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Louisiana Concealed Carry Permit

Louisiana allows permitless carry for non-prohibited adults 18+. A CHP is still available and is what other states recognize.

Permitless carry is legal in Louisiana

A non-prohibited adult aged 18 or older may carry a concealed handgun without a permit (since 2024). CONFIRMED from the current statutory text on the Louisiana Legislature's site. R.S. 14:95(M) reads: 'The provisions of Subparagraph (A)(1)(a) of this Section shall not apply to any person who is eighteen years of age or older and is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under R.S. 14:95.1, 18 U.S.C. 922(g), or any other state or federal law.' R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(2)(a) confirms: 'A person who meets the qualifications of R.S. 14:95(M) shall not be required to possess a valid concealed handgun permit issued by the state of Louisiana ... in order to carry a concealed handgun in the state of Louisiana,' and (B)(2)(b) provides that such a person 'shall be deemed to have certified that he meets all of the conditions required in R.S. 14:95(M).' No training, application, fee, or state residency is required. Permitless carriers are NOT unrestricted: R.S. 14:95(N) subjects them to R.S. 40:1379.3(I), (L), (M), (N), and (O) — i.e. the same alcohol/drug prohibition (no carry while impaired; .05% BAC threshold), the duty to notify an approaching officer, submit to a pat-down and be temporarily disarmed, and all the statutory off-limits locations (schools, courthouses, police stations, detention facilities, the state capitol, bars/places whose primary purpose is serving alcohol, polling places, churches/synagogues/mosques with limited exceptions, parades/demonstrations, private property posted or where consent is refused, etc.). Carrying with no permit gives no reciprocity in other states and does not satisfy the 18 U.S.C. 922(t) NICS-exemption. IMPORTANT: the LSP 'Legislative News and Reports' page is out of date — it still describes the narrower 2022 version of R.S. 14:95(M) (Act 680 of 2022), which applied only to Louisiana residents 21+ who were current or honorably-discharged military. That version was superseded by Act 1 of the 2024 Second Extraordinary Session. The statute controls.

Getting the permit anyway is still worth it for most people: other states recognize the permit, not your residency, so without one you generally cannot carry across state lines.

La. R.S. 14:95(M) and (N), as enacted/amended by Acts 2024, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 1, §1, eff. July 4, 2024; see also La. R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(2)

There are 8 details on this page we could not confirm from a primary source. Read what they are before relying on this.

Requirements at a glance

Permit name Concealed Handgun Permit
Issuing authority Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Public Safety Services — Office of State Police (Louisiana State Police), Concealed Handgun Permit Unit; permits are issued by the deputy secretary of public safety services
System shall-issue
Minimum age 21 — 21 is the minimum age for the Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit — La. R.S. 40:1379.3(C)(4): an applicant shall 'Be twenty-one years of age or older.' There is no reduced permit age for military members. Separately, permitless concealed carry is lawful at 18 under R.S. 14:95(M), so an 18-20 year-old may carry concealed in Louisiana but cannot obtain the permit.
Training required Yes — 9 hours, live fire required
State fee $125 initial / $125 renewal — the state's own charge, not the total
Valid for 5 years
Processing time Not published. LSP states only that 'Processing times are determined by certain factors that vary with each application' and directs applicants to check status at https://chp.la.gov/. The statute imposes no issuance deadline; R.S. 40:1379.3(H)(1) requires the deputy secretary to notify the local chief of police and parish chief law enforcement officer within two working days of the initial application, and those officers have ten days to respond, and (H)(2) requires the permit to be issued 'timely and without delay' to all qualified applicants. LSP asks that renewal applications be returned no less than 90 days before permit expiration; renewal notices go out about 120 days before expiration.
Fingerprints Required
Non-resident permit Available

What it actually costs

The state fee is rarely the whole bill. Fingerprinting is usually charged by a private vendor, training is bought from an instructor, and several states add photographs, notarisation or other requirements on top.

