Florida gun laws changed materially in 2023, so older summaries can be misleading. Florida now separates the question of concealed carry eligibility from the separate value of a Florida Concealed Weapon License. This page focuses on the practical difference between permitless concealed carry, CWL licensing, open carry limits, vehicle possession, and official sources.
Florida Carry Snapshot
- Florida Statutes section 790.01 authorizes concealed carry for a person who is licensed under section 790.06 or who is unlicensed but otherwise satisfies the listed license criteria.
- A Florida Concealed Weapon License can still matter for reciprocity, administrative proof, and travel even when a person qualifies to carry concealed in Florida without physically holding the license.
- Florida open carry is generally restricted by section 790.053, with separate statutory exceptions for lawful activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, range use, or travel to and from those activities.
- A brief accidental display is treated differently from intentionally displaying a firearm in an angry or threatening manner; verify the exact statutory language before relying on that distinction.
What Florida Owners Should Verify
- Whether the person satisfies every current 790.06 eligibility criterion referenced by 790.01.
- Whether a specific location is barred by statute, license rule, school rule, posted private-property rule, or event policy.
- Whether a firearm in a vehicle must be securely encased, not readily accessible, or carried on the person under a concealed-carry rule.
- Whether a purchase involves a license exemption, waiting-period rule, county rule, or federal dealer background check.
Florida Buying, Vehicles, And Open Carry
Florida law has several special-case rules around vehicles, lawful use, and places where a firearm may be possessed. The safest research path is to read Chapter 790 directly, then confirm with a qualified Florida source when a scenario involves schools, government buildings, alcohol-serving locations, private property, minors, or interstate travel.
Florida Reciprocity And CWL Value
A Florida CWL is no longer only about carrying inside Florida. Many owners keep or obtain the license because other states may evaluate reciprocity through the license, not through Florida permitless carry. Always check both Florida rules and the other state rules before traveling armed.
Official Florida Gun Law Sources
Source check: May 20, 2026.