New Jersey Concealed Carry Laws

Last reviewed: May 3, 2026

Constitutional Carry No
Open Carry Prohibited
Permit honored in 25 states
New Jersey honors 0 states

New Jersey Gun Laws

Open Carry

Prohibited
Restricted

Duty to Notify Law Enforcement

If stopped or detained by law enforcement you must immediately disclose that you are carrying a handgun or that a handgun is stored in the vehicle and display the permit
Restricted

State Parks

Prohibited
Restricted

Restaurants Serving Alcohol

No carry in any bar or restaurant where alcohol is served or any other site or facility where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises
Restricted

Firearms at Colleges

Concealed guns on campus prohibited by law.
Restricted

Firearms at K-12 Schools

Prohibited
Restricted

Church Carry

Churches act like any other private property and may restrict
on a church by church basis
Informational

Hotels

No legal restriction - Reference article on page 67
Informational

Secure Storage Requirements

There are legal consequences if one fails to secure their firearm and that leads to a minor gaining unauthorized access.
Informational

Magazine Capacity Limitations

Magazines with a capacity greater than 10 rounds are illegal
Restricted

Suppressor Ownership

Prohibited
Restricted

Vehicle Possession Without Recognized Permit

No firearms in vehicles in NJ without a valid NJ permit / license
Restricted

Firearm Law Uniformity

None
Restricted

Permit Training Requirements

Applicant must prove competence. Documentation of training will be required but specifics aren't clear.
Informational

Non-Resident Permits

Non-residents must apply to the NJ State Police station nearest their geographic location.
Informational

Constitutional Carry

No
Restricted

Duty to Retreat

Duty to Retreat before using Deadly Force except when in your dwelling (2c:3-4)
Restricted

Places Off Limits

NJ local municipalities are declaring various locations as "sensitive places" and thus prohibiting carry in those places. State law allows them to do this. Here are state-wide prohibited places:
(1) a place owned, leased, or under the control of State, county or municipal government used for the
purpose of government administration, including but not limited to police stations;

(2) a courthouse, courtroom, or any other premises used to conduct judicial or court administrative
proceedings or functions;

(3) a State, county, or municipal correctional or juvenile justice facility, jail and any other place
maintained by or for a governmental entity for the detention of criminal suspects or offenders;

(4) a State-contracted half-way house;

(5) a location being used as a polling place during the conduct of an election and places used for the
storage or tabulation of ballots;

(6) within 100 feet of a place where a public gathering, demonstration or event is held for which a
government permit is required, during the conduct of such gathering, demonstration or event;

(7) a school, college, university or other educational institution, and on any school bus;

(8) a child care facility, including a day care center;
(9) a nursery school, pre-school, zoo, or summer camp;
(10) a park, beach, recreation facility or area or playground owned or controlled by a State, county or
local government unit, or any part of such a place, which is designated as a gun free zone by the
governing authority based on considerations of public safety;
(11) youth sports events, as defined in N.J.S.5:17-1, during and immediately preceding and following the
conduct of the event, except that this provision shall not apply to participants of a youth sports event
which is a firearm shooting competition to which paragraph (3) of subsection b. of section 14 of
P.L.1979, c.179 (C.2C:58-6.1) applies;
(12) a publicly owned or leased library or museum;
(13) a shelter for the homeless, emergency shelter for the homeless, basic center shelter program, shelter
for homeless or runaway youth, children’s shelter, child care shelter, shelter for victims of domestic
violence, or any shelter licensed by or under the control of the Juvenile Justice Commission or the
Department of Children and Families;
www.handgunlaw.us 5
(14) a community residence for persons with developmental disabilities, head injuries, or terminal
illnesses, or any other residential setting licensed by the Department of Human Services or
Department of Health;
(15) a bar or restaurant where alcohol is served, and any other site or facility where alcohol is sold for
consumption on the premises;
(16) a Class 5 Cannabis retailer or medical cannabis dispensary, including any consumption areas
licensed or permitted by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission established pursuant to section 31 of
P.L.2019, c.153 (C.24:6I-24);
(17) a privately or publicly owned and operated entertainment facility within this State, including but not
limited to a theater, stadium, museum, arena, racetrack or other place where performances, concerts,
exhibits, games or contests are held;
(18) a casino and related facilities, including but not limited to appurtenant hotels, retail premises,
restaurant and bar facilities, and entertainment and recreational venues located within the casino
property;
(19) a plant or operation that produces, converts, distributes or stores energy or converts one form of
energy to another;
(20) an airport or public transportation hub;
(21) a health care facility, including but not limited to a general hospital, special hospital, psychiatric
hospital, public health center, diagnostic center, treatment center, rehabilitation center, extended care
facility, skilled nursing home, nursing home, intermediate care facility, tuberculosis hospital, chronic
disease hospital, maternity hospital, outpatient clinic, dispensary, assisted living center, home health
care agency, residential treatment facility, residential health care facility, medical office, or
ambulatory care facility;
(22) a facility licensed or regulated by the Department of Human Services, Department of Children and
Families, or Department of Health, other than a health care facility, that provides addiction or mental
health treatment or support services;
Informational

State Contact / Source

New Jersey State Police
PO Box 7068
W. Trenton, NJ 08628
609-882-2000
www.njsp.org
Informational

Permit Issuing Authority

Chief police officer
Informational

Length of Permit Validity

Informational

Permit Application Process

Contact your local chief police officer / sheriff and ask about their process
Informational

New Jersey Permit Reciprocity

Reciprocity shown is for a standard resident permit. Non-resident and enhanced permit holders may have different reciprocity. Always verify before carrying. Use our full permit reciprocity map for all permit types →

Your New Jersey resident permit is honored in 25 states

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Disclaimer:
While Concealed Carry Inc strives to maintain legal reference information updated on this website from publicly available sources; you as the reader and gun owner are responsible to do any and all necessary research and consult with a local attorney before making any decisions. Concealed Carry Inc is not a government agency is not affiliated with a government agency and is not liable for any misinformation, inaccuracies, or actions taken based on this information. We are not attorneys and this information is not legal advice. If you see any information you feel is outdated or incorrect please contact us.

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