You’ve probably seen the movies where a gritty detective tucks a revolver into his waistband before heading into a subway station. It makes for great TV. In the real world, if you try that in 2026, you’re looking at a fast track to a felony. New York City has some of the most restrictive, confusing, and constantly shifting firearm laws in the United States.
So, can you have a gun in New York City?
The short answer is yes, but the "how" is a bureaucratic marathon that stops most people in their tracks. It isn't like Pennsylvania or Texas. You don't just walk into a shop, pass a background check, and go home. In the five boroughs—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island—the process is managed with an iron grip by the NYPD’s License Division.
The Post-Bruen Reality
Everything changed in 2022. The Supreme Court dropped a massive ruling in NYSRPA v. Bruen, basically telling New York that its "proper cause" requirement was unconstitutional. Before that, you had to prove you were in special danger to get a carry permit. Now, New York is a "shall-issue" state, but don't let that term fool you. The city responded by passing the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA).
They basically doubled down.
While they can't make you prove a "special need" anymore, they've added a mountain of requirements. You need sixteen hours of in-person classroom training. You need two hours of live-fire range time. You have to provide a list of social media accounts from the last three years (though this specific part has been tied up in legal challenges, the city still pushes for character references).
The License Types: Picking Your Path
If you're serious about this, you need to know which license you're even asking for. Most people are looking for one of three things.
1. Premises Residence License: This is the most common. It lets you keep a handgun in your home. That’s it. You can’t take it to the grocery store. You can’t keep it in your car. If you want to go to a range, there are very specific rules about how the gun must be locked and separated from ammunition during transport.
2. Carry Business License: This used to be the "gold standard" for business owners carrying cash. It’s still around, but it's narrow.
3. Concealed Carry License: This is what Bruen opened up. It allows you to carry a concealed handgun on your person. However, the city has designated a massive list of "sensitive locations" where guns are strictly prohibited.
The "Sensitive Locations" Trap
This is where it gets incredibly tricky for anyone wondering can you have a gun in New York City while actually moving around the streets. The city designated Times Square as a gun-free zone. They did the same for parks, hospitals, bars, and public transportation.
Think about that.
If you have a carry permit but you take the subway to get to work, you are technically breaking the law the moment you step into the station. The MTA is off-limits. Most of the places you’d actually want to go—theaters, museums, stadiums—are also banned. It creates a legal minefield where a law-abiding permit holder can become a criminal just by walking across the wrong street corner.
The Application Process is a Beast
Expect to wait. A long time.
You start at the NYPD’s online portal. You’ll pay a fee—usually $340 for the application and another $88.25 for fingerprinting. That’s just the start. You need four character references. These can't be relatives. They have to be people who can vouch for your "good moral character."
Then comes the interview. You’ll head down to One Police Plaza or a designated precinct. An investigator will go over your history. Have you ever been arrested? Even if the charges were dropped? They’ll find it. Have you had a driver's license suspension? They’ll ask about it.
The NYPD has a massive backlog. It isn't uncommon for the process to take 12 to 18 months. Some people have sued just over the length of the wait time.
Long Guns: A Different Animal
Rifles and shotguns are handled differently, but they aren't "free" either. Unlike the rest of New York State, where you generally don't need a permit to own a simple shotgun, NYC requires a specific permit for them. This is handled by the Rifle/Shotgun Section out in Kew Gardens, Queens.
Even if you have a permit, "assault weapons" are strictly banned under the city's Administrative Code. This includes many common semi-automatic rifles that are legal just thirty minutes north in Westchester. Magazine capacity is also strictly limited to five rounds for long guns in the city.
Non-Resident Problems
If you are visiting from out of state, the answer to can you have a gun in New York City is almost always a hard "No."
New York City does not recognize out-of-state permits. Not from Florida, not from Utah, not from anywhere. If you drive into the Lincoln Tunnel with a handgun that is perfectly legal in your home state, you are committing a felony the moment you hit the New York side.
There have been horror stories of travelers having a flight diverted to JFK or LaGuardia. They claim their luggage, which contains a declared, locked firearm, and are arrested at the luggage carousel when they try to re-check it the next day. While the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) is supposed to protect travelers, NYC authorities have historically been very aggressive with enforcement.
Real-World Consequences
The NYPD doesn't play around. In 2024 and 2025, we saw a continued push for "precision policing." If you are caught with an unlicensed firearm, you’re looking at a mandatory minimum sentence in many cases. New York's gun laws are designed to discourage ownership through a combination of high costs, long waits, and severe penalties for mistakes.
Interestingly, the demographic of who is applying has shifted. Since the 2022 ruling, there has been a surge in applications from women and minority communities in the outer boroughs. People want to feel safe. But they’re finding that the legal path is paved with paperwork and high-priced training requirements that can cost upwards of $500 on top of the permit fees.
What about Airsoft or Pepper Spray?
Even the "alternatives" are regulated.
- Pepper Spray: Legal, but with caveats. You must buy it from a licensed pharmacist or firearms dealer in NY. You can't have it shipped to you from Amazon. It has to be a specific strength and size.
- Airsoft/BB Guns: Mostly illegal to possess in public. They are often treated as "imitation firearms," and the NYPD takes them very seriously.
- Knives: NYC has strict rules about gravity knives and blade length. Anything over four inches is generally a no-go, and if it's clipped to your pocket where it's visible, you're asking for a stop-and-frisk.
Actionable Steps for New Yorkers
If you’ve decided that you want to navigate this system, you need a plan. Don't just wing it.
First, clean up your history. If you have old legal issues, get the certificates of disposition from the court. The NYPD won't do that for you; they’ll just tell you your application is incomplete.
Second, save your money. Between the application fees, the mandatory 16+2 hour training course, the fingerprints, and the cost of a safe (which is required), you are looking at an initial investment of $1,000 to $1,500 before you even buy the gun.
Third, find a reputable instructor. Since the training is mandatory now, classes fill up fast. Look for NRA-certified instructors who specifically mention the "NYC CCIA" curriculum. If the course doesn't meet the city's exact hour requirements, the NYPD will reject your certificate of completion.
Fourth, be patient. You will feel like the system is trying to ignore you. You might call the License Division and get a busy signal for three hours. This is part of the process. Keep records of every document you submit and every person you speak with.
Finally, consult a lawyer if you have any doubts. A simple mistake on the application—like forgetting a "sealed" arrest from when you were 19—can be flagged as a "false statement," which is an automatic grounds for denial. In New York City, the burden of proving you are fit to carry is entirely on you.
Owning a firearm in the city is a significant responsibility that carries more legal weight here than almost anywhere else in the world. Stay informed, stay legal, and understand that the rules you read today might change by next Tuesday depending on the latest court injunction or City Council meeting.
To move forward, check the official NYPD License Division portal for the most current fee schedule and find a certified training range within the five boroughs to begin your mandatory 16-hour safety course. Ensure all your character references are notified and ready to provide notarized statements when the investigator reaches out.