State fee $125
Fingerprinting $15–$45 — our estimate; no vendor publishes a rate
Training course $75–$250 (private instructor)
First-time applicant fee $50 — unless resident for the 15 preceding years; not charged at renewal
Non-resident permit $250 — double the resident fee; lifetime $1,000
Realistic total $215–$420 — includes an estimated component

R.S. 40:1379.3(H)(2) prices the permit by the year — 'twenty-five dollars per year' for five years — which makes Louisiana's $125 unusually legible, and the lifetime permit at $500 is twenty prepaid years on the same arithmetic. Applicants 65 or older and active-duty military pay half; honorably discharged veterans pay nothing. The 9-hour course from LAC 55:I.1311.A.1 is required for the permit only: permitless carry has been lawful since 2024 and costs nothing.

From the LSP CHP Fees page (all fees non-refundable; no cash or personal checks). RESIDENT: 5-year $125.00; lifetime $500.00. NON-RESIDENT: 5-year $250.00; lifetime $1,000.00. Age 65+ OR active-duty military: half price — resident 5-year $62.50 / lifetime $250.00; non-resident 5-year $125.00 / lifetime $500.00. Honorably discharged VETERANS are exempt from all permit fees (R.S. 40:1379.3(W)(2)). Additional non-refundable $50 first-time-applicant fee if the applicant has not continuously resided in Louisiana for the 15 years immediately preceding receipt of the application (not charged on renewals, and not reduced by the 65+/military discount). RENEWAL fees are the same as an original minus that $50 fee if it was already paid (LSP FAQ, citing LAC 55:I.1307.D.1). Statutory basis: R.S. 40:1379.3(H)(2) sets the permit at 'a term of five years, at a cost of twenty-five dollars per year' ($125); R.S. 40:1379.3(V)(7) sets the lifetime permit at 20 prepaid years ($500), or 10 prepaid years ($250) if 65+; R.S. 40:1379.3(W)(1) gives active/reserve military half the annual fee. Permitless carry costs nothing.

How to apply

  1. Confirm you qualify: 21 or older, meet all eligibility criteria in La. R.S. 40:1379.3(C), and are not federally or state prohibited. (No permit is needed merely to carry concealed in Louisiana if you are 18+ and non-prohibited — see R.S. 14:95(M).)
  2. Complete a qualifying handgun training course from a POST/NRA/USCCA/FLETC-certified instructor registered with the department — typically the 9-hour DPS&C-approved course with 2 hours live range fire (LAC 55:I.1311.A). Find a registered instructor at https://chp.la.gov/searchLicense.aspx. Training must generally be within the preceding 12 months. Keep the certificate of completion.
  3. Apply: online through the CHP portal at https://chp.la.gov/ (preferred), or download the paper application from lsp.org, or obtain one in person at LSP Headquarters, 7919 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mon-Fri). Paper affidavits must be notarized within 60 days of the application date; do not submit photocopied or double-sided applications.
  4. Attach required documentation: proof of training; photocopy of a valid driver's license or state ID (if issued within the past 6 months, add a US passport, Louisiana voter registration card, or other proof of residency per LAC 55:I.1307.B.4); certified true copies of final court dispositions for every arrest, detention, charge, or litigation — including expunged, dismissed, or pardoned matters; divorce settlement/decree/final judgment if applicable; DD-214 / DD-256 / DD-257 for military service or the veteran fee exemption; recent orders or military ID for the military discount; and a completed Medical Summary (form chmedical.pdf) signed by a treating physician or medical doctor if application questions 13-19 apply.
  5. Submit fingerprints electronically AFTER submitting the application, through the Louisiana Applicant Processing Solution (IdentoGo, https://uenroll.identogo.com/) using Service Code 27KBNN. New fingerprints are required for original/first-time applicants; old prints on file may not be accepted. Fingerprints are not required for renewals if prints are already on file.
  6. Pay the fee. Online applicants receive an email with a credit-card payment link once the application is accepted and must pay within 30 days or the application is purged from the system. Accepted methods: money order, cashier's check, certified check, or credit card. No cash, no personal checks. All fees are non-refundable.
  7. Mail any paper application and documents to: Louisiana State Police, Concealed Handgun Permit Unit, PO Box 66375, Baton Rouge, LA 70896.
  8. LSP notifies the chief of police of the applicant's municipality and the parish chief law enforcement officer within two working days; those officers have 10 days to submit qualifying information. LSP then runs a full background investigation (R.S. 40:1379.3(K)).
  9. Check status via the 'Search Application' tab at https://chp.la.gov/, or contact the CHP Unit at (225) 925-4867.
  10. RENEWAL: LSP emails a notice about 120 days before expiration. Complete renewal training (required of all permit holders), then submit the renewal application with the new training certificate, a photocopy of your driver's license, and the fee — LSP asks for this no less than 90 days before expiration. Return your expired permit; permits remain department property (LAC 55:I.1309.F).
  11. LIFETIME PERMIT RECERTIFICATION: every five years, upload a current training certificate and driver's license/ID to your CHP Portal profile (no new application needed). Failure suspends the lifetime permit until proof is submitted.

