Gun laws in Utah regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Utah in the United States.
Utah's firearm laws are some of the more permissive in the United States. A 2013 study ranked Utah as the lowest among all 50 states in the category of gun control legislation.Eric W. Fleegler, MD, MPH; Lois K. Lee, MD, MPH; Michael C. Monuteaux, ScD; David Hemenway, PhD; Rebekah Mannix, MD, MPH. Firearm Legislation and Firearm-Related Fatalities in the United States. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2013 Under Utah law, violent crimes with firearms, criminal possession of firearms, and criminal negligence with firearms may all be prosecuted as felonies, and strictly punished under state law. Being part of the Western United States and Rocky Mountain States, Utah is home to a strong gun culture.
Summary table Subject / law Longguns Handguns Relevant statutes Notes State permit required to purchase? No No Firearm registration? No No Assault weapon law? No No Magazine capacity restriction? No No Owner license required? No No Permit required for concealed carry? N/A no https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53/Chapter5A/53-5a-S102.2.html Concealed carrying a long gun, shotgun, or muzzleloader is prohibited without a valid permit. Those above 21 or with a valid permit may concealed carry a loaded or unloaded handgun, except in prohibited areas. A concealed carry permit is available to anyone above 18 without a felony or certain violent convictions who doesn’t engage in criminal or risky behavior, such as drug use or excessive drinking. Permits lift restrictions for carry in or around public schools or higher education. They also affords other rights, such as allowing possession of a loaded long gun in vehicle and the waiving of background checks when purchasing from licensed firearms dealer. Permit required for open carry? n/a no https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53/Chapter5A/53-5a-S102.2.html Under laws enacted in 05/07/2025, one may not open carry a loaded long gun, shotgun, or muzzleloader in a vehicle. Those above 21 years old without a permit or between 18-20 possessing a valid CWP may open carry a loaded firearm in unprohibited areas. Exceptions allow for lawfully carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle one owns or is allowed in, and open carrying of unloaded weapons, for anyone above 18 and in legal possession of the firearm. Castle Doctrine law? Yes Yes UT Code § 76-2-405 Force in defense of habitation. "(1) A person is justified in using force against another when and to the extent that he reasonably believes that the force is necessary to prevent or terminate the other's unlawful entry into or attack upon his habitation; however, he is justified in the use of force which is intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily injury only if: (a) the entry is made or attempted in a violent and tumultuous manner, surreptitiously, or by stealth, and he reasonably believes that the entry is attempted or made for the purpose of assaulting or offering personal violence to any person, dwelling, or being in the habitation and he reasonably believes that the force is necessary to prevent the assault or offer of personal violence; or (b) he reasonably believes that the entry is made or attempted for the purpose of committing a felony in the habitation and that the force is necessary to prevent the commission of the felony. (2) The person using force or deadly force in defense of habitation is presumed for the purpose of both civil and criminal cases to have acted reasonably and had a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or serious bodily injury if the entry or attempted entry is unlawful and is made or attempted by use of force, or in a violent and tumultuous manner, or surreptitiously or by stealth, or for the purpose of committing a felony." Stand Your Ground law? Yes Yes UT Code § 76-2-402 Force in defense of person – Forcible felony defined. "(1) (a) A person is justified in threatening or using force against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that force or a threat of force is necessary to defend the person or a third person against another person's imminent use of unlawful force. (b) A person is justified in using force intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily injury only if the person reasonably believes that force is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to the person or a third person as a result of another person's imminent use of unlawful force, or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony." State preemption of local restrictions? Yes Yes UT Code § 53-5a-102UT Code § 76-10-500 NFA weapons restricted? No No Shall certify? Yes Yes UT Code § 53-5a-104 Shall certify within 15 days. Peaceable Journey laws? Yes Yes UT Code § 76-10-523(4) Background checks required for private sales? No No
Overview Utah allows for open carry of unloaded firearms without a concealed firearm permit. "Unloaded" as it applies here, means that there is no round in the firing position (or chamber),Utah Code 76-10-502: When weapon deemed loaded, Utah State Legislature. Retrieved January 4, 2013. and the firearm is at least two "mechanical actions" from firing., OpenCarry.org. Retrieved December 23, 2014. As carrying the firearm with the chamber empty, but with a full magazine, meets this definition (the handler must chamber a round, and then pull the trigger), this is a common work around for Utah residents who do not wish to acquire a permit. Without the permit, the firearm must be clearly visible. Open carry of a loaded pistol without a permit is now allowed for anyone age 21 and up.
