Missouri Concealed Carry Laws: Permitless Carry, Permits & Restrictions

Missouri has operated as a permitless carry state since January 1, 2017, following the enactment of SB 656. Under current law, most adults who may lawfully possess a firearm can carry a concealed handgun in Missouri without obtaining a state-issued permit. The state also maintains a voluntary shall-issue permit system under RSMo §§ 571.101–571.121 that provides distinct legal advantages even when a permit is not strictly required.

Permitless carry does not mean unrestricted carry. Missouri law identifies specific locations where carry is prohibited, imposes different legal consequences depending on whether a violator holds a permit, and relies on a permit system that matters significantly for out-of-state reciprocity and federal school-zone rules.

This guide is intended for Missouri residents, concealed carry practitioners, and out-of-state visitors who need accurate, statute-level information. It is not legal advice — laws change, and individual circumstances vary.

Always verify current requirements with official Missouri sources before making carry decisions.

Is Concealed Carry Legal in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri is a permitless carry state. Under RSMo § 571.030, the general offense of carrying a concealed weapon does not apply to a person who is at least 19 years old (or 18 if a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or honorably discharged) and who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law.

Who may carry without a permit:

• Missouri residents and non-residents who are lawful firearm possessors — the permitless carry framework is not limited to residents by statute
• Persons age 19 or older (18 for active military and honorably discharged veterans)
• Those who are not prohibited persons under state or federal law

Key qualifier: Permitless carry still subjects carriers to Missouri's full list of prohibited locations under § 571.107. Carrying in a restricted location without a permit carries criminal liability — a meaningfully different consequence than what a permit holder faces for the same violation.

Concealed Carry Permits in Missouri

Although not required for carry in most locations, a Missouri concealed carry permit offers practical and legal benefits that many residents choose to pursue.

Permit name: Concealed Carry Permit

Issuing authority: The sheriff of the applicant's county (or designated official in St. Louis)

Governing statute: RSMo § 571.101 (shall-issue)

Eligibility Requirements

Under § 571.101, if an applicant meets all statutory criteria, "the sheriff shall issue a concealed carry permit" — there is no discretionary denial.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be at least 19 years of age (18 for active military or honorably discharged veterans)
• Be a Missouri resident or a member of the armed forces stationed in Missouri
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
• Not be disqualified as a prohibited person under state or federal law (no felony convictions, no disqualifying domestic violence offenses, no disqualifying mental health adjudications)
• Have no recent convictions for certain violent or alcohol-related offenses as specified in § 571.101
• Submit fingerprints for an FBI background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)

Training Requirements

Applicants must complete a firearms safety training course meeting the statutory criteria cross-referenced by §§ 571.101–571.111. The required course includes safety rules, safe storage, the legal aspects of firearms use (including self-defense law), and a live-fire component demonstrating the applicant's ability to safely handle and fire a handgun.

Validity and Renewal

Missouri concealed carry permits are valid for five years from the date of issuance. Renewal requires re-application, updated background checks, and payment of renewal fees. Applications submitted significantly past the expiration date may require repeating some initial-application steps.

Non-Resident Permits

Missouri's permit system is structured primarily for residents and qualifying military personnel stationed in the state.

Missouri does not generally issue concealed carry permits to ordinary non-residents who lack Missouri residency or qualifying military status. Out-of-state visitors typically carry under their home state permit plus Missouri's broad reciprocity recognition.

Where Concealed Carry Is Prohibited in Missouri

RSMo § 571.107 lists the locations where a Missouri permit (or recognized out-of-state permit) does not authorize concealed carry. Carriers — whether permitted or permitless — must observe these restrictions.

Statutory prohibited locations include:

• Police, sheriff, or highway patrol stations
• Within 25 feet of any polling place on any election day
• Adult or juvenile detention or correctional institutions, prisons, or jails
• Courthouses or courtrooms (with limited exceptions for certain judges or designated persons)
• Any meeting of a governmental body (e.g., a local city council or county commission)
• Government-owned or controlled buildings where the General Assembly, Supreme Court, county, or municipality has restricted firearms and the restriction is posted at the entrance
• Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense intoxicating liquor for on-premises consumption that is primarily devoted to that purpose
• Secured areas of airports or areas where federal law prohibits carry
• Any higher-education institution or elementary/secondary school facility, without consent of the governing body or school officials (with a limited exception for designated school protection officers)
• Child-care facilities (with limited exceptions for firearms locked in vehicles)
• Certain amusement parks, sports arenas, or stadiums above a statutory seating threshold
• Hospitals accessible to the public, if posted
• Any private property posted with qualifying signage (details below)

Signage With Force of Law

Under § 571.107(1)(15), a private property owner or authorized person may prohibit concealed carry by posting signs that are conspicuously placed, at least 11 inches by 14 inches, with lettering at least one inch in height.

When such signage is properly displayed, a permit does not authorize carry on those premises. Property owners may also prohibit employees from carrying, even with a valid permit.

