Open Carry in Washington
Whether open carry is legal in Washington, any permit or age rules, and where it is banned.
Short answer: Not banned statewide and no license is required for openly carrying a firearm by a person who may lawfully possess it (but a loaded pistol in a vehicle needs a CPL, and 18-to-20-year-olds may possess pistols only at home, business or property they control). RCW 9.41.270; 9.41.300(2); 9.41.305; 9.41.050(2); 9.41.240(2)
| Open carry | Not banned statewide and no license is required for openly carrying a firearm by a person who may lawfully possess it (but a loaded pistol in a vehicle needs a CPL, and 18-to-20-year-olds may possess pistols only at home, business or property they control). It is a gross misdemeanor to carry, display or draw a firearm in a manner that shows intent to intimidate or 'warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.' Open carry is also banned at permitted demonstrations and on the state capitol grounds and certain municipal buildings. |
|---|---|
| Guns in your car | Without a concealed pistol license, a person may not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle. A CPL holder may have a loaded pistol in a vehicle only if it is on the person, the licensee stays in the vehicle, or the licensee is away and the pistol is locked inside and concealed from view. Anyone 18 or older leaving an unloaded pistol in a vehicle must lock it inside, concealed from view. Carrying a rifle or shotgun with a cartridge in the chamber in a motor vehicle or off-road vehicle is a misdemeanor, with exceptions (for example on-duty officers and certain disability permits). Loaded long guns: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.460 Source: RCW 9.41.050(2)-(3); 77.15.460 |
| Where guns are banned | Main places (RCW 9.41.300(1)): restricted areas of jails and law enforcement facilities; court areas of buildings used for court proceedings; restricted areas of public mental health facilities; areas of bars and other establishments off-limits to people under 21; restricted areas of commercial airports; and, under newer subsections, the premises of public libraries, accredited zoos or aquariums, and transit stations and facilities. Also banned: K-12 school premises, school transportation and school board meetings; licensed child care centers; ballot counting centers, voting centers, student engagement hubs and county elections offices; open carry at permitted demonstrations; open carry on state capitol grounds and certain municipal buildings. The state preempts the field of firearms regulation, with limited local exceptions. School premises: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.280 ; voting facilities: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.284 . Exceptions (for example CPL holders checking a firearm at a jail) apply under RCW 9.41.300(7)-(9). |
More Washington gun laws
- Concealed Carry in Washington
- Buying a Gun in Washington
- Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in Washington
- All Washington gun laws rules
FAQ
Is open carry legal in Washington?
Not banned statewide and no license is required for openly carrying a firearm by a person who may lawfully possess it (but a loaded pistol in a vehicle needs a CPL, and 18-to-20-year-olds may possess pistols only at home, business or property they control). It is a gross misdemeanor to carry, display or draw a firearm in a manner that shows intent to intimidate or 'warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.' Open carry is also banned at permitted demonstrations and on the state capitol grounds and certain municipal buildings.
Can you keep a gun in your car in Washington without a permit?
Without a concealed pistol license, a person may not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle. A CPL holder may have a loaded pistol in a vehicle only if it is on the person, the licensee stays in the vehicle, or the licensee is away and the pistol is locked inside and concealed from view. Anyone 18 or older leaving an unloaded pistol in a vehicle must lock it inside, concealed from view. Carrying a rifle or shotgun with a cartridge in the chamber in a motor vehicle or off-road vehicle is a misdemeanor, with exceptions (for example on-duty officers and certain disability permits).
Where can't you carry a gun in Washington?
Main places (RCW 9.41.300(1)): restricted areas of jails and law enforcement facilities; court areas of buildings used for court proceedings; restricted areas of public mental health facilities; areas of bars and other establishments off-limits to people under 21; restricted areas of commercial airports; and, under newer subsections, the premises of public libraries, accredited zoos or aquariums, and transit stations and facilities. Also banned: K-12 school premises, school transportation and school board meetings; licensed child care centers; ballot counting centers, voting centers, student engagement hubs and county elections offices; open carry at permitted demonstrations; open carry on state capitol grounds and certain municipal buildings. The state preempts the field of firearms regulation, with limited local exceptions.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.