Florida allows concealed carry without a permit under House Bill 543 (effective July 1, 2023), often called 'constitutional carry.' Anyone 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm can carry a concealed handgun in most public places without a license (Fla. Stat. § 790.01). You can also get a Concealed Weapon or Firearm License (CWFL) from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under Fla. Stat. § 790.06, which is optional but offers benefits like reciprocity with other states. To get a CWFL, you must be 21 or older (or 18 if a military member), complete a firearms training course, and pass a background check with fingerprinting. Concealed carry is banned in certain places like schools, polling places, courthouses, and bars (Fla. Stat. § 790.06). Private property owners can also ban firearms with proper signage (Fla. Stat. § 790.251).
Costs: A CWFL application costs $97 (including a $42 fingerprinting fee). Training courses typically cost $50-$100. Total costs for a CWFL are usually $147-$197.
Processing Time: CWFL applications are processed within 90 days, but delays can occur if additional background checks are needed.
Renewal: A CWFL is valid for 7 years. Renewal costs $45 and does not require retraining.
Reciprocity: Since Florida allows permitless carry, you don't need a CWFL to carry concealed here if you're 21 or older. Florida honors permits from 36 states, including Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. A Florida CWFL is recognized by 37 states, such as Arizona, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Always check the laws of the state you're visiting.
Florida generally prohibits open carry of handguns under Fla. Stat. § 790.053. You cannot openly carry a handgun in public, even with a concealed carry license, except in limited situations like while fishing, camping, or hunting, or traveling to or from those activities (Fla. Stat. § 790.25). Open carry of long guns (rifles and shotguns) is also restricted in most public places, and local ordinances may impose additional limits (Fla. Stat. § 790.33). Displaying any firearm in a threatening manner is illegal (Fla. Stat. § 790.10). Violations can lead to misdemeanor charges, with penalties up to 1 year in jail, or felony charges if the firearm is used in a crime, with penalties up to 5 years in prison.
Florida has minimal restrictions on firearm types compared to many states. There are no state laws banning assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, silencers, short-barreled rifles/shotguns, or machine guns, as long as they comply with federal law (e.g., National Firearms Act for machine guns and silencers). Ghost guns (firearms without serial numbers) are legal, and there's no requirement to serialize them. However, certain people can't possess firearms, like felons or those with domestic violence convictions (Fla. Stat. § 790.23). Firearms are banned in specific places like schools and polling places (Fla. Stat. § 790.06). Violations can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges, with penalties up to 1 year in jail or 5 years in prison.
Costs: There are no state fees for owning restricted firearms since Florida doesn't ban them, 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 Florida 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). Florida law allows you to carry a handgun in your vehicle without a permit if you're 21 or older and can legally possess a firearm, as long as it's securely encased or not readily accessible (Fla. Stat. § 790.25). Long guns can be transported without a locked container. Firearms are banned in certain places like schools and polling places (Fla. Stat. § 790.06). Florida allows permitless carry, so you don't need a license to carry while traveling here if you're 21 or older and can legally possess a firearm.
Purchasing a firearm in Florida is straightforward with few state restrictions. You must be 21 to buy a handgun or long gun from a licensed dealer (Fla. Stat. § 790.065), raised from 18 following the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. No permit, background check, or waiting period is required for private sales of long guns, but handgun private sales require a background check through a licensed dealer (Fla. Stat. § 790.0655). For dealer purchases, you'll need a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and there's a 3-day waiting period for handguns (5 days in some counties like Miami-Dade) unless you have a CWFL (Fla. Stat. § 790.0655). There's no limit on the number of firearms you can buy at once, and no state requirement for a safety certificate. Assault weapons, silencers, and large-capacity magazines can be purchased, subject to federal laws (e.g., NFA for silencers). Certain people, like felons, can't buy firearms (Fla. Stat. § 790.23).
Costs: There are no state fees for purchasing, but dealers may charge a $10-$25 fee for the NICS background check. Total fees are typically $10-$25 per transaction.
Processing Time: NICS background checks are usually instant but can take up to 3 days if there's a delay.
Florida does not require firearm registration for most guns. There's no state law mandating registration when you buy a firearm, move to Florida, or own a ghost gun (Fla. Stat. § 790.335). Federal law requires registration for certain items like machine guns and silencers through the ATF (National Firearms Act). Florida doesn't require reporting lost or stolen firearms. There are no penalties for failing to register since registration isn't required. In fact, Florida law prohibits the state from maintaining a registry of firearms (Fla. Stat. § 790.335).
Florida has minimal firearm storage laws. There's no state requirement to store firearms unloaded or in a locked container (Fla. Stat. § 790.001). However, it's illegal to leave a firearm where a child under 16 can access it if the child uses it to cause injury or death, known as unsafe storage of a firearm (Fla. Stat. § 790.174). Penalties can be a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail) or a felony (up to 5 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 handgun purchases (Fla. Stat. § 790.175).
Florida follows a strong Castle Doctrine under Fla. Stat. § 776.013, allowing you to use deadly force to protect yourself in your home, vehicle, or any place you have a legal right to be. If someone unlawfully enters or attempts to enter these places, and you reasonably believe they're a threat to cause death or serious injury, you can use deadly force, like shooting them. Florida is also a 'stand your ground' state, meaning you don't have to retreat anywhere you're legally present (Fla. Stat. § 776.012). This applies to your property and public places. However, the force must be proportionate, and using excessive force after the threat ends can lead to charges like manslaughter or murder.