Handgun Permit to Buy
(Cash Only, Correct Amount)
We will continue processing and issuing all weapon permits. We respectfully ask that if you are displaying and sickness symptoms, please stay home to protect yourself and others. This is subject to change depending on our State of Emergency or any orders issued from a judicial authority. Sorry for the inconvenience.
The County Sheriff is the only official authorized under N.C.G.S. 14-402 to issue a permit to receive or purchase a handgun when a person who is a resident of his or her particular county submits an application. The sole exception is that the sheriff may issue a permit to a non-resident when the purpose of the permit is for collecting firearms. Prior to issuing a permit, the Sheriff must certify by affidavits, oral evidence, or otherwise, that the applicant is of good moral character and that the person, firm, or corporation wants to possess the weapon for one of the following purposes:
- The protection of the applicant’s home, business, person, family, or property
- Target shooting
- Firearms Collection
- Hunting
Additionally, the Sheriff must verify by a criminal history background investigation that it is not a violation of state or federal law for the applicant to purchase, transfer, receive, or possess a handgun. The Sheriff shall determine the criminal history of any applicant by accessing computerized criminal history records as maintained by the State and Federal Bureau of Investigations, by conducting a national history records check, and by conducting a criminal history check through the Administrative Office of the Courts. N.C.G.S. 14-404.
There are specific reasons that a permit may not be issued.
(For a list of questions please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 704-869-6801)
The Sheriff shall inform each applicant for a permit within fourteen (14) days of the date of his/her application as to whether the permit would be granted or denied.
When a Sheriff is not fully satisfied with the applicant’s good moral character or eligibility to receive a permit, he or she shall notify the applicant of the reason for his or her refusal to issue the permit within seven (7) days of his or her decision. An applicant who has been refused a permit has a right to appeal such refusal to the Superior Court Judge for the district in which the application was filed. N.C.G.S. 14-404.
A five-dollar ($5.00) fee for each permit application shall be paid to the Sheriff’s Office at the time the application is submitted. If additional permits are desired, a five-dollar ($5.00) fee for each additional permit will be charged when the application is approved.
Gun permit applications may be completed in the following ways:
- Applications can be picked up in person at the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office weekdays Mondays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm / Tuesdays 8:00 am to 8:00 pm / Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. You may then complete the application and turn it in for processing.
- The permit application can also be downloaded from the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office website by clicking on the link below. You can then bring the completed application to the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office and turn it in for processing.
- After all record checks have been completed and the application is approved, (this normally takes 8 to 10 business days), you will receive a phone call from us that your application has been approved. Bring a photo ID to pick up your gun permit. The final permit/permits can be picked up at the Sheriff’s Office Mondays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm / Tuesdays 8:00 am to 8:00 pm / Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Remember we are closed on county approved holidays.
- The fee charged by the Sheriff’s Office for issuing gun permits is $5.00 each. You may purchase as many permits as desired from one application. This is payable (CASH ONLY) to the Sheriff’s Office and is set by state law (G.S. 14-409). When the permit is picked up at the Sheriff’s Office, you will need to have correct change. If you do not have the correct change, we cannot issue the permit.
- Gun permits are issued for the purchase of handguns only. It does not give you the right to carry the gun concealed. Carrying a concealed weapon without a N.C. State Concealed Handgun Permit is against the law (G.S. 14-269).
PURCHASE HANDGUN PERMITS: ONCE AN APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED AND YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR PERMIT(S), THE APPLICATION EXPIRES. A NEW APPLICATION IS REQUIRED IF YOU DESIRE ADDITIONAL PERMIT(S) IN THE FUTURE. PERMIT(S) MUST BE PICKED UP DURING GUN PERMITS NORMAL OPERATING HOURS. FAILURE TO PICK UP YOUR PERMIT(S) WITHIN THE 30 DAY APPROVAL, THE APPLICATION EXPIRES AND YOU MUST SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION.
Concealed Handgun Carrying Permit
(Cash Only, Correct Amount)
We will continue processing and issuing all weapon permits. There will be a brief screening upon entry for the safety of the public and others in this area. We respectfully ask that if you are displaying and sickness symptoms, please stay home to protect yourself and others. This is subject to change depending on our State of Emergency or any orders issued from a judicial authority. Sorry for the inconvenience.
As of December 1, 1995, certain residents of North Carolina may be eligible to obtain a permit, which would allow them to carry a concealed handgun under certain conditions.
No other weapons may be carried concealed pursuant to such permit. The Sheriff is the only official who may issue a concealed permit. N.C.G.S. 14-415.11
In order to obtain a North Carolina Concealed Carry Permit, an individual must apply to the sheriff’s office in the county in which he/she resides. As part of the application process, the applicant must accomplish the following:
- Complete an application, under oath, on a form provided by the sheriff’s office
- Pay a non-refundable fee of $80.00 (Cash Only, Correct Amount)
- Allow the sheriff’s office to take two (2) full sets of fingerprints, which will cost $10.00 (Cash Only, Correct Amount)
- Provide an original certificate of completion of an approved handgun safety course
- Provide a release authorizing disclosure to the sheriff of any record concerning the applicant’s mental health capacity. N.C.G.S. 14-415.13
- Must Provide Photo ID
- If you were in the Military you must provide DD214 form.
To renew a concealed carrying permit the same process will be required except that a new handgun safety course will not be needed as long as the original permit has not expired. The renewal fee is $75.00 (Cash Only, Correct Amount).
The Sheriff has ninety (90) days from the time all application materials are received to either issue or deny the permit. N.C.G.S. 14-415.15(a)
There are certain requirements to be approved before the sheriff can issue a permit and the sheriff must deny the permit if certain prohibitions exist. Contact the sheriff’s office or the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office for the requirements. There is a partial list of prohibitions on the back of the concealed carry application.
If a permit is denied the applicant may appeal the denial, the revocation, or non- renewal of a permit by petitioning a superior court judge in the applicant’s residential district. The court’s determination will be based upon facts, law and reasonableness of the sheriff’s refusal to issue the permit.
Citizens may obtain a Handgun Purchase Permit or a Concealed Carrying Permit at the Sheriff’s Office or downloading an application from the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office Web Site. For any questions concerning Handgun Purchase Permits or Concealed Carry Permits contact Sgt.Carson at 704-869-6829.
YOUR APPLICATION WILL EXPIRE WHEN PURCHASE PERMIT(S) ARE ISSUED. A NEW APPLICATION IS REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING FOR ANOTHER PURCHASE PERMIT. PERMIT(S) MUST BE PICKED UP DURING NORMAL OPERATING HOURS OF THE GUN PERMIT OFFICE AND WITHIN 30 DAYS OF APPROVAL. AFTER 30 DAYS THE APPLICATION WILL EXPIRE AND YOU WILL NEED TO RE-APPLY.
Gaston County
Although care has been taken in preparing the information contained in these documents, Gaston County does not guarantee the accuracy thereof. Anyone using the information does so at their own risk and shall be deemed to indemnify Gaston County from any and all injury and/ or damage arising from such use. All pages are copyrighted by Gaston County, or by their respective author - whether a copyright line appears at the bottom or not. Gaston County has no control or liability for information on other websites linked to this page. These links are provided only as a service to the user.
