Minnesota Concealed Carry Firearm Laws

Minnesota: Gun Laws Summary

Minnesota operates on a shall-issue policy for permits to carry, meaning that permits will be granted unless there is a substantial likelihood that the applicant would be a danger to themselves or others if authorized to carry a handgun (Minn. Stat. § 624.714). Permits are issued by the Sheriff’s office in the applicant’s county of residence, and both residents and non-residents can apply. As of March 31, 2023, a person no longer has to be at least 21 years old to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in public, as this requirement was found to violate the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (MPR News).

There is no permit, background check, or firearm registration required when purchasing a handgun from a private individual in Minnesota.

Both open carry and concealed carry are legal in Minnesota with a Permit to Carry a Pistol (PCP) or a permit from a state that Minnesota honors, and there is no stipulation in the law regarding whether the weapon must be concealed (Minn. Stat. § 624.714). Permits are not required for transporting a firearm, keeping it at home, or keeping it in a place of business. Minnesota will honor permits from states with similar permit requirements (Minn. Stat. § 624.714).

Justifiable Taking of Life

The intentional taking of another person’s life is legal in Minnesota only if necessary in resisting or preventing an offense that the actor reasonably believes exposes the actor or another person to great bodily harm or death, or preventing the commission of a felony in the actor’s place of abode (Minn. Stat. § 609.06; 609.065).

Self-Defense

Minnesota law imposes a duty to retreat, meaning that a person may only use deadly force as a last resort if they feel threatened. Although Minnesota doesn’t have a Castle Doctrine law per se, it does recognize the principles of the doctrine because Minnesota law allows a person to use deadly force if they reasonably believe that they or another person is at risk of great bodily harm or death, or to prevent a felony from occurring in the person’s home (Minn. Stat. § 609.065).

Authorized Use of Force

Reasonable force may be used in Minnesota when the following circumstances exist or the actor reasonably believes them to exist:

When used by any person in resisting or aiding another to resist an offense against the person;
When used by any person in lawful possession of real or personal property, in resisting a trespass upon or other unlawful interference with such property;
When used by a parent, guardian, teacher, or other lawful custodian of a child or pupil, in the exercise of lawful authority, to restrain or correct such child or pupil;
When used by a school employee or school bus driver, in the exercise of lawful authority, to restrain a child or pupil, or to prevent bodily harm or death to another; or
When used by a common carrier in expelling a passenger who refuses to obey a lawful requirement for the conduct of passengers and reasonable care is exercised with regard to the passenger’s personal safety (Minn. Stat. § 609.06).

Minnesota: Gun Laws at a Glance


Magazine Capacity Restrictions	Minnesota does not have magazine capacity restrictions.
Constitutional Carry	Minnesota does not allow constitutional carry.
Ammunition Restrictions	Metal-penetrating bullets cannot be used during the commission of a crime. [Minn. Stat. § 624.7191, subd. 3]
Concealed Carry Permit Issuance	Minnesota gun laws operate, generally, on a shall-issue policy (a sheriff has limited discretion to deny a permit to carry only if there is a “substantial likelihood” that the applicant would be a danger to herself, himself or others if authorized to carry a handgun). [Minn. Stat. § 624.714]
Minimum Age for Concealed Carry Permit	You must be at least 21 years old to get a concealed carry permit in Minnesota.
Concealed Carry of Weapons Other Than Handguns	A concealed carry permit does not allow you to carry weapons other than handguns.
Taser or Stun Gun Ownership	Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a permit, but a background check is required. A person may possess and use an electronic incapacitation device in the exercise of reasonable force in defense of the person or the person’s property only if the electronic incapacitation device is labeled with or accompanied by clearly written instructions as to its use and the dangers involved in its use [Minn. Stat. 624.731].
Chemical Spray/Pepper Spray Ownership	A person may possess and use an authorized tear gas compound in the legal exercise of reasonable force in defense of the person or the person’s property only if it is propelled from an aerosol container. No person under the age of 16 may possess or use an authorized tear gas compound except by written permission of a parent or guardian. Minnesota Statutes define “authorized tear gas compound” as a lachrymator or any substance composed of a mixture of a lachrymator including chloroacetophenone, alpha-chloroacetophenone; phenylchloromethylketone, orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile or oleoresin capsicum, commonly known as tear gas; and written instructions as to its use and the dangers involved in its use. [Minn. Stat. 624.731]
Open Carry	Open carry is only with a Minnesota license to carry or a permit from a state Minnesota recognizes. [Minn. Stat. § 624.714 Subd. 1a]

