Colorado gun laws set a minimum purchase age of 21, require a background check and three-day waiting period on every sale, ban large-capacity magazines and unserialized firearms, and impose storage rules both in the home and in vehicles. Concealed carry requires a permit from your county sheriff; open carry is legal statewide but restricted in some cities. Penalties for getting these wrong range from a $50 local fine to multi-year felony sentences.
Who Cannot Own a Firearm
Before any other rule applies, Colorado prohibits several groups from possessing firearms at all. Anyone convicted of a felony in Colorado, another state, or under federal law is barred for life. Juveniles adjudicated for offenses that would be felonies for an adult are barred for ten years after their sentence ends. A first violation is a class 5 felony, and if the firearm was used or threatened during another crime, probation is unavailable and prison time is mandatory.1Colorado Revised Statutes. Colorado Code 18-12-108 – Possession of Weapons by Previous Offenders
People under active protection orders and anyone convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence also cannot possess firearms. Federal law layers on top of the state rules under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), which additionally bars users of controlled substances, people dishonorably discharged from the military, people committed to a mental institution, fugitives, and people who have renounced U.S. citizenship, among others.2Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Identify Prohibited Persons
Buying a Gun: Age, Background Check, Waiting Period
You must be 21 to buy any firearm in Colorado. HB23-1219 raised the age from 18 for rifles and shotguns in August 2023. Selling to someone under 21, or attempting to buy under 21, is a misdemeanor. Active-duty military members are exempt.3Giffords. Minimum Age To Purchase and Possess Laws in Colorado
Every sale requires a background check, including private sales between neighbors or friends. Under C.R.S. § 18-12-112, a private seller must route the transfer through a licensed dealer, who runs the check with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Skipping the check is a class 2 misdemeanor and costs the seller their own right to possess firearms for two years.4Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-112 – Private Firearms Transfers – Sale and Purchase – Background Check Required – Penalty – Definitions
A separate rule under C.R.S. § 18-12-112.5 requires a three-day wait between the start of the background check and the physical handoff of the firearm. The clock starts when the check is submitted, not when it clears. It applies to both dealer and private sales. Antique firearms and sales to service members deploying within 30 days are exempt. Handing over the firearm early is a misdemeanor.
Holding a Colorado concealed handgun permit does not skip the background check. The ATF’s Brady Permit Chart confirms Colorado permits do not qualify as an alternative to the federal NICS check, and state law requires a check on every dealer transfer regardless of permit status.5Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Brady Permit Chart
Restricted Firearms and Accessories
Large-Capacity Magazines
Colorado bans the sale, transfer, and possession of any detachable or fixed feeding device that holds more than 15 rounds.6Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-301 – Definitions A first offense is a class 2 misdemeanor. Possessing one while committing a felony or crime of violence is a class 6 felony.7Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-302 – Large-Capacity Magazines Prohibited – Penalties – Exceptions
Ghost Guns
SB23-279 made it illegal to possess, transport, sell, or manufacture firearms and frames without a serial number imprinted by a federal firearms licensee. It also bans 3D-printing frames or receivers unless you hold a federal manufacturer’s license. Anyone who owned an unserialized firearm before the law took effect had to have it serialized by a licensed dealer. A first violation is a misdemeanor; later offenses are felonies.8Colorado General Assembly. Senate Bill 23-279 – Concerning Prohibited Activity Related to Firearms
NFA Firearms
Machine guns, short-barreled rifles (barrel under 16 inches), and short-barreled shotguns (barrel under 18 inches) are governed by federal law. Civilian machine gun ownership is limited to those lawfully registered before May 19, 1986. Possessing an unregistered NFA firearm is a federal felony. Colorado adds no state-level ban on top of the federal NFA requirements.9ATF. National Firearms Act A 2024 assault weapons ban (HB24-1292) was postponed indefinitely and did not become law.
