New York Gun Laws 2026
To buy a handgun in New York you need a pistol license before any dealer can transfer one to you. A semiautomatic rifle needs a separate semiautomatic rifle license, a requirement since September 4, 2022. Both licenses require you to be 21. Outside New York City, other rifles and shotguns need no state license. In New York City the police department issues a separate rifle and shotgun permit. Carry licenses come from a licensing officer, and dealers run every sale through the New York State Police.
Buying a gun
A pistol license must cover a handgun before a dealer can transfer it to you, and the gun is then added to that license. The county licensing officer issues the pistol license. Since September 4, 2022, buying or taking possession of a semiautomatic rifle requires a New York semiautomatic rifle license. The minimum age for both the pistol license and the semiautomatic rifle license is 21.
Outside New York City, other rifles and shotguns need no state license. In New York City, the police department issues a separate rifle and shotgun permit for them.
Buying online and shipping to a New York dealer
New York Gun Shop ships handguns, rifles and shotguns to the New York FFL dealer you choose. You finish the paperwork and background check at that dealer, and the dealer runs the sale through the New York State Police. A handgun still needs a pistol license in place before the transfer, and the gun is added to that license once it arrives.
Optics, parts and accessories ship to your door. Ammunition does not. New York requires a background check and an in-person transfer through a registered ammunition seller or licensed dealer, so ammunition cannot be shipped straight to a buyer in the state.
Carrying a gun and permits
New York issues concealed carry licenses through a licensing officer. Outside New York City, Nassau and Suffolk, the licensing officer is a judge or justice of a court of record, and applications are filed with the county clerk or the sheriff's pistol permit office. New York City licenses come from the police commissioner. Nassau County licenses come from its police commissioner. In Suffolk County the sheriff or the county police issue them, depending on the town.
Applicants must be 21, complete 16 hours of classroom training and 2 hours of live fire, sit an in-person interview, and give four character references.
Hunting rules
Deer hunting is split into a Northern Zone and a Southern Zone, and each zone is divided into Wildlife Management Units. The Northern Zone regular firearms season opens in late October. The Southern Zone opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving and runs into mid-December, with bow and muzzleloader seasons on either side. Confirm the 2026-27 dates for your unit in the current Department of Environmental Conservation hunting regulations.
Rifles may not be used for hunting on Long Island or in Westchester County. A few units, including 4J and 8C, are bow and crossbow only for deer. Check the DEC legal implements map for your county before choosing a firearm. Antlerless harvest is managed through Deer Management Permits.
Waterfowl hunting requires a New York hunting license, a federal duck stamp and free HIP registration, with season dates set by the waterfowl zone you are in. Eurasian boar may not be hunted, taken or possessed in New York. Report any sighting to the Department of Environmental Conservation rather than shooting at it.
Requirements at a glance
| Item | Buying | Carrying |
|---|---|---|
| Permit or license | Pistol license for handguns; semiautomatic rifle license for semiautomatic rifles | Concealed carry license |
| Issued by | County licensing officer (pistol license); New York City police department (rifle and shotgun permit in the city) | Licensing officer: a judge or justice of a court of record in most of the state; New York City police commissioner; Nassau County police commissioner; Suffolk County sheriff or county police |
| Minimum age | 21 | 21 |
| Transfer or steps | Dealer transfer through a New York FFL, with the sale run through the New York State Police | Classroom and live-fire training, in-person interview, four character references |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to buy a handgun in New York?
Yes. New York requires a pistol license before you may possess a handgun at all, so the license has to be in hand before a dealer can transfer one to you. Apply through the county licensing officer for your county.
Who issues a carry license outside New York City?
Outside New York City, Nassau and Suffolk, the licensing officer is a judge or justice of a court of record in the county. Applications are filed with the county clerk or the sheriff's pistol permit office.
Can a gun be shipped straight to my home?
No. Handguns, rifles and shotguns go to a licensed FFL dealer in New York that you choose, where you finish the paperwork and background check. Optics, parts and accessories ship to your door.
Can ammunition be delivered to a New York address?
No. New York requires a background check and an in-person transfer through a registered ammunition seller or licensed dealer, so ammunition cannot be shipped directly to a buyer in the state.
Laws change; confirm current rules with the state agencies named on this page.
Official sources
Rules and forms come from these agencies. Check them for the current version before you order; last reviewed October 2026.
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
