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Last updated April 2026 · By Nick Hall, CCW instructor familiar with Michigan’s CPL and License to Purchase system, plus the 2024 safe storage, red flag, and universal background check laws
Disclaimer: This is an editorial round-up of Michigan gun laws. We do our best to make sure it’s correct, but do not rely on this as legal advice. Michigan’s firearm laws changed substantially in 2024. Consult a Michigan-licensed firearms attorney for any specific question.
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Intro
TL;DR: Michigan is a shall-issue state with a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) required for concealed carry. 2024 brought major changes: universal background checks on all firearms, mandatory safe storage when minors are present, and a red flag law (ERPO). No magazine capacity limit, no assault weapons ban, Stand Your Ground codified at MCL 780.972, strong state preemption. Open carry is legal without a permit.
Michigan sits somewhere in the middle of the pro-gun / restrictive spectrum. It has been shall-issue for concealed carry since 2001, allows open carry without a permit, and has no magazine cap or assault weapons ban. But following the Oxford High School and Michigan State University shootings, the 2023 legislative session passed a comprehensive gun safety package that took effect February 13, 2024: universal background checks on all firearms (expanded from handguns only), mandatory safe storage when minors are present, and a red flag law allowing family members and law enforcement to petition for firearm removal.
Michigan also retains an older quirk that distinguishes it from most states: if you don’t have a CPL, you need a License to Purchase (LTP) from your local police department before buying a handgun. The LTP has been a fixture of Michigan law for decades and remains a meaningful administrative burden for first-time handgun buyers.
If you’re a Michigan resident, moving here, or passing through, this page covers the 2026 rules with statute citations and official sources.
Michigan Gun Laws: The Highlights
TL;DR: Shall-issue CPL, License to Purchase required for handguns without CPL, universal background checks on all firearms (2024), mandatory safe storage when minors present (2024), red flag law (2024), no magazine or AWB restrictions, Stand Your Ground, open carry legal.
- Shall-issue Concealed Pistol License (CPL) under MCL 28.425a-o. Issued by county clerk. 8-hour training course, live-fire, $115 fee, 5-year validity.
- License to Purchase (LTP) required for handgun purchase if you don’t have a CPL, under MCL 28.422. Issued by local police department.
- Universal background checks on all firearm transfers under expanded 2024 law (MCL 28.422a). Applies to long guns, not just handguns.
- Mandatory safe storage when minors present under MCL 750.232a (effective February 13, 2024). Unloaded and locked, or in a gun safe.
- Red flag law (Extreme Risk Protection Order) under MCL 600.1701 et seq. (effective February 13, 2024). Family members and law enforcement can petition.
- No state magazine capacity limit, no assault weapons ban, no firearm registration.
- Stand Your Ground codified in the 2006 Self-Defense Act under MCL 780.972. No duty to retreat anywhere you have a legal right to be.
- Castle Doctrine under MCL 780.951 with a statutory presumption of reasonable belief against unlawful intruders.
- Strong state preemption under MCL 123.1102. Local governments cannot enact firearm regulations stricter than state law.
For the official state CPL resource, see the Michigan State Police CCW page.
Key Information at a Glance
Key Information: Michigan Gun Laws at a Glance (2026)
Fast answers first, with official sources at the bottom.
| Permitless Carry | No — CPL required for concealed |
|---|---|
| Open Carry | Legal without permit, 18+ |
| Concealed Carry | Shall-issue CPL via county clerk, 21+ |
| License to Purchase (LTP) | Required for handguns if you don’t have a CPL |
| Background Checks | Universal on all firearms (expanded 2024) |
| Waiting Period | None |
| Purchase Age | 21+ handguns, 18+ long guns |
| Firearm Registration | Not required |
| Magazine Capacity Limits | None |
| Assault Weapon Ban | No |
| Red Flag Law | Yes (MCL 600.1701, effective Feb 2024) |
| Safe Storage | Required when minors present (MCL 750.232a) |
| Stand Your Ground | Yes (MCL 780.972) |
| Castle Doctrine | Yes (MCL 780.951) |
| State Preemption | Yes (MCL 123.1102) |
| NFA Items (Suppressors/SBRs) | Legal with federal ATF approval |
Official Michigan Resources
The 2024 Gun Safety Package: What Changed
TL;DR: Michigan passed three major gun laws in 2023 that took effect February 13, 2024: universal background checks on all firearms, mandatory safe storage when minors are present, and a red flag law (ERPO). Effective date was tied to the first anniversary of the Michigan State University shooting.
The 2023 Michigan legislature passed a comprehensive gun safety package in response to the 2021 Oxford High School and 2023 Michigan State University shootings. Governor Whitmer signed the bills, which took effect February 13, 2024 — one year after the MSU shooting. The package includes:
- Universal Background Checks (PA 17 of 2023): Expanded Michigan’s handgun-only background check requirement to all firearms (including long guns). Applies to private sales as well as dealer transfers. Private transfers typically go through a local FFL.
