Indiana Permitless Carry: Who Can Carry Without a License

Can you carry without a permit in Indiana?

Yes. House Enrolled Act 1296, which took effect July 1, 2022, made Indiana a permitless carry state. If you are at least 18 and not a prohibited person, you can carry a handgun, openly or concealed, on your body or in your vehicle, without a license. Indiana calls its permit a License to Carry a Handgun (LTCH), and it is now optional.

The Indiana State Police put it plainly: the law does not let everyone carry. You have to meet the requirements, and it is on you to know whether you do.

Who cannot carry a handgun in Indiana?

IC 35-47-2-1.5 lists the people who may not knowingly or intentionally carry a handgun. According to the statute and the Indiana State Police summary, that includes:

• Anyone convicted of a state or federal offense punishable by more than one year in prison
• Anyone convicted of a crime of domestic violence, domestic battery or criminal stalking, unless their firearm rights were restored by a court
• Anyone restrained by an order of protection
• Fugitives from justice
• Anyone under indictment (felony charges filed)
• Anyone adjudicated dangerous under Indiana’s red flag law, adjudicated a mental defective, or committed to a mental institution
• Anyone dishonorably discharged from the military or National Guard
• Anyone who renounced U.S. citizenship
• People who are not lawfully in the United States
• Anyone under 18, and anyone under 23 with certain juvenile delinquency adjudications, unless allowed under IC 35-47-10

Federal law adds its own prohibited categories under 18 U.S.C. 922(g), such as unlawful users of controlled substances. If you are prohibited federally, Indiana’s permitless carry law does not help you.

What is the penalty for carrying when you’re prohibited?

Carrying a handgun while prohibited is a Class A misdemeanor under IC 35-47-2-1.5. It becomes a Level 5 felony in certain situations, including on or near school property or if the person has certain prior convictions.

Open carry vs. concealed carry in Indiana

Indiana’s law does not separate the two. If you can legally carry, you can carry openly or concealed. Businesses and private property owners can still set their own rules, and IC 35-47-2-1(c) says the carry law does not stop a property owner from banning guns on private property.

Do you have to tell police you’re carrying?

We could not find an Indiana statute that requires you to tell an officer you are carrying during a stop, so we are not going to tell you there is one. Many carriers choose to say so calmly at the start of a stop. If you have questions about your own obligations, ask an Indiana attorney.

Why get an Indiana license to carry if you don’t need one?

The Indiana State Police still recommend the license if you aren’t sure you qualify. Reasons people still get one:

• It’s free. Indiana stopped charging state fees for five-year licenses in 2020 and for all handgun licenses in 2021 (IC 35-47-2-3).
• It confirms you qualify. The state runs the background checks. Without a license, ISP says it cannot verify your compliance.
• Travel. Some states only let visitors carry with a license from their home state. Illinois, for example, lets non-residents keep a concealed gun in their vehicle only if they hold a carry license from their home state (430 ILCS 66/40).
• Federal school zones. The federal Gun-Free School Zones Act (18 U.S.C. 922(q)) has an exception for people licensed by the state where the school zone is. Permitless carry is not a license.

Licenses issued before July 1, 2022 remain valid for their full term, or for life if they are lifetime licenses (IC 35-47-2-1(d)).

How to apply for an Indiana license to carry

Apply online through the Indiana State Police Firearms License Application Portal, then schedule a fingerprint appointment through the state’s fingerprint vendor, IDEMIA. You choose a five-year or lifetime license. Applicants must be at least 18 and not prohibited. Non-residents can only apply if they have a regular place of business or employment in Indiana (IC 35-47-2-3).

Places you still can’t carry

Permitless carry doesn’t change the places where guns are banned, like school property, airport screening areas and federal facilities. See where you cannot carry in Indiana.

Getting started

If you’re new to carrying, a good holster and a handgun you shoot well matter more than any law. Our guide to choosing your first handgun is a good start, and you can stop by Condition Red Tactical in Greenfield or contact us with questions.

Gun laws change, and this guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current Indiana Code or talk to an Indiana attorney about your specific situation.