Vermont concealed carry laws and reciprocity

Vermont's weapons chapter contains no requirement to inform a law enforcement officer that one is carrying, and there is no permit to display.

No permit is needed to carry a handgun in a vehicle. 10 V.S.A. § 4705 prohibits having a rifle or shotgun with a loaded chamber or magazine in or on a motor vehicle; that rule does not cover handguns.

Vermont has no permit requirement for open or concealed carry; 13 V.S.A. § 4003 criminalizes carrying a dangerous weapon only with intent to injure another. State law bars a child under 16 from possessing a handgun without parental consent (§ 4008), and federal law generally bars handgun possession by anyone under 18.

Vermont statutes contain no carry permit or license; no state or local agency issues one.

Vermont issues no carry permits to anyone; non-residents may carry under the same rules as residents.

Open carry requires no permit; 13 V.S.A. § 4003 prohibits carrying a dangerous weapon, openly or concealed, only when done with intent to injure another.

13 V.S.A. chapter 85 contains no provision giving legal effect to a posted no-firearms sign; the value rests on the absence of such a provision. The chapter's location bans at courthouses (4016) and hospital buildings (4023) apply regardless of signage, and a person who enters or remains on land after notice by signs or placards commits unlawful trespass under 13 V.S.A. 3705.

13 V.S.A. chapter 85 (Weapons), which contains Vermont's weapons offenses, has no provision on bars, restaurants or carrying while intoxicated, so this value rests on the absence of a statutory ban; an establishment, as private property, may still exclude firearms.

Vermont State Parks rules do not prohibit possessing firearms; they bar discharging firearms in developed recreation areas during the operating season and within 500 feet of an occupied building.

13 V.S.A. chapter 85 (Weapons) has no provision on churches or other places of worship, so this value rests on the absence of a statutory ban; a place of worship, as private property, may still exclude firearms.

No Vermont statute specifically addresses college or university campuses. 13 V.S.A. 4004 makes it a crime to knowingly possess a firearm in a 'school building' or on a school bus without defining 'school', and colleges and universities regulate weapons on their property by policy.

Vermont statutes prohibit firearms in school buildings and on school buses (§ 4004), in courthouses (§ 4016), inside hospital buildings (§ 4023, posted), and at polling places and their walkways on election day (§ 4027, firearms stored in a vehicle excepted).

Vermont has no stand-your-ground statute; a Legislative Council memo summarizing Vermont Supreme Court case law (State v. Rounds, State v. Hatcher) says force may not be used when other sufficient and available means of avoiding an assault exist. 13 V.S.A. § 2305 does not address retreat.

13 V.S.A. § 4021 bans manufacturing, possessing, transferring, selling, purchasing, receiving or importing feeding devices holding more than 10 rounds for a long gun or more than 15 rounds for a handgun. Devices lawfully possessed on or before the section's effective date (April 11, 2018) are exempt.

Vermont's weapons chapter contains no assault-weapon ban; it regulates large-capacity magazines (§ 4021) and bans bump-fire stocks (§ 4022).

13 V.S.A. § 4010 limits making or importing suppressors to federally licensed or federally compliant persons and limits their use to listed purposes, including sport shooting ranges and lawfully taking game.

Vermont's weapons chapter contains no state prohibition on short-barreled rifles; federal NFA rules still apply.

Vermont's weapons chapter contains no state prohibition on short-barreled shotguns; federal NFA rules still apply.