- Safe Storage (MCL 750.232a): Firearm owners must keep unattended firearms unloaded and locked, or in a gun safe, when a minor is or is likely to be present in the home. Creates a civil and criminal penalty structure for violations.
- Red Flag Law / ERPO (PA 38 of 2023): Allows family members, former spouses, dating partners, guardians, and law enforcement to petition courts for an Extreme Risk Protection Order temporarily removing firearms from a person deemed a danger. MCL 600.1701 et seq.
- Domestic Violence Firearm Possession Ban: Expanded firearm prohibition to include misdemeanor domestic violence convictions.
Red flag law usage has grown. According to Michigan Bridge reporting, ERPO filings jumped 31% in 2025 over 2024. The law has been used primarily in high-risk cases involving suicide threats or domestic violence concerns.
License to Purchase (LTP): The Handgun Purchase Permit
TL;DR: Michigan requires a License to Purchase (LTP) from your local police department before buying a handgun, unless you have a CPL. Cost is typically free or $5, and the permit is valid for 30 days. Unique to Michigan among states with otherwise moderate gun laws.
The LTP under MCL 28.422 is an older provision that requires handgun purchasers who don’t have a CPL to first obtain a purchase permit from their local police department or county sheriff. The LTP process involves:
- Visit your local police department or sheriff’s office
- Complete the LTP application
- Undergo a basic background check through the state system
- Receive the LTP (typically the same day or within a few days)
- Present the LTP at the firearm dealer during purchase
- After purchase, complete Registry of Purchase forms and deliver them to law enforcement within 10 days
CPL holders are exempt from the LTP requirement — they can purchase handguns directly at dealers using their CPL as the qualifying license. For Michigan residents who plan to buy multiple handguns, the CPL is more convenient than repeated LTP applications.
Concealed Pistol License (CPL)
TL;DR: Shall-issue CPL through the county clerk under MCL 28.425a-o. 8-hour training course with live-fire, $115 fee, fingerprints, background check. Valid 5 years. Grants concealed carry authority and exempts holder from LTP for handgun purchases.
Michigan’s CPL is a full-featured shall-issue concealed carry license. Requirements include:
- Age 21 or older
- 8-hour state-approved pistol safety training course with live-fire
- Not federally prohibited under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)
- Not subject to specific disqualifying conditions (recent alcohol/drug offenses, certain misdemeanors, involuntary mental health commitments)
- Fingerprints and background check
- $115 application fee
Applications go through the county clerk and are typically processed in 45 days. The CPL is valid for 5 years and can be renewed. Michigan’s shall-issue standard means the county clerk must issue if you meet the statutory requirements — they do not have discretion to deny absent a specific disqualifier.
Open Carry: Legal Without a Permit
TL;DR: Open carry is legal in Michigan for any lawful adult 18+, no permit required. The pistol must be registered through the normal LTP or CPL process. Prohibited places still apply (schools, courthouses, etc.).
Michigan law permits open carry of handguns by adults 18 or older who can legally possess a firearm. No permit is required for open carry. The handgun must have been lawfully acquired through the LTP or CPL process, but the act of carrying openly does not require an additional license.
Practically, open carry of handguns is uncommon in Michigan outside of firearms events and specific rural contexts. Prohibited places listed under MCL 750.234d still apply to open carry.
Purchasing a Firearm in Michigan
TL;DR: Handguns require LTP or CPL plus federal NICS. Long guns require universal background check (as of 2024). Age 21+ for handguns, 18+ for long guns. No state waiting period. No firearm registration.
Here’s the step-by-step for a first-time Michigan handgun buyer without a CPL:
- Obtain your LTP. Visit your local police department, complete the application, pass the basic background check. Typically same-day issuance.
- Choose a licensed dealer or private seller. Private sales are legal but must go through a background check facilitated at an FFL under 2024 rules. For local shops, see our best gun stores in Michigan guide.
- Complete ATF Form 4473 + Michigan paperwork. Present LTP or CPL to the dealer.
- Pass NICS check. Federal requirement at dealers.
- Take delivery. No state waiting period once the background check clears.
- Within 10 days: Complete Michigan Registry of Purchase form (RI-060) and deliver to law enforcement.
For long guns, the 2024 universal background check rule applies. Private long gun sales between Michigan residents must go through an FFL-facilitated background check. Simple family-to-family gifts and inheritances have narrow exceptions.
Safe Storage Requirement (2024)
TL;DR: MCL 750.232a requires firearm owners to keep unattended firearms unloaded and locked, or in a gun safe, when a minor is or is likely to be present in the home. Civil and criminal penalties for violations.
