Last reviewed: October 19, 2026

Constitutional Carry Yes

Open Carry Lawful without a permit (21+, or 18+ military)

Permit honored in 35 states

Tennessee honors 49 states

Tennessee Gun Laws

Open Carry

Lawful without a permit (21+, or 18+ military)

Since July 1, 2021, Tennessee allows anyone 21 or older (18 or older for active or honorably discharged military) who can legally possess a handgun to carry openly or concealed without a permit. A permit is still useful for carrying in other states that honor Tennessee permits.

Permitted

Duty to Notify Law Enforcement

Only when asked by the officer

Permitted

State Parks

Concealed Carry is legal in accordance with state laws that regulate the right to carry

Permitted

Restaurants Serving Alcohol

Restaurants serving alcohol allow you to carry, but only if you don’t drink. The BAC limit to carry in TN is 0.00.

Permitted

Firearms at Colleges

Firearms at colleges are NOT allowed for visitors or enrolled students. You can keep them in the car, but they cannot be carried by visitors or students. Faculty and Staff can carry, but must be approved by the college in order to carry. Once approved, there are places and circumstances where they can’t carry (like meetings with your managers, performance appraisals, etc.)

Informational

Firearms at K-12 Schools

With the permission of the school administrator, and a number of other training and background check standards, staff can carry in schools.

Informational

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

None

Permitted

Magazine Capacity Limitations

No restrictions

Permitted

Suppressor Ownership

Legal. State law does not require NFA registration. Hunting legal.

Permitted

Vehicle Possession Without Recognized Permit

Loaded firearms can be carried openly or concealed in a private vehicle so long as it is not "on the person"

Permitted

Firearm Law Uniformity

Uniform throughout state

Permitted

Permit Training Requirements

New "Concealed Carry Only" / "Basic" permit requires only 90 minute online-only class. Enhanced permit (prior to Jan 1 2020 was the only permit), requires taking a class offered by an instructor certified by the TN Dept of Safety. The training requirement is an 8-hour class approved by TN Dept of Safety, including a written test and a 50-round graded live-fire test with a handgun-caliber pistol. Passing for both tests is 70%.

Informational

Non-Resident Permits

Only available to those who have a permit from their home state that isn't honored in TN AND is employed in TN.

Restricted

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Permitted

Duty to Retreat

No Duty to Retreat

Permitted

Places Off Limits

- Any room in which judicial proceedings are in progress
- Any public or private school building or bus, campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field, or other property owned, used, or operated by any board of education or school, college, or university board of trustees, regents, or directors. A non-student adult may keep a firearm in a private vehicle on school property if it isn't handled
- Portions of a religious institution's property being used for school purposes, while being used or operated by the school
- Penal institutions where prisoners are quartered or under custodial supervision
- Any property, building, or meeting posted with a compliant sign by an individual, corporation, business, or government entity
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, except during legal firearms hunting seasons by licensed hunters and traveling to and from the LBL range, cased and unloaded. The Forest Service states carry permits don't apply there
- TVA day-use areas, campgrounds, and developed recreation land. Boat ramps and in-season cased hunting are allowed
- State parks located on Army Corps of Engineers land, per federal law

Informational

State Contact / Source

Tennessee DPS
PO Box 9465
Nashville, TN 37202
615-251-8590
www.tn.gov/safety

Informational

Permit Issuing Authority

TN Dept of Safety & Homeland Security

Informational

Length of Permit Validity

While the initial length of the permit is 8 yrs, for the enhanced permit there is an option for a Lifetime license that never expires.

Informational

Permit Application Process

Pick up an application from any Driver Services Center location

Informational

Tennessee 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 Tennessee resident permit is honored in 35 states

AK AL AR AZ CO DE FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MI MO MS MT NC ND NH NV OH OK PA SC SD TX UT VA VT WI WV WY

Tennessee honors resident permits from 49 states

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TX UT VA WA WI WV WY

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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