How to Obtain a Concealed Weapons Permit in Colorado

If you want to carry an handgun in Colorado, you must obtain a concealed weapons permit. To obtain a concealed weapons permit, you must be a legal resident of Colorado. You must also be at least 21 to obtain a standard permit, or at least 18 to obtain an emergency permit. If you already have a concealed weapons permit from another state, there is a possibility your permit will be accepted in Colorado. To find out whether an existing permit is accepted, consult with the CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation).

Things You'll Need

• Firearms safety course
• Training certificate
• Permit application
• Photo ID
• Processing fee

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Instructions

Standard Permit

• 1

  Take a firearms safety course from a certified firearms instructor. The instructor must be certified by a law-enforcement agency (local, state or federal), the Peace Officer Standards & Training Board, a federal military agency or a national non-profit organization such as the National Rifle Association.

• 2

  Obtain a training certificate from your safety course instructor. The certificate will serve as evidence that you have successfully completed the handgun training class.

• 3

  Complete the County Sheriff of Colorado's concealed handgun permit application. You must also attach a recent photograph to your application. The photograph must be no more than 30 days old. In some counties, you do not need to attach a photograph because one will be taken when your application is processed.

• 4

  Take the completed permit application to your sheriff's office. Show an official government photo ID to prove your Colorado residency. This can be a driver's license, state ID or military ID card.

• 5

  Pay the processing fee to have your fingerprints taken and run a criminal background check. As of June 2010, this fee was $52.50. This is the fee that is assessed by the CBI. Your local city/county government will charge $100, bringing your total fees to $152.50.

• 6

  Wait to receive your permit in the mail. This can take up to 90 days from the time your application was submitted and processed.

Emergency Permit

• 7

  Complete the County Sheriff of Colorado's concealed handgun permit application. In the “type of permit requested” box atop of the application, select “temporary/emergency.” Do not sign the application yet.

• 8

  Submit the completed application and official photo identification to your sheriff's office. Sign the permit application in the presence of the sheriff.

• 9

  Pay the CBI processing fee of $30.50. Pay the additional $25.00 fee that is assessed by your local city/county government. Total fees for an emergency permit is $55.50.

• 10

  Wait to receive your emergency permit. You will receive the emergency permit before leaving the sheriff's office. The permit will automatically expire 90 days after the date of issuance and cannot be renewed.