Washington Carry Laws

Concealed Pistol License Required

Washington requires a CPL for concealed carry and for carrying or placing a loaded pistol in a vehicle (RCW 9.41.050, shall-issue under 9.41.070); open carry is generally legal statewide under state preemption (RCW 9.41.290); magazines over 10 rounds may not be manufactured, imported, distributed, or sold in-state (RCW 9.41.370, gross misdemeanor), but possession remains legal — travelers may keep magazines they already own.

CONCEALED PISTOL LICENSE REQUIRED
Washington

Washington requires a CPL for concealed carry and for carrying or placing a loaded pistol in a vehicle (RCW 9.41.050, shall-issue under 9.41.070); open carry is generally legal statewide under state preemption (RCW 9.41.290); magazines over 10 rounds may not be manufactured, imported, distributed, or sold in-state (RCW 9.41.370, gross misdemeanor), but possession remains legal — travelers may keep magazines they already own.

Authority: RCW 9.41.050 (CPL for concealed carry and loaded pistol in vehicle); RCW 9.41.370 (LCM: sale/manufacture/import/distribution ban only, gross misdemeanor).

Magazine Sales Ban - 10+ Round Magazines (Possession Legal)

Washington bans the manufacture, import, distribution, and sale of magazines over 10 rounds (RCW 9.41.370, gross misdemeanor); POSSESSION is not prohibited - magazines you already own, including those brought from another state, remain lawful to possess and use.

MAGAZINE CAPACITY
WASHINGTON

Washington bans the manufacture, import, distribution, and sale of magazines over 10 rounds (RCW 9.41.370, gross misdemeanor); POSSESSION is not prohibited - magazines you already own, including those brought from another state, remain lawful to possess and use.

Authority: RCW 9.41.370 (2022 c 104, effective July 1, 2022; LCM defined >10 rounds in RCW 9.41.010); upheld, State v. Gator's Custom Guns (Wash. 2025).

Prohibited Places - Where You Cannot Carry

Washington: Weapons barred (gross misdemeanor, RCW 9.41.300) from restricted areas of jails and law-enforcement facilities, courtrooms and areas used for court proceedings, restricted areas of inpatient mental-health facilities, 21-and-over areas of liquor establishments, restricted airport areas, and — unless the carrier holds a concealed pistol license — libraries, zoos/aquariums and transit stations; K-12 school premises: RCW 9.41.280.

PROHIBITED PLACES - WHERE YOU CANNOT CARRY
Washington

Washington: Weapons barred (gross misdemeanor, RCW 9.41.300) from restricted areas of jails and law-enforcement facilities, courtrooms and areas used for court proceedings, restricted areas of inpatient mental-health facilities, 21-and-over areas of liquor establishments, restricted airport areas, and — unless the carrier holds a concealed pistol license — libraries, zoos/aquariums and transit stations; K-12 school premises: RCW 9.41.280.
Authority: RCW 9.41.300 (weapons prohibited in certain places, incl. 2024 c 285 additions); RCW 9.41.280 (school premises).

No Duty to Retreat - Case Law (Studd)

Washington: No Stand Your Ground statute, but Washington case law (State v. Studd, 137 Wn.2d 533 (1999), reaffirming State v. Allery, 101 Wn.2d 591 (1984)) holds there is NO duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense anywhere you have a legal right to be. Castle Doctrine also applies at home.

SELF-DEFENSE LAWS
WASHINGTON

Washington: No Stand Your Ground statute, but Washington case law (State v. Studd, 137 Wn.2d 533 (1999), reaffirming State v. Allery, 101 Wn.2d 591 (1984)) holds there is NO duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense anywhere you have a legal right to be. Castle Doctrine also applies at home.

Authority: State v. Studd, 137 Wn.2d 533, 549, 973 P.2d 1049 (1999), reaffirming State v. Allery, 101 Wn.2d 591, 598, 682 P.2d 312 (1984).

Red Flag Law - ERPO in Effect

Washington has a Red Flag law (RCW 7.105). Courts can issue Extreme Risk Protection Orders to temporarily remove firearms.

RED FLAG LAW - WASHINGTON (RCW 7.105)

Washington courts can issue Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) under chapter 7.105 RCW, temporarily prohibiting a person found to pose a significant danger to themselves or others from possessing, purchasing, or accessing firearms. Petitions may be filed by law enforcement or by family or household members (including intimate partners). A court may first issue a temporary ex parte order, followed by a full hearing; a full ERPO lasts one year and may be renewed. Firearms must be surrendered while an order is in force (RCW 7.105.340), concealed pistol licenses are surrendered, and orders can be contested at the hearing, with counsel, and appealed; firearms are returned per RCW 7.105.345 when an order expires without renewal. Violating an ERPO by possessing a firearm is a criminal offense.

Duty to Inform - Only If Asked

Washington: No duty to volunteer you are carrying. Must show CPL if asked

DUTY TO INFORM - ONLY IF ASKED
Washington

Washington: No duty to volunteer you are carrying. Must show CPL if asked

Authority: RCW 9.41.050, Carrying firearms.

Loaded Pistol in Vehicle Requires CPL; Loaded Long Guns Prohibited

Washington: carrying or placing a loaded pistol in a vehicle is a misdemeanor unless the person holds a concealed pistol license and the pistol is on their person or they remain in the vehicle - or it is locked in and hidden from view when they step away (RCW 9.41.050(2)); an unloaded pistol left in a vehicle must likewise be locked and concealed from view (RCW 9.41.050(3)); rifles and shotguns must have no shell in the chamber in any motor vehicle, for everyone (RCW 77.15.460).

LOADED PISTOL IN VEHICLE REQUIRES CPL; LOADED LONG GUNS PROHIBITED
Washington

Washington: carrying or placing a loaded pistol in a vehicle is a misdemeanor unless the person holds a concealed pistol license and the pistol is on their person or they remain in the vehicle - or it is locked in and hidden from view when they step away (RCW 9.41.050(2)); an unloaded pistol left in a vehicle must likewise be locked and concealed from view (RCW 9.41.050(3)); rifles and shotguns must have no shell in the chamber in any motor vehicle, for everyone (RCW 77.15.460).

Authority: RCW 9.41.050(2) (loaded pistol in vehicle requires CPL + on person / licensee present / locked-and-concealed when away; misdemeanor); RCW 9.41.050(3) (unloaded pistol left in vehicle must be locked and concealed); RCW 77.15.460(1) (loaded rifle/shotgun in a motor vehicle; misdemeanor).

No-Carry Signs - Not Criminal to Ignore

Washington: private-business 'no firearms' signs have no force of law (trespass only after you refuse to leave), but carrying is a crime regardless of any request to leave in statutorily restricted places — 21-and-over areas of bars/restaurants, restricted areas of jails and courthouses, inpatient mental-health facilities, airport secure areas, libraries, zoos/aquariums, and transit stations (RCW 9.41.300; penalties under RCW 9.41.810).

"NO FIREARMS" SIGN LAW
WASHINGTON

Washington: private-business 'no firearms' signs have no force of law (trespass only after you refuse to leave), but carrying is a crime regardless of any request to leave in statutorily restricted places — 21-and-over areas of bars/restaurants, restricted areas of jails and courthouses, inpatient mental-health facilities, airport secure areas, libraries, zoos/aquariums, and transit stations (RCW 9.41.300; penalties under RCW 9.41.810).

Authority: RCW 9.41.300 (restricted places: jails, court areas, mental-health facilities, 21+ areas of alcohol establishments, airport secure areas, libraries, zoos, transit stations; penalties via RCW 9.41.810); private premises: no sign statute, trespass only.