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.