Pistol Permits

Pistol Permits

Concealed Carry Permits

If you’re interested in obtaining a concealed carry permit, please review the requirements and download the necessary forms below. For more detailed information on West Virginia’s laws regarding carrying deadly weapons, please refer to House Bill 4145 on the West Virginia Legislature’s website.

How to Apply

  • Residency Requirement: Applicants must apply in the county in which they reside.

  • Application Availability: Applications can be downloaded here or picked up at the Kanawha County Courthouse in Charleston.

  • Submission: Completed applications must be submitted in person or by mail to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office in Charleston. We cannot accept applications at our detachments.

Required Documents

When submitting your application, you must include:

  1. Completed Application

  2. $50 Non-refundable Application Fee

  3. Firearms Certification Form (Note: certifications from online courses are not accepted)

  4. Copy of the Instructor’s NRA Certification

  5. Copy of Your Driver’s License or Equivalent (must show a photo and your current physical address)

Mailing Address

Please send your completed application and all required documents to the following address:

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
Pistol Permit Processing
409 Virginia St E, Room 120
Charleston, WV 25301

Processing Time

Once your application is received, it will be processed within 45 days. You will be notified by US Mail once the processing is complete. If your application is approved, you will receive a letter with instructions on how to pick up your permit at the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office – Tax Division.

Important Notes

  • Duplex Printing Requirement: Please ensure your printer can print on both sides of the paper (duplex printing). The West Virginia State Police only accepts applications printed on a single sheet of paper (front and back).

For more information, please refer to the official West Virginia concealed carry law and application guidelines linked above.

Forms:

Concealed Weapons Permit Application and Packet – For ages 21 and over

Provisional Concealed Weapons Permit Application – For ages 18-21 ONLY

Concealed Weapons Fee Structure

Concealed Weapons – Change of Address Form

Gun Reciprocity