Nevada Gun Laws: Concealed Carry, Open Carry and Buying a Gun
Nevada gun laws: permitless and concealed carry, open carry, the age to buy a gun, background checks, waiting periods, red flag law and where guns are banned, from state statutes.
Quick answers for Nevada
- Permitless (constitutional) carry
- No. Carrying a concealed pistol, revolver or other firearm without a permit is a crime under NRS 202.350(1)(d); a violation involving a firearm is a category C felony. NRS 202.350
- Open carry
- Nevada has no state law that requires a permit to carry a firearm openly. The permit requirement applies to carrying a pistol, revolver or other firearm concealed upon the person, meaning carried so that it is not discernible by ordinary observation. NRS 202.253-202.369 (reviewed); NRS 202.350(1)(d), (8); NRS 202.265
- Age to buy a gun
- A person who sells or barters a pistol, revolver or other firearm capable of being concealed to a child under 18, knowing or with reason to know the child's age (or in reckless disregard of it), is guilty of a category B felony (1 to 6 years and up to $5,000). NRS 202.300, 202.310
- Concealed carry permit
- Permit to carry a concealed firearm (CCW), issued by the county sheriff, who 'shall issue a permit to any person who is qualified to possess a handgun under state and federal law' and meets the requirements (shall-issue). NRS 202.3657(3), (7)(g)-(h); 202.366; 202.3677
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Carrying a gun
| Permitless (constitutional) carry | No. Carrying a concealed pistol, revolver or other firearm without a permit is a crime under NRS 202.350(1)(d); a violation involving a firearm is a category C felony. A concealed carry permit under NRS 202.3653 to 202.369 (or a recognized out-of-state permit) is required, with exemptions for peace officers and on-duty military listed in NRS 202.350(4). Source: NRS 202.350 |
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| Concealed carry permit | Permit to carry a concealed firearm (CCW), issued by the county sheriff, who 'shall issue a permit to any person who is qualified to possess a handgun under state and federal law' and meets the requirements (shall-issue). Age: 'Twenty-one years of age or older', or 18 to 20 if a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, a reserve component or the National Guard, or honorably discharged or released from such service. Training: a firearm safety course approved by a sheriff in Nevada or offered by a law enforcement agency, including 'instruction in the use of handguns' and 'in the laws of this State relating to the use of a firearm.' Fees: the state and FBI background-report rate plus 'a nonrefundable fee set by the sheriff not to exceed $60.' A permit 'expires 5 years after the date on which it is issued.' Renewal: background-report fee plus a $25 fee (late fee $15) and a sheriff-prescribed competence course. |
| Open carry | Nevada has no state law that requires a permit to carry a firearm openly. The permit requirement applies to carrying a pistol, revolver or other firearm concealed upon the person, meaning carried so that it is not discernible by ordinary observation. Place limits still apply, such as the ban on dangerous weapons on school and child care property and in vehicles of a school or child care facility. Reviewed NRS chapter 202, Weapons sections (NRS 202.253 to 202.369, all subheadings incl. the Background Check Act, Dangerous Weapons and Firearms, Untraceable Firearms and Concealed Firearms) and NRS 202.370-202.440 (tear gas weapons) on 2026-10-27; no provision found. |
| Guns in your car | Nevada has no state law that requires a handgun carried in a vehicle by a person without a permit to be unloaded, cased or locked; the concealed-carry permit requirement applies to weapons carried concealed upon the person. Separately, it is unlawful to carry a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun (a cartridge or shell in the firing chamber) in or on a vehicle on or along a public highway or other way open to the public, with exceptions for certain persons with disabilities and on-duty peace officers and military members. Dangerous weapons may not be possessed in a vehicle of a school or child care facility. Reviewed NRS chapter 202, Weapons sections (NRS 202.253 to 202.369, all subheadings incl. the Background Check Act, Dangerous Weapons and Firearms, Untraceable Firearms and Concealed Firearms) and NRS 202.370-202.440 (tear gas weapons) on 2026-10-27; no provision found. Also checked NRS chapter 503 section headings: NRS 503.165 is the only one naming both a vehicle and a firearm. |
| Other states' permits (reciprocity) | Effective July 1, 2026, Nevada recognizes concealed weapons permits from: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho (Enhanced Permit), Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi (Enhanced Permit), Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota (Class 1 only), Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota (Enhanced Permit), Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Each year the Department of Public Safety lists states that require training before issuing a permit and keep an electronic permit database accessible to Nevada officers. An out-of-state permit stops being valid if the holder becomes a Nevada resident and has not obtained a Nevada permit within 60 days. PDF extracted locally with pypdf. |
| Where guns are banned | Without written permission under NRS 202.265, no one may carry or possess a pistol, revolver or other firearm on the property of the Nevada System of Higher Education, a private or public school or a child care facility, or in a school or child care facility vehicle (gross misdemeanor). Permit holders may carry in public buildings generally, but not in a public building on the property of a public airport, a public building on public school or university property (without written permission), or a public building that has 'a metal detector at each public entrance' or a no-firearms sign posted at each public entrance (with exceptions for judges in their courtrooms, prosecutors, employees and those with written permission from the person in control). Violating these rules is a misdemeanor. Source: NRS 202.265, 202.3673 |