Apply on the official Louisiana site

What disqualifies you

Where to get the required training

Louisiana publishes an official list of certified instructors. That list is authoritative — a certificate from an instructor who is not on it may not be accepted. View the official instructor list

Training providers in Louisiana

Businesses in our directory that offer firearms training. These are not state-verified as certified permit instructors — check against the official list above, or ask the provider directly.

All firearms training in Louisiana →

Reciprocity

Carrying into Louisiana

Louisiana recognizes permits from 37 other jurisdictions.

Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming

34 jurisdictions honor a Louisiana permit

Derived from what each of those states officially publishes.

Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming

Official Louisiana reciprocity page Full reciprocity matrix →

Building your own in Louisiana

Build for personal use
Allowed
Serial number required
No

Louisiana has no state statute prohibiting an individual from building a firearm for personal use, and no state law requiring a serial number or state registration on a self-made firearm. Primary-source basis: (1) R.S. 14:95.7(A) makes it a felony to receive, possess, carry, conceal, buy, sell, or transport a firearm 'from which the serial number or mark of identification has been obliterated' — but subsection (B) expressly provides that the section 'shall not apply to any firearm ... which was originally manufactured without such a number.' A never-serialized homemade firearm therefore falls outside the offense; obliterating an existing serial does not. (2) Louisiana's only firearm registration scheme, R.S. 40:1781 et seq., is an NFA-mirror: the defined 'firearm' covers short-barreled shotguns/rifles, weapons modified under 26 inches overall, machine guns, grenade/rocket launchers, bazookas, gas grenades, silencers/mufflers, and any concealable pistol/revolver/shotgun with an OBLITERATED serial number. R.S. 40:1781(3) then states that 'Pistols and revolvers and those rifles and shotguns which have not previously been defined in this Paragraph as firearms from which serial numbers or marks of identification have not been obliterated are specifically exempt from this definition.' An ordinary homemade pistol or rifle with no serial number is thus outside the registration Part. LSP's own FAQ confirms: 'Per LRS 40:1781(3), Louisiana law does not require registration of a concealable weapon unless the serial number is obliterated.' (3) R.S. 40:1785 prohibits possessing a Part-II 'firearm' not registered or transferred in accordance with 18 U.S.C. or 26 U.S.C. — so a homemade NFA-class item (suppressor, SBR, SBS, machine gun) still requires federal registration and is a state crime if unregistered federally. (4) R.S. 40:1796 preempts political subdivisions from regulating the manufacture, registration, or possession of firearms more restrictively than state law, so no parish or city may impose a serialization or registration requirement. CAVEATS: state permissiveness does not displace federal law. Manufacturing for sale or distribution requires a federal manufacturer's license; ATF Final Rule 2021R-05F treats certain unfinished frames/receivers as 'firearms' requiring serialization when transferred through a licensee; the Undetectable Firearms Act (18 U.S.C. 922(p)) bans firearms that cannot be detected by a walk-through metal detector; and anyone federally prohibited may not make or possess a firearm at all (R.S. 14:95.1, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)). I found no Louisiana act through the 2025 Regular Session imposing a serialization or registration requirement on privately made firearms.

