Virginia State Laws
| Open Carry: | Lawful |
| Duty to Notify Law Enforcement: | Only when asked by the officer |
| State Parks: | Concealed Carry is legal in accordance with state laws that regulate the right to carry |
| Restaurants Serving Alcohol: | No restriction as long as you don't consume any alcohol |
| Firearms at Colleges: | Effective July 2026, firearms will only be permitted on campus if it is authorized and necessary for an on campus class or activity. |
| Firearms at K-12 Schools: | VA permittee with loaded handgun in vehicle only. If you leave the vehicle the firearm must be unloaded and cased. |
| Magazine Capacity Limitations: | No restrictions |
| Suppressor Ownership: | Ownership & Hunting Legal. |
| Vehicle Possession Without Recognized Permit: | Handguns must be secured in a container or compartment within the vehicle. Consoles, glove compartments, or other areas within or on the vehicle that can be closed meets the qualifications |
| Firearm Law Uniformity: | Mostly Uniform throughout state. Localities can regulate loaded long guns in vehicles. |
| Permit Training Requirements: | Any in-person firearm training course qualifies. [Updated Jan 1st, 2021] |
| Permit Issuing Authority: | Virginia State Police |
| State Contact / Source: |
Virginia State Police PO Box 27472 Richmond VA 23261-7472 804-674-2000 www.vsp.state.va.us |
| Length of Permit Validity: | 5 Years |
| Permit Application Process: | Mail application with fingerprints, training certificate, and fee to VA State police. More Info Here. |
| Non-Resident Permits: | Anyone can apply. |
| Places Off Limits: |
Private property when prohibited by the owner of the property, or where posted as prohibited. Violation is a trespass charge and not a firearms violation. § 18.2-308 Carrying dangerous weapon to place of religious worship while a meeting for religious purposes is being held unless you have "good and sufficient reason." 18.2-283 Courthouse 18.2-283.1 School property/school functions (School busses are school property) unless gun is unloaded, in an enclosed container and in the vehicle. A car's trunk is considered an enclosed container. However, a concealed handgun permit holder can have a loaded, concealed handgun in the vehicle while in the school parking lot, traffic circle, etc. The concealed handgun and the permit holder must stay in the vehicle. Firearms are not banned from property open to the public where a school function is being www.handgunlaw.us 5 held unless that property is being used exclusively for the school function. Violation of this statute is a felony. § 18.2-308.1 Non-secure areas of airport terminals are off limits unless you are a passenger and you have your gun unloaded, in a locked container in your checked luggage, and declare the gun at the check-in counter. Violation is a high-level misdemeanor. § 18.2-287.01 Regional Jail or Juvenile Detention Facility. § 15.2-915 Carry On College/Universities in Virginia: The VA AG Opinion states: It is my opinion that the safe operation of the campus allows regulation of, or under limited circumstances, prohibition of, firearms by any persons attending events on campus, visiting dormitories or classroom buildings, attending specific events as invitees, or under any circumstance permitted by law. The universal prohibition of firearms by properly permitted persons other than students, faculty, administration, or employees, however, is not allowed under law. A board of visitors has responsibility for the protection of the students enrolled at their university. At the same time, the rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States14 and by Article I, § 13, of the Constitution of Virginia,15 which protect all citizens, may not be summarily dismissed for transient reasons. The Capitol Complex is off limits Road Side Rest Area Buildings are off limits |
| Duty to Retreat: | No duty to retreat unless defendant made a contribution to the affray |
| Constitutional Carry: | No |
| Hotels: | No legal restriction - Reference article on page 67 |
| Church Carry: |
Churches act like any other private property and may restrict on a church by church basis |
| Secure Storage Requirements: | Firearms must be securely stored when one knows or reasonably should know that a juvenile (under 14) can gain access to the firearm without the permission of their parent or guardian or when a resident of the premises is ineligible to possess a firearm. |
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