State profile · CT
Connecticut Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Where Your Permit Works
A Connecticut resident permit (State Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers (Connecticut State Pistol Permit)) is honored in 28 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 6 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, Connecticut recognizes no out-of-state carry permits. Connecticut is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Connecticut recognizes.
Where a Connecticut permit is honored
Click any destination for the full rules — duty to inform, magazine limits, off-limits places, and official sources.
* a load-bearing fact could not be fully verified — confirm with the official source before carrying.
Whose permits Connecticut honors
Connecticut does not recognize any out-of-state concealed-carry permit.
Connecticut recognizes no out-of-state permit of any kind. CGS 29-35(a) requires a permit 'issued as provided in section 29-28'; out-of-state permit holders must obtain a Connecticut non-resident permit before carrying.
Connecticut at a glance
- Permit
- State Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers (Connecticut State Pistol Permit)
- Issued by
- Two-step - local police chief/chief executive officer issues a temporary state permit, then the DESPP Special Licensing and Firearms Unit issues the state permit
- Issue policy
- May-issue
- Resident minimum age
- 21
- Non-resident permits
- Issued
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No
- Magazine limit
- 10 rounds
A bona fide US resident with no Connecticut residence who holds a carry permit or license issued by another state or subdivision may apply directly to the DESPP commissioner for a non-resident Connecticut permit (CGS 29-28(f)); DESPP requires that non-resident applicants already hold a home-state carry permit.
Vehicle carry
A permit holder may carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle. Without a permit, a pistol may only be transported under narrow exceptions and must be unloaded and not readily accessible from the passenger compartment (or in a locked container) (CGS 29-35(a)(3)-(4)).
Off-limits places in Connecticut
- K-12 school grounds and school-sponsored activities (CGS 53a-217b, class D felony)
- Any premises where the owner or person in control prohibits firearms (CGS 29-28(e))
- Federal facilities and any place where firearms are prohibited by federal law
Frequently asked questions
- Which states honor a Connecticut carry permit?
- Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
- Does Connecticut recognize out-of-state carry permits?
- Connecticut recognizes no out-of-state permit of any kind. CGS 29-35(a) requires a permit 'issued as provided in section 29-28'; out-of-state permit holders must obtain a Connecticut non-resident permit before carrying.
- Can I carry in Connecticut without a permit?
- Connecticut is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Connecticut recognizes.
- Do I have to tell police in Connecticut that I am carrying?
- No duty to volunteer. The holder must carry the permit while carrying and must present it upon request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable suspicion of a crime (CGS 29-35(b)).
Official sources
- CT DESPP - Connecticut State Pistol Permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- CT DESPP - Pistol Permit FAQ (non-resident application process) — accessed 2026-08-08
- CGS Chapter 529 - Secs. 29-28 (permits) and 29-35 (carrying without permit prohibited) — accessed 2026-08-08
- CGS Sec. 53-202w - Large capacity magazines (10-round limit) — accessed 2026-08-08
- CGS Sec. 53a-217b - Possession of a weapon on school grounds — accessed 2026-08-08