Concealed Carry in West Virginia

Yes. Any person may carry a concealed deadly weapon without a license if he or she is at least 18 years of age, a United States citizen or legal resident, and not prohibited from possessing a firearm under W. Va. Code § 61-7-7 or under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) or (n). Excluded (prohibited) persons include anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, people habitually addicted to alcohol or unlawful users of controlled substances, people adjudicated mentally incompetent or involuntarily committed, people unlawfully in the U.S., people dishonorably discharged, people subject to certain domestic violence protective orders, and people convicted of domestic assault or battery. A prohibited person who carries a concealed firearm commits a separate felony (up to 3 years, or up to 10 years for those convicted of violent, sexual or certain drug felonies). The age was lowered from 21 to 18 by HB 4106, effective June 12, 2026, which also repealed § 61-7-3.

The optional state license to carry a concealed deadly weapon (concealed handgun license, CHL), issued by the county sheriff for pistols and revolvers only. Shall-issue: the sheriff 'shall issue' the license unless the application is incomplete, materially false, or the applicant does not meet the requirements, and must act within 45 days once background checks are complete. Applicant must be 21 or older and complete a handgun training course that includes actual live firing of ammunition (waived for renewal applicants who previously qualified). Fee: $50 for residents (apply to the sheriff of one's county) and $100 for nonresidents (apply to any county sheriff). New licenses and renewals are valid for five years from the licensee's most recent birthday. Honorably discharged veterans and certain honorably retired law-enforcement officers are exempt from the fees. Residents 18 to 20 may get a provisional license (fee $15 at application plus $15 before issuance, same training) valid until age 21; it is marked 'NOT NICS EXEMPT'.

By statute, a valid out-of-state handgun permit is honored for concealed carry if the holder is 21 or older, has the permit in immediate possession, is not a West Virginia resident, and the other state honors West Virginia licenses (by notice to the Attorney General or by written reciprocity agreement). The Attorney General's map (as of October 1, 2025) shows every state recognizing West Virginia's CHL except California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington. Separately, nonresidents 18 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm can carry concealed without any permit under permitless carry.

School buses, the buildings and grounds of public primary and secondary schools (and private ones unless the school adopts a written policy allowing firearms), and school-sponsored functions; the premises of any court of law, including family courts (misdemeanor; felony if carried with intent to commit a crime); the State Capitol Complex (except a firearm locked in a vehicle out of view); regional jails, detention and corrections facilities; municipal buildings and, for open or unlicensed carry, municipal recreation facilities where a city ordinance bans weapons; and private property where the owner, lessee or person in control prohibits firearms (refusing to hand over the weapon or leave when asked is a misdemeanor; per the Attorney General no posting is required). On state college campuses, CHL holders may carry concealed, but colleges may restrict carry in listed areas such as large stadium events, daycare centers, residence halls and secured areas.

No permit is needed: any U.S. citizen or legal resident 18 or older who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a concealed handgun, and no separate loaded/unloaded or locked-container rule for vehicles was found. Specific vehicle rules: on the State Capitol Complex a lawful possessor may keep a firearm in a locked vehicle with the weapon out of normal view; in public-school parking areas only a person 21 or older with a valid concealed handgun license may keep a concealed handgun, stored out of view (and the vehicle locked when unoccupied), while others may keep only an unloaded firearm in a vehicle or locked vehicle; in municipal public parking a lawful weapon may be kept in a locked vehicle out of view; and property owners and employers generally may not ban a lawfully possessed firearm kept out of view and locked in a vehicle in a parking lot.