Georgia Concealed Carry Firearm Laws

Georgia: Gun Laws Summary

Georgia is a shall-issue state with concealed weapons licenses issued at the county level and filed with the probate court in the county of residence. There is no license, background check, or firearms registration required when buying a handgun from a private individual.

Open and Concealed Carry

Open carry is legal in Georgia only with a Georgia Weapons Carry License (WCL) or a concealed carry permit from a state Georgia honors. Some areas are off-limits, including schools and courthouses. Open carry is not addressed in the constitutional carry bill that was signed into law on April 12, 2022. Concealed carry is legal for residents of Georgia with a WCL, any lawful weapons carrier, and non-residents with a license/permit issued by any other state. No license is needed to carry a handgun in a person’s home, vehicle, place of business, while fishing or hunting, or unloaded in a case. You must be at least 21 years old (18 for members of the military) to get a concealed carry license in Georgia.

Reciprocity

The city of Kennesaw has a law enacted in 1982 requiring every head of household within city limits to maintain a firearm. In terms of reciprocity, Governor Kemp signed HB 218 into law on April 12, 2022, recognizing firearms licenses from all other states. Holders of licenses that expired during the COVID state of emergency period must apply for a renewal license within 120 days of the expiration date on the face of the license.

Self-Defense

Georgia is a Castle Doctrine state and has a “stand your ground” statute. There is no duty to retreat in defense of a forcible felony, such as rape, armed robbery, or kidnapping.

Defense of Habitation and Property

A person is justified in threatening or using force when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes that such threat or force is necessary to prevent or terminate such other’s unlawful entry into or attack upon a habitation. The use of deadly force which is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to prevent trespass on or other tortious or criminal interference with real property other than a habitation or personal property is only justified if it is necessary to prevent the commission of a forcible felony. “Habitation” means any dwelling, motor vehicle, or place of business. “Personal property” means personal property other than a motor vehicle.

[Ga. Code Ann. §§ 16-3-21, 16-3-23, 16-3-23.1, 16-3-24, and 16-3-24.1]

Georgia: Gun Laws at a Glance


Concealed Carry of Weapons Other Than Handguns	Yes. Knives are allowed with a Georgia Weapons Carry License or a license/permit issued by a state that Georgia honors. [Ga. Code Ann. §16-11-125.1]
Chemical Spray/Pepper Spray	Yes. There is no statute prohibiting the purchase or use of pepper spray in Georgia.
Magazine Capacity Restrictions for Handguns	No. Georgia does not have magazine capacity limits for handguns.
Ammunition Restrictions	No. Georgia does not have ammunition restrictions.
Constitutional Carry	Yes. On April 12, 2022, Gov. Brian Kemp signed SB 319 into law, permitting constitutional carry in Georgia. The law will go into effect immediately.
Open Carry	Yes. Open carry is allowed with a Georgia Weapons Carry License or a permit from a state Georgia recognizes. Open carry is not addressed in the constitutional carry bill that was signed into law on April 12, 2022. [Ga. Code Ann. §16-11-126(h)(1)]
Issuance of Concealed Carry Licenses	Georgia is a shall issue state.
Tasers or Stun Guns	Yes. Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a license. It is illegal to carry any stun gun or Taser within 1,000 feet of any real property owned by or leased to any public or private K-12 school. [Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-127.1(a)(2)]
Minimum Age for Concealed Carry License	You must be at least 21 years old to get a concealed carry license in Georgia, or 18 for members of the military on active duty (that have completed basic training) or that have been honorably discharged.

