckless use or display of a firearm, abuse of controlled substances or alcohol, and recent acquisition of firearms (RCW 7.105.215(3)).

The court shall issue a full ERPO if it finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others through firearm access (RCW 7.105.225(1)(e)). A full ERPO has a duration of one year (RCW 7.105.330(3)(g); RCW 7.105.340(6)).

Cost

There is no cost to file for an ERPO. Courts may not charge a petitioner service-of-process fees, and no filing fee applies to protection order petitions under chapter 7.105 RCW other than antiharassment petitions (RCW 7.105.105(9)).

Firearm Surrender Requirements

When an ERPO is issued, the law enforcement officer serving it shall request that the respondent immediately surrender all firearms in the respondent's custody, control, or possession, and any CPL, and may conduct any search permitted by law. The timing of surrender works as follows (RCW 7.105.340(2)):

• If served by a law enforcement officer, the respondent must immediately surrender all firearms and any CPL upon request.
• If the respondent was present at the hearing (in person or remotely), the respondent must surrender all firearms and any CPL to the local law enforcement agency on the day of the hearing.
• If personal service is not possible and the respondent did not appear, the respondent must surrender within 24 hours of being served by alternate service.

At surrender, the officer issues a receipt identifying all surrendered firearms and provides a copy to the respondent. Within 72 hours after service of the order, the serving officer files the original receipt with the court (RCW 7.105.340(3)).

Compliance Verification

Upon issuance of a one-year ERPO, the court sets a compliance review hearing and requires the respondent to appear not later than three judicial days from issuance to show that all firearms and any CPL have been surrendered. The hearing may be waived only on a satisfactory showing, supported by the record, that the respondent has timely and completely surrendered (RCW 7.105.340(6)).

If the petitioner or a law enforcement officer swears that the respondent failed to surrender all firearms, the court determines whether probable cause exists; if it does, the court shall issue a search warrant describing the firearms and authorizing their seizure (RCW 7.105.340(4); see also RCW 9.41.801(4)). Courts also develop procedures to verify timely and complete compliance with surrender orders, including review of Department of Licensing and Washington State Patrol firearm records (RCW 9.41.801(6)).

Renewal of an ERPO

The renewal rules are set by RCW 7.105.410:

• The court must notify the petitioner of the order's impending expiration. That notice must be received by the petitioner 105 calendar days before the order expires (RCW 7.105.410(1)).
• An intimate partner, a family or household member of the respondent, or a law enforcement agency may move to renew the order at any time within 90 days before its expiration (RCW 7.105.410(2)).
• The court sets a renewal hearing not later than 14 days from the date the renewal order issues, applying the same standard and procedure as RCW 7.105.215 (RCW 7.105.410(2)(a)-(c)).
• A renewed ERPO has a duration of one year, subject to further renewal or to termination under RCW 7.105.505 (RCW 7.105.410(2)(d)).

Termination of an ERPO

Termination is governed by RCW 7.105.505, not the renewal statute:

• The respondent may submit one written request to terminate the ERPO in every 12-month period that the order is in effect, starting from the date of the order and continuing through any renewals (RCW 7.105.505(1)).
• The court sets a hearing no sooner than 14 days and no later than 30 days from the date the request is served on the petitioner (RCW 7.105.505(2)).
• The respondent bears the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the respondent does not pose a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others through firearm access (RCW 7.105.505(3)).
• If the respondent meets that burden, the court shall terminate the order (RCW 7.105.505(4)).

Violations and Penalties

Penalties tied directly to an ERPO are set by RCW 7.105.460:

• A person who possesses, accesses, purchases, receives, or attempts to purchase or receive a firearm knowing that an ERPO prohibits them from doing so is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, and is further barred from firearm access for five years from the date the existing order expires (RCW 7.105.460(2)(a)).
• That violation is a class C felony if the person has two or more previous convictions for violating an order issued under chapter 7.105 RCW (RCW 7.105.460(2)(b)).
• A person who files an ERPO petition knowing the information to be materially false, or with intent to harass the respondent, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor (RCW 7.105.460(1)).

Two related consequences also apply. First, failing to comply with the surrender requirements can result in an arrest warrant and contempt proceedings under chapter 7.21 RCW (RCW 7.105.340(7)). Second, a prior violation of an order to surrender and prohibit weapons or of an extreme risk protection order is a predicate that makes any later firearm possession the crime of unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree, a class C felony (RCW 9.41.040(2)(a)(i)(F); RCW 9.41.040(2)(b)).

Impact on a Concealed Pistol License

An ERPO has direct consequences for CPL holders:

1. Surrender: The physical CPL must be surrendered along with all firearms (RCW 7.105.340(1)(a), (2)).
2. Revocation: For an ERPO other than an ex parte temporary order, the court directs law enforcement to revoke the CPL (RCW 7.105.340(1)(b)).
3. No new license: The respondent cannot obtain a new CPL while the order is in effect (RCW 7.105.330(3)(g)).
4. Database entry: Law enforcement must ensure the order and CPL revocation are entered into the appropriate databases (RCW 9.41.800(7)(b)).

