Nebraska became a constitutional carry state on September 2, 2023, when LB 77 — signed by Governor Pillen — took effect. The law allows any person 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm to carry a concealed handgun anywhere in Nebraska without a permit. The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) continues to issue Concealed Handgun Permits under the Concealed Handgun Permit Act (CHPA), though the permit is now optional for in-state carry rather than a prerequisite.
This guide is for Nebraska residents, new arrivals, and out-of-state visitors who want an accurate, statute-grounded overview of what the law currently allows and where it still draws firm lines. It covers permitless carry eligibility, the optional CHPA permit, prohibited locations, reciprocity, and the federal overlays that apply regardless of state law.
Nebraska's carry laws changed significantly in 2023. Accuracy matters here — acting on outdated or incorrect information can result in criminal charges. Verify any carry-related decision against current NSP guidance or the Nebraska Revised Statutes before acting.
Is Concealed Carry Legal in Nebraska?
Yes. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1202.01, enacted by LB 77, any person who is not a minor or a prohibited person may carry a concealed handgun anywhere in Nebraska. No permit is required. This applies to both residents and non-residents.
The minimum age for permitless carry is 21. Nebraska's general disqualification framework mirrors federal prohibited-person categories under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), which bars carry by convicted felons, certain misdemeanants, those under qualifying restraining orders, and others disqualified under state or federal law.
A concealed handgun under Nebraska law must be entirely hidden from view. Open carry is legal in Nebraska and has historically been unrestricted for lawful possessors, though certain location restrictions apply to both carry methods.
LB 77 also strengthened state preemption, restricting cities, villages, and counties from regulating the ownership, possession, or transportation of concealed handguns. Local ordinances that conflict with state law are preempted — though some cities, including Omaha, may still enforce certain weapon regulations on other grounds, and travelers should be aware that enforcement interpretations can vary locally.
What Is the New Law for Concealed Carry in Nebraska?
LB 77, effective September 2, 2023, is the law that changed how concealed carry works in Nebraska.
Before that date, a Concealed Handgun Permit was required to carry concealed in the state. Since September 2, 2023, the NSP states clearly that "a Concealed Handgun Permit is no longer required in order to carry a concealed handgun in the State of Nebraska" for any person 21 or older who is not otherwise prohibited. The CHPA permit system was not eliminated — it was repurposed.
Permits are now used primarily for out-of-state reciprocity and to waive the 180-day residency requirement for new Nebraska residents applying for a permit.
Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit (CHPA)
Even though no permit is required for in-state carry, the Nebraska CHPA remains one of the most practically useful documents a Nebraska carrier can hold.
The permit unlocks reciprocity recognition in other states and provides a critical advantage under federal law near schools (see Federal Restrictions below).
Permit Name and Issuing Authority
The permit is formally called a "permit to carry a concealed handgun" issued under the Concealed Handgun Permit Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 69-2427 to 69-2449. The Nebraska State Patrol issues all permits and oversees fingerprinting, background checks, and instructor certification.
Eligibility Requirements
Under § 69-2433, an applicant must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Be a Nebraska resident for at least 180 days prior to applying (waived if the applicant holds a valid permit from a state Nebraska recognizes under § 69-2448)
- Not be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a handgun under 18 U.S.C. § 922 or Nebraska law
- Not have disqualifying convictions, including felonies and certain specified misdemeanors within defined look-back periods
- Not have been found mentally incompetent or be under a current court order of mental health commitment under applicable conditions
- Meet vision and other competency standards
Nebraska does not issue CHPA permits to non-residents. Out-of-state visitors carry under Nebraska's permitless framework or their home-state permit (which no longer confers in-state carry rights but can waive residency requirements if the applicant later becomes a Nebraskan).
Training Requirements
§ 69-2433(3) requires proof of a firearm training and safety course completed within the preceding three years. The course must include safe handling and storage of handguns, Nebraska firearm laws including use-of-force and self-defense, and a live-fire demonstration of competency on a firing range.
Online training courses do not satisfy this requirement — NSP only accepts certificates from NSP-certified instructors. Courses typically run 8 to 16 hours, though no minimum length is mandated by statute.
Application Process and Fees
Applications are submitted to the NSP with a completed, signed, and notarized form, training certificate, proof of identity, proof of citizenship or lawful status, and a vision statement (if not presenting a driver's license).
The initial permit fee is $100. Fingerprinting is required; NSP checks criminal history through state records and the FBI. The NSP must issue or deny the permit within 45 days of a complete application filing under § 69-2431 — establishing a shall-issue standard.