Georgia: Carry Locations


Carrying a concealed firearm at roadside rest areas in Georgia	Yes. Carrying a concealed firearm at rest areas is allowed in Georgia.[Ga. Code Ann. §16-11-126]
Carrying a concealed handgun in a vehicle in Georgia	Yes, any person not prohibited by law from possessing a handgun may carry a weapon openly or concealed without a license in his or her own vehicle (owned or rented). In a vehicle you do not own, you must have the permission of the person who has legal control of the vehicle.[Ga. Code Ann. §16-11-126]
Carrying a concealed firearm in state/national parks, state/national forests and Wildlife Management Areas in Georgia	Yes. Concealed firearms are allowed in state/national parks, state/national forests and Wildlife Management Areas in Georgia.[Ga. Code Ann. §16-11-126(g)]
Carrying a concealed firearm in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol in Georgia	Yes. There is no statute making it illegal to concealed carry with a Georgia Weapons Carry License or a license/permit issued by a state that Georgia honors, unless posted.
Carrying or possessing a firearm on hotel property in Georgia	Georgia statutes don’t specifically address firearms at hotels. Please note that each hotel develops their own policies and the individual hotel should be contacted to inquire about it’s concealed carry policy. See the Handguns at Hotels page for additional information.
Storing firearms in private vehicles in an employee parking lot in Georgia	No private or public employer, including the state and its political subdivisions, can condition employment upon any agreement by a prospective employee on prohibiting firearms or ammunition in the employees privately owned motor vehicle, provided any firearm or ammunition is locked and out of sight and the employee has a Georgia weapons carry license. This provision does not apply to an employer providing a secure parking area not accessible to the general public or to an area used for parking on a temporary basis, among other exceptions. In addition, this provision does not restrict the rights of private property owners or persons in legal control of property, and when a private property owner or person in legal control of property is also an employer, his or her rights as a private property owner or person in legal control of property govern. State law allows a license holder to possess a firearm in a motor vehicle parked in a parking facility of a government entity, courthouse, jail, prison, place of worship, bar or school safety zone, so long as the firearm is in the locked compartment of the vehicle, or in a locked container in or a locked firearms rack on the vehicle.[Ga. Code Ann. §§ 16-11-127(a)(5)][Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-135(a)]

Georgia: Key State Laws


Are “No Weapons Allowed” signs enforced in Georgia?	No. “No Weapons Allowed” signs are not enforced in Georgia. [source]
Does Georgia have a red flag law?	No. Georgia does not have a red flag law. [source]
Does Georgia issue concealed carry licenses to non-residents?	Yes, but only to members of the military permanently stationed in Georgia. [source]
Does Georgia allow the public to access concealed carry registry information through public records law?	No. The information is available for law enforcement. [source]
Is my Georgia driver’s license linked to my Georgia weapons carry license?	No. Your Georgia driver’s license is not linked to your Georgia weapons carry license. Therefore, a law enforcement officer (LEO) will not be notified that you are a concealed carry license holder immediately when they run your driver’s license. LEOs may have access to other databases where they can obtain this information. [source]
Does Georgia have preemption laws related to concealed carry (i.e. Does state law supersede local laws regarding the possession of handguns)?	Yes, the state has preemption of firearms laws in Georgia, except local municipalities may regulate: The discharge of firearms; The transport, carrying or possession of firearms by county or city employees in the course of their employment; and Requiring heads of households to own guns. [source]
Does Georgia state law define brandishing?	No definition of brandishing was found in Georgia law. A person commits the offense of disorderly conduct when such person acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another person whereby such person is placed in reasonable fear of the safety of such person’s life, limb or health or acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another person whereby the property of such person is placed in danger of being damaged or destroyed. A person is guilty of a crime when he intentionally and without legal justification points or aims a gun or pistol at another, whether the gun or pistol is loaded or unloaded. [source] [source]
Do you have a duty to notify a police officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Georgia?	There is no duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Georgia. [source]
Does Georgia have laws regarding carrying a concealed firearm while using alcohol or drugs?	Not while under the influence of alcohol (BAC of 0.08 or greater) or any drug or any combination of alcohol and any drug to the extent that it is unsafe for the person to discharge such firearm except in the defense of life, health, and property. In addition, any amount of marijuana or a controlled substance, as defined in GA Code § 16-13-21, present in the person’s blood or urine, or both, including the metabolites and derivatives of each or both without regard to whether or not any alcohol is present in the person’s breath or blood, is illegal. As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgement, slow your reaction times or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences. [source]

Georgia: Handgun Purchase and Possession


Handgun Registration	Handguns do not need to be registered in Georgia.
Minimum Age for Handgun Possession and Transport	A person must be at least 18 years of age to possess and transport a handgun in Georgia. [Ga. Code Ann.§ 16-11-132]
License for Handgun Purchase	A license is not required to purchase a handgun in Georgia.
Background Check for Private Gun Sales	Private firearms transfers are not subject to a background check requirement, although federal and state purchaser prohibitions, including age restrictions, still apply. It is recommended that you retain any sales receipts to prove ownership of the gun.
Background Check Exemption with Georgia Concealed Carry License	A current Georgia concealed carry license exempts the holder from needing a background check when purchasing a firearm.
Handgun Waiting Period	There is no waiting period after purchasing a handgun in Georgia.
Handgun Possession and Carry without a License	A license is not needed for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm to carry a handgun in a person’s home, vehicle, or place of business. [Ga. Code Ann. 16-11-126]