To buy ammunition in Connecticut without a firearms permit, you need a Connecticut ammunition certificate from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). It costs $35, lasts five years, and requires a state criminal history background check run on your name and date of birth. There is no training class and no fingerprinting.
Do You Actually Need One
The certificate is only one of five credentials Connecticut accepts at the point of sale. If you already hold a pistol or revolver carry permit, a firearms retail sales permit, a pistol or revolver eligibility certificate, or a long gun eligibility certificate, you can buy ammunition by presenting that credential. No separate ammunition certificate is required.1Justia. Connecticut Code 29-38m – Sale of Ammunition or Ammunition Magazine
The ammunition certificate is designed for people who don’t own or carry a firearm but still want to buy ammunition legally. When you use one at the register, you also have to show a photo ID with your date of birth, such as a driver’s license or passport. And no matter which credential you hold, no seller may transfer ammunition to anyone under 18.1Justia. Connecticut Code 29-38m – Sale of Ammunition or Ammunition Magazine
How to Apply
Any Connecticut resident at least 18 years old can apply through DESPP’s Special Licensing and Firearms Unit (SLFU).2Justia. Connecticut Code 29-38n – Ammunition Certificate Issuance DESPP’s instructions direct applicants to appear in person to have a photograph taken and to bring payment.3Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). Firearms and Permit Related Forms and Information
The check itself is a state criminal history records search using your name and date of birth. DESPP will deny the certificate if that search shows you would be ineligible for a long gun eligibility certificate under CGS 29-37p. Disqualifiers generally include felony convictions and certain misdemeanor convictions committed on or after July 1, 2013.2Justia. Connecticut Code 29-38n – Ammunition Certificate Issuance Processing times can vary, so apply well before you plan to buy.
Fee, Term, and Renewal
The application fee is $35, payable to the Treasurer of the State of Connecticut. It covers the state criminal history check and is separate from any fee for a national records check under CGS 29-17a. The fee is non-refundable unless DESPP denies the application or fails to issue the certificate.4Justia. Connecticut Code 29-38o – Ammunition Certificate Fees Expiration and Renewal
Once issued, the certificate is valid for five years. Renewal is also $35. You can file for renewal as early as 31 days before expiration and as late as 31 days after. Each renewal runs another five years from the prior expiration date.4Justia. Connecticut Code 29-38o – Ammunition Certificate Fees Expiration and Renewal
Connecticut adds a 90-day grace period after expiration during which the certificate is still valid for ammunition purchases, provided it has not been revoked and revocation is not pending. Treat that as a cushion, not a plan. Let it lapse entirely and you can’t buy ammunition again until a new certificate is issued.4Justia. Connecticut Code 29-38o – Ammunition Certificate Fees Expiration and Renewal
After You Have the Certificate
If you move, you must notify DESPP within two business days and provide both your old and new address. Your name and address on file are confidential and may be shared only with law enforcement in the course of official duties, with DESPP when a seller verifies the certificate, or with the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services under specific statutory provisions.2Justia. Connecticut Code 29-38n – Ammunition Certificate Issuance
DESPP can revoke the certificate if you become ineligible after issuance, such as through a new conviction or other conditions that would disqualify you under CGS 29-37p. Revocation is governed by CGS 29-38p. If your certificate is revoked, the 90-day post-expiration grace period does not apply, and you should expect to surrender the certificate on notification.
Penalties for Buying or Selling Without the Certificate
Violating the ammunition sale statute is a Class D felony, and the charge applies to both sides of the counter: buyers who try to purchase without a valid credential and sellers who transfer ammunition without checking one.1Justia. Connecticut Code 29-38m – Sale of Ammunition or Ammunition Magazine A Class D felony in Connecticut carries up to five years in prison.5Justia. Connecticut Code 53a-35a – Imprisonment for Felony Committed on or After July 1, 1981 The same classification is used for offenses like third-degree assault, so this is not a minor regulatory penalty.