Wisconsin gun laws
Last verified November 1, 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Gun laws change often and vary by city and county. Verify every rule with the state's agency or statutes before you carry or travel.
Carry
- Permitless (constitutional) carry: No, a permit is required to carry concealed
- A license is required for concealed carry.
- Open carry: Not confirmed. Check with Wisconsin Department of Justice.
- Permits: Wisconsin permit guide
Vehicle transport
Firearms in or on a vehicle must be unloaded unless they are handguns (Wis. Stat. 167.31(2)(b)). Source
Places where carry is banned
Police stations, prisons and jails, secure mental-health units, courthouses, municipal courtrooms in session, and areas beyond airport security checkpoints. These apply to licensees whether carry is concealed or open (175.60(16)(a)). Source
Magazines and assault weapons
- Magazine capacity limit: No statewide limit
- Assault-weapon restrictions: No statewide ban
Duty to inform
No duty to volunteer. Licensees carrying concealed must show their license and ID when an officer requests them (175.60(2g)(c)). Source
Stand your ground and castle doctrine
Not on NCSL's list of states with no duty to retreat. Castle-doctrine rules at home may still apply. Not confirmed. Check with Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Red-flag law
No extreme risk protection order law.
Reciprocity
Wisconsin recognizes permits from the states on DOJ's list, for non-residents 21+.
The exact list isn't confirmed here. Check the destination's agency.
Sources
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- www.wisdoj.gov
- giffords.org
- giffords.org
- giffords.org
- www.ncsl.org
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
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.