Washington Gun Laws & Concealed Carry Reciprocity (2026)
Quick answer: Washington (WA) is a shall-issue permit state meaning you need a permit (Concealed Pistol License) to carry concealed. Washington honors permits from 10 states (list below). Your Washington permit is honored in 4 states and 29 more are permitless allowing carry in 33 states total.
📌 Reviewed against official sources: August 14, 2026 · By James Nicholas
Where your Washington permit works (carry out)
With a Washington-issued resident permit you can legally carry in 33 states: 4 honor the permit itself and 29 are permitless-carry states where eligible visitors need no permit at all.
✅ Permitless — no permit needed (29)
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNew HampshireNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontWest VirginiaWyoming
✅ Honor your Washington permit (4)
Whose permits does Washington honor? (carry in)
Washington honors resident permits from 10 states:
Conditions:
- Idaho: Enhanced only
- Kansas: standard only
- Montana: enhanced only
- North Dakota: Class 1 only
- South Dakota: unrestricted Enhanced/Gold only
- Utah: standard only (no provisional)
Per WA AG under RCW 9.41.073 (page updated 2026-07-10): only states that honor WA CPLs, issue only at 21+, and require fingerprint-based background checks.
Key Washington carry restrictions
- No duty to inform law enforcement
- Ban on manufacture/import/distribution/sale of magazines >10 rounds (eff. 2022-07-01); pre-ban possession grandfathered
- Loaded pistol in a vehicle requires a valid CPL; must be on person or locked/concealed if licensee leaves vehicle
- Expanded sensitive places: schools, child care, courts, transit stations, libraries, zoos/aquariums, restricted airport areas, Capitol grounds
- Permit-to-purchase: 2025 HB 1163 (ch. 370) signed May 20, 2025, takes effect May 1, 2027. Assault-weapons sale/manufacture/import ban (2023 HB 1240) in effect since April 25, 2023 with multiple injunction attempts failed
Duty to inform police: No.
Washington permit basics
Concealed Pistol License (CPL) County sheriffs / city police; non-residents may apply in person at any WA local law-enforcement agency. Minimum age: 21.
Washington carry FAQ
Can you conceal carry in Washington without a permit?
No. Washington requires a permit (Concealed Pistol License) to carry a concealed handgun. It is a shall-issue permit state.
What states honor a Washington (WA) carry permit?
A Washington resident permit is honored in 4 states, and 29 more states have permitless carry where no permit is needed — 33 states total. See the full lists on this page or use our interactive reciprocity map.
Does Washington recognize out-of-state concealed carry permits?
Washington honors resident permits from 10 states. Check the list on this page — some entries carry permit-type or age conditions.
Can I carry in Oregon with a Washington permit?
No — Oregon does not honor a Washington permit.
Is there a duty to inform police in Washington?
No.
Official sources
- app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary
- atg.wa.gov/concealed-weapon-reciprocity
- handgunlaw.us/states/washington.pdf
Facts on this page were checked against the sources above on August 14, 2026 — including a dedicated primary-source verification pass against state statutes, attorney general and state police pages. Spot an error or a law change? Tell us and we’ll fix it fast.
Related states & resources
Neighboring states: Oregon, Idaho.
Tools: Interactive Reciprocity Map · Concealed Carry Reciprocity Guide · Concealed Carry by State · 2A Legal Glossary · carry gear reviews at Popular EDC.
Not legal advice. Freedom’s Lodge and Brand Avalanche Media are not attorneys; this page is general educational information, verified against the official sources above as of August 14, 2026 and subject to change at any time. Confirm current law with the official state source and/or a licensed attorney before carrying. See our full legal disclaimer and how we verify this data.