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