La. R.S. 14:95.7(B); La. R.S. 40:1781(3) and 40:1782 (Title 40, Ch. 9, Part II — Registration); La. R.S. 40:1785; La. R.S. 40:1796

Federal law, gunsmithing schools, and tools →

Statutes

What we could not confirm

  • The LSP 'Legislative News and Reports' page (https://lsp.org/about/leadershipsections/support/bcii/concealed-handgun-information/legislative-news-and-reports/) is STALE: it still describes the 2022 version of R.S. 14:95(M) (Act 680 of 2022), under which permitless carry was limited to Louisiana residents 21+ who were current/reserve military or honorably discharged veterans carrying proof. The current statutory text on legis.la.gov — amended by Acts 2024, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 1, eff. July 4, 2024 — is the broad 18+ non-prohibited-person exemption. I relied on the statute, which controls, but a reader consulting only that LSP page would get the wrong answer. Flagged rather than resolved because LSP has not corrected the page.
  • The non-resident fee amounts ($250 five-year / $1,000 lifetime) are published on the current LSP CHP Fees page but I could not locate their legal source. R.S. 40:1379.3(H)(2) sets a flat $25/year with no resident/non-resident distinction, and the posted LAC booklet (LAC 55:I.1307.B.14) lists only $125 / $500. Acts 2025, No. 273 repealed the residency requirements in R.S. 40:1379.3(C)(3) and (V)(6), which is presumably when non-resident permits and a doubled fee were introduced by rule, but I could not fetch the amended rule text or the Act's fee provision. Treat the LSP-published amounts as operative but the authority as unconfirmed.
  • The posted 'Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit Laws and Administrative Rules' booklet carries no revision date and predates at least the 2025 statutory amendments (it does not reflect the repeal of the residency requirement or the non-resident fee tier). The 9-hour training figure comes from that booklet's copy of LAC 55:I.1311.A.1; I could not independently confirm against a dated Office of State Register version of the LAC that the hour requirement has not been amended since.
  • LAC 55:I.1311.B (renewal training) enumerates required subject matter but states no total hour count, so no renewal hour figure is reported.
  • The LSP reciprocity page carries no 'last updated' date. Its 37-state honored list is reported verbatim. Connecticut appears on NEITHER the honored list nor the 'do not honor' list, and the District of Columbia and US territories are absent entirely, so Louisiana's treatment of CT and DC permits is not stated by the official source. Because R.S. 40:1379.3(T)(2) makes recognition automatic and mutual (Louisiana recognizes a state's permit if Louisiana's permit is valid there), the operative legal test can shift without the LSP page changing.
  • Reciprocal recognition under R.S. 40:1379.3(T)(2) applies only to out-of-state permit holders who have 'attained the age of twenty-one years,' so an 18-20 year-old with a valid out-of-state permit is not covered by reciprocity — though such a person may still carry under Louisiana's own R.S. 14:95(M) if non-prohibited. I could not find LSP guidance addressing this interaction.
  • No published processing time exists for the permit; LSP says only that it varies. The field reflects that absence rather than an estimate.
  • WebSearch was unavailable for this session (budget exhausted), so I could not sweep for very recent (2026 session) legislation or newly posted agency guidance. Everything reported was verified by direct fetch of lsp.org, chp.la.gov, and legis.la.gov. The statutory text I read carries amendment history through Acts 2025, No. 420 (R.S. 14:95) and Acts 2025, No. 273 (R.S. 40:1379.3), so it is current at least through the 2025 Regular Session; I could not verify whether any 2026 Regular Session act has since changed these provisions.

Sources