Alabama Gun Laws at a Glance
Alabama is one of the most firearm-friendly states in the country. The state constitution's Article 1, Section 26 declares that every citizen has a fundamental right to bear arms subject only to strict scrutiny — the highest level of constitutional protection. In practice, this means Alabama has no assault weapons ban, no magazine limits, no waiting period, no registration requirement, no red flag law, and full permitless carry since 2023.
Open Carry in Alabama
Alabama has never required a permit for open carry. The state's permitless carry legislation enacted in 2023 extended the same freedom to concealed carry — but open carry was already unrestricted. There is no state law requiring a person to inform law enforcement they are carrying when openly carrying, though a person carrying concealed must disclose if a law enforcement officer asks during a lawful stop.
Permitless (Constitutional) Carry
Alabama enacted permitless carry effective January 1, 2023 under Act 2022-406. The law is codified at Ala. Code §§ 13A-11-74.1 and 13A-11-85(a). Any person 19 or older who is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a firearm may carry a handgun concealed — in a vehicle or on their person — without any permit, license, or government approval.
| Requirement | Under Permitless Carry |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 19 (Alabama's age of majority under Ala. Code § 26-1-1) |
| License or permit | None required |
| Background check to carry | None required |
| Training required | None required |
| Applies to | Alabama residents and non-residents aged 19+ who are not legally prohibited |
| Applies to handguns | Yes |
| Applies to long guns | Open carry only — no change to long gun rules |
| Out-of-state visitors | May carry in Alabama under permitless carry at 19+, or with a valid home-state permit at 18+ |
Alabama Pistol License — Still Worth Getting
The optional Alabama Pistol License (APL) is still issued by county sheriffs under Ala. Code § 13A-11-75. You don't need it to carry in Alabama anymore — but there are two strong reasons to get one anyway:
Reciprocal carry in other states. The APL is recognized by 35+ states that require a permit for concealed carry. Without it, Alabama's permitless carry only covers you inside Alabama's borders. If you drive into Tennessee, Georgia, or Mississippi, you need either their state's permit or one that's recognized — the APL covers most of the Southeast and much of the country.
NICS exemption. A valid Alabama Pistol License exempts the holder from the federal NICS background check when purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer. Particularly in busy periods (hunting season, political events) when NICS delays are common, this can make a real difference at the counter.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Sheriff of the applicant's county of residence |
| Minimum age | 19 (18 for active military and honorably discharged veterans) |
| Residency | Must be Alabama resident. Expires when you move to another state. |
| Type | Shall-issue — sheriff cannot deny a qualified applicant |
| Duration | 1 year, 5 years, or lifetime |
| Fees | 1-year: $25 / 5-year: $125 / Lifetime: $300 ($150 if 60+). Free for active military, veterans, law enforcement, and retired LEOs. |
| Training required | None |
| Processing time | Maximum 30 days |
| Non-resident permits | Alabama does not issue permits to non-residents |
See our full Alabama CCW guide and CCW reciprocity checker for which states honor the Alabama Pistol License.
Where You Cannot Carry in Alabama
Even under permitless carry, certain locations are off-limits under Ala. Code § 13A-11-61.2. These locations must post notices at public entrances.
Prohibited for Everyone — No Exceptions
Restricted — Allowed With a Valid Permit or Express Permission
Colleges and Universities
Under Ala. Code § 13A-11-92, college governing bodies may adopt their own firearms policies — but any such policy must allow firearms stored in a privately-owned vehicle parked on campus grounds, provided the firearm is either concealed on the person or secured inside a locked vehicle compartment.
Who Cannot Own or Possess a Firearm in Alabama
Alabama's prohibited persons law underwent a significant update effective October 1, 2025. The new law under Ala. Code § 13A-11-72 makes it a felony for the following persons to own or possess a firearm:
Buying Firearms in Alabama
| Requirement | Handguns | Rifles & Shotguns |
|---|---|---|
| License to purchase | Not required | Not required |
| License to own/possess | Not required | Not required |
| Registration | Not required | Not required |
| Waiting period | None | None |
| Background check (FFL dealer) | Federal NICS required | Federal NICS required |
| Background check (private sale) | Not required by state law | Not required by state law |
| APL exempts NICS check | Yes — valid APL skips NICS | N/A |
| Ammo background check | Not required | Not required |
State law prohibits any state governmental entity from maintaining a list, record, or registry of privately-owned firearms or their owners. The state Attorney General is authorized to investigate and take enforcement action against any entity — including government entities — that violates this prohibition. Ala. Code §§ 5-29-3(a), 5-29-3
Weapons Restrictions & NFA Items
What Alabama Does NOT Restrict
Alabama has no laws restricting or prohibiting:
- "Assault weapons" of any type
- Magazine capacity ("large capacity" magazine bans)
- Personally made or unserialized firearms ("ghost guns")
- Bump stocks or other rate-of-fire accelerators
- Microstamping or "smart gun" technology
What Is Restricted
| Item | Status in Alabama | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Short-barreled rifle (SBR) | Felony to possess in violation of federal NFA law. Legal if NFA-registered. | § 13A-11-63 |
| Short-barreled shotgun (SBS) | Same as SBR — felony if not NFA-registered. | § 13A-11-63 |
| Suppressors / silencers | Legal in Alabama. Requires federal NFA Form 4, $200 tax stamp, and ATF approval. No additional state restrictions. | Federal NFA only |
| Machine guns | Legal if NFA-registered (pre-1986). Felony to possess an unregistered machine gun or a part designed to convert a pistol to full-auto, unless NFA-registered. | § 13A-11-82.1 |
| Glock switches / auto sears | Felony under both Alabama state law (§ 13A-11-82.1, signed 2025) and federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(o)). Federal penalty: up to 10 years. State penalty: Class C felony. | § 13A-11-82.1 |
| Teflon-coated ammo | Illegal to possess or sell brass or steel teflon-coated handgun ammo (armor-piercing). Teflon-coated ammo designed to expand on contact is exempt. | § 13A-11-60 |
| Rifle / shotgun cane | Illegal to carry a rifle or shotgun walking cane. | § 13A-11-54 |
For the full Alabama suppressor buying process, see our Alabama suppressor guide. For the Glock switch / auto sear law, see our Glock switch law Alabama guide.
Stand Your Ground & Castle Doctrine
Alabama's Stand Your Ground law removes the common law duty to retreat before using defensive force. It applies anywhere the person has a legal right to be — not just in their home. The law requires that the person using force not be the initial aggressor and not be engaged in unlawful activity at the time.
Alabama also recognizes the Castle Doctrine — the principle that a person has the right to use force to defend their home without a duty to retreat. The state's Castle Doctrine is enacted as part of the broader self-defense statutes under Ala. Code § 13A-3-23.
State Firearm Preemption
Alabama has one of the strongest firearm preemption statutes in the country under Ala. Code § 13A-11-61.3. The legislature has "complete control over regulation and policy pertaining to firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories" — no city, county, or other political subdivision can enact its own gun laws.
This means the gun laws you read here apply uniformly statewide. There is no Huntsville gun law, no Madison County ordinance, no Birmingham restriction that adds to or contradicts state law. Any local ordinance that conflicts with state law is null and void.
The preemption law also specifically prohibits municipalities from conducting gun "buyback" programs — offering compensation for the surrender of privately owned firearms as a method of reducing gun ownership. Ala. Code § 13A-11-61.3(g)(6)