State · FL
Florida gun laws
Here's a plain-language look at Florida's own firearm laws, topic by topic. Federal law applies here too, so it's worth reading the federal page alongside this one. City and county rules aren't covered, and some places have stricter ones.
At a glance: Permitless carry
Recently changed or in flux
- Recently changedOpen carry is lawful because of an appeals-court ruling (McDaniels, Sept. 10, 2025) that the state didn't challenge. The legislature hasn't repealed the ban, and the statute is still on the books.
- In courtWaiting period: in Dunn v. Glass (M.D. Fla.), state officials (including the Attorney General) made an offer of judgment on June 5, 2026, agreeing that the waiting period is unconstitutional beyond the time needed for the background check, and the plaintiffs accepted it. UNVERIFIED: whether the court has since entered a final judgment couldn't be confirmed from a primary source, so treat the waiting period as in force until that's confirmed. The status could change quickly.
Permit to purchase#
- Handguns
- No state permit required. Licensed dealers run the federal NICS background check.
- Long guns
- No state permit required. Licensed dealers run the federal NICS background check.
Registration#
- No. Florida law prohibits state or local firearm registries (Fla. Stat. 790.335).
Carrying a handgun#
- Permitless carry
- Yes. Adults 21 and older may carry concealed without a permit (since July 1, 2023).
- Concealed carry permit
- Shall-issue (officials must issue a license to anyone who qualifies). The FDACS Concealed Weapon License is optional.
- Open carry
- Treated as lawful since the 1st District Court of Appeal struck down the open-carry ban in McDaniels v. State (Sept. 10, 2025). The Attorney General didn't challenge the ruling (per WUSF reporting). The statute (790.053) is still in the printed code.
- Reciprocity
- Florida honors permits from states that have reciprocity with Florida (FDACS keeps the list). Before you travel, check the current recognition list on the state's official page, because these lists change.
“Assault weapon” rules#
- None at the state level.
Magazine limits#
- None at the state level.
Waiting period#
- Applies to all firearms, not just handguns: 3 days, not counting weekends and legal holidays, or until the state records check is complete, whichever is later (Fla. Stat. 790.0655). Exemptions include concealed weapon license holders and, for rifles and shotguns, holders of a hunting license or hunter-safety certificate. Counties may require 3-5 days for handgun sales under Art. VIII s.5(b). This is under active challenge in court (see the notes above).
Background checks and private sales#
- No statewide universal background check law. Counties may require checks for sales on property open to the public (Art. VIII s.5(b)).
Red flag (ERPO) law#
- Yes. Florida has Risk Protection Orders (2018).
Suppressors, SBRs and SBSs#
- Suppressors
- Legal to own under state law if federal requirements are met (see the national NFA note).
- Short-barreled rifles and shotguns
- Legal under state law if federal requirements are met (see the national NFA note).
About the October 2026 federal NFA change
On October 9, 2026, ATF said it will stop enforcing the NFA's approval and registration requirements for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and AOWs. Where Florida allows these items only if federal requirements are met, it isn't settled how state law treats an item that is no longer federally registered. Check with state authorities before relying on ATF's change.
Ammunition#
- No state background check, license or permit for buying ammunition was identified.
Minimum ages#
- Handgun purchase
- 21
- Long gun purchase
- 21 for purchases from any seller (2018 law), with limited exceptions (for example law enforcement and military).
- Notes
- A 2026 House bill (HB 133) to lower the long-gun age to 18 died in the Senate (March 2026).
Shipping and buying online#
- Buyers under 21 can't purchase any firearm, so dealers will turn down long-gun transfers to 18- to 20-year-olds. Otherwise the standard federal rules apply.
Buying a firearm online means it ships to a licensed dealer, who completes the transfer. Find one near you in the Dealer Finder. Retailers make the final call on what they'll ship, so always check their policy too.
Pending legislation and litigation#
Bills, ballot measures, rules and court cases that could change the rules in Florida. We check this list every week; last scan . See everything we're tracking.
Nothing on our watch list here right now. That usually means no major bill or court case is close to changing Florida's gun laws at the moment. We'll add items here as soon as our weekly scan finds them.