Other Protection Orders That Can Require Firearm Surrender

An ERPO is not the only chapter 7.105 order that can result in firearm surrender and CPL revocation. Under RCW 9.41.800, a court entering a protection order, restraining order, or no-contact order shall, upon a showing by a preponderance of the evidence that a party used, displayed, or threatened to use a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a felony, or is ineligible to possess firearms under RCW 9.41.040, require surrender of all firearms and any CPL, prohibit future possession, and (other than for unheard ex parte orders) direct revocation of the CPL.

Note that violating the restraint provisions of a domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or vulnerable adult protection order is a separate gross misdemeanor (a class C felony in the circumstances described in RCW 7.105.450(4) and (5)). ERPO-specific penalties are governed by RCW 7.105.460, described above.

Information Sharing for Compliance

To help courts ensure compliance with an order to surrender and prohibit weapons or an extreme risk protection order, the Department of Licensing makes the following information available to prosecuting attorneys' offices, city attorneys' offices, public defender agency staff, probation services personnel, and court judicial officers and staff (RCW 9.41.815):

• Whether a person is ineligible to possess firearms;
• A person's firearms purchase history; and
• Whether a person has or previously had a concealed pistol license, or has applied for one.

How to Request an ERPO

• Statewide protection order forms are available through the Washington Courts website at courts.wa.gov/forms.
• Contact your local superior court clerk's office for assistance and county-specific resources.
• A petitioner is not required to hire an attorney, but may choose to consult one.

Key Statutes

NFA Items in Washington State

Washington regulates several categories of National Firearms Act (NFA) items more strictly than federal law. The controlling state statute is RCW 9.41.190 (Unlawful firearms - Exceptions), which flatly bans machine guns, bump-fire stocks, short-barreled shotguns, undetectable firearms, and certain untraceable firearms, while allowing short-barreled rifles only when the owner is in compliance with federal law. Federal NFA rules under 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53 and 27 CFR Part 479 still apply on top of state law. Where state law bans an item outright, federal registration does not make it lawful to possess in Washington.

This page covers the firearms commonly described as NFA or "Title II" items. Before relying on it, confirm the current statute text, because RCW 9.41.190 and the definitions in RCW 9.41.010 carry noted 2026 amendments (see the Pending Changes section below).

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Prohibited Items Under State Law

Under RCW 9.41.190(1), it is unlawful for any person to manufacture, own, buy, sell, loan, furnish, transport, or have in possession or under control any of the following:

• Machine guns - Any firearm known as a machine gun, mechanical rifle, submachine gun, or any other mechanism not requiring that the trigger be pressed for each shot and having a separable device for storing and supplying ammunition that can be fired at the rate of five or more shots per second (RCW 9.41.010(31)).
• Bump-fire stocks - A butt stock designed to be attached to a semiautomatic firearm that increases the rate of fire to that of a fully automatic firearm by using recoil energy to facilitate repeated activation of the trigger (RCW 9.41.010(5)).
• Short-barreled shotguns - A shotgun with one or more barrels less than 18 inches in length, or any weapon made from a shotgun by modification with an overall length of less than 26 inches (RCW 9.41.010(45)).
• Undetectable firearms - Any firearm not as detectable as 3.7 ounces of 17-4 PH stainless steel by walk-through metal detectors, or whose barrel, slide, cylinder, frame, or receiver would not generate an accurate image on airport X-ray machines (RCW 9.41.010(49)).

The same statute also makes it unlawful to manufacture, own, buy, sell, transport, or possess any part designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in one of these items or for converting a weapon into one (RCW 9.41.190(1)(b)), and to assemble or repair any such item (RCW 9.41.190(1)(c)).

Separately, RCW 9.41.190(1)(d) makes it unlawful to manufacture, cause to be manufactured, assemble, or cause to be assembled an untraceable firearm with the intent to sell it. An "untraceable firearm" is one manufactured after July 1, 2019, that is not an antique and cannot be traced by a serial number affixed under federal law (RCW 9.41.010(52)).

Penalty: Any violation of RCW 9.41.190 is a class C felony (RCW 9.41.190(5)).

Items in these categories that are illegally held or possessed are declared contraband and must be seized by any peace officer or member of the armed forces of the United States or of Washington wherever and whenever found (RCW 9.41.220). (Note: this is RCW 9.41.220, the correct contraband section.)

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Short-Barreled Rifles: Federal-Compliance Exception

Short-barreled rifles are treated differently from short-barreled shotguns. A short-barreled rifle is a rifle with one or more barrels less than 16 inches in length, or any weapon made from a rifle by modification with an overall length of less than 26 inches (RCW 9.41.010(44)).

RCW 9.41.190(2) provides that it is not unlawful for a person to manufacture, own, buy, sell, loan, furnish, transport, assemble, repair, or possess a short-barreled rifle, or any part designed solely for a short-barreled rifle, "if the person is in compliance with applicable federal law."

In practice this means a short-barreled rifle is lawful in Washington only if the owner has completed the federal NFA process: ATF Form 1 (making) or Form 4 (transfer), the tax payment, the background check, and chief law enforcement officer notification. A short-barreled rifle that is not federally registered is unlawful under RCW 9.41.190(1).