Minnesota: Carry Locations


Carrying Firearms on Hotel Property	An innkeeper may refuse to admit or refuse service or accommodations to any person the innkeeper reasonably believes is bringing firearms into the hotel. The individual hotel should be contacted to inquire about it’s concealed carry policy. See the Handguns at Hotels page for additional information.[Minn. Stat. § 327.73, subd. 2(a)(3)]
Storing Firearms in Private Vehicles in an Employee Parking Lot	An employer or a postsecondary institution may not prohibit the lawful carry or possession of firearms in a parking facility or parking area.[Minn. Stat. § 624.714 Subd. 18.]
Carrying a Concealed Handgun in a Vehicle	Yes, with a Minnesota license to carry or a permit from a state Minnesota recognizes. Otherwise it must be unloaded and either in the closed trunk or in a closed and fastened case, gunbox or securely tied package.[Minn. Stat. § 624.714 Subd. 9(5)][Minn. Stat. § 97B.045]
Carrying a Concealed Firearm at Roadside Rest Areas	A loaded handgun may be carried only with a Minnesota license to carry or a permit from a state Minnesota recognizes.[Minn. Stat. § 97B.045]
Carrying a Concealed Firearm in State/National Parks, State/National Forests and Wildlife Management Areas	Yes, with a Minnesota license to carry or a permit from a state Minnesota recognizes. Except firearms are not allowed on the Bayport WMA in Washington County, the Hastings WMA in Dakota County, and the Raguet WMA in Scott and Carver Counties. See the National Parks webpage for links to each Park in Minnesota. Without a permit, firearms on state park or forest lands must be unloaded and cased and bows unstrung when in, or within 200 feet of, any campground, picnic area, beach, parking lot, interpretive site or trailhead.[Minn. Stat. § 624.714,][6230.0200 Subp. 4 MN Admin Rules][6100.0800 Subd. 1 MN Admin Rules][6100.3600 MN Admin Rules][Minn. Stat. § 324.504(8)]
Carrying a Concealed Firearm in Bars and Restaurants that Serve Alcohol	Yes, there is no statute making it illegal to concealed carry with a Minnesota license to carry or a permit from a state Minnesota recognizes in a bar or restaurant, unless posted, and provided you are not under the influence (“under the influence” is defined as >0.04 blood alcohol level).

Minnesota: Key State Laws


Do you have a duty to notify a police officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Minnesota?	There is no duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you’re carrying a concealed firearm in Minnesota unless the officer asks.[Minn. Stat. § 624.714 Subd 1b]
Is my Minnesota driver’s license linked to my Minnesota carry permit?	Yes. Your Minnesota driver’s license is linked to your Minnesota pistol carry permit.
Does Minnesota have a red flag law?	No. Minnesota does not have a red flag law.
Does Minnesota issue concealed carry permits to non-residents?	Yes. Non-residents may apply for permits following the same process as Minnesota residents.
Does Minnesota allow the public to access concealed carry registry information through public records law?	No, however, the information is available for law enforcement.
Does Minnesota have preemption laws related to concealed carry (i.e. Does state law supersede local laws regarding the possession of handguns)?	Yes. There is full state preemption of all gun laws, except that local governments may regulate the discharge of firearms. In addition, according to statue, a person may sue a government official personally, and seek damages and attorney fees, for allegedly violating the state’s preemption statute.[Minn. Stat. § 471.633][Minn. Stat. § 624.717][Minn. Stat. § 624.7192(e)]
Does Minnesota state law define brandishing?	No definition of brandishing was found in Minnesota law.
If yes, violating the sign would be considered to be a crime. If no, violating the sign would not be considered a criminal offense.	No. It is considered a petty misdemeanor if a reasonable request is made that firearms not be brought into the establishment or if a conspicuous sign is prominently posted at every entrance and there is a refusal to leave.[Minn. Stat. § 624.714 Subd.17(a)]
Does Minnesota have laws regarding carrying a concealed firearm while using alcohol or a controlled substance?	Carry is prohibited while in a public place in any of these situations:* When a person is under the influence of a controlled substance, as defined in Minn. Stat.§ 152.01;

