Colorado Carry Laws

Denver Restrictions

Denver bans carrying firearms openly (Denver Rev. Mun. Code 38-117; see Peterson v. Martinez, 10th Cir. 2013) and has stricter local weapons ordinances; statewide, Colorado bans the sale, transfer, AND possession of magazines over 15 rounds (C.R.S. 18-12-302, class 2 misdemeanor), exempt only for a person who owned the magazine on July 1, 2013 and has maintained continuous possession since.

DENVER RESTRICTIONS
Colorado

Denver bans carrying firearms openly (Denver Rev. Mun. Code 38-117; see Peterson v. Martinez, 10th Cir. 2013) and has stricter local weapons ordinances; statewide, Colorado bans the sale, transfer, AND possession of magazines over 15 rounds (C.R.S. 18-12-302, class 2 misdemeanor), exempt only for a person who owned the magazine on July 1, 2013 and has maintained continuous possession since.
Authority: C.R.S. § 18-12-302(1)(a), (2)(a) and § 18-12-301(2)(a)(I) (official 2024 CRS Title 18 PDF, leg.colorado.gov, pdftotext-extracted); Denver open-carry restriction: Denver Rev. Mun. Code § 38-117(a),(b),(f) as described in Peterson v. Martinez, 707 F.3d 1197 (10th Cir. 2013), official opinion PDF fetched from cases.justia.com.

Magazine Limit - 15 Rounds (Possession Banned)

Colorado bans selling, transferring, or POSSESSING magazines over 15 rounds (C.R.S. 18-12-302, class 2 misdemeanor; class 6 felony if possessed during a felony or crime of violence); only magazines OWNED on July 1, 2013 and kept in continuous possession are grandfathered - magazines acquired after that date are illegal regardless of when they were manufactured.

MAGAZINE CAPACITY
COLORADO

Colorado bans selling, transferring, or POSSESSING magazines over 15 rounds (C.R.S. 18-12-302, class 2 misdemeanor; class 6 felony if possessed during a felony or crime of violence); only magazines OWNED on July 1, 2013 and kept in continuous possession are grandfathered - magazines acquired after that date are illegal regardless of when they were manufactured.

Authority: C.R.S. 18-12-301 and 18-12-302 (Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, official OLLS printout).

Prohibited Places - Government Buildings Now Criminal (SB24-131)

Colorado: since SB24-131 (eff. 7/1/2024) knowingly carrying a firearm in legislative buildings, local-government governing-body buildings (unless the local government affirmatively permits carry), or courthouses/court buildings -- including their adjacent parking areas, though concealed-permit holders are exempt in the parking areas and secure vehicle storage is allowed -- is a class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. 18-12-105.3); knowingly carrying at K-12 schools, colleges/universities, and licensed child care centers is a class 1 misdemeanor (18-12-105.5(1)(a.5), with permit-holder exceptions for child-care/college parking areas and for handguns in vehicles per 18-12-214(3)); carrying any firearm in a polling place, within 100 feet of a drop box or polling-place building during voting, or in a central count facility is a misdemeanor with no permit exception (C.R.S. 1-13-724); private 'no firearms' signs have no criminal force of law -- trespass applies only after refusing to leave.

PROHIBITED PLACES - GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS NOW CRIMINAL (SB24-131)
Colorado

Colorado: since SB24-131 (eff. 7/1/2024) knowingly carrying a firearm in legislative buildings, local-government governing-body buildings (unless the local government affirmatively permits carry), or courthouses/court buildings -- including their adjacent parking areas, though concealed-permit holders are exempt in the parking areas and secure vehicle storage is allowed -- is a class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. 18-12-105.3); knowingly carrying at K-12 schools, colleges/universities, and licensed child care centers is a class 1 misdemeanor (18-12-105.5(1)(a.5), with permit-holder exceptions for child-care/college parking areas and for handguns in vehicles per 18-12-214(3)); carrying any firearm in a polling place, within 100 feet of a drop box or polling-place building during voting, or in a central count facility is a misdemeanor with no permit exception (C.R.S. 1-13-724); private 'no firearms' signs have no criminal force of law -- trespass applies only after refusing to leave.

Authority: C.R.S. 18-12-105.3 (SB24-131, eff. 7/1/2024); C.R.S. 18-12-105.5(1)(a.5); C.R.S. 1-13-724 (Vote Without Fear Act, HB22-1086 as amended by SB24-131).

No Duty to Retreat (Castle Doctrine + No-Retreat in Public)

Colorado imposes no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense, in public or at home — only an initial aggressor must retreat/withdraw first (People v. Toler, 9 P.3d 341 (Colo. 2000), construing C.R.S. § 18-1-704) — and the separate 'Make My Day' law (C.R.S. § 18-1-704.5) grants additional immunity for force used against an unlawful intruder inside a dwelling.

SELF-DEFENSE LAWS
COLORADO

Colorado imposes no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense, in public or at home — only an initial aggressor must retreat/withdraw first (People v. Toler, 9 P.3d 341 (Colo. 2000), construing C.R.S. § 18-1-704) — and the separate 'Make My Day' law (C.R.S. § 18-1-704.5) grants additional immunity for force used against an unlawful intruder inside a dwelling.