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Limited Exceptions and Affirmative Defenses

Peace officers and military (RCW 9.41.190(3)(a)): The prohibition does not apply to a peace officer in the discharge of official duty or traveling to or from official duty, or to an officer or member of the armed forces of the United States or of Washington in the discharge of, or traveling to or from, official duty.

Licensed manufacturers (RCW 9.41.190(3)(b)): The prohibition does not apply to a person (or an employee who has undergone fingerprinting and a background check) who is exempt from or licensed under federal law and engaged in producing, manufacturing, repairing, or testing machine guns, bump-fire stocks, short-barreled shotguns, or short-barreled rifles for use or purchase by the U.S. armed forces, for federal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies, or for exportation in compliance with federal law.

Grandfathered machine guns and short-barreled shotguns (RCW 9.41.190(4)): It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the machine gun or short-barreled shotgun was acquired prior to July 1, 1994, and is possessed in compliance with federal law. This affirmative defense applies only to machine guns and short-barreled shotguns. It does not extend to bump-fire stocks or undetectable firearms.

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Suppressors (Silencers)

Suppressors are regulated as NFA items under federal law (defined at 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)) but are not listed among the items prohibited by RCW 9.41.190. A Washington resident may lawfully possess a suppressor if it is properly registered under the federal NFA.

One state-law caveat: a sound suppressor or silencer is one of the listed features in Washington's "assault weapon" definition. A semiautomatic, center-fire rifle that accepts a detachable magazine and has a sound suppressor or silencer (or a threaded barrel designed to attach one), and a semiautomatic pistol with a threaded barrel capable of accepting a silencer, fall within the assault weapon definition at RCW 9.41.010(2)(a) and are therefore subject to the manufacture, import, distribution, and sale ban in RCW 9.41.390 (discussed below). This applies to the rifle or pistol configured with those features, not to a stand-alone suppressor.

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Destructive Devices and Any Other Weapons (AOW)

Destructive devices (explosives, incendiaries, poison-gas devices, and firearms with a bore diameter over one-half inch) and "any other weapons" (AOW) are not separately listed in RCW 9.41.190. They are governed by federal NFA rules under 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53 and 27 CFR Part 479. Other Washington statutes outside chapter 9.41 RCW, including those covering explosives, may apply to specific destructive devices. Confirm the applicable provisions before acquiring or transporting such an item.

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Use of a Machine Gun or Bump-Fire Stock in a Felony

Under RCW 9.41.225, it is unlawful, in the commission or furtherance of a felony other than a violation of RCW 9.41.190 itself, to discharge a machine gun, to menace or threaten another person with a machine gun, or to do the same with a firearm containing a bump-fire stock. A violation is punished as a class A felony under chapter 9A.20 RCW (RCW 9.41.225(3)). (Note: this offense is RCW 9.41.225, not 9.41.193.)

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Federal NFA Process in Washington

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) administers the NFA. For NFA items that are lawful in Washington (most commonly a federally registered short-barreled rifle, or a suppressor), the standard federal steps apply:

• Submit ATF Form 1 (5320.1) to make an NFA firearm, or ATF Form 4 (5320.4) for a transfer.
• Pass the federal background check and complete the responsible-person paperwork.
• Pay the applicable NFA tax (see below).

NFA tax change: Under Public Law 119-21, the federal making and transfer tax is $200 for a machine gun or destructive device and $0 for all other NFA firearms (including short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and suppressors). This change applies to calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025, with the first qualifying quarter starting January 1, 2026. ATF general web pages may still display the older $200 figure for all items; the statutory change is the controlling authority.

Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) notification (per Washington Attorney General guidance): Each responsible person must notify the CLEO with jurisdiction where the person is located of a proposed making or acquisition. If you live within city limits, send the NFA form to your city police department. If you live outside city limits, send it to your county sheriff's office. Do not send NFA forms to the Washington Attorney General's Office; that office will return them to you for submission to the correct agency.

Interstate transport of registered NFA weapons: A non-licensee generally must obtain ATF approval before transporting a machine gun, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or destructive device across state lines, consistent with 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(4). ATF Form 5320.20 is used to request that approval.

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Related State Restrictions

Assault weapons (RCW 9.41.390): Washington prohibits manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, or offering for sale any defined assault weapon. The ban took effect April 25, 2023 (2023 c 162, enacting Substitute House Bill 1240). It is a prospective sale-and-supply ban: existing lawful owners may keep assault weapons they already own, and the statute carries narrow exceptions for sales to the military or law enforcement, transfers to nonresidents through a licensed dealer, and receipt by operation of law on the death of the prior owner (RCW 9.41.390(2)). A violation is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.390(4)), and the conduct is also an unfair or deceptive act under the Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW (RCW 9.41.395).

