Kentucky concealed carry laws and reciprocity

A CCDW licensee carrying concealed must carry the license and display it upon request of a law enforcement officer; violation is a noncriminal violation with a $25 penalty (KRS 237.110(15)). No comparable duty is stated for permitless carriers.

A loaded or unloaded firearm in a factory-installed enclosed compartment of a vehicle (glove box, console, seat pocket) is not deemed concealed, for anyone not prohibited from possessing firearms (KRS 527.020(8)); persons 21+ may also carry concealed without a license.

Since June 27, 2019, persons 21 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry concealed firearms without a license in the same locations as licensees (KRS 237.109). KSP states this applies regardless of citizenship or state of residence.

KSP shall issue a five-year CCDW license to a qualified applicant aged 21 or older (KRS 237.110). KRS 237.118 (2026 Ky. Acts ch. 173, effective July 15, 2026) adds provisional licenses for ages 18-20; KSP says its application portal for that age group is still being updated.

CCDW licenses are issued only to Kentucky residents and to members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty assigned to a military posting in Kentucky.

Section 1 of the Kentucky Constitution protects the right to bear arms, allowing the General Assembly to restrict only concealed carry, and no license is required to carry openly. Open carry remains subject to location limits such as school property (KRS 527.070) and certain bars (KRS 244.125).

Private businesses may prohibit concealed carry by posting signs, but carrying there is not a criminal act and may only lead to denial of entry or removal (KRS 237.110(17)); government building restrictions under KRS 237.115 also carry no criminal penalty.

Concealed carry is not authorized in any portion of an establishment licensed to serve alcohol for on-premises consumption that is primarily devoted to that purpose (KRS 237.110(16)(e)). KRS 244.125 bars loaded firearms in the room where drinks are sold, except in restaurants seating 50+ that get under 50% of food and beverage receipts from alcohol.

No Kentucky statute or Department of Parks regulation (304 KAR chapter 1) prohibits carrying in state parks. State agencies may restrict concealed carry in posted portions of buildings they occupy, without criminal penalty (KRS 237.115).

Places of worship are not among the locations where KRS 237.110(16) bars concealed carry, which permitless carriers share under KRS 237.109.

Colleges, universities, and other postsecondary institutions may control possession of deadly weapons on property they own or control (KRS 237.115), but no person or organization may prohibit keeping a firearm in a vehicle as provided in KRS 527.020. The school-property felony in KRS 527.070 does not apply to postsecondary institutions.

KRS 237.110(16) bars concealed carry in police stations and sheriff's offices; detention facilities; courthouses solely occupied by the courts, courtrooms and court proceedings; meetings of local governing bodies or the General Assembly; bar areas of alcohol-licensed establishments; K-12 schools without consent, child-care facilities and day-care centers; airport screened areas; and federally prohibited places. Possessing a firearm on K-12 school property is a felony except when kept in a vehicle (KRS 527.070).

A person not engaged in unlawful activity who is attacked in any place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat (KRS 503.055(3)), and KRS 503.050(4) states there is no duty to retreat before using deadly physical force.

Kentucky's firearms offenses (KRS chapters 237 and 527) contain no magazine capacity limit, and KRS 65.870 bars local governments from regulating firearms, ammunition, components, or accessories.

Kentucky's firearms statutes (KRS chapters 237 and 527) do not prohibit any class of semi-automatic firearms, and KRS 65.870 preempts local firearm regulation.

Kentucky has no state prohibition on suppressors, and KRS 237.075 requires the sheriff to provide federal NFA certification within 15 days for eligible applicants.

Kentucky has no state prohibition on short-barreled rifles, and KRS 237.075 requires the sheriff to provide federal NFA certification within 15 days for eligible applicants.

Kentucky has no state prohibition on short-barreled shotguns, and KRS 237.075 requires the sheriff to provide federal NFA certification within 15 days for eligible applicants.