Law Summary

Last reviewed: May 3, 2026

Constitutional Carry Yes
Open Carry Lawful
Permit honored in 33 states
Montana honors 43 states

Montana Gun Laws

Reciprocity of Montana's Basic Resident Permit

Alaska: Permit honoredAlabama: Permit honoredArkansas: Permit honoredArizona: Permit honoredCalifornia: Permit not honoredColorado: Permit honoredConnecticut: Permit not honoredDistrict of Columbia: Permit not honoredDelaware: Permit not honoredFlorida: Permit honoredGeorgia: Permit honoredHawaii: Permit not honoredIowa: Permit honoredIdaho: Permit honoredIllinois: Permit not honoredIndiana: Permit honoredKansas: Permit honoredKentucky: Permit honoredLouisiana: Permit honoredMassachusetts: Permit not honoredMaryland: Permit not honoredMaine: Permitless carryMichigan: Permit honoredMinnesota: Permit not honoredMissouri: Permit honoredMississippi: Permit honoredMontana (current state)North Carolina: Permit honoredNorth Dakota: Permit honoredNebraska: Permit honoredNew Hampshire: Permit honoredNew Jersey: Permit not honoredNew Mexico: Permit not honoredNevada: Permit honoredNew York: Permit not honoredOhio: Permit honoredOklahoma: Permit honoredOregon: Permit not honoredPennsylvania: Permit honoredRhode Island: Permit not honoredSouth Carolina: Permitless carrySouth Dakota: Permit honoredTennessee: Permit honoredTexas: Permit honoredUtah: Permit honoredVirginia: Permit honoredVermont: Permit honoredWashington: Permit not honoredWisconsin: Permit honoredWest Virginia: Permit honoredWyoming: Permit honored AKALARAZCACOCTDCDEFLGAHIIAIDILINKSKYLAMAMDMEMIMNMOMSMTNCNDNENHNJNMNVNYOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVAVTWAWIWVWY
Permit honored Permitless carry Not honored

Open Carry

Lawful
Permitted

Duty to Notify Law Enforcement

Only when asked by the officer
Permitted

State Parks

Concealed Carry is legal in accordance with state laws that regulate the right to carry
Permitted

Restaurants Serving Alcohol

Concealed carry is generally permitted in restaurants with bars, provided the individual is not under the influence of alcohol or drugs (per MCA 45-8-327) and the establishment has not explicitly prohibited firearms.
Permitted

Firearms at Colleges

Schools individually decide the weapons policy.
Informational

Firearms at K-12 Schools

Montana permittee with loaded handgun in vehicle only is lawful but localities have power to regulate this further.
Restricted

Church Carry

Churches act like any other private property and may restrict
on a church by church basis
Informational

Hotels

No legal restriction - Reference article on page 67
Informational

Secure Storage Requirements

None
Permitted

Magazine Capacity Limitations

No restrictions
Permitted

Suppressor Ownership

Ownership & Hunting Legal.
Permitted

Vehicle Possession Without Recognized Permit

Montana has no prohibitions against carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle
Informational

Firearm Law Uniformity

Mostly uniform throughout state but some local regulation of public areas is possible
Informational

Permit Training Requirements

You must have completed any one of the following: Montana Hunter Ed Course, State Approved Course, Any course from a National Firearms Group, or possess a DD214
Informational

Non-Resident Permits

Not available
Restricted

Constitutional Carry

Yes
Permitted

Duty to Retreat

No Duty to Retreat
Permitted

Places Off Limits

portions of a building used for state or local government offices and related areas in the building that
have been restricted;
a bank, credit union, savings and loan institution, or similar institution during the institution's normal
business hours. It is not an offense under this section to carry a concealed weapon while:
(i) using an institution's drive-up window, automatic teller machine, or unstaffed night depository; or
(ii) at or near a branch office of an institution in a mall, grocery store, or other place unless the person is
inside the enclosure used for the institution's financial services or is using the institution's financial
services.
a room in which alcoholic beverages are sold, dispensed, and consumed under a license issued under
Title 16 for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises.
Except as authorized by the management of a railroad, it is unlawful for a person not authorized to carry a
weapon in the course of his official duties to knowingly or purposely carry or transport firearms on a train in
this state unless, prior to boarding, the person has delivered all firearms and ammunition, if any, to the
operator of the train.
A person commits the offense of possession of a weapon in a school building if the person purposely and
knowingly possesses, carries, or stores a weapon in a school building.
A parent or guardian of a minor commits the offense of allowing possession of a weapon in a school
building if the parent or guardian purposely and knowingly permits the minor to possess, carry, or store a
weapon in a school building.
Except as provided in subsection (2), a county, city, town, consolidated local government, or other local
government unit may not prohibit, register, tax, license, or regulate the purchase, sale or other transfer
(including delay in purchase, sale, or other transfer), ownership, possession, transportation, use, or
unconcealed carrying of any weapon, including a rifle, shotgun, handgun, or concealed handgun.
A county, city, town, consolidated local government, or other local government unit has power to
prevent and suppress the carrying of concealed or unconcealed weapons to a public assembly, publicly
owned building, park under its jurisdiction, or school, and the possession of firearms by convicted felons,
adjudicated mental incompetents, illegal aliens, and minors.
Informational

State Contact / Source

Attorney General of Montana
215 N Sanders / PO Box 201401
Helena MT 59620-1401
406-444-2026
www.dojmt.gov
Informational

Permit Issuing Authority

Local county sheriff
Informational

Length of Permit Validity

4 Years
Informational

Permit Application Process

Apply in person at county sheriff office.
Informational

Montana Permit Reciprocity

Reciprocity shown is for a standard resident permit. Non-resident and enhanced permit holders may have different reciprocity. Always verify before carrying. Use our full permit reciprocity map for all permit types →

Your Montana resident permit is honored in 33 states

AK AL AR AZ CO FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA MI MO MS NC ND NE NH NV OH OK PA SD TN TX UT VA VT WI WV WY

Montana honors resident permits from 43 states

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT FL GA IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD MI MN MO MS NC ND NE NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA SC SD TN TX UT VA WA WI WV WY
Disclaimer:
While Concealed Carry Inc strives to maintain legal reference information updated on this website from publicly available sources; you as the reader and gun owner are responsible to do any and all necessary research and consult with a local attorney before making any decisions. Concealed Carry Inc is not a government agency is not affiliated with a government agency and is not liable for any misinformation, inaccuracies, or actions taken based on this information. We are not attorneys and this information is not legal advice. If you see any information you feel is outdated or incorrect please contact us.

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