Large capacity magazines (RCW 9.41.370): Washington prohibits manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, or offering for sale any magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds (a "large capacity magazine" as defined in RCW 9.41.010(25)). This is a ban on supply and sale, not on simple possession. A violation is a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW (RCW 9.41.370(3)). Facilitating the online sale, distribution, or transfer of a large capacity magazine is separately an unfair or deceptive act under the Consumer Protection Act (RCW 9.41.375). The magazine restriction has been the subject of ongoing litigation (including Gator's Custom Guns v. Ferguson); confirm its current enforcement status before relying on it.

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Pending Changes

The displayed text of RCW 9.41.190 and of the definitions in RCW 9.41.010 carry noted 2026 amendments on the official RCW site (referencing 2025-26 session laws 2320-S.SL and 2632.SL). Because subsection numbering and item definitions can shift when these amendments take effect, verify the current statute text on app.leg.wa.gov before acting on any specific subsection cite in this guide.

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Summary Table

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Key Statutes

• RCW 9.41.010 - Definitions (machine gun, bump-fire stock, short-barreled rifle and shotgun, undetectable and untraceable firearm, large capacity magazine, assault weapon)
• RCW 9.41.190 - Unlawful firearms; exceptions (class C felony)
• RCW 9.41.220 - Unlawful firearms and parts declared contraband
• RCW 9.41.225 - Use of machine gun or bump-fire stock in a felony (class A felony)
• RCW 9.41.370 - Large capacity magazines; exceptions; penalty (gross misdemeanor)
• RCW 9.41.375 - Large capacity magazines; unfair method of competition
• RCW 9.41.390 - Assault weapons; manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling prohibited (gross misdemeanor)
• RCW 9.41.395 - Assault weapons; Consumer Protection Act
• 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53 - National Firearms Act (federal)
• 26 U.S.C. 5845 - NFA definitions, including silencer
• 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(4) - Interstate transport of NFA weapons by non-licensees
• Pub. L. 119-21 - NFA making and transfer tax change ($200 machine gun and destructive device; $0 otherwise)
• 27 CFR Part 479 - NFA implementing regulations

Additional Resources

This section points you to the agencies, courts, and statutes that matter most for concealed carry in Washington. Washington requires a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) under RCW 9.41.070 to carry a pistol concealed and to carry a loaded pistol in a vehicle. The CPL is issued on a shall-issue basis by your local chief of police or county sheriff, not by a state agency. Use the contacts below to apply, to handle protection-order or rights-restoration matters, and to find the primary law for any claim you want to verify.

State Government Agencies

Washington State Attorney General

The Attorney General's office publishes general information on Washington firearms law, including concealed pistol licenses, out-of-state reciprocity, and recent legislative changes.

• Website: atg.wa.gov
• Reciprocity list: atg.wa.gov publishes the official, current list of states whose concealed pistol licenses or permits Washington recognizes (see "Out-of-State Permits and Reciprocity" below).
• Common topics: firearm rights restoration (RCW 9.41.041 and RCW 9.41.047), the 2018 Initiative 1639 changes now codified in chapter 9.41 RCW, and dealer and purchase requirements.

Note on self-defense: the Attorney General's office does not set a civilian "use of force standard" by statute number you can cite for self-defense. Civilian use of force in Washington is governed by RCW 9A.16.020 (use of force, when lawful) and RCW 9A.16.050 (homicide by another person, when justifiable), as interpreted by the courts. RCW 10.120.020 (permissible uses of force) applies to peace officers, not to private citizens, so do not rely on it for personal self-defense. Washington has no statutory stand-your-ground law and no statutory castle doctrine. Washington case law establishes that a person who is where they may lawfully be and is not the aggressor has no duty to retreat (State v. Studd; State v. Reynaldo Redmond).

Washington State Department of Licensing - Firearms Program

The Department of Licensing (DOL) is the central record-keeper for firearms licenses that local law enforcement issues and approves. DOL maintains the statewide database; it does not itself issue your CPL. Its site covers concealed pistol licenses, alien firearm licenses, dealer licenses, fees, and forms.

• Website: dol.wa.gov/business/firearms/
• Phone: 360-902-3900 (TTY: 711)
• Role: statewide record-keeping for issued firearms licenses

Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC)

Administers firearms qualifications used for the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) by qualified retired officers in Washington.

• Email: cjtcpspi@cjtc.wa.gov
• LEOSA range qualifications are conducted by WSCJTC-certified firearms instructors.
• Note: WSCJTC provides the firearms certification only. A qualified retired officer must also carry the photographic identification described in 18 U.S.C. 926C(d)(2). LEOSA is a federal authority under 18 U.S.C. 926B (active) and 18 U.S.C. 926C (retired); it is not a Washington state exemption.

Washington State Department of Commerce - Safe Storage

Provides resources on secure firearm storage, suicide prevention, and community safety.

• Email: PublicSafetyTeam@Commerce.wa.gov
• Key statutes:
  • RCW 9.41.360 (unsafe storage of a firearm)
  • RCW 9.41.365 (firearm security and storage, requirements for dealers)
  • RCW 9.41.350 (voluntary waiver of firearm rights)
• Partner resources:
  • Harborview safe-storage and intervention toolkits
  • UW Center for Firearm Injury Prevention
  • Forefront Suicide Prevention (intheforefront.org)
  • Crisis Connections (crisisconnections.org)

Federal Resources

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

Federal information on firearms regulation, federal firearms licenses, and federal prohibited persons.

