District of Columbia permit requirements

Official-source summary. Values we could not confirm are labelled, never filled with assumptions.

At a glance

Permit required to carry

Yes

Permit currently issued

Yes

Issuance structure

Shall Issue

Issuing level

Local

Minimum age

Training

18 hours

Live fire

Required

Application fee

110 USD

Permit term

2 years

Residency required

Yes. DC resident, or a non-resident who works in DC or holds a valid carry permit from another state. Confirm with the issuing agency

Processing time

90 days Confirm with the issuing agency

Some current details are not fully confirmed. Verify dates, fees, and requirements on the official page before relying on them.

Issuing agency: Metropolitan Police Department

Source: Metropolitan Police Department — last checked 2026-10-04

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What to know in District of Columbia

District of Columbia is listed as a shall-issue state: local offices handle applications, so the office you use depends on where you live. The issuing agency is Metropolitan Police Department.

The minimum age to apply is 21. The required training course in District of Columbia is 18 hours. Live-fire shooting is part of the course. The application fee is 110 USD. A new permit lasts 2 years.

We found no District of Columbia rule that lets you keep carrying on an expired permit while a renewal is pending, so renew before the date on your card. A lost or stolen District of Columbia permit is replaced with a request form sent to the issuing agency. After a move or name change, tell the issuing agency within 10 days. Confirm with the issuing agency

Official page: Metropolitan Police Department · Reciprocity: where a District of Columbia permit is honored

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