Getting a CCW in Washington (2026)

Data verified 2026-10-13 · general legal information, not individualized advice · facts cite official sources (see verification dataset)

Requirements, costs, and steps for a Washington concealed carry permit · Updated October 13, 2026 · Not legal advice

This guide is general legal information, not individualized legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your local law enforcement agency before applying. Last reviewed 2026-10-13.

Quick facts

Pulled from the live reciprocity dataset (ccw.workmanfirearms.com/data/reciprocity.json) and verified against official sources as of 2026-10-13:

• Permit type: Shall Issue — Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL), issued by local law enforcement (city police department or county sheriff), not by the state; the Department of Licensing (DOL) maintains the state database and guidance.
• Constitutional carry: No. A CPL is required to carry a pistol concealed — or to have a loaded pistol in a vehicle — under RCW 9.41.050 (dataset: constitutionalCarry = false).
• Minimum age: 21 (WA DOL; RCW 9.41.070; dataset).
• Duty to inform: No — dataset: "No duty to inform." Washington has no statute requiring you to announce that you are carrying.
• Open carry: Lawful without a permit; a CPL is required only for concealed carry or a loaded pistol in a vehicle (RCW 9.41.050; dataset notes). Washington does not honor any out-of-state permits (dataset).

Who can apply

Per the WA DOL firearms/CPL guidance (as of 2026-10-13), an applicant must:

• Be 21 or older.
• Apply with the law enforcement agency for where they live (city police or county sheriff); if you live outside Washington, you may apply at any WA agency.
• Present a Washington driver license or state ID showing current address (passports and military IDs are not accepted in place of state ID); a new resident with an out-of-state ID may face an additional wait (up to 60 days) while federal records are checked. Permanent residents must provide a valid permanent resident card.
• Not be disqualified — including a revoked CPL, a court order or injunction related to firearms, being free on bond or personal recognizance for a felony, an outstanding warrant, a firearm forfeiture within the last 12 months, or a felony conviction unless rights have been restored.

Step-by-step application process

Issuing authority: your local police department or county sheriff (they fingerprint, run the background check, and issue the license; DOL publishes the process).

1. Check your agency's website for jurisdiction, required forms, fees, and whether an appointment is needed.
2. Bring your completed but unsigned application, required documents (WA DL/ID; permanent resident card if applicable), and the fee (cash, check, or money order — policies vary).
3. The agency takes your fingerprints and conducts local, state, and FBI background checks (original applications only; renewals require no new fingerprints).
4. The agency must issue the license within 30 days of filing the application (RCW 9.41.070(1)); allow up to 60 days if you present an out-of-state ID or a federal records check is needed (DOL).
5. The CPL is valid for 5 years.

Costs

As of 2026-10-13 — original fees vary slightly by agency because the statutory fee plus fingerprint charges are combined differently (RCW 9.41.070):

• Original CPL: roughly $48–$52 depending on agency — e.g., King County $48.00 (rising to $51.00 effective October 1, 2026) and City of Snohomish $49.25 ($36.00 statutory fee + $13.25 fingerprinting). The statutory component is $36.00 plus FBI fingerprint-check charges passed on to the applicant; no other state or local charges are permitted (RCW 9.41.070(5)).
• Renewal (up to 90 days before expiration): $32.00.
• Late renewal (within 90 days after expiration): $42.00.
• Replacement/duplicate: $10.00.
• Training: none required — no training cost.
• Note: RCW 9.41.070 amendments take effect May 1, 2027 — 2025 c 370 (permit-to-purchase–related data reporting) and 2026 c 36 (HB 2632, noncitizen terminology); the fee schedule is unchanged — but some agencies adjust local fees October 1, 2026 (e.g., King County). Confirm the exact total with your agency when you apply.

Training requirement

None. Washington requires no firearms training or safety course to obtain a CPL — no training requirement appears in RCW 9.41.070 or the DOL application guidance (checked 2026-10-13).

Timeline & renewal

• Issuance: within 30 days of filing (RCW 9.41.070(1)); up to 60 days if an out-of-state ID or federal records check is involved (DOL).
• Validity: 5 years.
• Renewal: up to 90 days before expiration ($32.00); late renewal up to 90 days after expiration ($42.00 — $32.00 + $10.00 late penalty); more than 90 days lapsed means applying as a new applicant (new fingerprints, original fee). RCW 9.41.070(9)(b) calls for a DOL renewal notice approximately 90 days before expiration; DOL guidance says notices go out 60 days prior — don't rely on the mail; mark your own renewal date.
• Military exception: service members returning from out-of-state duty may renew within 90 days of their return (DOL).

Where to apply

• Apply in person with your city police department or county sheriff — find your county sheriff: https://washeriffs.org/counties/
• WA Department of Licensing CPL guidance: https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/firearms

Sources

• WA Department of Licensing — Firearms / Concealed Pistol License (eligibility, process, disqualifiers, fees): https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/firearms — accessed 2026-10-13
• RCW 9.41.070 (license issuance, 30-day deadline, fees; amendments effective May 1, 2027): https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.070 — accessed 2026-10-13
• Washington Association of County Officials — county sheriff finder: https://washeriffs.org/counties/ — accessed 2026-10-13
• Fee examples — King County Sheriff's Office (CPL fee table: $48.00 original, $51.00 effective October 1, 2026): https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/sheriff/courts-jails-legal-system/sheriff-services/concealed-pistol-license — accessed 2026-10-13
• Fee examples — City of Snohomish: https://snohomishwa.gov/651/9866 — accessed 2026-10-13
• CCW Workman Firearms reciprocity dataset (Washington): https://ccw.workmanfirearms.com/data/reciprocity.json — accessed 2026-10-13