Concealed Carry Permits
Colorado issues concealed handgun permits through county sheriffs under C.R.S. § 18-12-203. You must be at least 21, a legal Colorado resident, and able to prove handgun competence with a training course completed within the ten prior years. Active-duty military stationed in Colorado on permanent orders count as residents, along with their immediate family living in the state.10Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-203 – Criteria for Obtaining a Permit
You apply in person at the sheriff’s office. Staff take your fingerprints and submit them for state and federal checks. The new-permit fee is $152.50 in most counties. The sheriff has 90 days from a complete application to approve or deny.11Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-206 – Issuance or Denial of Permits A denial must come in writing with the grounds and information about your appeal rights. Approved permits are valid for five years, and you must carry both the permit and photo ID whenever you’re armed.12Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Colorado Code 18-12-204 – Permit Contents – Validity – Carrying Requirements
Colorado recognizes concealed carry permits from states that also honor Colorado’s permit, as long as the holder is a resident of the issuing state, is 21 or older, and carries a matching state ID. As of mid-2025, reciprocity exists with 34 states including Arizona, Florida, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. States without reciprocity include California, Illinois, New York, Oregon, and Washington. Colorado does not recognize permits issued to nonresidents of the issuing state.13Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) Reciprocity
Open Carry and Local Rules
There is no statewide ban on open carry. But SB21-256, passed in 2021, made firearm regulation a matter of both state and local concern, so cities and counties can pass ordinances stricter than state law.14Colorado General Assembly. SB21-256 Local Regulation of Firearms Denver prohibits open carry within city limits. Local governments can also ban concealed carry in specific buildings, though a first offense of a local concealed-carry restriction carries a maximum fine of $50. Check your municipal code before assuming open carry is legal in a given jurisdiction; the Colorado Department of Public Safety directs residents to confirm local rules with local authorities.15Colorado Department of Public Safety. Colorado Gun Laws
Places Firearms Are Prohibited
A concealed carry permit does not open every door. Firearms are prohibited in:
- K-12 schools and universities, public and private.
- Courthouses and any building used for court proceedings.
- The state capitol chambers, galleries, offices, hearings, and meetings of the General Assembly.
- Local government chambers and offices, under the same rules that apply to state legislative spaces.
- Licensed childcare centers.
- Public buildings with permanent security screening at every entrance; you must leave firearms with security.
- Public transportation facilities, if the firearm is loaded and you lack legal authority.
- Polling locations, central count facilities, and within 100 feet of a ballot drop box or polling building on election days (open carry).
Federal restrictions add to these. You cannot carry into any federal building under 18 U.S.C. § 930. The Gun-Free School Zones Act prohibits possession within 1,000 feet of a school unless the firearm is unloaded and locked, or you hold a concealed carry permit from the state where the school sits.
Storage Rules at Home and in Vehicles
At home, C.R.S. § 18-12-114 requires responsible storage if you live with a minor who could access the firearm without permission, or if anyone in the household is prohibited from possessing firearms. Responsible storage means the firearm is on your person, locked in a gun safe or secure container, or fitted with a locking device. The key or combination cannot be accessible to the juvenile or prohibited person. A violation is a class 2 misdemeanor.16Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Colorado Code 18-12-114 – Responsible and Secure Storage of Firearms
In vehicles, HB24-1348 took effect January 1, 2025. If you leave a firearm in an unattended vehicle, handguns must be in a locked hard-sided container, out of plain view, inside a locked vehicle or locked trunk. Long guns can use a hard- or soft-sided locked container, but a soft-sided container also requires a locking device on the firearm itself. Antique firearms, farm and ranch operations, people living in their vehicles, and law enforcement are exempt. A violation is a civil infraction, not a criminal charge.17Colorado General Assembly. HB24-1348 Secure Firearm Storage in a Vehicle
Using a Gun in Self-Defense: The Make My Day Law
C.R.S. § 18-1-704.5, known as the Make My Day law, allows any occupant of a dwelling to use any degree of physical force, including deadly force, against an intruder when three conditions are met: the intruder entered unlawfully, the occupant reasonably believes the intruder has committed or intends to commit another crime beyond the entry, and the occupant reasonably believes the intruder might use physical force, “no matter how slight,” against anyone inside.18Justia. Colorado Code 18-1-704.5 – Use of Deadly Physical Force Against an Intruder
An occupant who acts within the statute is immune from both criminal prosecution and civil liability. Protection extends to any occupant, not just the owner. The law does not cover places of habitation inside detention facilities, and its reach ends at the dwelling itself. It does not extend to your yard, a detached garage, or a vehicle.
Extreme Risk Protection Orders
Colorado’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law, the Deputy Zackari Parrish III Violence Prevention Act, lets a court temporarily remove firearms from someone who poses a significant risk of harm to themselves or others. Petitions can be filed by law enforcement officers, district attorneys, family members, household members, licensed educators, licensed medical professionals, and licensed mental health providers.19Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Extreme Risk Protection Orders
A judge can issue a temporary ERPO immediately if the evidence shows significant risk, and the named person must surrender all firearms. A full hearing follows within 14 days. If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the risk continues, it can issue a final ERPO lasting up to 364 days, which also blocks new firearm purchases for the same period. Early termination and extensions are both available depending on the circumstances.20The National ERPO Resource Center. Colorado – Extreme Risk Protection Order