Important vehicle exception: Possession of a firearm in a vehicle on posted premises is not a criminal offense, provided the firearm remains in the vehicle and is not removed or brandished on the property.

Penalty Differences: Permit Holders vs. Permitless Carriers

This is one of the most practically important distinctions in Missouri law:

• Permit holders who enter a § 571.107 location commit no criminal act under § 571.107(2). They may be denied entry or asked to leave. Refusal to leave after notice can result in a civil citation — a fine up to $100 for a first offense, higher for subsequent offenses within six months — and potential permit suspension or revocation after repeated violations.
• Permitless carriers who enter a § 571.107 location can face criminal charges under § 571.030, because the statutory exemptions for unlawful-use-of-weapons offenses in § 571.030(4) apply to permit holders (including recognized out-of-state permit holders), not to those carrying without any license.

Concealed Carry Reciprocity in Missouri

Missouri's Recognition of Other States' Permits

Missouri's recognition of out-of-state permits is unusually broad. Under § 571.030(4), the unlawful-use-of-weapons provisions do not apply to any person with "a valid permit or endorsement to carry concealed firearms issued by another state or political subdivision of another state."

The Missouri Attorney General's office and the Missouri Sheriffs' Association both confirm that Missouri recognizes valid concealed carry permits from every state that issues them.

The statute makes no distinction between resident and non-resident permits — any valid permit from another issuing state is recognized.

Missouri Permits Recognized Elsewhere

The Missouri Attorney General publishes reciprocity information documenting which states honor Missouri concealed carry permits.

Missouri's recognition is unilateral and broad, but many other states apply stricter conditions: some recognize only resident Missouri permits, and some do not recognize Missouri permits at all. Whether a Missouri permit is valid in another state is determined entirely by that state's law.

Out-of-State Visitors

Non-residents carrying under a valid permit from another state may carry in Missouri under the § 571.030(4) framework, with the same location restrictions that apply to Missouri permit holders.

Non-residents relying on permitless carry — with no permit at all — also have access to Missouri's permitless framework as lawful possessors, but lose the criminal-liability protections that come with holding a recognized permit when entering § 571.107 locations.

Federal Restrictions That Still Apply in Missouri

Missouri's permitless carry framework does not modify or supersede federal law. The following federal restrictions apply within the state regardless of permit status:

Federal buildings and facilities: Under 18 U.S.C. § 930, firearms are generally prohibited in federal court facilities and federal buildings where federal employees are regularly present and notice has been posted.

U.S. Post Offices: Federal regulations at 39 C.F.R. § 232.1(l) generally prohibit firearms on postal property, with limited exceptions for authorized official purposes.

Gun-Free School Zones Act: Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(q), carrying a firearm in a school zone is federally restricted. A Missouri concealed carry permit issued under § 571.101 qualifies for the federal licensing exception because issuance requires a law-enforcement-verified background check. Missouri's permitless carriers — those carrying without any license — do not qualify for this federal exception and must rely on other applicable federal exemptions (e.g., on private property not part of school grounds, unloaded and locked in a container) to lawfully possess a firearm near a school zone.

Interstate travel: 18 U.S.C. § 926A provides safe passage protections for interstate transportation of unloaded firearms in locked containers between states where lawful possession is permitted. This applies to travelers entering, leaving, or transiting through Missouri. Outside the narrow transport conditions of § 926A, travelers must fully comply with Missouri law and the laws of any state where they stop or carry.

Recent Legal Changes or Trends

Missouri's permitless carry framework, enacted via SB 656 in 2016 and effective January 1, 2017, remains fully intact.

The current version of § 571.030 (as of its 2023 publication date) continues to exempt persons age 19+ (18+ military) from the concealed-carry offense, preserving the core permitless structure.

The prohibited-places framework in § 571.107 also remains substantively unchanged, with the same 17-plus categories of restricted locations and the civil-penalty regime for permit holders that has been in place since the permitless carry legislation took effect.

Missouri has seen ongoing legislative activity touching firearms law — including bills addressing school protection officers and related provisions — but as of the most recently compiled code, no enacted law in the last 24–36 months has repealed or substantially modified the basic frameworks in §§ 571.030, 571.101, or 571.107.

At the federal level, post-NYSRPA v. Bruen litigation has not, as of current public materials, produced a Missouri appellate decision striking down the state's concealed carry licensing or prohibited-places framework. Current legal challenges in Missouri have focused on other firearms law topics.

Note: Missouri's 2025–2026 legislative session may produce changes that have not yet been codified in online statutory resources. Carriers should verify current session laws and any Missouri Supreme Court decisions before relying on any published summary.

Common Misunderstandings About Concealed Carry in Missouri

"Permitless carry means there are no restricted locations."

This is the most consequential misconception. Under § 571.030, it is a criminal offense to carry a concealed weapon into any area where firearms are restricted under § 571.107 — and the exemptions in § 571.030(4) that protect permit holders do not extend to those carrying without any permit.

A permitless carrier who enters a police station, courthouse, or primarily-alcohol establishment can face criminal charges, not merely a civil citation.

