Texas Concealed Carry Laws: Open Carry, Permitless Carry and the LTC in 2026
Short answer
Yes. Texas lets most adults 21 and older who can legally own a gun carry a handgun, openly in a holster or concealed, without a permit under Penal Code § 46.02. A License to Carry is optional. Felons, intoxicated people and anyone in a place listed in § 46.03 are not covered.
Last verified October 30, 2026 against current Texas law
Texas concealed carry laws are simpler than they were a few years ago, but the details still trip people up. Since September 1, 2021, you do not need a permit to carry a handgun in public if you are 21 or older and not barred from owning a gun. That covers both concealed carry and open carry, which Texans often call constitutional carry. Where you carry, how you carry and what you have been convicted of still decide whether you are legal. This guide explains the rules, the optional License to Carry, the places that are off limits and the penalties.
| Permit to carry a handgun | Not required for eligible adults 21 and older since September 1, 2021 (House Bill 1927) |
|---|---|
| Concealed carry | Legal without a permit for eligible adults |
| Open carry | Legal only if the handgun is in a holster |
| Carry age | The statute says 21. A 2022 federal order covers 18 to 20 year old License to Carry applicants, but its reach to criminal charges is unclear |
| License to Carry (LTC) | Optional. $40 state fee, age 21 (some military applicants 18 to 20), six months of Texas residence |
| Basic unlawful carry penalty | Class A misdemeanor: up to 1 year in jail and a $4,000 fine |
| Main laws | Penal Code §§ 46.02, 46.03, 46.04, 30.06, 30.07, Government Code ch. 411 |
Is concealed carry legal in Texas?
Yes. Most adults who are 21 or older and legally allowed to own a gun can carry a concealed handgun in Texas without a license. The old rule that required a concealed handgun license ended on September 1, 2021, when House Bill 1927 took effect.
The law did not give new rights to anyone already barred from having a gun. Felons and other prohibited people gained nothing, and federal gun laws still apply to everyone.
Is open carry legal in Texas?
Yes, if the handgun is in a holster. Under Penal Code § 46.02(a-5), it is an offense to intentionally show a handgun in plain view in a public place, unless it is partly or fully visible and carried in a holster. Texas law does not define the word holster, so use a real holster that holds the gun securely.
The Texas open carry law covers handguns only. Texas has no special statute on carrying a rifle or shotgun in public, but waving one around in a way that alarms people can lead to a disorderly conduct charge under Penal Code § 42.01(a)(8).
Is it legal to carry a gun in Texas without a permit?
Yes, for most adults, and the main requirement is age. Penal Code § 46.02 makes it an offense to carry a handgun if you are younger than 21, outside your own premises or a vehicle you own or control. The same section reaches anyone convicted in the last five years of certain assault, deadly conduct, terroristic threat or disorderly conduct offenses.
What about 18 to 20 year olds? The written age is still 21. In August 2022, a federal court in Firearms Policy Coalition v. McCraw barred Texas from denying License to Carry applications to law-abiding 18 to 20 year olds based on age alone, and Texas dropped its appeal. The Penal Code still says 21, and the order does not clearly shield anyone from a charge under § 46.02, so 18 to 20 year olds should not assume protection.
The law does not require you to live in Texas. Permitless carry applies to residents and visitors alike, as long as you are eligible and follow the same holster, place and intoxication rules.
What are the carry laws in Texas in a car?
Adults 21 and older can keep a handgun in a vehicle they own or control. Penal Code § 46.02(a-1) adds two limits: you cannot carry in the vehicle while engaged in criminal activity, other than a traffic ticket, or while you are prohibited by law from having a firearm.
Do you need a License to Carry in Texas?
No, but many Texans still get one. The License to Carry (LTC), issued by the Department of Public Safety under Government Code ch. 411, subch. H, is now optional. The Texas State Law Library notes that an LTC can allow you to carry in other states that honor it and can replace a background check when you buy a gun from a dealer.