Validity and Renewal
Permits are valid for five years from the date of issuance under § 69-2436. Renewal costs $50 and requires a new background check and continued eligibility. Failure to renew before expiration typically requires reapplying under initial-application procedures.
Where Concealed Carry Is Prohibited in Nebraska?
Permitless carry does not eliminate location-based restrictions. The CHPA (§§ 69-2440 through 69-2443) and separate criminal statutes identify specific places where carrying a concealed handgun is a criminal offense, regardless of permit status.
Prohibited Locations Under the CHPA
The following locations prohibit concealed carry for both permit holders and permitless carriers:
- Police stations, sheriff's offices, or Nebraska State Patrol stations
- Detention facilities, prisons, jails, or other correctional facilities
- Courtrooms and courthouses, except as authorized for certain officers or by court order
- Polling places during an election
- Meetings of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or library (when posted or restricted)
- Schools or school grounds (public or private K–12), with narrow exceptions for firearms in vehicles under specified conditions
- Places of worship that have posted prohibitions or otherwise communicated a firearms prohibition
- Financial institutions
- Hospitals, emergency rooms, or trauma centers
- Professional or semiprofessional athletic events
Violations by permit holders are classified as a Class III misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class I misdemeanor for subsequent offenses under § 69-2443, and can result in permit suspension or revocation.
Signage with Legal Force
The CHPA authorizes owners or authorized representatives of private property to prohibit concealed handguns by posting signage or providing verbal or written notice. A permit holder who disregards a legally posted prohibition can face criminal charges and permit revocation.
For permitless carriers, ignoring a posted prohibition in locations where the CHPA applies may expose them to prosecution under criminal trespass or other statutes depending on the circumstances.
Important Distinction: Permit Holders vs. Permitless Carriers at Restricted Locations
The CHPA location restrictions are written around permit holders, but the underlying criminal statutes (e.g., § 79-267 on school weapons, and general weapons provisions) apply to everyone.
A person carrying without a permit at a school is not exempt from state weapons laws simply because they are exercising permitless carry rights. The permitless carry framework removed the need for a permit — it did not remove location-specific prohibitions.
Can I Carry a Loaded Handgun in My Car in Nebraska?
Yes. Nebraska's permitless carry law applies to vehicle carry. Any person 21 or older who is not a prohibited person may carry a loaded concealed handgun in a vehicle without a permit.
There is no statutory requirement to store the firearm unloaded or in a locked container for lawful possessors who meet the age and eligibility requirements. As with any carry context, prohibited-person status and location-based restrictions still apply.
Can I Open-Carry in Nebraska (Including Omaha)?
Open carry is legal in Nebraska for any person who can lawfully possess a firearm. No permit is required.
Nebraska's state preemption statute — strengthened by LB 77 — limits local governments from enacting regulations that conflict with state firearms law. However, some location restrictions that apply to concealed carry (schools, courthouses, law enforcement facilities) may also restrict open carry depending on applicable statutes, and federal property restrictions apply regardless of carry method.
Travelers to Omaha should note that local law enforcement may interpret certain circumstances differently; carrying the CHPA permit as a supplemental credential is a practical consideration even where it is not legally required.
Nebraska Concealed Carry Reciprocity
States Nebraska Recognizes
Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 69-2448, the Nebraska Attorney General determines which other states' permits Nebraska recognizes. Recognition is granted when the issuing state's standards are "equal to or greater than" Nebraska's. NSP publishes the current reciprocity list on its website.
Since LB 77 took effect, NSP has clarified that the reciprocity list is used primarily to administer the 180-day residency waiver for new Nebraska residents applying for a CHPA permit — not to determine in-state carry rights, since permitless carry is available to all eligible persons regardless of where they're from or whether they hold a permit.
States That Recognize Nebraska Permits
Many states continue to recognize the Nebraska CHPA, but recognition conditions vary by state.
As one example, Pennsylvania recognizes Nebraska resident permits issued to individuals 21 or older, but does not recognize non-resident Nebraska permits or Nebraska permits held by individuals under 21. Whether and how a Nebraska permit is honored outside Nebraska is determined entirely by the other state's law — not Nebraska's statutes.
One-Way and Conditional Recognition
Nebraska's standards-based test (§ 69-2448) means the state may recognize permits from states that do not reciprocally recognize Nebraska permits, and vice versa. Always verify current reciprocity status with the destination state's official source before traveling.
Federal Restrictions That Still Apply in Nebraska
State permitless carry law does not override federal firearms restrictions. The following apply within Nebraska regardless of permit or permitless-carry status:
Federal buildings and facilities.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 930, firearms are generally prohibited in federal court facilities and specified federal buildings. U.S. Post Offices and postal property prohibit firearms under 39 C.F.R. § 232.1(l), with narrow exceptions for official or authorized purposes.
