Permit Requirements per CRS 18-12-202.5 and CRS 18-12-203
- Legal resident of Colorado
- 21 years of age or older
- Not a prohibited or ineligible person per state or federal laws
- Not convicted of offenses outlined in CRS 18-12-203
- Does not chronically or habitually use alcohol or addicted to a controlled substance defined in CRS 18-18-102
- Complete a concealed handgun training class provided by a law enforcement training firearms safety course or a verified instructor
- Must physically attend the duration of the course
- Must be at least eight hours in duration for a new permit class and two hours for a refresher class
- Refresher class must cover changes to federal and state laws enacted within the last five years
- Must include an open book written exam with a passing score of eighty percent or higher
- Must include a live fire shooting exam using a minimum of fifty rounds and a passing score of seventy percent or higher
- Must include the elements described in CRS 18-12-205.5
Permit Requirements per CRS 18-12-202.5 and CRS 18-12-203
- Legal resident of Colorado
- 21 years of age or older
- Not a prohibited or ineligible person per state or federal laws
- Not convicted of offenses outlined in CRS 18-12-203
- Does not chronically or habitually use alcohol or addicted to a controlled substance defined in CRS 18-18-102
- Complete a concealed handgun training class provided by a law enforcement training firearms safety course or a verified instructor
- Must physically attend the duration of the course
- Must be at least eight hours in duration for a new permit class and two hours for a refresher class
- Refresher class must cover changes to federal and state laws enacted within the last five years
- Must include an open book written exam with a passing score of eighty percent or higher
- Must include a live fire shooting exam using a minimum of fifty rounds and a passing score of seventy percent or higher
- Must include the elements described in CRS 18-12-205.5
New Requirements per SB25-003 effective August 1, 2026 covered in CRS 18-12-116
Major Changes to Existing Colorado Firearms Laws
- Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale or purchase of almost all centerfire semi-automatic rifles, handguns (except recoil operated), and shotguns using detachable magazines within Colorado except as specified in CRS 18-12-116(1)(d)(II)(E)
- Bans rapid fire trigger devices, i.e. bump stocks and binary triggers
- Requires a special permit to purchase centerfire semi-automatic rifles, handguns (except recoil operated), and shotguns
- Exceptions include
- Military and military contractors
- Law enforcement agencies, federal, state, local, or tribal
- Department of Corrections
- Armored vehicle companies
- Hollywood movie producers
- Gunsmiths for purposes of repair
- Instructor or student of an accredited gunsmithing course in a state authorized institution for education instruction
- Transfers by operation of law or because of death and transfer as part of an estate or trustee of a trust
- Exceptions include
- Training requirements for purchase include:
- Complete hunter safety course certified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife within the last five years
- Complete hunter safety course certified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife over five years ago, plus a basic firearms safety course
- Complete an extended firearms safety course within the last five years
- Completed an extended firearms safety course more than five years ago, and completed a basic firearms safety course with the last five years
- Extended and basic firearms safety courses require:
- Must obtain a firearms safety course eligibility card from the local sheriff (valid for five years)
- Basic firearms safety course must provide a minimum of four hours of instruction
- Extended firearms safety course must provide a minimum of twelve hours spanning at least two days
- Hunter safety withing last five years require 4 hour course
- Pass a final exam in the appropriate safety course with a minimum score of ninety percent or higher