Pennsylvania gun laws

Carry

• Permitless (constitutional) carry: No, a permit is required to carry concealed
• A license is required for concealed carry and for carry in a vehicle.
• Open carry: State law requires a license only for concealed carry or carry in a vehicle (18 Pa.C.S. 6106), so open carry without a license is not covered by that section. In Philadelphia (a city of the first class), carrying on public streets or property requires a license or a 6106(b) exemption (6108). The statute notes 6108 was declared unconstitutional as applied in Commonwealth v. Sumpter (Pa. Super. 2025). Source
• Permits: Pennsylvania permit guide

Vehicle transport

Carrying a firearm in any vehicle requires a License to Carry Firearms, unless a 6106(b) exception applies (18 Pa.C.S. 6106(a)). Source

Places where carry is banned

School property, including weapons generally (18 Pa.C.S. 912), and court facilities (913). Other places may also apply. Source

Magazines and assault weapons

• Magazine capacity limit: No statewide limit
• Assault-weapon restrictions: No statewide ban

Duty to inform

Not confirmed. Check with County sheriff (Philadelphia: police).

Stand your ground and castle doctrine

No duty to retreat in any place you're lawfully present (stand your ground).

Red-flag law

No extreme risk protection order law.

Reciprocity

Pennsylvania's reciprocity is set by the Attorney General's published list of agreements and recognitions.

The exact list isn't confirmed here. Check the destination's agency.

Official reciprocity information

Check whether Pennsylvania honors your permit

Sources

1. www.pa.gov
2. www.attorneygeneral.gov
3. giffords.org
4. giffords.org
5. giffords.org
6. www.ncsl.org
7. www.palegis.us
8. www.palegis.us

Magazine, assault-weapon and red-flag lists come from Giffords Law Center summaries; stand-your-ground from NCSL. Carry, vehicle, banned-place, duty-to-inform and reciprocity details come from the state's own legislature, attorney general or state police pages.