Gun-Free School Zones Act (GFSZA).
18 U.S.C. § 922(q) prohibits possession of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school zone. There is a federal exception for persons "licensed to do so by the State in which the school zone is located" following a law-enforcement background check.
Nebraska CHPA permits qualify for this exception because issuance requires fingerprint-based background checks through NSP and the FBI. Permitless carriers — those without a state-issued license — do not qualify for this exception and must rely on other, narrower federal carve-outs (such as possession on private property not part of school grounds, or the unloaded-and-locked-container exception).
This is one of the most significant practical reasons to obtain a CHPA permit even if you have no plans to carry outside Nebraska.
Interstate travel.
18 U.S.C. § 926A provides limited safe-passage protection for transporting unloaded firearms in locked containers between states where the person may lawfully possess them. This applies to transportation, not active carry. Travelers must comply with the laws of every state they enter and stop in.
Recent Legal Changes and Trends
LB 77's core change — statewide permitless carry for persons 21 or older — has been in effect since September 2, 2023. The law simultaneously expanded state preemption, removing most local government authority to regulate concealed handgun possession or transportation.
The CHPA permit system under §§ 69-2427 through 69-2449 remains fully intact. NSP continues to accept applications, process renewals, certify instructors, and publish reciprocity information. The role of the permit shifted from a carry prerequisite to a reciprocity and residency-waiver tool.
As of early 2026, no Nebraska Supreme Court or federal appellate decision has invalidated LB 77's core provisions or the CHPA framework. Policy debate has centered on public-safety impacts and local-control questions, but the statutory framework remains as enacted.
Carriers should monitor the NSP concealed handgun permits page for any regulatory updates or legislative changes from the 2025–2026 session.
Common Misunderstandings About Nebraska Concealed Carry Laws
"Nebraska no longer issues concealed carry permits."
The CHPA remains fully operational. NSP continues to issue permits under §§ 69-2427 through 69-2449. The permit is optional for in-state carry but valuable for reciprocity and the GFSZA school-zone exception.
"Permitless carry means there are no restricted locations."
Location-specific restrictions in the CHPA and in Nebraska's criminal statutes — covering schools, courthouses, detention facilities, polling places, and others — still apply to everyone, permit holder or not. Violations carry misdemeanor penalties.
"Permitless carry covers school zones under federal law."
Only permit holders who went through a law-enforcement background check qualify for the GFSZA's licensing exception. Permitless carriers must rely on narrower federal exceptions and are not automatically exempt from 18 U.S.C. § 922(q).
"Out-of-state visitors need their home-state permit to carry in Nebraska."
No permit is required. Under § 28-1202.01, any person 21 or older who is not a prohibited person — resident or non-resident — may carry concealed in Nebraska. Out-of-state permits are no longer needed for in-state carry, though they may still be useful procedurally if the visitor later becomes a Nebraska resident.
"Any Nebraska permit is recognized by every state Nebraska recognizes."
Other states set their own recognition rules. Pennsylvania, for example, recognizes only Nebraska resident permits issued to persons 21 or older and does not recognize non-resident Nebraska permits or permits held by those under 21. Recognition is always controlled by the destination state's law.
Practical Notes for Nebraska Concealed Carriers
Even under permitless carry, carrying a CHPA permit alongside lawful carry provides two concrete advantages: it satisfies the GFSZA's school-zone licensing exception, and it activates reciprocity in states that honor Nebraska permits.
Carriers who plan to travel outside Nebraska or who regularly move through areas near schools should strongly consider obtaining the permit.
The NSP FAQ and application materials make clear that training certificates must come from NSP-certified instructors — online-only courses are not accepted. Carriers who obtained training certificates from non-certified programs for other purposes cannot substitute them for the CHPA training requirement.
Location awareness is one of the most practical skills any concealed carrier in Nebraska can develop. The prohibited-location list is specific and enforced. The distinction between a place that merely discourages firearms and one that is legally prohibited under the CHPA or criminal statutes has direct consequences for permit holders, including revocation on top of criminal liability.
A holster that secures the firearm fully concealed — covering the entire handgun from view — is both a legal and a safety consideration under Nebraska's definition of concealed carry. Nebraska's definition requires the handgun to be entirely hidden from view. Selecting a holster that maintains that standard across all carry positions and clothing types is a practical baseline for any Nebraska carrier.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Nebraska's concealed carry statutes are subject to legislative change, and the reciprocity landscape shifts as other states update their laws. Verify current requirements with the Nebraska State Patrol or consult a licensed Nebraska attorney before making carry-related decisions.
Concealed Carry Laws by State
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