Buying a gun
| Age to buy a gun | A person who sells or barters a pistol, revolver or other firearm capable of being concealed to a child under 18, knowing or with reason to know the child's age (or in reckless disregard of it), is guilty of a category B felony (1 to 6 years and up to $5,000). A child under 18 may not handle, possess or control a firearm except under listed exceptions (for example, supervised activities, and some rifles or shotguns for children 14 or older); an adult who aids or knowingly permits a violation commits a misdemeanor for a first offense (category C felony if there is a substantial risk the child will use it in a violent act; category B felony for a second offense). Source: NRS 202.300, 202.310 |
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| Background checks and private sales | Yes. 'Except as otherwise provided in NRS 202.2548, an unlicensed person shall not sell or transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person unless a licensed dealer first conducts a background check on the buyer or transferee.' Both parties must appear together with the firearm at a licensed dealer, who runs the check as if selling from inventory and may charge 'a reasonable fee.' If the buyer is ineligible, the transfer may not be completed. Exceptions include antique firearms, transfers between immediate family members (spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews), temporary transfers to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, and temporary transfers at an established shooting range. Penalty: gross misdemeanor for a first offense; category C felony for a second or later offense. Source: NRS 202.2547, 202.2548, 202.2549 |
| Waiting period | Nevada has no state law that sets a waiting period between buying a firearm and taking delivery. Reviewed NRS chapter 202, Weapons sections (NRS 202.253 to 202.369, all subheadings incl. the Background Check Act, Dangerous Weapons and Firearms, Untraceable Firearms and Concealed Firearms) and NRS 202.370-202.440 (tear gas weapons) on 2026-10-27; no provision found. Source: NRS 202.253-202.369 (reviewed) |
| Ghost guns and homemade firearms | Nevada bans unserialized firearms and unfinished frames or receivers. A person may not sell, offer to sell or transfer, or 'possess, purchase, transport or receive', an unfinished frame or receiver unless the person is a licensed importer or manufacturer or the item bears a federally required serial number. A person may not manufacture or assemble a firearm that lacks a federally issued serial number, or possess, sell, transfer, purchase, transport or receive such a firearm, with exceptions for firearms rendered permanently inoperable, antiques, curios or relics, and (for possession) firearms 'manufactured before 1969.' Penalty for each: gross misdemeanor for a first offense, category D felony for a second or later offense. Sales to an importer, manufacturer or licensed dealer before January 1, 2022 were exempted (NRS 202.3645). |
Red flag law and weapon limits
| Red flag law | Yes. A law enforcement officer, or a family or household member, may file a verified application for an emergency or extended order against a person who poses an imminent risk of injury to self or others by having a firearm. An emergency order lasts for a time fixed by the court 'not to exceed 7 calendar days' (may be extended up to 7 more days for pending service or good cause). An extended order lasts up to 1 year and can be renewed for up to 1 year if a petition is filed at least 3 months before it expires. The person must surrender firearms immediately after service. |
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| Assault weapons and magazine limits | Nevada has no state law that bans assault weapons or limits magazine capacity. It is unlawful to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, receive or possess a device or part (such as a bump stock) that eliminates the need for a separate trigger movement for each shot and materially increases the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm or approximates a machine gun, or a semiautomatic firearm modified that way. Reviewed NRS chapter 202, Weapons sections (NRS 202.253 to 202.369, all subheadings incl. the Background Check Act, Dangerous Weapons and Firearms, Untraceable Firearms and Concealed Firearms) and NRS 202.370-202.440 (tear gas weapons) on 2026-10-27; no provision found. |
Gun Laws FAQ
Is Nevada a constitutional carry state?
No. Carrying a concealed pistol, revolver or other firearm without a permit is a crime under NRS 202.350(1)(d); a violation involving a firearm is a category C felony. A concealed carry permit under NRS 202.3653 to 202.369 (or a recognized out-of-state permit) is required, with exemptions for peace officers and on-duty military listed in NRS 202.350(4).
How do you get a concealed carry permit in Nevada?
Permit to carry a concealed firearm (CCW), issued by the county sheriff, who 'shall issue a permit to any person who is qualified to possess a handgun under state and federal law' and meets the requirements (shall-issue). Age: 'Twenty-one years of age or older', or 18 to 20 if a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, a reserve component or the National Guard, or honorably discharged or released from such service. Training: a firearm safety course approved by a sheriff in Nevada or offered by a law enforcement agency, including 'instruction in the use of handguns' and 'in the laws of this State relating to the use of a firearm.' Fees: the state and FBI background-report rate plus 'a nonrefundable fee set by the sheriff not to exceed $60.' A permit 'expires 5 years after the date on which it is issued.' Renewal: background-report fee plus a $25 fee (late fee $15) and a sheriff-prescribed competence course.
