Wisconsin concealed carry laws and reciprocity
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Quick answers
- Does Wisconsin have permitless (constitutional) carry?
- No. Wisconsin does not allow permitless carry; a carry permit is generally required. Carrying a concealed and dangerous weapon without a Wisconsin or recognized out-of-state license is a Class A misdemeanor (Wis. Stat. 941.23(2)), except in one's own dwelling, place of business or land. (Verified Oct 18, 2026.)
- Does Wisconsin honor out-of-state concealed carry permits?
- Wisconsin honors permits from these jurisdictions (only for people who don't live in Wisconsin, for holders 21 or older): Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Exceptions: Florida: non-resident permits only; Virginia: non-resident permits only. Wisconsin honors licenses from the states DOJ lists for holders 21 or older who are not Wisconsin residents (Wis. Stat. 175.60(1)(g)). DOJ excludes Idaho emergency, Missouri and West Virginia provisional, and Puerto Rico expedited licenses, and honors only the NON-RESIDENT licenses of Florida and Virginia; Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Guam and the Virgin Islands are not honored. (Verified Oct 20, 2026.)
- Do I have to tell police I'm carrying a gun in Wisconsin?
- When asked. In Wisconsin you must disclose that you are carrying, or show your permit, when an officer asks. A licensee or out-of-state licensee carrying concealed must carry the license and photo ID and display them on request by a law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity (Wis. Stat. 175.60(2g)(b)-(c)); there is no duty to volunteer. (Verified Oct 18, 2026.)
- Can I carry a loaded handgun in my car in Wisconsin?
- Only under conditions. Wisconsin restricts handguns in vehicles, for example to unloaded or cased. Loaded handguns may be placed or transported in a vehicle (Wis. Stat. 167.31(2)(b)), but without a license the handgun may not be concealed; courts have held a handgun in a glove compartment or hidden from outside view is concealed (941.23 annotations). (Verified Oct 18, 2026.)
Out-of-state permits
Listed statesWisconsin honors permits from the jurisdictions listed below. Wisconsin honors licenses from the states DOJ lists for holders 21 or older who are not Wisconsin residents (Wis. Stat. 175.60(1)(g)). DOJ excludes Idaho emergency, Missouri and West Virginia provisional, and Puerto Rico expedited licenses, and honors only the NON-RESIDENT licenses of Florida and Virginia; Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Guam and the Virgin Islands are not honored.
- Only for visitors: a Wisconsin resident needs a Wisconsin permit.
- The holder must be 21 or older.
Honored
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Exceptions
- Florida: non-resident permits only
- Virginia: non-resident permits only
At a traffic stop
Duty to inform police
Must disclose when askedA licensee or out-of-state licensee carrying concealed must carry the license and photo ID and display them on request by a law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity (Wis. Stat. 175.60(2g)(b)-(c)); there is no duty to volunteer.
Loaded handgun in a vehicle
RestrictedLoaded handguns may be placed or transported in a vehicle (Wis. Stat. 167.31(2)(b)), but without a license the handgun may not be concealed; courts have held a handgun in a glove compartment or hidden from outside view is concealed (941.23 annotations).
Carrying
Permitless carry
No, permit requiredCarrying a concealed and dangerous weapon without a Wisconsin or recognized out-of-state license is a Class A misdemeanor (Wis. Stat. 941.23(2)), except in one's own dwelling, place of business or land.
Permit issuance
Shall issueThe Department of Justice shall issue a license to any applicant who completes the application and is not disqualified, including being under 21 or lacking proof of training (Wis. Stat. 175.60(2)(a), (3)).
Non-resident permits
NoLicenses are issued only to Wisconsin residents and to active-duty military members stationed in Wisconsin for at least one year (Wis. Stat. 175.60(1)(dm), (3)(f)).
Open carry
AllowedWisconsin requires a license only for concealed carry; Wis. Stat. 175.60(2)(c) states the licensing law does not limit the right to carry a firearm that is not concealed. Location limits such as taverns and school grounds still apply.
Vehicles
Places
No-gun signs carry force of law
YesEntering or remaining with a firearm in a nonresidential building, or a posted government or university building, after notice by a sign of at least 5 by 7 inches near all entrances is trespass subject to a Class B forfeiture (Wis. Stat. 943.13(1m)(c), (2)(bm)). Firearms in vehicles in parking facilities are excepted.
Restaurants that serve alcohol
RestrictedGoing armed with a handgun on premises with a Class B alcohol license is a misdemeanor unless the person is a licensee or out-of-state licensee who is not consuming alcohol there (Wis. Stat. 941.237(2), (3)(cx)); posted businesses may also exclude firearms.
State parks
RestrictedThe DNR states that CCW licensees may possess a loaded, uncased handgun, concealed or not, in state parks, but not in state-owned buildings posted with no-firearms signs; discharge is generally prohibited except for lawful hunting or at designated ranges.
Places of worship
AllowedLicensees may carry anywhere in the state except places listed in statute (Wis. Stat. 175.60(2g)(a)), and places of worship are not listed; as nonresidential buildings they may prohibit firearms by posting signs under 943.13.
College campuses
RestrictedA university or college may bar firearms from its buildings by posting signs at all entrances (Wis. Stat. 943.13(1m)(c)5.), but the posting rules do not let it bar carry on campus grounds.
Prohibited places
See listLicensees may not carry in police stations and sheriff's offices, prisons and jails, certain secured mental health facilities, courthouses, municipal courtrooms in session, or beyond airport security checkpoints (Wis. Stat. 175.60(16)); firearms are barred on school grounds (948.605; licensees are exempt only within the 1,000-foot zone); and posted government buildings, university buildings, private buildings and special events may exclude firearms (943.13). Handguns are restricted on Class B alcohol premises (941.237).
Self-defense
Stand your ground
Yes, no duty to retreatWisconsin has no statutory duty to retreat, but courts allow a jury to consider whether retreat was available when judging whether force was reasonable (State v. Wenger, noted under 939.48). That consideration is barred when the actor faces an unlawful forcible entry into their dwelling, vehicle or place of business (939.48(1m)(ar)).
Magazines, rifles & NFA items
Magazine capacity limit
No limitWisconsin's crimes-against-public-safety chapter contains no magazine-capacity restriction.
Assault weapons ban
NoWisconsin's crimes-against-public-safety chapter contains no assault-weapon ban.
Suppressors (state law)
LegalWis. Stat. 941.298 makes selling, delivering or possessing a firearm silencer a felony, but exempts anyone who has complied with federal NFA licensing and registration requirements.
Short-barreled rifles (state law)
LegalWis. Stat. 941.28 bans short-barreled rifles but exempts anyone who has complied with federal NFA licensing and registration requirements.
Short-barreled shotguns (state law)
LegalWis. Stat. 941.28 bans short-barreled shotguns but exempts anyone who has complied with federal NFA licensing and registration requirements.
Getting a Wisconsin permit
Issued by Wisconsin Department of Justice, Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) License.
- License to Carry a Concealed Weapon (CCW) (residents only)