• Website: atf.gov
• Topics: federal firearms regulation, dealer licensing, federal prohibited persons under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)

Local Law Enforcement - CPL Processing

Concealed pistol license applications are processed by local law enforcement, not by a central state office. Contact the agency for where you live.

• City residents: contact the police department for your city of residence.
• Unincorporated areas: contact the sheriff's office for your county of residence.

Example, City of Bellevue:

• Bellevue Police Department, 450 110th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA 98009
• Phone: 425-452-6917 (BPD Records)
• Email: bpdrecords@bellevuewa.gov

Example, Snohomish County:

• Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, Concealed Pistol License Unit
• Website: snohomishcountywa.gov

Out-of-State Permits and Reciprocity

Washington has conditional statutory reciprocity under RCW 9.41.073. A person who holds a valid concealed pistol license or permit issued by another state may carry a concealed pistol in Washington without a Washington CPL only if all of these are met:

1. The issuing state recognizes and gives effect to Washington concealed pistol licenses (the recognition must be reciprocal).
2. The issuing state requires a fingerprint-based background check of permit applicants for criminal and mental health history and has eligibility requirements that meet Washington's standards.
3. The person is 21 years of age or older and carries the out-of-state license or permit along with government-issued photo identification.
4. The person is not a resident of Washington. RCW 9.41.073(1)(b) recognizes an out-of-state license only while the holder is not a Washington resident, and the holder must carry the handgun in compliance with Washington law. If you move to Washington, your out-of-state permit no longer covers you and you need a Washington CPL.

The Attorney General is required by law to publish the official list of states that qualify and updates it as other states change their laws. As of the mid-2025 update the list included roughly ten states, such as Idaho (Enhanced Permit only), Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (Enhanced Permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Utah, several with permit-type limits. The list changes, so always verify the current list before you travel.

• Official reciprocity list: atg.wa.gov (Concealed Pistol License Reciprocity)

If you hold a permit from a state that is not on the Attorney General's list, that permit does not let you carry concealed in Washington. A nonresident from a non-qualifying state who wants to carry concealed in Washington can still obtain a Washington nonresident CPL under RCW 9.41.070. Apply through a Washington local law enforcement agency.

Court Resources and Protection Orders

Washington State Courts - Forms

Court forms for protection orders, firearm surrender, and rights restoration.

• Website: courts.wa.gov/forms

Protection orders under chapter 7.105 RCW can require a respondent to surrender firearms and any concealed pistol license, and can prohibit possession while the order is in effect:

• Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO), Sexual Assault Protection Order (SAPO), Stalking Protection Order (SPO), and Antiharassment Protection Order (AHPO): the court may order the relief listed in RCW 7.105.310, including surrender of firearms, dangerous weapons, and any concealed pistol license.
• Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO): the court orders surrender of firearms and any concealed pistol license and prohibits possession. Temporary ERPO surrender requirements are set out in RCW 7.105.340.

Violating the terms of a protection order, including possessing firearms after a surrender order, can lead to arrest and penalties. For most protection orders other than antiharassment and extreme risk orders, a knowing violation is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 7.105.450.

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO)

An ERPO lets family or household members, or law enforcement, petition a court to temporarily prohibit a person who poses a significant danger from having firearms.

• Who can petition: family or household members and law enforcement, under chapter 7.105 RCW.
• Duration: temporary orders are short term pending a hearing; a final order may be issued for up to one year and may be renewed. Specific timing is governed by chapter 7.105 RCW.
• Cost: no filing fee.
• More information: courts.wa.gov

Regional Domestic Violence Firearms Enforcement Unit (King County)

A unit within the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office focused on firearm surrender enforcement in domestic violence cases.

• Website: kingcounty.gov

Legal Assistance

Washington State Bar Association

For personal legal advice on firearms law, rights restoration, or related matters.

• Find Legal Help: wsba.org/for-the-public/find-legal-help
• Low-income assistance is available for those with limited ability to pay.

Additional Legal Resources

• Washington LawHelp: washingtonlawhelp.org
• Northwest Justice Project: nwjustice.org
• Washington Courts Self-Help: courts.wa.gov

Restoring Firearm Rights

A person who has lost the right to possess firearms may petition for restoration under Washington law:

• General restoration of the right to possess a firearm: RCW 9.41.041. (The underlying prohibition on unlawful possession is RCW 9.41.040; the petition to restore rights is RCW 9.41.041.)
• Restoration after an involuntary mental health commitment or a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity finding: RCW 9.41.047, which addresses commitments under statutes such as RCW 71.05.240, 71.05.320, 71.34.740, and chapter 10.77 RCW.

Important considerations:

• A superior court order restoring state firearm rights does not by itself guarantee that a CPL will be issued.
• State restoration does not lift a federal firearm prohibition. A person may still be barred under federal law.
• Consult a private attorney about your specific circumstances.