Sources and official links#
- Florida Statutes Chapter 790 · Officialhttps://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter790
- Fla. Stat. 790.0655 (waiting period) · Officialhttps://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/790.0655
- WUSF: AG sides with waiting-period challengers (June 22, 2026)https://www.wusf.org/courts-law/2026-06-22/florida-gun-waiting-period-could-end-state-ag-sides-challengers
- 1st DCA opinion, McDaniels v. State (Sept. 10, 2025) · Court recordhttps://flcourts-media.flcourts.gov/content/download/2457961/opinion/Opinion_download?documentVersionID=aaa3bd37-bbfe-462c-a5be-f288d5c60676
- FDACS Division of Licensing · Officialhttps://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Licensing
- FL Attorney General open-carry guidance after McDaniels · Officialhttps://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/attorney-general-james-uthmeier-issues-guidance-open-carry-after-first-dca-decision
Florida entry last reviewed . Official state sites can move or change; if a link stops working, search the agency's site for the same title.
Notes that apply everywhere
Federal NFA change (suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, AOWs)
Congress set the federal NFA making and transfer tax to $0 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs) and 'any other weapons' effective January 1, 2026 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 2025). After a federal district court ruling (Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, N.D. Tex., Aug. 5, 2026), ATF published an open letter from Director Robert Cekada, a press release, a fact sheet and an FAQ saying that as of October 9, 2026 it will not enforce the NFA's approval, registration, tax-stamp and related requirements for those four items, for everyone. Machine guns and destructive devices remain fully regulated. The Gun Control Act still applies, including dealer background checks, the prohibited-person rules, and an approved Form 20 to take an SBR or SBS across state lines, and dealers still may not sell in violation of state or local law. ATF says this does not override state or local law. A state that bans these items still bans them. Many state laws make these items legal only if they are 'registered' or 'lawful under federal law', and how those state laws apply to unregistered items is currently unclear. ATF also warns that enforcement could resume if the law, the ruling or DOJ policy changes. Keep this note in mind whenever you read a state's suppressor, SBR or SBS entry.
U.S. Supreme Court 'assault weapon' cases
The Supreme Court granted review (June 30, 2026) in Viramontes v. Cook County (No. 25-238, a Cook County, IL ordinance) and Grant v. Higgins (No. 25-566, Connecticut). The question is whether the Second Amendment protects possession of AR-15-platform rifles. The cases are scheduled for oral argument on December 2, 2026 (not yet argued as of October 15, 2026), and a decision is expected by mid-2027. Magazine-limit petitions (for example Duncan v. Bonta from CA and NAGR v. Lamont from CT) and New Jersey's petition (No. 26-452) were pending as of mid-October 2026. Every state 'assault weapon' and magazine entry could change as a result.
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Wolford v. Lopez (U.S. Supreme Court, June 25, 2026)
The Court struck down Hawaii's rule that licensed carriers may not carry on private property open to the public without the owner's express permission. Similar 'default no-carry on private property' rules in some other states (for example CA, NY, NJ and MD) may be affected. This guide hasn't verified how each state has responded.
Federal minimum ages
Under federal law, licensed dealers may sell handguns only to buyers 21 and older, and long guns only to buyers 18 and older. Federal courts have split on whether the 18-20 handgun-sale restriction is constitutional, and this guide doesn't try to resolve that litigation. State rules on how old minors must be to possess guns aren't fully covered here.
Local ordinances
Many cities and counties (for example Chicago and Cook County, IL; Denver and Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA; and New York City) have rules stricter than state law. This guide covers state-level law only.
All states, DC and territories · Federal law
Disclaimer
The firearm law information in Firearms Almanac's Laws & Regulations guide (federal, state and territory) is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Firearm laws change frequently, differ by city and county, and are often affected by court decisions that can take effect with little notice. We try to keep this guide accurate and cite official sources, but we make no guarantee that any entry is complete, current, or correct, and we are not responsible for actions taken based on it. Before buying, selling, carrying, transporting, or shipping any firearm, ammunition, magazine, or accessory, check the current law with the official federal, state or territory source linked on each page and, where appropriate, a qualified attorney. Retailers listed on this site set their own shipping and sales policies and are responsible for complying with the law. Each entry shows the date it was last checked. See also our site Disclaimer.