Getting a CCW in Alabama (2026)

Requirements, costs, and steps for a Alabama concealed carry permit · Updated October 18, 2026 · Not legal advice

This guide is general legal information, not individualized legal advice. Rules change; verify every step with your county sheriff before you apply. Prepared 2026-10-16.

Quick facts

Drawn from the site's live reciprocity data (ccw.workmanfirearms.com/data/reciprocity.json, retrieved 2026-10-16):

• Permit type: Optional concealed-carry permit under Ala. Code § 13A-11-75, issued by your county sheriff (1-year, 5-year, or lifetime).
• Constitutional carry: Yes — since January 1, 2023 (Act 2022-133 / HB 272), an eligible person 19+ (18 for active/retired military or law enforcement per sheriff guidance) may carry concealed without a permit (Act 2022-133 repealed former § 13A-11-73, the permit-to-carry requirement). The 18-year-old provision applies to the optional permit (§ 13A-11-75(a)(2)).
• Minimum age: 19 for permitless carry — 18 if active/retired military or law enforcement (Jefferson County Sheriff guidance on Act 2022-133; the act sets no explicit statutory age); 18+ for the optional permit if a service member, retiree, or honorably discharged veteran (§ 13A-11-75(a)(2)); 21 to buy a handgun from an FFL under federal law.
• Duty to inform: No proactive duty. Carry your permit (if you have one) and ID; present on demand of law enforcement.
• Open carry: Legal without a permit (subject to prohibited places and the § 13A-11-72 private-property rule).

Who can apply

Under Ala. Code § 13A-11-75 (accessed 2026-10-16), an applicant must:

• Be an Alabama resident (permits are county-issued; no non-resident permits);
• Be 19+ (18+ for active service members, retirees, or honorably discharged veterans per § 13A-11-75(a)(1)-(2));
• Not be disqualified — the sheriff runs a NICS check and reviews the state firearms prohibited-person database plus available criminal-history databases; applications must be denied for felony convictions, domestic-violence convictions, protective orders, and mental-health commitments (§ 13A-11-75(b));
• Not be unlawfully present in the U.S. (an Immigration Alien Query applies to non-citizens).

The sheriff shall issue unless a disqualifier exists — Alabama's 2023 law made the permit shall-issue and removed sheriff discretion to deny without a statutory basis.

Step-by-step application process

Issuing authority: county sheriff (county of residence).

1. Complete the county's application (many counties offer online portals, e.g., Permitium).
2. Bring your Alabama driver license (with your county address) to the sheriff's office.
3. Pay the fee for your chosen term (1-year, 5-year, or lifetime).
4. The sheriff runs the NICS/state background check.
5. Receive the secure permit card — the sheriff must approve or deny within 30 days of a complete application (§ 13A-11-75(c)).

Costs

Fees are set by county (statutory defaults in § 13A-11-75) (accessed 2026-10-16):

• 1-year permit: statutory default $25 (counties vary — e.g., Coosa County $25; Franklin County $12.50).
• 5-year permit: statutory default $125 (counties vary — e.g., Coosa $125; Franklin $62.50).
• Lifetime permit: $300 statewide ($150 for applicants 60+); some sheriffs require holding a permit up to 5 consecutive years first.
• Free permits for active duty, retired, and honorably discharged military members (with DD-214 or proof of service).
• Training: none required.

Training requirement

None. Alabama has no training or live-fire requirement for the concealed-carry permit (§ 13A-11-75 has no training provision).

Timeline & renewal

• Processing: the sheriff shall approve or deny within 30 days of a complete application (§ 13A-11-75(c)).
• Validity: 1-year, 5-year, or lifetime terms as chosen at application.
• Renewal: renew with the sheriff (many counties offer online renewal or mail-in); a lifetime permit has no renewal; a lifetime application within one year of an expired permit gets a credit for the expired permit's fee.

Where to apply

• Your county sheriff's office (application, fee, renewal).
• Statute text: Ala. Code § 13A-11-75 — https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=13A-11-75 (accessed 2026-10-16)

Sources

• Ala. Code § 13A-11-75 (permit terms, NICS check, shall-issue, fees, lifetime permits), § 13A-11-72 (prohibited places), Act 2022-133 / HB 272 (repealed § 13A-11-73 — permitless carry, eff. Jan. 1, 2023) — Alabama Legislative Services Agency (ALISON), https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/ (accessed 2026-10-16)
• Coosa County Sheriff — Pistol Permits (fees, 30-day issuance, military free permits) — https://coosacountyso.org/pistol-permits (accessed 2026-10-16)
• Jefferson County Sheriff — Understanding the New Permit-less Carry Law (permitless 19+, 18 for active/retired military or law enforcement) — https://jeffcosheriffal.com/understanding-the-new-permit-less-carry-law/ (accessed 2026-10-17)
• Franklin County Sheriff — CCW FAQs (HB 272 summary) — https://franklinsheriff.org/faqs (accessed 2026-10-16)
• Site reciprocity data — ccw.workmanfirearms.com/data/reciprocity.json (retrieved 2026-10-16)