Permit to Carry FAQ

Minnesota residents may obtain a permit to carry a pistol by submitting an application and other related documentation in person to the sheriff in the county where the applicant resides. Non-residents may apply to any county sheriff in Minnesota.

The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office is located at 13880 Business Center Drive in Elk River. Enter through Door A and follow the signs to the Sheriff’s Office Lobby.

Yes. When you apply you will need to provide the sheriff with your I-551 or I-151 card, whichever one you have been issued.

Applications are available in-person at the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, on the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office website, and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension website.

No. Minnesota State Statute requires you to apply at the Sheriff’s Office in person.

• You must be at least 21 years of age.
• You must complete the correct application form.
• You must not be prohibited from possessing a firearm by any local, state, or federal law.
• You must not be listed in the criminal gang investigation system.
• You must be a resident of the county in which you are applying if you are a Minnesota resident. Non-residents may apply to any Minnesota County Sheriff.
• You must provide a certificate of completed authorized training that included a live shoot. Training must be provided by a certified instructor and must be completed within 1 year of the original or renewal application date.

• Take an authorized firearms training class within 1 year of your application or renewal date.
• Deliver the application packet along with your training certificate in person to the Sheriff’s Office where you currently reside. Out of state applicants may apply at any Minnesota Sheriff’s office.
• You must present a current driver's license, state identification card, or the photo page of your passport showing residency in the county. Permanent US Resident must present an I551 or I151 Card.

• To keep or carry about the person’s place of business*, dwelling house, premises, or land possessed by the person.
• To carry a pistol from a place of purchase to the person’s dwelling house or place of business*, or from the person’s dwelling house or place of business* to or from a place where repairing is done, to have the pistol repaired.
• To carry a pistol between the person’s dwelling house and place of business*.
• To carry a pistol in the woods or fields or upon the waters of this state for the purpose of hunting or of target shooting in a safe area.
• To transport a pistol in a motor vehicle, snowmobile or boat if the pistol is unloaded, contained in a closed and fastened case, gun-box, or securely tied package.

*Case law states that a person must have an interest in the place of business, not merely an employee.

The BCA provides a list of Approved Business Organizations that the BCA certifies for training for the MN Personal Protection Act. The Approved Business Organizations certify and teach the instructors that teach the permit holders. You will need to contact those organizations for instructor information. A list of Approved Business Organizations can be found at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension website.

No. You need to take an approved training course that meets the training guidelines for MN law, but the course does not need to be taken in Minnesota. The course can be taken out of state as long as it meets the guidelines stated in MN Statute 624.714, sub. 2a

Although members of the military receive superb firearms training, they must receive training from an instructor that has been certified by an Approved Business Organization in Minnesota. This additional training pertains to the legal aspects of permit to carry issues.

Current permit to carry application fees can be found on the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office website at https://www.co.sherburne.mn.us/683/Fee-Schedule.

You will know if your permit is issued or denied within 30 days of your application date.

New and renewal permits are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. Emergency permits are valid for 30 days.

Emergency permits may be issued by the sheriff if he/she determines that the person is in an emergency situation that may constitute an immediate risk to the safety of the person or someone residing in the person’s household. You do not need a training certificate for an emergency permit. The emergency permit cannot be renewed if issued.

Any applicant who does not meet the criteria as listed in #5 above is not eligible for a permit to carry a pistol. The sheriff may also deny the application if there is a substantial likelihood that the applicant is a danger to himself / herself or others if issued a permit to carry.

Minnesota permits are valid throughout the state of Minnesota. Individuals interested in determining whether a MN permit to carry is valid in another state should contact that state directly to determine what the carry laws are.

Yes. The permit holder must have the permit card and a valid driver’s license, state identification card, or other government issued photo identification in immediate possession at all times when carrying a pistol and must display the permit card and identification document when requested by a peace officer.

Yes. Upon request of a peace officer, a permit holder must disclose to the officer whether or not the permit holder is currently carrying a firearm.

Yes. A permit holder is required to notify the issuing Sheriff’s Office within 30 days of a permanent address change. Failure to do so is a petty misdemeanor.

No. However, the permit holder may obtain an updated permit at a cost of $10 from the issuing county sheriff's office until the permit expires.

No. Minnesota Personal Protection Act is a permit to carry law, not a conceal and carry law. The pistol does not need to be concealed, but may be concealed.

No. A person, other than a peace officer, who carries, holds, or possesses a pistol in a motor vehicle, snowmobile, or boat, or on or about the person’s clothes or the person, or otherwise in possession or control in a public place, as defined in section 624.7181, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), without first having obtained a permit to carry the pistol is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

A person who is convicted a second or subsequent time is guilty of a felony.

No. Under MN law, handgun transfers involve any sale, gift, loan, assignment, or other delivery to another person. If you possess a valid permit to carry a pistol, that permit constitutes a permit to purchase. You do not need to apply for a separate permit to purchase. However, there is nothing that prohibits you from obtaining both permits if you desire.

• School property
• A childcare center while children are present
• In the vicinity of a school bus occupied by children
• Public colleges and universities may have policies restricting the carrying of weapons on their premises by employees or students while on their campus
• Private establishments that have posted a sign banning guns from their premises
• Places of employment, public or private, if the employer restricts the carry of possession of firearms by its employees
• State correctional facilities or state hospitals and grounds
• Any jail, lockup, or correctional facility
• Courthouse complexes unless the sheriff is notified
• Offices and courtrooms of the MN Supreme court and Court of Appeals
• Any State building unless the Commissioner of Public Safety is notified
• In a field while hunting big game by archery, except hunting bear
• In Federal court facilities or other federal facilities

No. Landlords may not restrict the lawful carry or possession of firearms by tenants or their guests.

Yes. The owner of the residence may prohibit firearms from their home.

Yes.

Transporting firearms without a permit requires the person to have the firearm unloaded and fully enclosed in a case made to contain a firearm.

No. This is private data and is not available to the public.

Yes. Applicants must present evidence that they have received training in the safe use of a pistol within 1 year of the date of the original or renewal application.

Permits to carry are renewed at the county sheriff’s office where the applicant currently resides. Out of state permits holders can renew at any sheriff’s office.