"A permit holder commits a crime by inadvertently entering a posted 'no-guns' business."

Under § 571.107(2), a permit holder who carries into a restricted location commits no criminal act. The consequence is denial of entry or a request to leave.

Only refusal to leave after being notified triggers a civil citation — a fine up to $100 for a first offense — and repeated violations within six months can escalate fines and lead to permit suspension or revocation.

"A Missouri permit is pointless since you can already carry without one."

A Missouri concealed carry permit provides three benefits unavailable to permitless carriers:

(1) statutory protection under § 571.030(4) that converts restricted-location violations from criminal offenses to civil matters;

(2) qualification for the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act licensing exception, which permitless carriers cannot access; and

(3) reciprocity recognition in other states that require a valid home-state license, as documented by the Missouri Attorney General's reciprocity resources.

"Missouri only recognizes permits from some states."

Missouri recognizes valid concealed carry permits from every state that issues them, under § 571.030(4). The reciprocity limitation typically runs the other direction — many states do not recognize Missouri permits, or recognize only resident Missouri permits.

"The minimum age to carry concealed in Missouri is 21."

RSMo § 571.030 exempts persons age 19 (or 18 for active military and honorably discharged veterans) from the concealed-carry offense. The same age thresholds apply for permit applications under § 571.101.

Federal and other states' laws may impose higher age requirements for carry recognition in those jurisdictions, so young adults who are lawful carriers in Missouri may not be lawful carriers when traveling to certain other states.

Practical Notes for Concealed Carriers in Missouri

Vehicle carry:

Missouri's permitless carry framework generally extends to vehicles. Under § 571.107's vehicle exception, a firearm kept in a vehicle on posted private property is not a criminal offense provided the firearm remains in the vehicle and is not removed or brandished.

Carriers should understand that entering the vehicle onto restricted premises does not itself constitute a violation — removing the firearm from the vehicle does.

The "primarily devoted to alcohol" standard:

The bar/restaurant prohibition in § 571.107 applies to portions of establishments "primarily devoted" to dispensing intoxicating liquor for on-premises consumption. A restaurant that serves alcohol is not automatically covered.

The relevant question is whether the establishment's primary function is alcohol service — a dedicated bar typically qualifies, while a full-service restaurant that happens to have a liquor license typically does not. Carriers should assess each location individually.

Non-residents carrying without any permit:

Non-resident lawful possessors may carry in Missouri under the permitless framework, but they face the same criminal exposure as any other permitless carrier when entering § 571.107 locations.

Non-residents with a valid permit from another state gain the § 571.030(4) protections and should carry their permit documentation.

Duty to inform:

Missouri does not have a statutory duty-to-inform requirement obligating permit holders to proactively disclose a firearm during a law enforcement encounter.

However, permit holders may be required to produce their permit upon request by law enforcement during an official encounter. Carriers are advised to be cooperative and transparent during any law enforcement interaction.

Employer and property authority:

Consistent with § 571.107's signage provisions, employers may prohibit employees from carrying on company property even if those employees hold valid Missouri permits.

A permit does not override an employer's or property owner's right to exclude firearms through proper posting or direct communication.

Frequently Asked Questions About Missouri Concealed Carry

Can you carry a gun in Missouri without a concealed carry permit?

Yes, for most adults. Missouri's permitless carry law allows any person age 19 or older (18 for active military and honorably discharged veterans) who may lawfully possess a firearm to carry a concealed handgun in most locations without a state-issued permit.

The same location restrictions under § 571.107 apply, and entering a restricted location without a permit carries criminal — not just civil — liability.

Can I carry a loaded gun in my car in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri's permitless carry framework generally covers vehicle carry, and a loaded handgun may be kept in a vehicle. On private property posted against firearms, keeping a firearm in your vehicle does not constitute a violation — but removing or brandishing it on the premises does. Carriers should also be aware that federal restrictions apply on federal property regardless of state law.

What states allow Missouri concealed carry?

The Missouri Attorney General's office maintains an updated reciprocity list of states that honor Missouri concealed carry permits.

Missouri's recognition of other states' permits is broad — Missouri honors permits from every issuing state — but how other states treat Missouri permits varies significantly. Some recognize Missouri permits fully, some recognize only resident Missouri permits, and some do not recognize Missouri permits at all. Always verify the specific reciprocity rules of any state you plan to carry in before traveling.

Can I conceal carry in Missouri if I'm not a resident?

Yes, in two ways. Non-residents who hold a valid concealed carry permit from another state may carry in Missouri under § 571.030(4), which recognizes all valid out-of-state permits. Non-residents without any permit may also carry under Missouri's permitless framework as lawful possessors, but will face criminal rather than civil consequences if they enter a § 571.107 prohibited location without a license.

This guide is not legal advice. Missouri firearms laws are subject to change through new legislation, agency guidance, and court decisions. Always verify current requirements directly with the Missouri Revisor of Statutes or a qualified attorney before making carry decisions.