Colorado requires a permit to carry a concealed handgun under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-203. You can obtain a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) from your county sheriff. To get a CHP, you must be 21 or older, complete a firearms training course (at least 8 hours), and pass a background check with fingerprinting. Concealed carry is banned in certain places like K-12 schools, public buildings with security screenings, and private properties with posted signs prohibiting firearms (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-214). Open carry is generally allowed without a permit, but local ordinances may impose restrictions, especially in cities like Denver. Violations can lead to misdemeanor charges, with penalties up to 1 year in jail.
Costs: A CHP application costs up to $100 (varies by county, e.g., $52.50 in El Paso County). Fingerprinting costs $38.50. Training courses typically cost $75-$150. Total costs for a CHP are usually $166-$288.50.
Processing Time: CHP applications must be processed within 90 days, but delays can occur if additional background checks are needed.
Renewal: A CHP is valid for 5 years. Renewal costs up to $50 and does not require retraining.
Reciprocity: Colorado honors permits from 33 states, including Florida, Missouri, and Texas. A Colorado CHP is recognized by 34 states, such as Arizona, Kansas, and Nebraska. Always check the laws of the state you're visiting.
Colorado generally allows open carry of handguns without a permit under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-105, except in certain areas. Anyone 18 or older who can legally possess a firearm can openly carry a handgun in most public places. However, open carry is banned in Denver due to local ordinances (Denver Mun. Code § 38-117), and other cities may have similar restrictions. Statewide, open carry is prohibited in K-12 schools and public buildings with security screenings (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-214). Private property owners can prohibit open carry with proper signage. Long guns, like rifles and shotguns, can be openly carried without a permit, but displaying any firearm in a threatening manner is illegal (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-9-106). Violations can lead to misdemeanor charges, with penalties up to 1 year in jail.
Colorado has some restrictions on firearm types. Assault weapons are not banned, but large-capacity magazines (over 15 rounds) are prohibited under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-302, with exceptions for magazines owned before July 1, 2013. Silencers, short-barreled rifles/shotguns, and machine guns are legal if they comply with federal law (e.g., National Firearms Act). Ghost guns (firearms without serial numbers) are legal, but as of January 1, 2024, they must be serialized if manufactured after that date (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-112). Certain people can't possess firearms, like felons or those with domestic violence convictions (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-108). Firearms are banned in specific places like K-12 schools (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-105.5). Violations can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges, with penalties up to 1 year in jail or 3 years in prison.
Costs: There are no state fees for owning restricted firearms, but federal fees apply for items like silencers ($200 tax stamp).
Processing Time: Federal background checks for restricted items (e.g., silencers) can take 6-12 months through the ATF.
Interstate travel with firearms through or into Colorado is allowed under federal law, but you must follow state rules. The federal Firearms Owners' Protection Act (FOPA), under 18 U.S.C. § 926A, lets you transport firearms across state lines if you can legally possess them in your starting and destination states. The firearm must be unloaded, and neither the firearm nor its ammo can be easily reached from the passenger area—store them in a trunk or locked container (not the glove box). Colorado law allows you to carry a handgun in your vehicle without a permit if it's unloaded and in a closed container (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-105). Long guns can be transported without a locked container. Firearms are banned in certain places like K-12 schools (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-105.5). You need a CHP to carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle.
Purchasing a firearm in Colorado has some restrictions. You must be 21 to buy a handgun or long gun from a licensed dealer (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-112), raised from 18 in 2019. All purchases, including private sales, require a background check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-33.5-424). There's a 3-day waiting period for all firearm purchases, effective October 1, 2023, unless you're a law enforcement officer or have a CHP (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-115). Large-capacity magazines (over 15 rounds) can't be purchased (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-302). There's no limit on the number of firearms you can buy at once, and no state requirement for a safety certificate. Certain people, like felons, can't buy firearms (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-108).
Costs: The CBI background check fee is $10 per transaction. Dealers may charge an additional $10-$25 for processing. Total fees are typically $20-$35 per transaction.
Processing Time: CBI background checks are usually instant but can take up to 3 days if there's a delay.
Colorado does not require firearm registration for most guns. There's no state law mandating registration when you buy a firearm, move to Colorado, or own a ghost gun (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-101). Federal law requires registration for certain items like machine guns and silencers through the ATF (National Firearms Act). Colorado doesn't require reporting lost or stolen firearms. There are no penalties for failing to register since registration isn't required.
Colorado has some firearm storage laws. There's no general requirement to store firearms unloaded or in a locked container, but as of July 1, 2023, firearms must be stored in a locked container or with a locking device if left in an unattended vehicle (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-114). It's illegal to leave a firearm where a child under 18 can access it if the child uses it to cause injury or death, known as unlawful storage of a firearm (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-405). Penalties can be a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail) or a felony (up to 3 years in prison) if serious harm occurs. There's no requirement to report lost or stolen firearms, but dealers must provide a locking device with firearm purchases (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-406).
Colorado follows a strong Castle Doctrine under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1-704.5, allowing you to use deadly force to protect yourself in your home. If someone unlawfully enters your home, and you reasonably believe they're a threat to cause death or serious injury, you can use deadly force, like shooting them. This is often called the 'Make My Day' law. Colorado is also a 'stand your ground' state in practice, as there's no duty to retreat in your home, though in public you must not be the initial aggressor (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1-704). The Castle Doctrine doesn't explicitly extend to vehicles or workplaces. Using excessive force after the threat ends can lead to charges like manslaughter or murder.