Virginia is a shall-issue state for concealed handgun permits under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.02. You must be 21, complete training, and pass a background check. Concealed carry without a permit is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year) per Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308. Prohibited places include schools and courthouses (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.1). Violations of carry restrictions are misdemeanors (up to 1 year).
Costs: Permit fee is up to $50 for 5 years. Training is $50-$100. Total: $100-$150.
Processing Time: Up to 45 days.
Renewal: $50 every 5 years.
Reciprocity: Virginia honors permits from over 30 states; over 30 states honor Virginia’s permit.
Virginia allows open carry without a permit for those 18+ who can legally possess a firearm (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-287.4). Restrictions apply in schools and courthouses (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.1). Violations of carry restrictions are misdemeanors (up to 1 year).
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Virginia has no state bans on assault weapons or large-capacity magazines (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308). Machine guns, short-barreled rifles/shotguns, and silencers require federal ATF compliance (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-295). Violations of federal NFA rules are felonies (up to 10 years).
Costs: ATF tax stamp is $200 per item.
Processing Time: 6-12 months for ATF approval.
Virginia follows federal law for dealer sales requiring a background check under 18 U.S.C. § 922(t). Age minimum is 21 for handguns from dealers, 18 for possession or private sales, and 18 for long guns. Private sales require a background check (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.2:5). No state waiting period or permit required. Violations of background check laws (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.2:2) are felonies (up to 5 years).
Costs: Background check is $2 for residents, $5 for non-residents; dealers may add $10-$25.
Processing Time: Instant, up to 3 days if delayed.
Virginia imposes no state requirement for firearm registration under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308, and there’s no mandate to report lost or stolen guns. However, restricted items like machine guns, short-barreled rifles/shotguns, and silencers—known as NFA items—fall under federal registration law per 26 U.S.C. § 5841. These must be registered with the ATF, a requirement Virginia recognizes in Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-295. Violations of federal NFA registration rules are felonies (up to 10 years).
Costs: Federal tax stamp for NFA items is $200.
Virginia has no general storage laws. It’s illegal to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm accessible to a minor under 14 (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-56.2). Violations of this restriction are misdemeanors (up to 1 year).
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Virginia recognizes the Castle Doctrine through common law, meaning there is no statutory duty to retreat inside one’s home when facing an intruder. Deadly force is justified only if necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily harm (Commonwealth v. Alexander, 260 Va. 238 (2000)).
Statutory burglary laws, such as Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-91, criminalize unlawful entry, reinforcing a homeowner’s right to self-defense. However, in public, there is a duty to retreat if safely possible before using deadly force (Commonwealth v. Cary, 271 Va. 87 (2006)).
Excessive or unjustified force may result in manslaughter charges under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-35 (voluntary manslaughter) or § 18.2-36 (involuntary manslaughter), carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
Sources: [1]