When a person is under the influence of a combination of any two or more of the elements named in Minn. Stat.§ 152.01 and/or alcohol;
When a person is under the influence of an intoxicating substance as defined in Minn. Stat. §169A.03, and the person knows or has reason to know that the substance has the capacity to cause impairment;
When a person is under the influence of alcohol;
When the person’s alcohol concentration is 0.04 or more.

[Minn. Stat. § 624.7142]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. |

Minnesota: Handgun Purchase and Possession


Does my current Minnesota concealed carry permit exempt me from needing a background check when I purchase a firearm?	No.
Can I possess/carry a handgun in my home without a permit?	Yes. A permit is not required for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm, to keep or carry a firearm at a business, dwelling house, premises or on land possessed by the person. A landlord cannot restrict the lawful carry or possession of firearms by tenants or their guests. [Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 9 and subd. 17(f)]
Do handguns need to be registered in Minnesota?	No. Handguns do not need to be registered in Minnesota.
Are background checks required for private gun sales in Minnesota?	No. There is no provision that requires background checks for firearms transfers between private individuals, provided the transferor has no reason to believe the transferee is not eligible under state law to possess a firearm. In addition, a transferor may be found criminally liable if the firearm purchaser uses the firearm within one year after the transfer in furtherance of a felony crime of violence, and:* The transferee was prohibited from possessing the weapon under Minnesota law at the time of the transfer; or

It was reasonably foreseeable at the time of the transfer that the transferee was likely to use or possess the weapon in furtherance of a felony crime of violence.

[Minn. Stat. §§ 624.7132(12)(1), 624.7141 and 609.66, subd. 1f] | | Is there a waiting period after purchasing a handgun in Minnesota? | There is no waiting period after purchasing a handgun in Minnesota with a permit or a Permit to Purchase/Transfer. Without one of those permits, upon the purchase of a handgun from a FFL, there is a five- to seven-day waiting period (unless the chief of police or sheriff waives all or a portion of the waiting period).[Minn. Stat. § 624.7132] | | Is a permit required to purchase a handgun in Minnesota? | Anyone acquiring a handgun through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) must have a Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol or a Permit to Purchase/Transfer a Firearm. A permit to carry is valid for five years and authorizes unlimited purchases within that time period. Without one of those permits, the FFL must perform a background check. | | What is the minimum age to possess and transport a handgun in Minnesota? | 18 years old.[Minn. Stat. 624.713] | | Handgun Purchase Process | To buy or transfer ownership of a firearm in Minnesota, you must have a Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol or a Permit to Purchase/Transfer a Firearm.The application for a Permit to Purchase/Transfer a Firearm must be submitted in person to your local police chief or county sheriff’s office. You must also present your Minnesota driver’s license or state-issued photo ID.After your application has been submitted, your local police chief or county sheriff’s office will run a background check. Generally this process takes 7 days to complete. Upon clearing the background check, you will be issued a Permit to Purchase/Transfer a Firearm through the mail, which will be valid for 1 year from the date it is issued.For single-purchase transactions, many gun shops in the state will allow you to apply for a permit to purchase directly at the store. You will still be required to pass a background check before making a purchase. A gun shop may charge for this service. Not every gun shop in the state will process permit applications, per their own discretion. |