Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW) in Nevada

Permit Laws & Penalties

Although Nevada does not require you to have a license to purchase a weapon, the state does enforce very strict permit requirements for carrying concealed weapons (CCW).ⁱ In this article, our Las Vegas criminal defense lawyers answer your questions about CCW laws, permits, and penalties in Las Vegas, including:

1) What does "concealed weapon" mean in Las Vegas, Nevada?

2) May I carry concealed weapons in Nevada?

3) Where can I carry a concealed firearm in Las Vegas, Nevada?

4) What are the penalties for carrying concealed weapons in Nevada if I don't have a CCW permit from Nevada?

5) How do I apply for a CCW firearm permit in Clark County, Nevada?

6) Why would my CCW firearm permit application be denied in Las Vegas, Nevada?

7) Can I carry a concealed firearm in Nevada if I live out of state?

8) If I move to Nevada, can I still use my old state's CCW permit?

9) If I'm an alien in Nevada, can a CCW conviction get me deported?

If you've been arrested or charged with the criminal offense of carrying a concealed weapon in Nevada, we may be able to plead your case down to a lesser charge or get it dismissed completely. We're also prepared to take your case to trial. Please call our Las Vegas Criminal Defense lawyers at (702) 380-4895 for a free consultation.

1) What does "concealed weapon" mean in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Weapons are considered "concealed" when they aren't readily observable.ⁱⁱ For example, your weapon may become concealed if you're carrying it under your jacket or in your backpack or if it's hidden in your pocket.

Nevada's concealed weapon laws apply only to the following weapons:

firearms (guns) with a barrel of less than twelve inches (12 in.) in length,ⁱⁱⁱ

dirks, daggers and machetes (does not include steak knives),

explosive substances other than ammunition, and

knives that are an integral part of a belt buckle^iv

2) May I carry concealed weapons in Nevada?

It depends on whether the weapon is a firearm or a non-firearm:

Non-firearms:

In general, you may not carry concealed non-firearm weapons in Nevada. However, you may contact your local sheriff's office and request permission to carry a concealed non-firearms weapon. The sheriff will review your request and may issue you a permit for that specific weapon.

Firearms:

If you are a Nevada resident, you must have a valid, current CCW permit issued by the Nevada county in which you live in order to carry concealed firearms legally within the state. See question 5 for information about applying for a CCW permit in Clark County, Nevada.

If you are not a Nevada resident, then you may apply to any county in Nevada for a CCW permit to carry a concealed firearm in Nevada. If you have a CCW permit from your home state, see question 7 for information about whether you may carry concealed weapons in Nevada.

If you don't have a CCW permit at all, it is illegal for you to carry concealed firearms in Nevada.

Once you have a CCW permit, you must carry it and a form of I.D. whenever you're carrying a concealed firearm. If you forget to carry your CCW permit while you're carrying a concealed firearm, you may face a $25 civil fine.

The next question addresses where you may carried a concealed firearm in Nevada.

3) Where can I carry a concealed firearm in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Once you're granted a CCW permit in Nevada, you may carry a concealed firearm on the premises of any public building except for the following locations:

airports,

public schools and private schools (without written permission),

child-care facilities,

facilities belonging to the University of Nevada, the Community College System, any other vocational/technical school (without written permission), and any other property belonging to the Nevada System of Higher Education,

all buildings owned or occupied by the federal, state, or local government,

law enforcement agency facilities,

courthouses and courtrooms (judges and some employees are exempt),

prisons, jails and detention facilities, and

any buildings with metal detectors or signs prohibiting firearms at each public entrance, or places where carrying concealed firearms is prohibited by federal or state law

If you're licensed to carry a concealed firearm but are charged with carrying it on one of these prohibited properties, you face misdemeanor penalties of up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. The judge may also order community service.^v

Remember, when you carry a concealed firearm anywhere, you must also have on your person your I.D. and CCW permit.

4) What are the penalties for carrying concealed weapons in Nevada if I don't have a CCW permit from Nevada?

The penalties a Nevada judge may impose for carrying concealed weapons without having been granted a proper CCW permit depend upon the specific weapon and your number of past CCW offenses:

A first offense for carrying a concealed dirk, dagger, machete or knife that's an integral part of a buckle is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by one year in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,000. Any subsequent offense is a category D felony, carrying one to four years imprisonment and maybe a fine of up to $5,000.

If you're charged with carrying a concealed firearm, explosive substance, or any other dangerous weapon, it's always a category C felony, carrying one to five years imprisonment and maybe a fine of up to $10,000.^vi

As stated in question 3, if you're already licensed to carry a concealed firearm in Nevada but are charged with carrying it in a prohibited location, you face only misdemeanor penalties, which carry up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. The judge can order community service as well.^vii

And as stated in question 2, if you have a valid concealed firearm permit and you simply forget to bring it while carrying a concealed firearm, you may be civilly fined $25.^viii

5) How do I apply for a CCW firearm permit in Clark County, Nevada?

Each Nevada county has its own application procedure for CCW permits. This answer deals specifically with Clark County, Nevada. For other counties, contact your local Nevada sheriff's office for instructions.

