Can You Conceal Carry in Washington State? CPL Rules and Penalties

Concealed carry in Washington State is legal if you hold a Concealed Pistol License (CPL). Outside your own home or fixed place of business, carrying a concealed pistol without this license is a misdemeanor.¹ Washington is a shall-issue state: if you meet every statutory requirement, the issuing agency must grant the license. You need to be at least 21, complete a certified firearms training course with live fire, pass a background check, and pay roughly $48 to $50 for a five-year license.

The license covers concealed pistols only. Washington has no statute prohibiting open carry, and the Attorney General’s office has confirmed no state law directly bans carrying an unconcealed firearm, though the same location restrictions still apply.² Whenever you carry concealed, you must keep the physical CPL card on you and show it to any officer who asks. Not having the card while carrying is a Class 1 civil infraction, so a fine rather than a criminal charge.¹

Who Qualifies for a CPL

You must be 21 or older. Beyond age, several conditions automatically disqualify you:³

Any felony conviction, which independently bars firearm possession under Washington law.
An outstanding arrest warrant, whether for a felony or a misdemeanor.
Being free on bond or personal recognizance while awaiting trial, appeal, or sentencing for a felony.
Being subject to a court order restricting firearm possession, including protective and restraining orders.
Certain misdemeanor convictions connected to domestic violence, which also strip firearm rights under federal law.
A court-ordered firearm forfeiture within the past 12 months.
A CPL revocation that is still in force.

Lawful permanent residents can apply but must present a valid Permanent Resident Card at the time of application.⁴ A separate alien firearms license exists for other non-citizens who want to hunt or sport shoot temporarily in Washington, but that document does not authorize concealed carry.

The Training Requirement

This is the step first-time applicants most often miss. You must complete a certified concealed carry firearms safety course and provide a certificate of completion dated within the last five years. Without it, the agency will deny your application no matter how clean your background is.³

The course must include live-fire exercises on a range, with a minimum of 50 rounds fired under instructor supervision to demonstrate safe handling and proficiency.³ Online-only courses do not satisfy the law. The program must be certified under RCW 43.43.575, so confirm certification before you pay for a course.

Two groups are exempt: active peace officers, both general and limited authority, who carry firearms as part of their duties; and active-duty members of the U.S. military, National Guard, or armed forces reserves who have completed a qualifying firearms proficiency course within the last five years.⁵

How to Apply

Where you apply depends on where you live. If you live inside a city, you can go to your city police department or the county sheriff’s office. If you live in an unincorporated area, the county sheriff’s office is your only option. Non-residents can apply at any law enforcement agency in the state.³

Apply in person. Bring valid photo ID such as a Washington driver’s license, along with your training certificate. The agency will fingerprint you as part of the process. The non-refundable base fee is $36; FBI fingerprinting charges are passed through, bringing most applicants to a total of about $48 to $50.³

The agency then runs a background check. Most applicants get a decision within 30 days. If you do not hold a valid Washington driver’s license or have not lived in Washington for at least 90 consecutive days, the processing window extends to 60 days.³

License Length and Renewal

A Washington CPL is valid for five years from the date of issue. The renewal window opens 90 days before expiration and closes 90 days after. The renewal fee is $32, and renewing after the expiration date adds a $10 late penalty.³

Your training certificate has to be current at renewal too. Because the certificate must be dated within the last five years, most renewing holders will need to retake the course. Schedule that well before your expiration date so you are not scrambling in the final week.

Where You Cannot Carry

A CPL does not clear you to carry everywhere. Washington law prohibits knowingly possessing any weapon at specific locations, and violating the ban is a gross misdemeanor.⁶ The list includes:

Public and private K–12 school buildings, grounds, and school-provided transportation. CPL holders have a narrow exception for the moment of picking up or dropping off a student.⁷
Courtrooms, jury rooms, judge’s chambers, and adjacent corridors and waiting areas.
Restricted-access areas of jails, law enforcement facilities, and mental health facilities.
Restricted-access areas of commercial service airports past security.
The portion of any bar or tavern classified as off-limits to people under 21.
Licensed child care centers and public libraries.
Zoos, aquariums, and transit stations.
State-licensed domestic violence shelters.
Outdoor music festivals and polling places on election days.
State capitol grounds.

Some of these locations are required to post signs, but do not treat the absence of a sign as permission. If the location is on the statutory list, the prohibition applies whether or not you saw a notice.⁶

Federal buildings are governed separately. Knowingly possessing a firearm in a federal facility where federal employees work carries up to one year in prison, and up to two years inside a federal courthouse.⁸ Post offices, federal courthouses, VA hospitals, and Social Security offices all fall under that prohibition.

Private Business Signs

A generic “no weapons” sign on a private business does not carry the force of Washington’s firearms statutes. Carrying past such a sign is not itself a firearms offense.⁶ The owner can still ask you to leave, and refusing is criminal trespass. You avoid a weapons charge; you do not avoid a trespass charge.

Firearms in Your Vehicle

The vehicle rules trip up more people than any other part of Washington firearms law. You cannot place or carry a loaded pistol in any vehicle without a CPL. With a CPL, the loaded pistol must be on your person, or you must be inside the vehicle with it. If you step away from the vehicle, the pistol must be locked inside and hidden from outside view.¹

Without a CPL, you can still transport an unloaded pistol, but it must be locked up and concealed from view. Leaving an unloaded pistol visible on the seat or in an unlocked glovebox is a misdemeanor, even if you are otherwise legally allowed to possess it.¹

Penalties

Carrying concealed without a CPL: misdemeanor, up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.¹
Carrying without the physical CPL card on you: Class 1 civil infraction, fine only.¹
Loaded pistol in a vehicle without a CPL: misdemeanor.¹
Carrying in a prohibited location: gross misdemeanor, up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.⁶
Carrying in a federal building: federal crime, up to one year in prison, or up to two years for a federal courthouse.⁸

A conviction, especially a gross misdemeanor involving weapons, can also affect your ability to renew or obtain a CPL later. A domestic violence-related conviction will permanently strip your firearm rights under federal law.

Out-of-State Permits

Washington recognizes concealed carry permits from a limited set of states. To qualify, the issuing state must recognize Washington CPLs, must not issue permits to anyone under 21, and must require a fingerprint-based background check covering criminal and mental health history.⁹

As of the Attorney General’s most recent update, the recognized permits are Idaho (enhanced only), Kansas (standard license only), Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (enhanced only), North Carolina, North Dakota (Class 1 only), Ohio, South Dakota (unrestricted enhanced and gold only), and Utah (excluding provisional permits).⁹ The permit-type restrictions matter: a standard Idaho permit, for instance, is not recognized.

Reciprocity can change. If you are visiting Washington with an out-of-state permit, check the current list on the Attorney General’s website before you travel, and follow every Washington rule on prohibited locations, vehicles, and conduct while carrying.

1
Washington State Legislature. RCW 9.41.050 – Carrying Firearms
2
Office of the Attorney General. Firearms FAQ
3
Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 9-41-070 – Concealed Pistol License
4
Washington State Department of Licensing. Firearms Recordkeeping
5
Washington State Legislature. RCW 9.41.1132 – Firearms Safety Training
6
Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 9-41-300 – Weapons Prohibited in Certain Places
7
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Weapons and Schools
8
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 930 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities
9
Office of the Attorney General. Concealed Pistol License Reciprocity