Is open carry legal in Nevada?
Nevada has no state law that requires a permit to carry a firearm openly. The permit requirement applies to carrying a pistol, revolver or other firearm concealed upon the person, meaning carried so that it is not discernible by ordinary observation. Place limits still apply, such as the ban on dangerous weapons on school and child care property and in vehicles of a school or child care facility.
How old do you have to be to buy a gun in Nevada?
A person who sells or barters a pistol, revolver or other firearm capable of being concealed to a child under 18, knowing or with reason to know the child's age (or in reckless disregard of it), is guilty of a category B felony (1 to 6 years and up to $5,000). A child under 18 may not handle, possess or control a firearm except under listed exceptions (for example, supervised activities, and some rifles or shotguns for children 14 or older); an adult who aids or knowingly permits a violation commits a misdemeanor for a first offense (category C felony if there is a substantial risk the child will use it in a violent act; category B felony for a second offense).
Do private gun sales need a background check in Nevada?
Yes. 'Except as otherwise provided in NRS 202.2548, an unlicensed person shall not sell or transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person unless a licensed dealer first conducts a background check on the buyer or transferee.' Both parties must appear together with the firearm at a licensed dealer, who runs the check as if selling from inventory and may charge 'a reasonable fee.' If the buyer is ineligible, the transfer may not be completed. Exceptions include antique firearms, transfers between immediate family members (spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews), temporary transfers to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, and temporary transfers at an established shooting range. Penalty: gross misdemeanor for a first offense; category C felony for a second or later offense.
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun in Nevada?
Nevada has no state law that sets a waiting period between buying a firearm and taking delivery.
Does Nevada have a red flag law?
Yes. A law enforcement officer, or a family or household member, may file a verified application for an emergency or extended order against a person who poses an imminent risk of injury to self or others by having a firearm. An emergency order lasts for a time fixed by the court 'not to exceed 7 calendar days' (may be extended up to 7 more days for pending service or good cause). An extended order lasts up to 1 year and can be renewed for up to 1 year if a petition is filed at least 3 months before it expires. The person must surrender firearms immediately after service.
Does Nevada ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines?
Nevada has no state law that bans assault weapons or limits magazine capacity. It is unlawful to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, receive or possess a device or part (such as a bump stock) that eliminates the need for a separate trigger movement for each shot and materially increases the rate of fire of a semiautomatic firearm or approximates a machine gun, or a semiautomatic firearm modified that way.
Can you keep a gun in your car in Nevada without a permit?
Nevada has no state law that requires a handgun carried in a vehicle by a person without a permit to be unloaded, cased or locked; the concealed-carry permit requirement applies to weapons carried concealed upon the person. Separately, it is unlawful to carry a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun (a cartridge or shell in the firing chamber) in or on a vehicle on or along a public highway or other way open to the public, with exceptions for certain persons with disabilities and on-duty peace officers and military members. Dangerous weapons may not be possessed in a vehicle of a school or child care facility.
Which states' carry permits does Nevada honor?
Effective July 1, 2026, Nevada recognizes concealed weapons permits from: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho (Enhanced Permit), Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi (Enhanced Permit), Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota (Class 1 only), Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota (Enhanced Permit), Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Each year the Department of Public Safety lists states that require training before issuing a permit and keep an electronic permit database accessible to Nevada officers. An out-of-state permit stops being valid if the holder becomes a Nevada resident and has not obtained a Nevada permit within 60 days.
Where can't you carry a gun in Nevada?
Without written permission under NRS 202.265, no one may carry or possess a pistol, revolver or other firearm on the property of the Nevada System of Higher Education, a private or public school or a child care facility, or in a school or child care facility vehicle (gross misdemeanor). Permit holders may carry in public buildings generally, but not in a public building on the property of a public airport, a public building on public school or university property (without written permission), or a public building that has 'a metal detector at each public entrance' or a no-firearms sign posted at each public entrance (with exceptions for judges in their courtrooms, prosecutors, employees and those with written permission from the person in control). Violating these rules is a misdemeanor.
Are ghost guns legal in Nevada?
Nevada bans unserialized firearms and unfinished frames or receivers. A person may not sell, offer to sell or transfer, or 'possess, purchase, transport or receive', an unfinished frame or receiver unless the person is a licensed importer or manufacturer or the item bears a federally required serial number. A person may not manufacture or assemble a firearm that lacks a federally issued serial number, or possess, sell, transfer, purchase, transport or receive such a firearm, with exceptions for firearms rendered permanently inoperable, antiques, curios or relics, and (for possession) firearms 'manufactured before 1969.' Penalty for each: gross misdemeanor for a first offense, category D felony for a second or later offense.
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