Authority: C.R.S. § 18-1-704 (use of physical force in defense of a person), as construed by People v. Toler, 9 P.3d 341 (Colo. 2000); Castle Doctrine at C.R.S. § 18-1-704.5 ('Make My Day' law).

Red Flag Law - ERPO in Effect

Colorado: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (C.R.S. 13-14.5-101 et seq.; 13-14.5-103).

RED FLAG / EXTREME RISK LAW
Colorado

Colorado: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (C.R.S. 13-14.5-101 et seq.; 13-14.5-103).

Authority: C.R.S. 13-14.5-101 et seq.; 13-14.5-103 (temporary ERPO petitions) verified; petitioner classes expanded by SB23-170 (2023) to community members incl. licensed medical/mental-health professionals and educators.

Duty to Inform - Produce Permit on Demand

Colorado: No duty to volunteer that you are carrying; a permittee must carry the permit together with valid photo ID while carrying a concealed handgun and produce both upon a law enforcement officer's demand — failure to carry and produce is a petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-12-204(2)).

DUTY TO INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT
COLORADO

Colorado: No duty to volunteer that you are carrying; a permittee must carry the permit together with valid photo ID while carrying a concealed handgun and produce both upon a law enforcement officer's demand — failure to carry and produce is a petty offense (C.R.S. § 18-12-204(2)).

Authority: C.R.S. § 18-12-204(2) (read via FindLaw rendering of the Colorado Revised Statutes).

No-Carry Signs - Not Criminal to Ignore

Colorado: Signs do not have force of law. However, if asked to leave and you refuse, trespass charges may apply.

"NO FIREARMS" SIGN LAWS - COLORADO

Private property: a "no firearms" sign on private business property does not by itself make carrying a crime; C.R.S. 18-12-214(5) preserves private property owners' rights, and a person who refuses to leave after being told to leave can be charged with trespass.

Government and posted public buildings are DIFFERENT. Since SB24-131 (effective July 1, 2024), carrying a firearm in state or local government buildings, courthouses, and legislative areas is "unlawful carrying of a firearm in a government building," a class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. 18-12-105.3), with an exception for permit holders in adjacent parking areas and for firearms securely stored in vehicles. Local governments and public college governing boards may also prohibit concealed carry in their buildings or specific areas under C.R.S. 18-12-214(1)(c); they must post signs at public entrances, a first violation carries a civil penalty of up to $50 plus removal from the premises, and refusing to leave can bring criminal penalties. Schools, licensed child care centers, colleges (C.R.S. 18-12-105.5) and polling places are restricted regardless of signage.

Shall-Issue CCW; Local Open-Carry Bans

Colorado is shall-issue for concealed handgun permits (C.R.S. 18-12-203, 21+, training required). Since SB21-256 (2021), ANY local government may ban open carry in buildings or posted areas (C.R.S. 29-11.7-104) — Denver and several other municipalities do — so open-carry legality varies by locality. Colorado honors permits from states meeting C.R.S. 18-12-213.

Colorado is shall-issue: sheriffs shall issue a concealed handgun permit to qualified applicants age 21 or older (C.R.S. 18-12-203). Open carry is generally legal under state law, but Denver prohibits open carry, and local governments may prohibit open carry in specific buildings or areas with posted signs (C.R.S. 29-11.7-104). Colorado honors an out-of-state permit only if the issuing state recognizes Colorado permits and the holder is 21 or older and a resident of the issuing state, shown by that state's picture ID (C.R.S. 18-12-213).

Vehicle Carry - Loaded Handgun Legal Without Permit; Long Gun Chamber Must Be Empty

Colorado: No permit is needed to carry a loaded handgun in a private vehicle — CRS 18-12-105(2)(b) exempts a person in a private automobile carrying a weapon for lawful protection while traveling; rifles and shotguns in motor vehicles must have an empty chamber (magazine may be loaded, CRS 33-6-125); since July 1, 2024 the vehicle exception does not excuse carrying at polling places, government buildings, or school grounds (18-12-105(2)(b.5), SB 24-131).

VEHICLE CARRY - LOADED HANDGUN LEGAL WITHOUT PERMIT; LONG GUN CHAMBER MUST BE EMPTY
Colorado

Colorado: No permit is needed to carry a loaded handgun in a private vehicle — CRS 18-12-105(2)(b) exempts a person in a private automobile carrying a weapon for lawful protection while traveling; rifles and shotguns in motor vehicles must have an empty chamber (magazine may be loaded, CRS 33-6-125); since July 1, 2024 the vehicle exception does not excuse carrying at polling places, government buildings, or school grounds (18-12-105(2)(b.5), SB 24-131).

Authority: Colo. Rev. Stat. 18-12-105(2)(b) (handguns in private vehicles); CRS 33-6-125 (long guns); CRS 18-12-105(2)(b.5) (SB 24-131 location carve-outs).