Michigan’s safe storage law, effective February 13, 2024, requires firearm owners to secure unattended firearms when children are present. Compliance options include:
- Firearm unloaded and secured with a locking device (trigger lock, cable lock)
- Firearm unloaded and stored in a locked container
- Firearm in a gun safe
Penalties scale based on whether a minor gains access and what happens as a result. An unsecured firearm that allows a minor to cause death or serious injury can result in felony charges. The law does not require secure storage if the firearm is on your person, in your possession, or in a location where children are not reasonably likely to be present.
State Preemption
TL;DR: Strong state preemption under MCL 123.1102. Cities and counties cannot enact firearm ordinances stricter than state law.
Michigan’s preemption statute reserves firearm regulation to the state legislature. Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and other municipalities cannot create their own CPL schemes, magazine limits, or assault weapons bans. Local authorities retain narrow authority over discharge within city limits and restriction on specific publicly owned properties.
Federal Law Still Sets the Ceiling
TL;DR: Michigan’s laws operate inside federal constraints. NFA rules, federal prohibited-person lists, and gun-free federal buildings apply regardless of state law.
Federal prohibited-person rules under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) apply. Federal buildings remain gun-free zones under 18 U.S.C. § 930. NFA items (suppressors, SBRs) require ATF approval through Form 4.
Reciprocity: Out-of-State Permits
TL;DR: Michigan recognizes valid resident concealed carry permits from other states under MCL 28.432a. The Michigan CPL is recognized in approximately 35 states.
Michigan recognizes concealed carry permits issued to residents of other states, provided the permit is valid and held by a resident of the issuing state. Non-resident permits (like a Florida or Utah non-resident permit held by a non-Florida resident) are generally not honored.
Outgoing reciprocity covers most shall-issue and permissive states. Michigan’s CPL is recognized in roughly 35 states. Non-residents cannot apply for a Michigan CPL.
States That Recognize the Michigan CPL
| Full Reciprocity (~35) | NOT Recognized In |
| Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming | California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Washington D.C. |
Reciprocity is subject to change. Verify through the Michigan State Police before traveling.
Where You Can’t Carry
TL;DR: Schools, courthouses, day-care centers, places of worship (limited exception), hospitals, sports stadiums, bars (consumption primary), casinos, and federal buildings. Full list in MCL 750.234d.
Under Michigan law, CPL-authorized concealed carry is prohibited in specific “pistol-free zones” listed at MCL 750.234d, including:
- Schools or school property (with limited exceptions for transport in vehicles)
- Public or private child care centers, day care centers
- Sports arenas or stadiums
- Bars and taverns where the primary business is alcohol consumption
- Places of worship (unless the presiding official permits)
- Entertainment facilities that seat 2,500 or more
- Hospitals
- Casinos
- Courthouses and courtrooms
- College dormitories and classrooms
- Federal buildings under 18 U.S.C. § 930
- Posted private property where the owner has communicated a no-firearms policy
Open carry of handguns (non-CPL) has a different and in some ways less restrictive list, but most of the prohibited places for concealed carry also apply to open carry.
Michigan Self-Defense Laws: Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine
TL;DR: Stand Your Ground codified in the 2006 Self-Defense Act under MCL 780.972. No duty to retreat anywhere you have a legal right to be. Castle Doctrine under MCL 780.951 provides statutory presumption of reasonable belief against unlawful intruders.
Michigan’s 2006 Self-Defense Act codified Stand Your Ground. MCL 780.972 provides that a person has no duty to retreat before using force, including deadly force, in self-defense if the person is (a) not engaged in the commission of a crime, (b) has a legal right to be in the place where the force was used, and (c) has an honest and reasonable belief that force was necessary.
The Castle Doctrine under MCL 780.951 provides a statutory presumption. If an intruder unlawfully enters your dwelling or occupied business or vehicle, the law presumes you had an honest and reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary. This shifts the burden and provides strong legal protection for home defense.
Standard self-defense limitations apply: you cannot be the initial aggressor, cannot be engaged in illegal activity, and the force must be proportionate to the threat.
Magazine Capacity and Assault Weapons
TL;DR: No state magazine capacity limit. No assault weapons ban. No feature-test restrictions.
Michigan imposes no state-level restrictions on magazine capacity or “assault weapon” features. Standard 30-round AR-15 magazines, 17-round Glock magazines, and drum magazines are all legal for possession and use. Michigan has never passed a state assault weapons ban.
NFA Items: Suppressors, SBRs, and Machine Guns
TL;DR: NFA items (suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, pre-1986 machine guns) are legal in Michigan with proper federal ATF approval. No additional state-level restrictions.