Key Statute References

Emergency Contacts

• Emergency: 911
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
• Crisis Connections: crisisconnections.org
• Washington Department of Licensing: 360-902-3900

Washington Concealed Carry: Frequently Asked Questions

This page answers common questions about Washington's concealed pistol license (CPL), where you can and cannot carry, firearm purchases, and related state and federal law. It is general information, not legal advice. Washington's firearms laws are in Chapter 9.41 RCW. For guidance on your specific situation, consult an attorney.

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Concealed Pistol License (CPL)

Do I need a license to carry a concealed pistol in Washington?

Yes. Under RCW 9.41.050, you may not carry a pistol concealed on your person without a concealed pistol license, except in your place of abode or fixed place of business. Washington is not a permitless (constitutional) carry state for concealed pistol carry. A CPL is also required to carry or place a loaded pistol in a vehicle (RCW 9.41.050(2)).

How do I apply for a Washington concealed pistol license?

Apply through the chief of police of the municipality where you live, or the sheriff of your county if you live in an unincorporated area. The process is governed by RCW 9.41.070. The application requires a complete set of fingerprints, and the issuing authority runs a background check through the national instant criminal background check system and state databases.

Is Washington a shall-issue state?

Yes. Under RCW 9.41.070(1), the issuing authority shall issue the license within 30 days of the application unless the applicant is disqualified. If you do not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or state identification card, or have not been a Washington resident for the previous 90 consecutive days, the issuing authority has up to 60 days.

Who is eligible for a CPL?

You must be at least 21 years old and not disqualified. Disqualifiers under RCW 9.41.070 include being ineligible to possess a firearm under RCW 9.41.040 or 9.41.045 or under federal law, having a revoked CPL, being subject to certain protective or no-contact orders, being free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial for a felony, and having an outstanding felony or misdemeanor arrest warrant.

How long is a CPL valid, and what does it cost?

A CPL is valid for five years from the date of issue. Under RCW 9.41.070, the nonrefundable fee for an original five-year license is $36 plus FBI charges passed on to the applicant. The renewal fee is $32, and the replacement fee for a lost or damaged license is $10.

Does Washington require firearms training to get a CPL right now?

Not yet. The current version of RCW 9.41.070 does not require completion of a firearms training program to obtain a CPL. A live-fire training requirement for CPL applicants, added by 2025 legislation, is scheduled to take effect May 1, 2027 under RCW 9.41.070(5) and RCW 43.43.575. Confirm the current requirement with your local issuing authority before applying.

Can a nonresident get a Washington CPL?

Yes. Under RCW 9.41.070(11), a nonresident may apply for a Washington CPL anywhere in the state.

Can I carry concealed without a CPL while engaged in outdoor recreation?

RCW 9.41.060 lists exceptions to the licensing requirement in RCW 9.41.050. These include any person engaging in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or horseback riding, when, considering all the circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude the person is participating in those activities or traveling to or from a legitimate outdoor recreation area (RCW 9.41.060(8)). A separate exception applies to anyone carrying a pistol unloaded and in a closed opaque case or secure wrapper (RCW 9.41.060(9)).

Does a CPL cover rifles and shotguns?

The CPL applies to pistols. Open carry of a long gun is not licensed in the same way, but all firearms remain subject to the prohibited-place rules and other provisions of Chapter 9.41 RCW.

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Reciprocity and Out-of-State Permits

Does Washington recognize concealed carry permits from other states?

Yes, conditionally. Under RCW 9.41.073, Washington gives effect to a valid concealed pistol license or permit from another state, but only if that state qualifies under the statute. The other state must recognize and give effect to Washington concealed pistol licenses, must not issue licenses or permits to persons under 21, and must require a mandatory fingerprint-based background check covering criminal and mental health history. When a state meets all of these requirements, a person who is 21 or older may carry a concealed pistol in Washington on that state's license, as long as the person carries the out-of-state license along with government-issued photo identification and carries in accordance with Washington law. The Washington Attorney General publishes the official, current list of qualifying states at atg.wa.gov.

Which states does Washington recognize?

As of the Attorney General's update of July 25, 2025, the qualifying states were Idaho (Enhanced Permit only), Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (Enhanced Permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota (Class 1 permits only), Ohio, South Dakota (with permit-type limits), and Utah (excluding the Provisional permit). This list changes as other states amend their laws, so always verify the current Attorney General list at atg.wa.gov before relying on it.

I am moving to Washington and want to keep carrying concealed. What do I do?

If your home state is on the Attorney General's qualifying list, your out-of-state license is recognized while you remain a nonresident, subject to the conditions in RCW 9.41.073. Once you establish Washington residency, plan to apply for a Washington CPL through your local chief of police or county sheriff under RCW 9.41.070. If your state does not qualify, you will need a Washington CPL to carry concealed.

I am visiting Washington. Can I carry?

If your permit was issued by a state on the Attorney General's qualifying list and you are 21 or older, you may carry a concealed pistol under RCW 9.41.073 while carrying that license and government-issued photo identification, following Washington law. If your state does not qualify, your out-of-state permit will not authorize concealed carry here. Open carry of a pistol by a person who may lawfully possess one is generally allowed, subject to the prohibited places below and the rules on demonstrations. You may also apply for a nonresident Washington CPL under RCW 9.41.070(11) if you are eligible.