If you live in Clark County, Nevada, you may apply to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) for a CCW firearm permit as long as you meet the following criteria:

you're a Nevada resident living in Clark County, or

you're an out-of-state resident who's received firearms training in Clark County, Nevada, and

you're twenty-one or older, and

you're not prohibited from having a firearm by law, and

you've successfully completely an approved firearms course in Clark County (that you paid for).

Contact the LVMPD Concealed Carry Detail at (702) 828-3996 to make sure that the firearms course you've taken is recognized by the county. (Each application for a CCW permit in Clark County comes with a list of approved firearms instructors.)

Furthermore, the firearms you wish to have listed on your CCW permit have to be registered with the LVMPD before you apply. You may go to any LVMPD branch to register a firearm, though you must bring it unloaded and in a safe manner. For more information on registering a firearm, visit the LVMPD firearm registration page.

Currently, CCW permit applications and instructions are unavailable on the internet, but you can pick one up at most LVMPD branch locations. For a complete list of addresses, visit the LVMPD's Concealed Carry Detail information page. If you live outside of Nevada, you can call the LVMPD at (702) 828-3996 and request to have an application mailed to you.

Once you've completed the CCW permit application, you must submit the application in person at the LVMPD Concealed Carry Detail at 5880 Cameron Street, Las Vegas, NV 89118.

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Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (excluding holidays).

When you submit the application, you will also have to show your drivers license and pay an application fee in the form of either a money order or cashiers check made out to the LVMPD:

In Clark County, the CCW application fee is $100.25. Renewal applications cost $62.25 unless it's late; otherwise, renewal applications with a late fee come to $80.25. And if the renewal application is more than one hundred twenty (120) days late, it costs the same as a new application, $100.25.

After your application is reviewed, the LVMPD will contact you regarding getting fingerprinted and photographed. The Sheriff's Office will also conduct a thorough background check, which may take up to six months.

If you're approved for a CCW permit, the permit will cost $60 and remain valid for five (5) years.^ix Subsequent renewal permits will cost $25 and are also valid for five years.

If you're approved for a CCW permit and you change your address or if the permit gets lost or stolen, you must notify the sheriff in writing within thirty (30) days.

For more information, contact the LVMPD Concealed Carry Detail at (702) 828-3996.

6) Why would my CCW firearm permit application be denied in Las Vegas, Nevada?

You may be denied a firearm CCW permit in Nevada if:

you have an outstanding arrest warrant

you have a felony conviction or violent misdemeanor convictions, including domestic violence or stalking

you've been judicially declared incompetent or insane

you're a habitual drug or alcohol abuser

you're currently subject to a restraining order, injunction, or other court protective order relating to domestic violence

you're currently on parole or probation

there's a pending entry of a felony conviction or recent suspension of a felony sentence

you have pending criminal charges

you made false statements on the CCW permit application

If you believe your CCW permit application was wrongly denied, you may file a petition in your county's district court for judicial review (Clark County District Court in Clark County). It is recommended you hire an attorney to compose and file your petition.

7) Can I carry a concealed firearm in Nevada if I live out of state?

It depends. Nevada recognizes only a few states' CCW permits, and the list changes on a yearly basis. If you live out-of-state and carry a valid CCW permit from that state, either visit the Nevada Department of Public Safety's out-of-state concealed weapons webpage or call the Nevada Department of Public safety at (775) 684-4808 to inquire if your state currently qualifies.

8) If I move to Nevada, can I still use my old state's CCW permit?

Read the previous question to determine whether your out-of-state CCW permit is currently recognized in Nevada. If it's not, then no, you may not use your old permit in Nevada. If it is, then you have sixty (60) days after you move to Nevada to legally use your old permit. After that, you may only use a permit issued by the Nevada county where you currently reside.^x

9) If I'm an alien in Nevada, can a CCW conviction get me deported?

Carrying a concealed weapon with intent to use it may be a "crime involving moral turpitude" in Nevada, which is a deportable offense. If you're an immigrant or other non-citizen facing Nevada charges for any firearms-related offense, call us at (702) 380-4895 right away. We may be able to help keep you in the country.

Learn more about deportable offense in Nevada here.

Please call us if you need help...

"Charges for carrying concealed weapons in Nevada can carry hefty penalties, so you need a good attorney to defend your rights and ensure you achieve the best outcome possible," explains Las Vegas criminal defense attorney Michael Becker. If you've been arrested for carrying a concealed weapon in Nevada, please phone our Las Vegas Criminal Defense lawyers at (702) 380-4895 for a free consultation.

Return to our Firearms Offenses in Nevada Home Page.

To learn about California concealed weapons laws, go to our informational articleS on Penal Code 12025 PC | Carrying concealed weapons in California and Carrying concealed dirks, daggers, and explosive devices in California.

ⁱEven though you may buy handguns in Nevada without a license, Clark County requires the registration of each handgun you purchase. To learn more about registering your handgun, visit the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department webpage.

ⁱⁱNRS 202.350

ⁱⁱⁱNRS 202.253

^ivNRS 202.350

^vNRS 202.3673

^viNRS 202.350

^viiNRS 202.3673

^viiiNRS 202.3667

^ixNRS 202.366

^xNRS 202.3688

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