Michigan does not add state-level restrictions to federal NFA items. Suppressors are legal for ownership and hunting. SBRs and SBSs are legal. Lawfully registered pre-1986 civilian machine guns are legal. All require the federal ATF Form 4 process and $200 tax stamp.
Recent Changes (2024-2026)
TL;DR: February 2024 brought the three-bill gun safety package: universal background checks, safe storage, and red flag law. 2025 saw ERPO filings jump 31%. 2026 session has a bill pending to remove the CPL permit requirement (move to constitutional carry).
- February 13, 2024: Universal background checks, safe storage, and red flag law all take effect.
- 2025: Red flag law usage rises 31% over 2024 according to Michigan Bridge reporting.
- March 2026 (pending): Michigan House Republicans introduced legislation to remove the CPL permit requirement and move to constitutional carry. Bill status uncertain given the current legislative composition.
For current legislative tracking, see the Michigan Legislature.
Our Take
TL;DR: Michigan is a middle-of-the-road gun state. Shall-issue CPL, open carry legal, no magazine or AWB restrictions, Stand Your Ground, strong preemption. But the 2024 gun safety package added meaningful new restrictions, and the LTP requirement for handgun purchases without a CPL remains a Michigan quirk.
Practical takeaways for a Michigan gun owner:
- Get a CPL. It’s shall-issue, reasonably priced, and eliminates the LTP step every time you buy a handgun. Plus reciprocity.
- Understand the safe storage requirement. If children are in your home, locking up firearms is now a legal obligation, not a best practice.
- Know the 2024 universal background check rule. Long gun private sales now require an FFL-facilitated check.
- The Stand Your Ground law provides strong legal protection. The Castle Doctrine presumption is particularly valuable for home defense.
- Learn MCL 750.234d pistol-free zones. Michigan’s list is broader than many states.
Bookmark the Michigan State Police CCW page and the Michigan Legislature for current law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Michigan require a permit for concealed carry?
Yes. Michigan requires a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to carry a concealed handgun under MCL 28.425a-o. It is shall-issue through the county clerk, requires an 8-hour training course with live-fire qualification, a $115 fee, fingerprints, and a background check. Applicants must be 21 or older. A bill to move Michigan to constitutional carry was introduced in March 2026 but is pending.
What is the Michigan License to Purchase (LTP)?
The LTP under MCL 28.422 is a handgun purchase permit that Michigan residents without a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) must obtain from their local police department or sheriff before buying a handgun. The LTP involves a basic application, background check, and is typically issued the same day. CPL holders are exempt from the LTP requirement and can purchase handguns directly at dealers.
Does Michigan have universal background checks?
Yes, as of February 13, 2024. PA 17 of 2023 expanded Michigan's prior handgun-only background check requirement to cover all firearms including rifles and shotguns. Private sales between individuals must now go through a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL) for a background check. Narrow exceptions exist for certain family transfers and inheritances.
Does Michigan have a red flag law?
Yes, effective February 13, 2024. Michigan's Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law under MCL 600.1701 et seq. allows family members, former spouses, dating partners, guardians, and law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily remove firearms from a person deemed a danger to themselves or others. A temporary order can be issued ex parte; a final order requires a hearing. Michigan Bridge reporting showed ERPO filings jumped 31% in 2025 over 2024.
What is Michigan's safe storage law?
Effective February 13, 2024, MCL 750.232a requires firearm owners to keep unattended firearms unloaded and locked (with a trigger lock or cable lock), stored in a locked container, or in a gun safe when a minor is or is likely to be present in the home. Violations carry civil and criminal penalties that escalate if a minor gains access and causes death or serious injury.
Does Michigan have a magazine capacity limit or assault weapons ban?
No. Michigan has no state-level magazine capacity limit and no assault weapons ban. Standard 30-round AR-15 magazines, 17-round Glock magazines, and drum magazines are all legal for possession and use. Michigan also has no feature-based restrictions on semi-automatic firearms.
Does Michigan have Stand Your Ground?
Yes. Michigan's 2006 Self-Defense Act codifies Stand Your Ground under MCL 780.972. You have no duty to retreat before using force, including deadly force, in self-defense if you are not engaged in a crime, have a legal right to be where the force was used, and have an honest and reasonable belief that force was necessary. The Castle Doctrine under MCL 780.951 provides a statutory presumption of reasonable belief against unlawful intruders in your dwelling, business, or vehicle.
Is open carry legal in Michigan?
Yes. Open carry of handguns is legal in Michigan without a permit for any lawful adult 18 or older. No concealed carry license is required to open carry. However, the handgun must have been legally acquired (through the LTP or CPL process), and pistol-free zones under MCL 750.234d apply to open carry including schools, courthouses, sports stadiums, hospitals, casinos, and bars.
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