Utah Gun Laws

Concealed & Open Carry

Utah adopted constitutional carry under HB 60, effective May 5, 2021. Persons aged 21 and older (18 for provisional permit holders) who can legally possess a firearm may carry concealed without a permit. Open carry of unloaded firearms (two actions from firing) has been legal without a permit since 2012. Utah issues a Concealed Firearm Permit for reciprocity, which is widely recognized by other states.

Key statute: Utah Code § 76-10-504 — carrying concealed dangerous weapon. Constitutional carry exemptions under § 76-10-523.

Who Cannot Carry

Prohibited persons include: convicted felons, persons adjudicated as mentally defective, persons committed involuntarily to a mental institution, persons under 21 (without a provisional permit), persons convicted of domestic violence, illegal aliens, and persons who are unlawful users of controlled substances.

Prohibited Locations

Utah prohibits carry in: secure areas of airports, courthouses (with security screening), mental health facilities, and federal buildings. Notably, Utah does not prohibit carry in schools (concealed carry permit holders may carry on school grounds), churches, government buildings without security screening, or establishments serving alcohol. Utah has broad state preemption under § 76-10-500.

Purchase Requirements

No permit is required to purchase any firearm. All FFL sales require a NICS background check through the state Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), which conducts its own check in addition to NICS. Private sales do not require a background check. There is no waiting period, no state firearms registry, no assault weapons ban, and no magazine restriction.

Citations

Utah Code Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 5 (weapons); HB 60 (2021).

Sources & official resources