Getting a CCW in Colorado (2026)

Requirements, costs, and steps for a Colorado 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 and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) 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: Shall-issue — Colorado Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) under C.R.S. § 18-12-203/§ 18-12-205, issued by your county sheriff (or city and county, e.g., Denver).
• Constitutional carry: No. Concealed carry requires a permit; note that Colorado law allows a person who may lawfully possess a handgun to keep a handgun concealed in their own vehicle without a permit (C.R.S. § 18-12-105.6) — see the vehicle note below.
• Minimum age: 21 (C.R.S. § 18-12-203(1)(b)).
• Duty to inform: No proactive duty, but you must carry the permit, together with valid photo ID, and produce both on the demand of a peace officer (C.R.S. § 18-12-204(2)).
• Open carry: Legal statewide for those who may lawfully possess a firearm; Denver and some municipalities restrict open carry locally.

Who can apply

Under C.R.S. § 18-12-203 (accessed 2026-10-16), the sheriff shall issue to an applicant who:

• Is at least 21 years old and a Colorado resident (or, for a non-resident permit, owns a business/real property in Colorado);
• Is not ineligible to possess firearms under C.R.S. § 18-12-108 or federal law (felonies, domestic violence, protective orders, etc.);
• Is not chronically and habitually a drunkard/alcohol abuser, unlawfully using controlled substances, or subject to the § 18-12-203 disqualifiers;
• Has NOT been convicted of (or has had records sealed for) the misdemeanor offenses listed in § 18-12-203(1)(a.5)-(b) within statutory look-back periods (e.g., certain assaults, domestic violence, unlawful discharge — see statute);
• Provides proof of the required training (below) and the required documentation (fingerprint card, photo, proof of residency).
• Note (HB 23-1293 era changes): sheriffs now require the state-standardized training certificate and verify instructor compliance — see "Training requirement."

Step-by-step application process

Issuing authority: county sheriff (Denver: Denver Sheriff Department / Manager of Safety process).

1. Complete the required training with a compliant instructor (see below) and obtain the certificate (dated within 10 years; 6 months for the renewal refresher).
2. Get the application from your sheriff — many counties use online portals (e.g., Permitium) — plus the fingerprint card/instructions.
3. Submit application, fee, photo, and fingerprints in person or via the county's process.
4. Background check: the sheriff verifies eligibility through CBI and the national systems.
5. Receive the permit (or a written denial with reasons; denials may be reviewed in district court — C.R.S. § 18-12-206).

Costs

From C.R.S. § 18-12-206 and county fee schedules (Douglas County, Larimer County, Routt County Sheriff, accessed 2026-10-16):

• State permit fee: capped at $100 for a new permit and $50 for renewal.
• CBI fingerprint/processing: statutory CBI fee (commonly $38.50 fingerprint check) plus county processing — county totals commonly run $130–$155 (e.g., Routt County: $100 + $52.50; Douglas County posts ~$132.50 new).
• Late renewal: $15 late fee (plus the renewal fee) within the grace period.
• Training: set by the instructor (HB 23-1293 made compliant training more involved; prices have risen accordingly).

Training requirement

Yes — significantly expanded by HB 23-1293 (2023), effective for new applications from mid-2023 (C.R.S. § 18-12-203(1)(c)(I); CRS 18-12-202.5; county guidance, accessed 2026-10-16):

• New permits: at least 8 hours of in-person instruction (no portion may be online) from an authorized, sheriff-verified instructor (C.R.S. § 18-12-202.7), including a live-fire exercise of at least 50 rounds with a minimum 70% accuracy score and an open-book written competency exam with a minimum 80% score;
• Curriculum: safe handling/storage, shooting fundamentals, Colorado law (use of force, prohibited places, ERPOs, safe storage), suicide prevention, interactive scenarios, and how to interact with responding law enforcement;
• Renewals: a 2-hour refresher class that also includes the 50-round live-fire exercise (70%) and the 80% written exam, plus instruction on firearms-law changes enacted within the prior 5 years;
• Older certificates (hunter education, military, online-only courses) no longer satisfy the standard — verify with your sheriff.

Timeline & renewal

• Processing: the sheriff has 90 days from a complete application to issue or deny (C.R.S. § 18-12-206(4)).
• Validity: 5 years from issuance (C.R.S. § 18-12-206(2)(a)).
• Renewal: renew with the same sheriff up to 120 days before expiration (or within 6 months after — $15 late fee); renewal requires the 2-hour refresher and renewal fee; permits not renewed within the grace period require a new application.

Where to apply

• Colorado Sheriff (county list & application portals — check your county sheriff's site).
• CBI background-check fee info: https://cbi.colorado.gov/
• Statute text: C.R.S. Title 18, Article 12 (Colorado General Assembly site: https://leg.colorado.gov/)

Sources

• C.R.S. §§ 18-12-203, 18-12-205, 18-12-206 (issuance, training, fees, timeline) — https://leg.colorado.gov/ (accessed 2026-10-16)
• HB 23-1293 (2023) — CHP training standards — https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1293 (accessed 2026-10-16)
• Douglas County Sheriff — CHP fees/process — county page (accessed 2026-10-16)
• Larimer County Sheriff — CHP requirements ($132.50 total) — county page (accessed 2026-10-16)
• Routt County Sheriff — CHP ($100 + $52.50) — https://co.routt.co.us/262/Concealed-Handgun-Permits (accessed 2026-10-16)
• Site reciprocity data — ccw.workmanfirearms.com/data/reciprocity.json (retrieved 2026-10-16)