The NSCHub
News and alerts from the National Safety Center. Where Florida law actually stands on carrying a firearm, what happens on a range when people stop paying attention, and who is really standing next to you at the counter.
How to apply for a Florida concealed carry licence
The state’s own application, in the state’s own order, with the places people get caught marked as you reach them.
Florida calls it a Concealed Weapon Licence, not a CCW, and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issues it. The guide covers what to have ready before you start, every screen of the online application, fingerprinting, the fees, the passport-style photo, who is eligible and the questions we are asked most often.
1 July 2023
Most of what follows was written in the first half of 2023, before Florida’s carry law changed. Those articles have been brought up to date, and the note below sets out where the law stands now.
Since 1 July 2023, a permit has not been required to carry a concealed firearm in Florida. Anyone who is legally able to possess a firearm under state and federal law may carry it concealed without holding a Concealed Weapon Licence.
The licence still has real value. It is what other states recognise under their reciprocity agreements when you travel, and it continues to carry practical conveniences at home. Restrictions on where a firearm may be carried have not gone away either.
Requirements change. Confirm the current rules with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which issues the licence, before you rely on any of it.
More from the HUB
Five more, newest first — the range, the law, and the people who actually own firearms in this country.
Reading is not training
Everything on this page is background. The part that changes what you can actually do with a firearm happens on a range, with an instructor beside you. Private sessions can be booked online now, and they are fully refundable up to 72 hours before class.