Alabama gun laws
Last verified November 1, 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Gun laws change often and vary by city and county. Verify every rule with the state's agency or statutes before you carry or travel.
Carry
- Permitless (constitutional) carry: Yes, for eligible adults 19+
- 19+ (18+ for service members and honorably discharged veterans) if not prohibited under state or federal law (Ala. Code 13A-11-74.1, Act 2022-133). A permit is optional.
- Open carry: Allowed without a permit for eligible adults 19+ (permitless carry, Ala. Code 13A-11-74.1). On private property you don't own or control, you need a permit or the owner's consent (13A-11-52). Source
- Permits: Alabama permit guide
Vehicle transport
Eligible adults may carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle without a permit; the former vehicle-permit rule (13A-11-73) was repealed effective Jan. 1, 2023 by Act 2022-133. Source
Places where carry is banned
Police, sheriff and highway patrol stations; prisons, jails and detention facilities; inpatient psychiatric facilities; courthouses, DA offices and active county commission or city council meetings; and school or college athletic events unless you hold a permit (Ala. Code 13A-11-61.2). Federal and other state restrictions also apply. Source
Magazines and assault weapons
- Magazine capacity limit: No statewide limit
- Assault-weapon restrictions: No statewide ban
Duty to inform
Only when asked. If an officer asks whether you are carrying a concealed firearm, you must immediately say so (Ala. Code 13A-11-95). Source
Stand your ground and castle doctrine
No duty to retreat in any place you're lawfully present (stand your ground).
Red-flag law
No extreme risk protection order law.
Reciprocity
Alabama recognizes any valid concealed carry permit from another state for non-residents (Ala. Code 13A-11-85).
Honors permits from every state.
Sources
- alison.legislature.state.al.us
- alison.legislature.state.al.us
- giffords.org
- giffords.org
- giffords.org
- www.ncsl.org
- alison.legislature.state.al.us
- alison.legislature.state.al.us
- alison.legislature.state.al.us
- alison.legislature.state.al.us
Magazine, assault-weapon and red-flag lists come from Giffords Law Center summaries; stand-your-ground from NCSL. Carry, vehicle, banned-place, duty-to-inform and reciprocity details come from the state's own legislature, attorney general or state police pages.