Wisconsin Prohibited Places

Overview

Wisconsin maintains a multi-statute catalog of places where a CCL holder (and in many cases any person, with or without a license) may not carry a firearm. The principal statutes are Wis. Stat. § 175.60(15m) (carve-outs from CCL coverage), Wis. Stat. § 941.235 (public buildings), Wis. Stat. § 941.237 (premises selling alcohol), federal aviation rules (airports), and Wis. Stat. § 948.605 (school zones). Federal law layers on top.

Wis. Stat. § 175.60(15m) - CCL-Specific Carve-Outs

A Wisconsin CCL does NOT authorize the licensee to carry a concealed weapon at:

• A police station, sheriff's office, jail, or other law enforcement facility.
• A prison, jail, house of correction, or secured correctional facility.
• A secured mental health facility.
• A court of justice facility where the proceedings are conducted, when the carry-prohibition is posted by the chief judge or in the building's posted policy.
• An airport beyond the security checkpoint (also restricted by federal aviation rules).
• A place posted under Wis. Stat. § 943.13 (private property posted against firearms - though violation here is forfeiture, not criminal).

Even a valid CCL is not sufficient to enter these locations armed. Carrying at one of these facilities while licensed is typically a forfeiture (a non-criminal civil penalty), but unlicensed carry at the same location triggers Wis. Stat. § 941.23 as well.

Wis. Stat. § 941.235 - Carrying in Public Buildings

Wis. Stat. § 941.235 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to "go armed with a firearm" in any building owned or leased by the state or any political subdivision. The statute applies regardless of whether the carrier holds a CCL. Exceptions include:

• Peace officers acting in their official capacity.
• Members of the military or National Guard on official duty.
• Persons authorized by the political subdivision (e.g., security personnel).
• Locations within the public building that the entity has expressly designated as exempted.

A municipal hall, county courthouse, state office building, or any other government-owned building is presumptively covered. Some narrow carve-outs exist for parking areas adjacent to such buildings.

Wis. Stat. § 941.237 - Premises Where Alcohol Is Sold and Consumed

Wis. Stat. § 941.237 restricts the carry of a handgun in any premises where alcohol beverages are sold and consumed on premises (bars, taverns, restaurants serving liquor for on-premises consumption). The statute has narrow carve-outs:

• The licensee may carry on the premises if NOT consuming alcohol there.
• The premises owner or employee may carry while operating the establishment.

Carrying a handgun at a bar while consuming alcohol there is a criminal offense even for a CCL holder. The interaction with Wis. Stat. § 941.20 (operating a firearm while intoxicated) makes this category particularly fraught - a licensee at a bar should refrain from drinking if armed, or should secure the firearm before drinking.

federal aviation rules - Airports

federal aviation rules prohibits possession of a firearm in the sterile area of any airport (the area beyond the TSA checkpoint). This statute applies to everyone, with limited exceptions for law enforcement and certain authorized personnel. Federal regulations layer on additional prohibitions for the secured area of airports and aircraft.

Storage of a firearm in checked baggage on a commercial flight is governed by federal regulations - the firearm must be unloaded, in a hard-sided locked case, with ammunition stored separately per TSA rules.

Wis. Stat. § 948.605 - Gun-Free School Zones

Wis. Stat. § 948.605 is Wisconsin's state-level gun-free school zone statute, analogous to the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act at 18 U.S.C. § 922(q). The state statute restricts firearm possession in any school zone (within 1,000 feet of a school) with carve-outs that broadly track the federal carve-outs.

Importantly, the carve-outs in Wis. Stat. § 948.605 include:

• Possession by a licensed CCL holder.
• Possession on private property that is not part of the school grounds.
• Possession in a private vehicle passing through the school zone.

The interaction with the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act is critical: federal law does NOT automatically exempt Wisconsin CCL holders from the federal gun-free school zone unless the state license required a background check (which Wisconsin's does - the CCL satisfies the federal "licensed by State" exception under 18 U.S.C. § 922(q)(2)(B)(ii)).

Wis. Stat. § 948.55 - Loaded Firearms Within Reach of Children

Wis. Stat. § 948.55 is the safe-storage statute. It makes it a crime to leave a loaded firearm where a child under 14 can access it, if the child subsequently uses the firearm and causes injury or death. The statute is a storage and access rule rather than a carry rule. See Storage for details.

Posted Private Property - Wis. Stat. § 943.13

Private property owners may exclude armed visitors by posting under Wis. Stat. § 943.13. The signage must be clear and conspicuous at all entrances. Failure to comply is forfeiture - a civil penalty, not a criminal conviction. Importantly:

• A CCL holder who enters posted property while armed is subject to forfeiture for the entry, plus trespass if they refuse to leave when asked.
• A non-licensed person openly carrying who enters posted property is similarly subject to forfeiture.
• The licensee should leave promptly when asked.

Wisconsin's posting standard is more lenient than Texas (which requires a specific 30.06/30.07 sign). A clearly visible "No Firearms" sign at the entrance, or a sign indicating that firearms are prohibited, is sufficient.

Federal Law - 18 U.S.C. § 930 and Beyond

Federal law restricts firearm possession at:

• Federal facilities (post offices, federal courthouses, IRS offices, Social Security offices) - 18 U.S.C. § 930.
• National parks - generally permits state-law carry, but visitor centers and federal buildings within parks are restricted.
• Federal military installations - prohibited.
• Aboard commercial aircraft - prohibited (handled by federal aviation regulations).

A Wisconsin CCL does not override federal law. A licensee entering a federal facility must comply with the federal restriction.

Tribal Lands

Wisconsin's reservations (Menominee, Oneida, Ho-Chunk, Stockbridge-Munsee, Bad River, Lac du Flambeau, and others) are sovereign nations. Tribal law governs carry on tribal lands. A Wisconsin CCL does not automatically authorize carry on tribal land; check with the specific tribe before carrying.

State Capitol and Government Centers

The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison is governed by Wis. Stat. § 941.235 and capitol-specific carry policy. CCL holders have been able to carry in the capitol since the 2011 Act 35 framework took effect, subject to magnetometer screening and any specific posted policy in legislative chambers.

Hospitals

Wisconsin does not have a statute specifically prohibiting firearm carry in hospitals. Many hospitals post under Wis. Stat. § 943.13 to exclude armed visitors. Compliance is required for CCL holders.

Polling Places and Government Meetings

Wisconsin does not have a statute specifically prohibiting firearm carry at polling places. Wis. Stat. § 941.235 covers any polling place that happens to be located in a public building. Private-property polling locations are governed by the property owner's posting decision under Wis. Stat. § 943.13.

Summary Table