Concealed carry in Missouri: permitless carry and the sheriff's permit

Missouri has allowed most adults to carry a concealed firearm without a permit since January 1, 2017. The permit did not disappear when that happened. Tens of thousands of Missourians still hold one, and for good reasons that have nothing to do with whether the state requires it. This guide explains both paths as of September 2026, and where a firearm still has to stay in the truck.

Carrying without a permit

If you are 19 or older, or 18 and currently serving in or honorably discharged from the armed forces, and nothing in state or federal law bars you from possessing a firearm, you may carry a concealed handgun in Missouri without any permit, license or class. You do not have to notify an officer that you are armed unless asked, and you do not have to carry any document. The same conduct that would be lawful for a permit holder is lawful for you, with the exceptions listed further down.

The category of people who may not carry is the usual federal and state list: felony convictions, certain domestic violence convictions, active orders of protection, fugitives, unlawful drug users, people committed for mental illness, and anyone otherwise barred by 18 U.S.C. 922 or Missouri law. If you are unsure whether an old case disqualifies you, talk to a lawyer before you carry.

Why people still get the permit

The first reason is travel. A Missouri concealed carry permit is recognized by a long list of other states, and without one your lawful Missouri carry stops at the state line. If you drive to Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas, Arkansas or Oklahoma with any regularity, the permit is the cheapest insurance you can buy.

The second is the training itself. The eight-hour course is not difficult, but it puts a certified instructor in front of you for a day on the legal use of force, safe storage, and the mechanics of drawing from a holster. Most people who have only ever shot from a bench learn something.

The third is friction at the counter. Some dealers will accept a Missouri permit in place of a NICS check on a transfer, which means less waiting. And some employers, ranges and out-of-state facilities simply ask to see a permit.

How the permit works

Section 571.101 RSMo puts the permit in the hands of the sheriff of the county where you live. In the City of St. Louis, which is not inside any county, the city sheriff issues it. You apply in person at the sheriff's office, provide proof of residency and identification, submit fingerprints, and hand over an affidavit from a certified instructor that you completed the training. The sheriff queries the National Instant Criminal Background Check System within three working days of a properly completed application, and if you qualify the permit shall be issued. It is not discretionary.

The fee is set by statute at up to $100 for a new permit and up to $50 for a renewal, with the money going to the sheriff's revolving fund and to reimburse the Highway Patrol for fingerprinting. A standard permit is valid five years from the last day of the month it was issued or renewed. Section 571.205 RSMo also allows extended permits valid ten or twenty-five years and a lifetime permit, at higher fees, from the same sheriff.

The training requirement

Section 571.111 RSMo sets the course at a minimum of eight hours taught by an instructor certified by a nationally recognized firearms organization or by a state peace officer training body. The classroom portion covers firearm safety, safe storage at home, cleaning and maintenance, and Missouri law on the justifiable use of force. The live-fire portion has two parts. First, a practice exercise of at least twenty rounds fired from a revolver or semi-automatic pistol at a B-27 silhouette or equivalent target at seven yards, from a standing position. Then a qualification of twenty rounds at the same distance, with the instructor present. You must place at least fifteen of those twenty rounds in the silhouette to pass. That is a generous standard, and almost everyone who shows up sober and pays attention makes it.

Open carry

Open carry is lawful under Missouri law for adults who may lawfully possess a firearm. Section 21.750 RSMo otherwise preempts local firearm ordinances, but it leaves cities one exception: a political subdivision may prohibit open carry by a person who does not hold a valid concealed carry permit. The City of St. Louis used that exception in Ordinance 71717, effective July 24, 2023, and other municipalities have their own versions. The practical effect is that a permit holder can openly carry statewide, and someone relying on permitless carry should keep the firearm concealed in the larger cities. There is more on the metro in our St. Louis buying guide.

Where carry is not allowed

Section 571.107 RSMo lists the places a permit does not reach, and permitless carry does not reach them either. Police and sheriff stations without consent. Any adult or juvenile detention or correctional facility. Courthouses and courtrooms. Meetings of a governing body or of the General Assembly. Polling places on election day, within twenty-five feet. Secure areas of an airport past the inspection point. Schools, colleges and child care facilities without the consent of the governing body. Bars and other establishments licensed to serve liquor for consumption on the premises, without the owner's consent. Churches and places of worship without permission. Casinos and gated amusement parks. Hospitals open to the public. Stadiums and arenas with a seating capacity of 5,000 or more. Any government building where an ordinance posts the prohibition. And any private property where the owner has posted a sign or told you to leave.

For most of these places the penalty for a first offense by an otherwise lawful carrier is a fine and an order to leave rather than a criminal charge, but refusing to leave escalates quickly. Federal buildings, post offices and military installations are separately closed to firearms under federal law.

Buying a carry gun

Missouri puts nothing between you and a handgun purchase beyond the federal check: no permit to purchase and no waiting period, as explained in our Missouri gun laws guide. Order the pistol here, pick the dealer you want to use, and pass the NICS check at the counter. Holsters, lights, ammunition and spare magazines all ship to your door, and you can compare what we stock in the catalog.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.