Open Carry in Utah

Allowed. A person 21 or older who may lawfully possess firearms may openly carry a loaded or unloaded firearm (handgun or long gun) on a public street or other place not prohibited, without a permit; in a vehicle, a handgun may be loaded but a rifle, shotgun or muzzle-loading rifle must be unloaded. A person 18 to 20 without a provisional permit may openly carry only an unloaded firearm in public, a loaded or unloaded handgun in a vehicle, and an unloaded long gun in a vehicle. Without a permit, open carry is not allowed on or about the premises of a college or university (unless responding to an active threat).

Without a permit: a person 21 or older may carry a loaded or unloaded handgun, openly or concealed, in a vehicle they are lawfully present in (own or possess it, or have the possessor's consent), but rifles, shotguns and muzzle-loading rifles must be unloaded. A person 18 to 20 may carry a loaded or unloaded handgun in such a vehicle (concealed carry in a vehicle they are lawfully in is not the under-21 concealed-carry offense) and an unloaded long gun. Carrying a loaded rifle, shotgun or muzzle-loading rifle in any vehicle, or a readily accessible firearm in a vehicle one is not lawfully present in, is a class B misdemeanor unless the person holds a Utah or other state's concealed carry permit. A vehicle's owner may forbid others from carrying in it.

Main places: (1) secure areas established under § 76-8-311.1 where weapons are prohibited and notice is posted; (2) airport secure areas; (3) public or private elementary and secondary schools (class A misdemeanor with a firearm) unless the carrier is 21 or older with a concealed carry permit carrying concealed, or another exception applies (such as a firearm in the carrier's own vehicle); (4) daycare premises, unless the carrier holds a permit or another exception applies; (5) a house of worship or private residence after notice that firearms are prohibited (an infraction); (6) open carry on college and university premises (class C misdemeanor), while permitless carriers may not carry there openly; (7) carrying a readily accessible dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol (at DUI levels) or a controlled substance (class B misdemeanor).