In Minnesota, Citizens With Firearm Permits Can Openly Carry Handguns
✍️ Editor: Sudhir Choudhary
📅 January 25, 2026
State Law Requires Permit to Carry a Handgun
Under Minnesota state law, individuals must obtain a valid permit to carry a handgun in public, but they are allowed to openly carry the firearm once permitted. The permit requirement applies whether the handgun is carried openly in plain view or concealed under clothing. Permits to carry are issued by county sheriffs and are generally valid for five years once granted. Applicants must meet statutory criteria, including evidence of training in safe handgun use and completion of an application.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) oversees firearms permitting processes, and once the permit is issued, the holder may openly carry a handgun on their person or in a vehicle. The law does not require that the handgun remain concealed for legal public carry.
Permit Requirements and Restrictions
To obtain a permit to carry a handgun in Minnesota, applicants must:
- Be at least 21 years of age and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Provide proof of training in the safe use of a pistol from a certified instructor.
- Submit a completed permit application to their county sheriff’s office, which has statutory deadlines for processing.
- Not be otherwise prohibited by law from possessing firearms.
Permits allow the holder to carry the handgun openly or concealed, but they do not override all location restrictions. For example, federal and state laws still apply that prohibit firearms in certain places such as schools, courthouses, and other designated areas, and private property owners may restrict firearms on their premises.
Open Carry With a Permit
Minnesota’s law explicitly allows open carry of a handgun with a permit to carry — meaning that permit holders may visibly carry a handgun in public places without concealing it. This regulatory framework places Minnesota among states that regulate open carry by requiring a permit rather than allowing “permitless” or constitutional carry.
Context of Firearm Laws in the State
Minnesota’s firearms laws also include provisions for training, background checks related to permitting, and limitations on carrying firearms in specific locations. Open carrying without a permit — that is, without a Permit to Carry issued under §624.714 — is not lawful for handguns under state statute, even if a person owns the firearm.
State law also regulates how permits are displayed and commands that permit holders must produce the permit and identification upon request by law enforcement. Failure to do so can result in minor penalties.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unchanged
It is confirmed that Minnesota allows citizens with a valid permit to carry a handgun openly or concealed in public. It is also confirmed that the permit must be obtained prior to carrying, and that various restrictions on where firearms can be carried remain in effect. What has not changed is that Minnesota does not allow handgun carry without the required permit, meaning residents and non-residents alike must apply for and receive a permit to lawfully bear a handgun in public.
Sources:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety firearms permit information; Giffords Law Center; Minnesota statutory law.
Tags: Minnesota, firearms law, open carry, handgun permit, gun policy
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