Do You Still Need a Concealed Carry License in Florida?
Short answer: if you are eligible, Florida no longer requires a license to carry a concealed firearm. A license is still available, and it is still worth having for several reasons.
Florida's permitless carry law took effect on July 1, 2023. Under section 790.01 of the Florida Statutes, a person who meets the license eligibility criteria in section 790.06 (other than the training requirement) may carry concealed without a license.
What did not change
You still have to be eligible. The eligibility rules did not loosen. You must be 21 or older, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have none of the disqualifiers the statute lists, such as a felony conviction, a recent controlled-substance conviction, certain mental-health commitments, or a domestic violence injunction.
The places you cannot carry did not change. Police stations, courthouses, polling places, schools, government meetings, airport passenger terminals, and the parts of bars devoted mainly to drinking all stay off limits. See our guide to where you can't carry.
Training is not required by the new law, but it is still the smart move. The law removed the paperwork. It did not remove the responsibility. Nobody is born knowing safe handling, storage, or when the law allows deadly force.
What about open carry?
In September 2025, a Florida appeals court ruled in McDaniels v. State that the state's ban on openly carrying a firearm (section 790.053) violates the Second Amendment, and the Attorney General told prosecutors to stop enforcing it. Eligible adults can now carry openly as well as concealed. The ban on displaying a firearm in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner (section 790.10) still applies, as do the off-limits places and the right of private property owners to say no firearms. Court rulings can be appealed, so check the current status before you rely on this.
Why a license still matters
Other states. Many states honor a Florida license. A person carrying under permitless carry does not hold a license for another state to honor. Which states recognize Florida changes, so check the current list before you travel.
Buying a firearm. Florida's three-day waiting period on firearm purchases does not apply to concealed license holders (section 790.0655(2)). A license holder is also exempt from the dealer's state records check under section 790.065(1)(b). Confirm with the dealer how they handle it.
Proof of training. A license is proof that you met the state's eligibility requirements, which include a training or competence showing.
Clear paperwork. A license is a card in your wallet. Florida law requires a licensee to carry valid identification and display it on demand (section 790.06(1)).
Who we recommend get one
Anyone who travels out of state and wants to carry.
Anyone who plans to buy firearms, so the waiting period does not apply to them.
Anyone who wants formal training and a record of it.
Who might skip it
Someone who will never carry, never travel with a firearm, and is not buying handguns may decide a license isn't worth the application. Even then, a training class is worth taking.
What to do next
Read our step-by-step guide to the Florida concealed weapons license, then book a class. Our permit class covers the training the state accepts, plus the law, safe storage, and range time. Text (305) 791-4249 or email info@topshotmiami.com.
General information, not legal advice. Laws and court rulings change. Consult a Florida attorney about your situation. Last reviewed October 3, 2026.
Sources: Florida Statutes 790.01, 790.06, 790.0655, 790.065 and 790.10 (flsenate.gov); McDaniels v. State (Fla. 1st DCA 2025).
More free guides: Free Firearms Resources From Miami Instructors
Comments