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Where You Can and Cannot Carry

What is Washington's law on open carry?

Open carry of a pistol is generally lawful in public for a person who may lawfully possess the firearm, and no license is required to openly carry a pistol. The prohibited locations below still apply, and RCW 9.41.300(2) makes it unlawful to knowingly open carry a firearm at a permitted demonstration, or within 250 feet of one after a law enforcement officer directs you to leave. A person lawfully carrying concealed under a valid CPL is exempt from the demonstration restriction (RCW 9.41.300(2)(e)).

Where am I prohibited from carrying a firearm even with a CPL?

Under RCW 9.41.300(1), it is unlawful to knowingly possess a weapon in:

• The restricted access areas of a jail, law enforcement facility, or other place of confinement
• Areas used in connection with court proceedings (courtrooms, jury rooms, judges' chambers, and adjacent restricted areas)
• The restricted access areas of certain public mental health facilities
• The portion of an establishment classified by the state liquor and cannabis board as off-limits to persons under 21 (the bar area of a tavern)
• The restricted access areas of a commercial service airport designated in the TSA-approved security plan, including passenger screening checkpoints and beyond
• The premises of a public library (RCW 9.41.300(1)(f))
• The premises of an accredited zoo or aquarium (RCW 9.41.300(1)(g))
• The premises of a transit station or transit facility (RCW 9.41.300(1)(h))

A person with a valid CPL is exempt from the library, zoo or aquarium, and transit prohibitions under RCW 9.41.300(14). Violating RCW 9.41.300(1) is a gross misdemeanor (RCW 9.41.300(16)). Note that public parks and playgrounds are not listed in RCW 9.41.300.

Are firearms allowed on school grounds?

Generally no. Possession of dangerous weapons, including firearms, on school facilities is restricted under RCW 9.41.280, with limited statutory exceptions. This is a separate statute from RCW 9.41.300.

Can I carry a firearm at work?

Washington law does not generally prohibit carrying firearms at most private workplaces, but private employers may set policies prohibiting firearms on their premises. Public employers and certain regulated facilities have specific restrictions. Check your employer's policy and applicable law.

Can a city or county pass its own gun laws?

Mostly no. Under RCW 9.41.290, Washington fully occupies and preempts the field of firearms regulation. Cities, towns, and counties may enact only firearms laws specifically authorized by state law, such as the limited authority in RCW 9.41.300, and those local laws must be consistent with state law. Local laws that are more restrictive than state law are preempted.

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Self-Defense and Use of Force

Does Washington have a stand-your-ground or castle doctrine statute?

Washington has no statutory stand-your-ground law and no statutory castle doctrine. The lawful use of force is governed by RCW 9A.16.020, and justifiable homicide by RCW 9A.16.050, as interpreted by the courts.

Do I have a duty to retreat?

Washington case law holds that a person who is where they have a right to be and is not the aggressor has no duty to retreat before using lawful force in self-defense (for example, State v. Studd and State v. Reynaldo Redmond). The force used must be no more than is necessary under the circumstances (RCW 9A.16.020(3)).

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Background Checks and Firearm Purchases

How does the background check process work?

Under RCW 9.41.113, all firearm sales or transfers in Washington are subject to a background check unless specifically exempted, including private sales and sales at gun shows or online. Where neither party is a licensed dealer, the transfer must be processed through a licensed dealer. The Washington State Patrol firearms background check program runs checks through the national instant criminal background check system and state databases.

Is there a waiting period to buy a firearm?

Yes. Under RCW 9.41.092, a licensed dealer may not deliver a firearm until the required background checks are complete and at least 10 business days have elapsed from the date the dealer requested the background check. This 10-business-day waiting period was enacted in 2023 (chapter 161, Laws of 2023).

Do I need safety training to buy a firearm?

Yes. Under RCW 9.41.090, a dealer may not deliver a firearm unless the purchaser provides proof of completion of a recognized firearm safety training program within the last five years that meets RCW 9.41.1132, or proof of an exemption. A separate permit-to-purchase requirement under RCW 9.41.121 is scheduled to take effect May 1, 2027.

What are common reasons a transfer is denied?

Federal prohibitions under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) include a conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year, being a fugitive from justice, being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance, being adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution, being an unlawful alien, being dishonorably discharged, having renounced U.S. citizenship, being subject to a qualifying protective order, and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence conviction. A person under indictment is restricted from receiving a firearm under a separate provision, 18 U.S.C. 922(n), not 922(g). State prohibitions under RCW 9.41.040 add further disqualifying offenses.

Can the Washington State Patrol pre-check my eligibility before I try to buy?

No. Eligibility is determined through an actual transfer at a licensed dealer. You can review RCW 9.41.040 (state law) and 18 U.S.C. 922(g) (federal law) to self-assess.

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Restoring Firearm Rights

How do I restore my right to possess firearms?

