You may carry a concealed weapon on your person without a concealed weapons license if you are at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States or a current member of the United States Armed Forces, and you are not disqualified under Idaho law from obtaining a concealed weapons license for a reason other than not having attained 21 years of age. Idaho law imposes additional requirements for persons under the age of 18. See Idaho Code 18-3302E.
No. A concealed weapon includes any dirk, dirk knife, bowie knife, dagger, pistol, revolver or any other deadly or dangerous weapon.
Yes. You may carry any deadly weapon concealed in your vehicle including a loaded or unloaded firearm. However, if the firearm is a handgun, you must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States or a current member of the United States Armed Forces and not disqualified under Idaho law from obtaining a concealed weapons license for a reason other than not having attained 18 years of age.
No, if you are outside the limits of a city. If you are inside the limits of a city, you must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States or a current member of the United States Armed Forces and not disqualified under Idaho law from obtaining a concealed weapons license for a reason other than not having attained 21 years of age. Within the limits of a city, you would also be required to comply with any municipal ordinances regarding the discharge of firearms.
You must apply in-person to a county sheriff. If you have questions about applying for a concealed weapons license, you should contact the county sheriff where you reside or where you intend to apply if you are not an Idaho resident.
Maybe. A county sheriff may require that you demonstrate familiarity with a firearm, which may be through classes or other means. A sheriff must accept one of the following as evidence of familiarity with a firearm:
- Completion of a hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game or a similar agency of another state;
- Completion of a National Rifle Association (NRA) firearms safety, training or hunter education course;
- Completion of a firearms safety or training course offered by a law enforcement agency, community college, college, or university, private or public school or firearms training school, using instructors certified by the NRA or Idaho State Police;
- Completion of a law enforcement firearms safety or training course or class for security guards, investigators, special deputies, law enforcement agencies or security enforcement agencies.
- Evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition or military service;
- A current Idaho license to carry a concealed weapon;
- Completion of a firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a state-certified or NRA-certified firearms instructor; or
- Other training the sheriff deems appropriate.
No. However, you must meet the requirements described above.
The fee for the original license is $20.00. The renewal fee is $15.00. Please note: A sheriff may collect additional fees necessary to cover the cost of processing fingerprints and the cost of materials for the license. In some counties, this results in higher fees.
Licenses are valid for five years from the date of issue.
Yes. See Idaho Code 18-3302(22)(a) –(f). The sheriff of the county where the license was issued or where the person resides may revoke a license for any of the following reasons:
- Fraud or intentional misrepresentation in obtaining the license;
- Misuse of a license;
- The doing of an act or the existence of a condition that would have been grounds for denial of the license by the sheriff.
- Violation of any of the terms of Idaho Code 18-3302;
- You are found guilty of, or receive a withheld judgment for, a crime which would have disqualified you from receiving a license.
Yes. Generally, you may not carry a concealed weapon in a courthouse, juvenile detention facility, adult correctional facility, prison, jail, public school or private school. For purposes of this prohibition, a school is defined as “a private or public elementary or secondary school.” There are certain exceptions in Idaho Code 18-3302C and 18-3302D(4)(g).
Federal law may prohibit you from carrying a weapon in places such as federal courthouses and airports.
Private businesses, including those that are open to the public, may prohibit the carrying of weapons on their premises.
If you have any question about whether a weapon may be carried on the premises of a governmental entity or business, you should contact that entity or business prior to carrying a weapon onto their premises.
Yes. However, while in Idaho, you must carry the license on your person at all times when carrying a concealed weapon. See Idaho Code 18-3302(5)(g).
Idaho has concealed weapons reciprocity agreements with some other states. The Idaho State Police (ISP) Bureau of Criminal Identification maintains these agreements, and you may access information about them via the ISP website. If you have additional questions concerning reciprocity agreements, please call 208-884-7498.
Yes. All of Idaho’s firearms statutes, including those governing concealed weapons, are found in Chapter 33 of Title 18 of the Idaho Code. Those statutes dealing with concealed weapons include Idaho Code sections 18-3302, 18-3302B, 18-3302C, 18-3302D, 18-3302H, 18-3302K and 18-3309. Anyone desiring to carry a concealed weapon in Idaho or to possess or use any weapon in Idaho should be careful not to violate any of the provisions of Chapter 33, Title 18, which can be found at the Idaho Legislature’s website. Idaho cities may have additional regulations governing the discharge of firearms within their limits.
CAUTION: Federal law and state law governing the possession of firearms and other weapons differ. If you are prohibited by federal law from possessing a weapon or a firearm, you may be prosecuted in federal court. The possession of a concealed weapons license issued by a state is not a defense to a prosecution for violation of federal law.