The LTC also changes a few Texas rules. A licensed person may generally carry concealed on college campuses, which an unlicensed adult may not, although private schools can opt out. Private property signs under Penal Code §§ 30.06 and 30.07 apply to license holders.
| LTC item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 21, with an exception for some military members and veterans ages 18 to 20 (Gov’t Code § 411.172) |
| Residency | Six months of Texas residence before applying |
| Standard fee | $40 for a new license and $40 to renew |
| Lower fees | Senior citizens and indigent applicants pay $35 to renew; honorably discharged veterans pay $25; active military members pay $0 |
| Renewal grace period | One year after expiration, under House Bill 668 (effective June 20, 2025) |
A 2025 law, Senate Bill 706, also requires DPS to publish a list of states that recognize a Texas license. Check it before you travel with a gun. For the broader picture, see our guide to Texas gun laws.
Where can you not carry a gun in Texas?
Texas keeps guns out of a list of places, and breaking the rule is usually a third-degree felony. Penal Code § 46.03 includes:
- Schools, college and university premises, school events and school buses (licensed concealed carry is allowed on college campuses)
- Polling places on election day and during early voting
- Courts and court offices
- Racetracks and the secured area of an airport
- Correctional and civil commitment facilities
- Bars that earn 51 percent or more of income from on-premises alcohol sales
- High school, college and professional sporting events
- Hospitals, nursing facilities and mental hospitals, unless the administration authorizes it
- Amusement parks
- Open meetings of a governmental body, when proper notice was given
Some of these, such as sporting events, civil commitment facilities, hospitals and amusement parks, are only Class A misdemeanors under § 46.03(g-2). Correctional facilities, mental hospitals and open government meetings stay felonies. The old license-holder offense in § 46.035 was folded into § 46.03 in 2023.
Private property signs
A business or landowner can tell license holders to leave guns outside. A 30.06 sign bars concealed handguns, and a 30.07 sign bars openly carried handguns. Each sign must have the statutory wording in English and Spanish, in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch tall. A 30.07 sign must be at each entrance, and carrying in a holster is not a defense to it.
Walking past a valid sign is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $200. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if you were told in person to leave and stayed.
Who cannot carry a gun in Texas?
Federal law and Penal Code § 46.04 bar several groups. The best known is people convicted of a felony. Others include some people convicted of family violence offenses in the last five years and people under an active protective order.
Carrying a handgun while barred is a serious charge on its own. Under Penal Code § 46.02(a-7), it is a second-degree felony with a five-year minimum if you are barred under § 46.04(a), and a third-degree felony if you are barred under § 46.04(b) or (c). Drinking is a separate limit. It is an offense to carry a handgun while intoxicated unless you are on your own property, on private property with the owner’s consent, or in or heading to a vehicle you control or have permission to use.
Texas concealed carry penalties
| Offense | Section | Offense class | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlawful carry of a handgun (under 21 outside the home or vehicle, or other § 46.02 violation) | § 46.02 | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in jail and a $4,000 fine |
| Displaying a handgun in plain view without a holster | § 46.02(a-5) | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in jail and a $4,000 fine |
| Carrying while intoxicated | § 46.02(a-6) | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in jail and a $4,000 fine |
| Carrying while barred under § 46.04(b) or (c) | § 46.02(a-7) | Third-degree felony | 2 to 10 years and a $10,000 fine |
| Carrying while barred under § 46.04(a) | § 46.02(a-7) | Second-degree felony, 5-year minimum | 5 to 20 years and a $10,000 fine |
| Carrying in most § 46.03 places | § 46.03 | Third-degree felony (some places Class A misdemeanor) | 2 to 10 years and a $10,000 fine |
| Ignoring a 30.06 or 30.07 sign | §§ 30.06, 30.07 | Class C misdemeanor | Fine up to $200 |
Penalty ranges come from Penal Code §§ 12.21, 12.33 and 12.34. A gun used in another crime, or a prior record, can raise the charge.