Restoration of firearm rights is governed by RCW 9.41.041. The process depends on the disqualifying event and generally requires a petition to the appropriate court. A person who is federally prohibited (for example, after an involuntary mental health commitment under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(4)) may remain federally prohibited even if state rights are restored. Consult an attorney about your specific situation.

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Age Restrictions

Can a minor possess a firearm?

Unlawful possession of a firearm is addressed in RCW 9.41.040. RCW 9.41.042 lists the limited circumstances in which a person under 18 may possess a firearm, such as while taking a hunter or firearms safety course, target shooting at an authorized range, organized competition, hunting or trapping under a valid license, on real property controlled by a parent or guardian with permission, or at the person's residence with parental permission for lawful self-defense.

What about adults between 18 and 21?

Under RCW 9.41.240, a person under 21 may not purchase a pistol or a semiautomatic assault rifle, and no person may sell or transfer a semiautomatic assault rifle to a person under 21. A person 18 to 20 years old may possess a pistol only in their abode, fixed place of business, or on real property under their control, unless an exception in RCW 9.41.042, 9.41.050, or 9.41.060 applies. These age rules were enacted by Initiative 1639 (2019).

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Assault Weapons (SHB 1240)

What does Washington's assault weapons law do?

Under RCW 9.41.390, no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale an assault weapon, with limited exceptions. The law took effect April 25, 2023 (chapter 162, Laws of 2023). It does not prohibit continued possession of an assault weapon lawfully owned before that date.

Can I keep an assault weapon I owned before the law took effect?

Yes. The law limits the prospective sale and transfer of assault weapons while allowing existing legal owners to keep what they already own. Transfers are restricted to the narrow circumstances in RCW 9.41.390(2).

What is the penalty for violating the assault weapons law?

A violation of RCW 9.41.390 is a gross misdemeanor.

Do I have to comply while the law is being challenged in court?

Yes. Unless a court issues an order blocking enforcement, the law remains in effect.

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Large Capacity Magazines (ESSB 5078)

What does the large capacity magazine law do?

Under RCW 9.41.370, no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell, or offer for sale a large capacity magazine (one capable of holding more than 10 rounds), with limited exceptions. The law was enacted in 2022 (chapter 104, Laws of 2022).

Can I keep magazines I already own?

The statute restricts manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale. It does not by its terms prohibit simple possession of magazines you already own.

What is the penalty?

A violation of RCW 9.41.370 is a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.

Is the magazine law still enforceable?

The law has been the subject of litigation, including Gator's Custom Guns v. Ferguson. Unless and until a court issues an order blocking enforcement, the restriction remains in effect. Check current court status before relying on any change.

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Storage and Initiative 1639

Does Washington have a secure storage law?

Yes. RCW 9.41.360 makes it the crime of community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm when a prohibited person gains access to an unsecured firearm and causes injury or, in the second degree, gains access in other defined circumstances. The law does not authorize warrantless inspection of your home.

Does buying a semiautomatic assault rifle require training?

Yes. Initiative 1639 requires proof of completion of a recognized firearms safety training program for the purchase of a semiautomatic assault rifle, consistent with the training standards in RCW 9.41.1132, in addition to the enhanced background check and waiting period.

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NFA Items and Short-Barreled Firearms

Are NFA items legal in Washington?

Washington law in RCW 9.41.190 makes it a class C felony to manufacture, own, buy, sell, transport, or possess a machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle, with exceptions. However, RCW 9.41.190(2) provides that a short-barreled rifle is lawful if the person is in compliance with applicable federal law (National Firearms Act registration). Short-barreled shotguns and machine guns remain prohibited under state law except in the narrow circumstances the statute allows.

What is the federal NFA transfer tax?

The federal NFA tax is set by federal law. Under Public Law 119-21, the making or transfer tax is $200 for a machine gun or destructive device and $0 for other NFA items, effective for calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025 (the first qualifying quarter is January 1, 2026). ATF general pages may still display the older $200 figure. The federal registration requirement under the NFA still applies, and state-law prohibitions in RCW 9.41.190 apply independently of federal tax treatment.

Can I carry a firearm into an airport secured area or onto an aircraft?

No. Beyond Washington's airport restriction in RCW 9.41.300(1)(e), carrying a concealed or unlawful weapon on or attempting to board an aircraft is a federal crime under 49 U.S.C. 46505. Possessing a firearm in a secured area of an airport can also lead to federal and TSA enforcement.

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Finding the Law

Where can I read Washington's firearms laws?

Washington's firearms statutes are in Chapter 9.41 RCW, available through the Washington State Legislature at app.leg.wa.gov/RCW (use cite=9.41 for the chapter, or cite=9.41.070 for a specific section).

Where do I find federal firearms law?

Federal firearms law is primarily in Title 18, Chapter 44 of the United States Code. For the National Firearms Act and federal compliance, contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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Key Statutes Referenced

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This information is compiled from the Revised Code of Washington (Chapter 9.41 RCW) and federal law. Laws change. Always verify the current statute before relying on this information, and consult an attorney for advice on your situation.