What is District of Columbia's concealed carry policy?

District of Columbia is a Shall-Issue state for concealed carry.

Does District of Columbia have constitutional carry?

No, District of Columbia requires a permit for concealed carry.

Does District of Columbia preempt local gun ordinances?

No, District of Columbia does not have full state preemption — local jurisdictions may have additional restrictions.

Concealed Carry in District of Columbia

Whether you need a permit, training, or are just exploring reciprocity, here's your overview of concealed carry laws and requirements in District of Columbia.

Notable: D.C. has very strict gun laws including registration of all firearms, assault weapons ban, and magazine restrictions. Very few licensed dealers operate in the District.

District of Columbia Gun Law Overview

Concealed Carry

Shall-Issue

State carry policy

Purchase Permit

Required

State purchase requirements

Key Restrictions

Waiting period, AWB, Mag limit, Red flag

State-level restrictions

Notable

D.C. has very strict gun laws including registration of all firearms, assault weapons ban, and magazine restrictions. Very few licensed dealers operate in the District.

State dealer licensing

District of Columbia requires a state dealer license in addition to the federal FFL through the DC Metropolitan Police.

Sources: ATF FFL data; NRA-ILA state law summaries; USCCA reciprocity maps. See our data sources. This is for informational purposes only and is NOT legal advice.