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.