No. Wisconsin requires a Concealed Carry License (CCL) under Wis. Stat. § 175.60 to carry a concealed handgun in public. Carrying concealed without a...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
No. Wisconsin requires a Concealed Carry License (CCL) under Wis. Stat. § 175.60 to carry a concealed handgun in public. Carrying concealed without a license is a Class A misdemeanor under Wis. Stat. § 941.23. Open carry by an adult 18 or older is generally lawful without a license.
No, for adults 18 or older who are not prohibited persons. Open carry is generally lawful in public places, subject to the prohibited-place catalog (public buildings, alcohol-serving premises, airports, school zones, posted private property).
21. Wis. Stat. § 175.60(3) sets the minimum age at 21.
5 years. The license card shows the expiration date.
The statutory window is 21 days after a complete application under Wis. Stat. § 175.60(9g). In practice, applications often clear in 10-14 days for clean records.
No. Wisconsin CCL applications are submitted by mail to DOJ. The application form is available on the DOJ Concealed Carry Unit web page.
$40 for original issuance and $22 for renewal under Wis. Stat. § 175.60(7)(c). See Fees for details.
The principal disqualifications under Wis. Stat. § 175.60(3) and Wis. Stat. § 941.29:
Federal prohibitions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) also apply.
The path is narrow. Wis. Stat. § 941.29(8) provides a circuit-court petition for restoration of Wisconsin firearm rights, but the path does NOT restore federal rights. Consult a Wisconsin attorney experienced in restoration petitions.
Generally no, except for military residents under Wis. Stat. § 175.60(1)(dm) (active-duty service members stationed in Wisconsin for at least one year).
Federal law at 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9) prohibits firearm possession by anyone convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. This federal prohibition applies regardless of Wisconsin state law. A Wisconsin CCL would be denied or revoked on that basis.
Wis. Stat. § 175.60(7) requires firearms training documented by one of: (1) Wisconsin DNR hunter education certificate; (2) firearms training course from an NRA-certified, USCCA-certified, or other recognized national/state organization instructor; (3) military firearms training (DD-214); (4) law enforcement firearms training; (5) qualifying training from another state.
No specific hour requirement. The statute is documentation-based, not hour-based. A typical NRA Basic Pistol course is 8-12 hours; a DNR Hunter Education course is about 10-12 hours. Any of these satisfy the documentation requirement.
No. Wisconsin does not require refresher training at renewal. The original training documentation carries over.
Online-only courses generally do not satisfy Wis. Stat. § 175.60(7) because the qualifying training must come from a recognized firearms-instruction organization. Many in-person courses include online prerequisites plus an in-person session. The in-person component typically satisfies the requirement.
Wis. Stat. § 941.237 prohibits carrying a handgun on premises where alcohol is sold and consumed on premises (bars, taverns) if you consume alcohol there. You can carry concealed in a restaurant that serves alcohol if you do NOT drink there. Best practice: don't drink and carry.
Wis. Stat. § 948.605 restricts firearm possession in school zones (within 1,000 feet of a K-12 school). The statute has specific carve-outs for licensees that align with the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act (18 U.S.C. § 922(q)). The carve-outs are complex; review the specific facts before carrying.
Generally no. Wis. Stat. § 175.60(15m) lists certain government facilities (court of justice facility under judicial control) as prohibited locations even for CCL holders.
No. 18 U.S.C. § 930 prohibits firearm possession in federal facilities. A Wisconsin CCL does not override federal law.
Yes under Wis. Stat. § 943.13. A clear and conspicuous sign at the entrance is sufficient. A CCL holder who enters posted property while armed is subject to forfeiture, not criminal conviction.
Yes. The CCL authorizes loaded vehicle carry.
No. Wis. Stat. § 167.31 generally requires the firearm to be unloaded if you do not have a CCL. There are narrow carve-outs.
The federal 18 U.S.C. § 926A "peaceable journey" rule provides a safe harbor for through-travelers, provided the firearm is unloaded and not readily accessible from the passenger compartment.
No statutory duty to retreat. Wisconsin's Wis. Stat. § 939.48 self-defense framework does not impose a retreat requirement. The castle doctrine at Wis. Stat. § 939.48(1m) extends specific protection to the dwelling, motor vehicle, and place of business.
Not by that specific name. Wis. Stat. § 939.48 codifies self-defense without a duty to retreat. The Wis. Stat. § 939.48(1m) castle doctrine adds the rebuttable presumption favoring the actor in three protected locations.
The castle doctrine at Wis. Stat. § 939.48(1m) gives you a rebuttable presumption that the use of deadly force was reasonably necessary if the intruder is unlawfully and forcibly entering your dwelling, motor vehicle, or place of business. The presumption can be rebutted by specific facts (intruder is law enforcement, intruder is a household member, you were engaged in criminal activity, etc.). Even with the presumption, every use-of-force case is fact-specific.
Generally no under Wis. Stat. § 939.49. Reasonable force is permitted to defend property, but deadly force is not privileged for the sole purpose of property defense. Deadly force may be privileged if the property crime is also a threat to the person, in which case Wis. Stat. § 939.48 applies.
Wis. Stat. § 895.62 provides civil immunity to a person who uses force protected by the Wis. Stat. § 939.48(1m) castle doctrine. The immunity bars civil suit by the intruder or their estate.
No. Illinois does not recognize the Wisconsin CCL (or any other state's license). Illinois operates its own concealed-carry framework.
Generally yes - these neighboring states typically honor the Wisconsin CCL. Always verify with the destination state's current reciprocity list before traveling.
Generally no. The Illinois Concealed Carry License has historically not appeared on the Wisconsin DOJ recognized list. Check the current DOJ list.
No. Wisconsin reciprocity under Wis. Stat. § 175.60(2g) does not apply to Wisconsin residents. You need a Wisconsin CCL.
Wisconsin Department of Justice, Concealed Carry Unit, P.O. Box 7130, Madison, WI 53707-7130.
Notify DOJ of your address change. The address-change procedure does not restart the 5-year term.
Request a replacement from DOJ. The replacement fee is $12 and the replacement card carries the original expiration date.
Under Wis. Stat. § 175.60(14), you may petition the circuit court of your county of residence for judicial review.
You may also petition for review under Wis. Stat. § 175.60(14). Revocation typically follows a disqualifying event such as a new felony conviction or a domestic-abuse injunction.
These FAQs are educational and informational. They are not legal advice. Specific situations require legal counsel.
This page covers one part of our Wisconsin concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Wisconsin guideBrowse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.