Utah does not require a permit to carry a concealed or open firearm. As of May 5, 2021 anyone over the age of 21 resident or nonresident may concealed or open carry permitless., Utah Department of Public Safety. Retrieved May 5, 2021. Utah does not require concealed carry permit holders to notify police officers of their permit or possession of firearms when stopped by police officers, but the state Bureau of Criminal Identification recommends doing so "for the safety of all involved" and to give the officer "some assurance they are most likely dealing with a law abiding citizen.", Utah Department of Public Safety. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
Utah law allows for a "Non-Resident" Concealed Firearm Permits to be issued. The Utah Concealed Firearm Permit is valid in thirty-four states across the US. However there are several states that have passed statutes that do not honor a "Non-Resident" permit. For example, Colorado will honor Utah's permit, but the permittee must be a resident of Utah for his permit to be valid. Utah concealed firearm permits are "shall issue" and will be issued to anyone meeting the requirements.
Utah is a "Castle Doctrine" state, in which there is no duty to retreat before use of deadly force, if the person reasonably believes that a perpetrator is going to commit a forcible felony in the habitation*, and that the force is necessary to prevent the commission of the felony. Since burglary is itself a forcible felony, it is legal to use deadly force to stop a burglar. Utah Code 76-2-405: Force in defense of habitation, Utah State Legislature. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
In Utah a person may carry firearms in some places not allowed by some other states, including banks, bar, and state parks. With a permit, you may also carry in schools (K-12) and state Universities. Utah's Uniform Firearm Laws expressly prohibits public schools from enacting or enforcing any rule pertaining to firearms.Utah Code 53-5a-102: Uniform firearm laws., Utah State Legislature. Retrieved January 5, 2013. Utah requires public schools to allow lawful firearms possession.University of Utah v. Shurtleff, Utah State Courts. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
Buying, selling and owning firearms
Private sales Private sales of firearms are legal in Utah to anyone over the age of 18 UCA 76-10-S509.9.
Online classified websites are a common meeting place for buyers and sellers. One highly utilized internet site was the classified advertising section of news station KSL-TV. However, after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, KSL temporarily disallowed sales or advertising of firearms.Cortez, Marjorie (2012). Firearms listings temporarily suspended on KSL Classifieds accessed January 18, 2013 KSL has yet to rescind their stance.
Prohibited persons There are two categories of persons who may not possess firearms or dangerous weapons under Utah law. Penalties for weapons possession by category I restricted persons are more severe than the penalties for possession by category II restricted persons.
Category I covers persons who have "been convicted of any violent felony" or are "on probation or parole for any felony" or have been "within the last 10 years an adjudicated delinquent for an offense which if committed by an adult would have been a violent felony".
Under Utah law, "A Category I restricted person who intentionally or knowingly agrees, consents, offers, or arranges to purchase, transfer, possess, use, or have under his custody or control, or who intentionally or knowingly purchases, transfers, possesses, uses, or has under his custody or control any firearm is guilty of a second degree felony."
Category II covers persons who have "been convicted of or are under indictment for any felony" or have "within the last seven years been an adjudicated delinquent for an offense which if committed by an adult would have been a felony" or are "an unlawful user of a controlled substance" or have "been found not guilty by reason of insanity for a felony offense" or have "been found mentally incompetent to stand trial for a felony offense" or have "been adjudicated as mentally defective as provided in the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act" or are "an alien who is illegally or unlawfully in the United States" or have "has been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces" or have "renounced his citizenship after having been a citizen of the United States".
A Category II restricted person who purchases, transfers, possesses, uses, or has under his custody or control any firearm is guilty of a third degree felony under Utah law.
NFA firearms Under Utah state law, "Any person who transfers in violation of applicable state or federal law a sawed-off rifle, sawed-off shotgun, or fully automatic weapon to a minor is guilty of a third degree felony."
Carrying concealed firearms
Utah is a shall issue state for permits for the concealed carry of firearms. Utah law states "The bureau shall issue a permit to carry a concealed firearm for lawful self defense to an applicant who is 21 years of age or older within 60 days after receiving an application, unless the bureau finds proof that the applicant does not meet the qualifications set forth". Permits are issued to both Utah residents and non residents. Applicants between 18 and 20 may obtain a provisional permit.
Persons convicted of a felony, any crime of violence, any offense involving alcohol, any offense involving the unlawful use of narcotics or other controlled substances, any offense involving moral turpitude, any offense involving domestic violence, or persons found by any court to be mentally incompetent are automatically barred from being issued a permit. Any person barred by state or federal law from possessing a firearm may not be issued a permit.