Washington Gun Laws (2026): Concealed Carry, Open Carry, Permits, and Where You Can Carry

 

Quick Summary

 

 

What Changed in 2025–2026?

• Permit to Purchase (HB 1163): Effective May 1, 2027, but with administrative setups starting in 2026, buyers must obtain a 5-year permit from the State Patrol, requiring a fee and certified in-person training.
• Sensitive Places Expansion (SB 5444): As of mid-2025, the list of "gun-free zones" expanded to include all public libraries, zoos, aquariums, and transit facilities.
• New Gun Free Zones: (SB 5098) Passed during the 2026 Legislative session, this makes all playgrounds, parks, amusement parks, and recreational swimming areas gun free zones.

Carry Rules

 

Open Carry

 

Open carry is legal for anyone 21 or older who is legally allowed to possess a firearm. However, Washington law prohibits "brandishing"—displaying a weapon in a way that manifests an intent to intimidate or warrants alarm. Crucially, open carry is prohibited in all "Sensitive Places" listed below, even if you have a permit.

 

Concealed Carry

 

Concealed carry requires a Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL). Washington is a "Shall Issue" state, meaning local law enforcement must issue the license to any applicant who meets the legal requirements.

Why someone might still get a permit

 

A CPL is mandatory for concealed carry and for carrying a loaded handgun inside a vehicle. It also exempts the holder from certain purchase restrictions and allows for carry in some areas where open carry is banned (such as the State Capitol grounds).

 

Permits

 

Washington offers CPLs to both residents and non-residents.

• Eligibility: Must be 21+, have no felony convictions, no pending criminal charges, and no outstanding warrants.
• Training Requirements: Currently, no range training is required for a CPL, though the upcoming 2027 Permit to Purchase will require in-person safety training.
• Cost & Processing: The initial fee is $49.25. Agencies have 30 days to issue (60 days if the applicant does not have a WA ID).
• Local Variations: State preemption prevents cities from creating their own permit rules, but they can restrict carry in local government buildings.

Where You Can and Can’t Carry

 

Prohibited Places

• K-12 Schools: All grounds and buildings (limited exceptions for CPL holders during student drop-off).
• "Sensitive Places" (SB 5444): Libraries, zoos, aquariums, public transit centers, and parks.
• Bars/Taverns: Any area classified as "off-limits to persons under 21" by the Liquor and Cannabis Board.
• Courthouses: Specifically the areas used for court proceedings.
• State Capitol: Open carry is banned; concealed carry is permitted with a CPL.
• Demonstrations: Firearms are prohibited within 250 feet of a permitted public demonstration.
• Correction Facilities. All jails, prisons and other detention facilities are gun free zones.
• Licensed Daycare Centers. Are all gun free zones.

Private Property Signage

 

Signs prohibiting firearms on private property (like malls or grocery stores) do not have the specific force of law in Washington, but they serve as a notice. If you remain on the property after being asked to leave, you can be charged with Criminal Trespass.

 

Vehicle Carry

 

To carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle, you must have a valid CPL. If you do not have a CPL, the handgun must be unloaded and locked away. Loaded long guns (rifles/shotguns) are always illegal inside a vehicle.

 

Buying, Owning, and Transporting Firearms

 

Dealer vs Private Sales

 

All firearm transfers, including private sales, must be conducted through a licensed dealer (FBI NICS).

 

There is one exceptions however. Transfers between immediate family members does NOT require a background check to be conducted on the transferee. For purposes of Washington State law, “immediate family members” include: spouses, domestic partners, parents, parents-in-law, children, siblings, siblings-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, first cousins, aunts, and uncles.

 

Restrictions & Waiting Periods

• Assault Weapon Ban: The sale, manufacture, and import of semi-automatic rifles defined as "assault weapons" is prohibited. Possession of those already owned is "grandfathered."
• 10-Day Waiting Period: All firearm purchases are subject to a mandatory 10-business-day waiting period.
• Magazine Limits: Sale or distribution of magazines holding more than 10 rounds is prohibited. Possession is currently legal.
• Unserialized Firearms: Washington state prohibits the sale of any firearm frame or receiver that does not possess a valid serial number. Construction and/or manufacturing of untraceable firearms is also prohibited by state law.

Federal Prohibited-Person Summary

 

Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), you cannot possess a firearm if you:

• Are a convicted felon.
• Are an unlawful user of controlled substances (this includes marijuana, despite WA state legality).
• Have been committed to a mental institution.

State Prohibited-Person Summary

 

Under RCW 9.41.040 you cannot possess a firearm if you:

• Are a convicted felon.
• Are an unlawful user of controlled substances (this includes marijuana, despite WA state legality).
• Have been committed to a mental institution.
• Have a conviction for any misdemeanor domestic violence offense, other than disorderly conduct.
• Have received two prior DUI conviction, as defined by RCW 6.61.5055, with a 7 year period.
• Have been convicted of unlawful displaying a firearm (RCW 9.41.270) or unlawful aiming or discharging a firearm (RCW 9.41.230).

 

Self-Defense Law Basics

 

Washington is a "De Facto" Stand Your Ground state.

• No Duty to Retreat: The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that there is no duty to retreat if a person is assaulted in a place where they have a right to be.
• Castle Doctrine: There is no duty to retreat within one's own home.
• Proportionality: Use of force is lawful only when it is "not more than is necessary." Deadly force is only justified if you reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.
• Civil Immunity: Washington law (RCW 9A/16.010) provides a mechanism for a defendant to be awarded legal fees and costs if they are found "not guilty" by reason of self-defense in a criminal trial, but it does not automatically stop a civil lawsuit from being filed.

Reciprocity and Travel

 

Reciprocity Posture

 

Washington only recognizes CPLs from states that:

1. Conduct a fingerprint-based background check.
2. Do not issue to persons under 21. Currently, this is a very short list (approx. 10 states). Check the WA Attorney General Reciprocity List for the current roster.

Interstate Travel

• Safe Passage (18 U.S.C. § 926A): You can travel through Washington with a firearm if it is unloaded and locked in a container (trunk), provided you are legal at your start and end points.
• Flying: Must follow TSA Baseline: Unloaded, locked hard-sided case, declared at the ticket counter.
• National Parks: Allowed in National Parks per state laws, but prohibited inside federal buildings (Visitor Centers).

See also: RIGHT TO BEAR CONCEALED CARRY RECIPROCITY MAP

 

FAQs

 

Can I carry a gun in my car in Washington?

 

Only if you have a CPL and it is a handgun. If you don't have a CPL, it must be unloaded.

 

Does Washington have a "Red Flag" law?

 

Yes. Washington's "Extreme Risk Protection Orders" (ERPO) allow police or family members to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone in crisis.

 

Is marijuana use a problem for gun owners?

 

Yes. Because firearms are regulated federally, the ATF considers any marijuana user an "unlawful user," making them ineligible to possess firearms, regardless of Washington's state laws.

 

What is the "Assault Weapon" definition in WA?

 

It includes many semi-automatic rifles (like AR-15s) based on features like threaded barrels, folding stocks, or even just being on a specific list of named models.

 

Can I buy a 15-round magazine in Oregon and bring it home?

 

No. Bringing a magazine over 10 rounds into Washington from another state is considered "importing," which is a gross misdemeanor.

 

Do I have to tell a cop I'm armed?

 

No "duty to inform" exists in WA statute, but you are required by law to hand over your CPL if an officer asks for it while you are carrying.