Do Texas cities have different carry rules?
No. Texas blocks cities and counties from passing their own gun rules, with narrow exceptions, under Local Government Code §§ 229.001 and 236.002. Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth all follow the same Penal Code rules on who may carry and how.
Real situations: how Texas carry law applies
You are 25 and carry a handgun in a holster at a Dallas grocery store
That is legal. You are over 21, the gun is holstered and a grocery store is not a listed prohibited place. A 30.07 sign binds license holders only, but an unlicensed carrier who is told to leave and stays can still face a criminal trespass charge under Penal Code § 30.05.
You are 19 and want to carry a handgun in Houston
The statute says 21, so you risk an arrest. The 2022 federal order covers License to Carry applications, and it is not clear that it stops a prosecution. An attorney can explain how your county has handled these cases.
Carry laws compared with neighboring states
| State | Permit rule for carrying a handgun |
|---|---|
| Texas | No permit needed for eligible adults 21 and older |
| Oklahoma | No permit needed for most adults 21 and older |
| Louisiana | No permit needed for most adults |
| Arkansas | No permit needed for most adults |
| New Mexico | Open carry is allowed, but concealed carry requires a license |
Texas carry law timeline
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2016 | House Bill 910 renamed the concealed handgun license the License to Carry and made open carry in a holster legal for license holders |
| September 1, 2021 | House Bill 1927 made permitless carry legal for eligible adults 21 and older and repealed the old license requirement in Penal Code § 46.02(c) |
| June 20, 2025 | House Bill 668 created a one-year renewal grace period for expired licenses |
| September 1, 2025 | Senate Bill 706 started the yearly reciprocity list |
| January 2027 | The next regular legislative session begins |
Frequently asked questions
Is open carry legal in Texas?
Yes. Most adults 21 and older who can legally own a gun may carry a handgun openly, but it must be in a holster if any part of it is visible. Penal Code § 46.02(a-5) makes it an offense to show a handgun in plain view in public without one. You must still avoid places listed in § 46.03.
Is concealed carry legal in Texas?
Yes. Eligible adults 21 and older can carry a concealed handgun without a permit under Penal Code § 46.02. House Bill 1927 ended the license requirement on September 1, 2021. A License to Carry is optional, but it can matter for reciprocity with other states and for carrying on college campuses.
Is it legal to carry a gun in Texas with no license?
Yes, for most adults. You need to be at least 21, not prohibited from having a gun under federal or Texas law, and sober. You also must follow place restrictions. A visitor from another state can use the same rule, but out-of-state permits do not change the age and place limits.
Is it illegal to carry a gun in Texas in a bar?
It depends. A business that earns 51 percent or more of its income from on-premises alcohol sales is a prohibited place under Penal Code § 46.03, and the offense is a third-degree felony. A restaurant that does not meet that threshold is not automatically off limits, but a posted sign can still apply to license holders.
Can an 18 year old carry a handgun in Texas?
The statute sets the age at 21 under Penal Code § 46.02. A 2022 federal order in Firearms Policy Coalition v. McCraw barred Texas from denying License to Carry applications to law-abiding 18 to 20 year olds based on age alone. It is unclear whether it stops a charge under § 46.02, so ask a Texas criminal defense attorney before relying on it.
What changed on this page
October 30, 2026: First published. Verified against the Penal Code and Government Code provisions on carry, the DPS License to Carry fee schedule, and the 2025 renewal and reciprocity changes.
If this affects you: if you have been charged with an unlawful carry offense, speak with a Texas-licensed criminal defense attorney before your first court date, since a conviction can end your right to own a gun. For license questions, contact the Texas Department of Public Safety License to Carry program. This guide is general legal information, not advice for your situation. Read how we research every guide in our editorial policy, or report an error. For related rules, see our guides on the stand your ground law in Texas and the Texas guns and weapons hub.
