Vermont Gun Laws (2026): “Vermont Carry,” Universal Background Check & Magazine Cap

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Last updated May 2026 · By Nick Hall, CCW instructor tracking Vermont’s original “Vermont carry” under Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution, the universal background check at 13 V.S.A. § 4019 (Act 17 of 2018), the 24-hour waiting period at 13 V.S.A. § 4023 (Act 14 of 2023), the magazine capacity limits (10 long-gun / 15 handgun) at 13 V.S.A. § 4021, the red flag law at 13 V.S.A. § 4054, and state preemption at 24 V.S.A. § 2295

Disclaimer: This is an editorial round-up of Vermont gun laws. We do our best to make sure it’s correct, but do not rely on this as legal advice. Vermont firearms law shifted significantly in 2018 with Act 94, and again in 2023 with Act 14. Consult a Vermont-licensed firearms attorney for any specific question.

Looking for a brick-and-mortar shop in Vermont? See our best gun stores in Vermont guide for verified FFL dealers, ranges, and gunsmiths near you.

Vermont Gun Laws in 2026: What You Need to Know

TL;DR: Vermont gun laws sit in an unusual position. The original “Vermont carry” framework grants constitutional carry rights under Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution; Vermont has never required a permit and does not issue one. However, Act 94 of 2018 added significant restrictions: universal background checks at 13 V.S.A. § 4019, 21-plus minimum purchase age, and magazine capacity limits (10 rounds for long guns, 15 rounds for handguns) at 13 V.S.A. § 4021. Act 14 of 2023 added a 24-hour waiting period at 13 V.S.A. § 4023 and expanded safe storage. The 2018 red flag law at 13 V.S.A. § 4054 (Extreme Risk Protection Order) is in place. No assault weapons ban. No firearm registration. State preemption at 24 V.S.A. § 2295.

Vermont gun laws are a study in contrasts. The state has never required a concealed carry permit and never issued one. The phrase “Vermont carry” describes the original constitutional-carry model that Alaska adopted in 2003 and that has now spread to 28 other states. But Vermont also has the most concentrated set of gun control regulations in northern New England, layered over the constitutional-carry framework rather than replacing it. The 2018 Act 94 (universal background checks, 21+ minimum age, magazine cap) and the 2023 Act 14 (24-hour wait, safe storage) make Vermont the only constitutional-carry state with all of these restrictions stacked together.

Governor Phil Scott (R) signed Act 94 in April 2018 in response to the Florida Parkland shooting. Although Vermont’s gun-violence statistics have been historically low, Scott articulated a “no place where this can’t happen” rationale and the legislature followed. Act 14 of 2023 followed similar reasoning. The 2025 session saw an Assault Weapons Ban (S 0044) introduced but it has not advanced as of April 2026.

Whether you live in Vermont, are moving here, or are just passing through, this page covers the 2026 rules with statute citations and official sources. VT gun laws sit within our broader U.S. gun laws by state hub.

Vermont Gun Laws: The Highlights

TL;DR: Vermont gun laws operate under the original constitutional-carry framework (Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution; no permit required, no permit issued), but with universal background checks at 13 V.S.A. § 4019 (Act 17 of 2018), 21-plus minimum purchase age at 13 V.S.A. § 4020, magazine capacity limits at 13 V.S.A. § 4021 (10 long-gun, 15 handgun), 24-hour waiting period at 13 V.S.A. § 4023 (Act 14 of 2023), red flag law at 13 V.S.A. § 4054, and state preemption at 24 V.S.A. § 2295.

• Constitutional carry under Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution. Vermont has never required a concealed carry permit and does not issue one. Carry is permitted for adults 18+ (handguns) and 16+ (long guns) who are not prohibited persons.
• Universal background check under 13 V.S.A. § 4019 (Act 17 of 2018). All firearm transfers must be processed through a federally licensed dealer with a NICS check. Limited exceptions for transfers between immediate family members.
• 21-plus minimum purchase age under 13 V.S.A. § 4020 (Act 94 of 2018). Applies to all firearm purchases, including private transfers. Limited exceptions for active military, hunters with hunter-safety certification (16-21 for long guns), and law enforcement.
• Magazine capacity limits at 13 V.S.A. § 4021. 10-round limit on long-gun magazines. 15-round limit on handgun magazines. Effective April 11, 2018. Possession of pre-existing high-capacity magazines lawfully grandfathered.
• 24-hour waiting period under 13 V.S.A. § 4023 (Act 14 of 2023). After NICS approval, the buyer cannot take possession until 72 hours have elapsed (per the 2023 act, despite the 24-hour name). Limited exemptions for active law enforcement and certain emergency situations.
• Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law at 13 V.S.A. § 4054. State’s attorney petitions; ex parte temporary order possible; hearing within 14 days; one-year final order possible.
• Open carry of handguns and long guns is legal for any person not prohibited from possessing a firearm. No permit required. Some communities (Burlington) have attempted local restrictions; preemption at 24 V.S.A. § 2295 limits enforceability.
• Stand Your Ground exists through Vermont case law, not statute. Castle Doctrine through case law. No statutory civil immunity.
• State preemption at 24 V.S.A. § 2295. Local jurisdictions cannot regulate firearm ownership, possession, or transfer beyond state law (with some carve-outs for discharge ordinances and posted municipal property).
• NFA items (suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, machine guns registered before May 1986) legal with federal ATF approval. Vermont does not add a state NFA layer. Suppressors legal for hunting under Vermont Fish & Wildlife rules.
• Sensitive locations under 13 V.S.A. § 4004 (schools), § 4005 (courthouses), and federal § 930 (federal buildings) still apply.
• No reciprocity needed: Vermont doesn’t issue a permit, doesn’t require one, and its constitutional-carry framework covers any non-prohibited adult regardless of state of residence.

For the official state resource, see the Vermont Attorney General page and the Vermont Statutes Annotated portal.

Key Information at a Glance

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“Vermont Carry”: Article 16 and the Permitless Tradition

TL;DR: Vermont’s permitless concealed carry framework is the original “Vermont carry” model and predates the modern constitutional-carry movement by over 200 years. Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution (1777) explicitly protects “the right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the state.” Vermont has never required a concealed carry permit and does not issue one. Adults 18+ (handguns) and 16+ (long guns) who are not prohibited persons may carry openly or concealed throughout the state.

The phrase “Vermont carry” entered firearms vocabulary as a description of the state’s original framework: no permit, no application, no fee, no government record of carry. When Alaska adopted permitless carry in 2003, it was widely described as a state adopting “Vermont carry.” The 28 states that have followed since (most recently South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and South Carolina) all trace their constitutional-carry framework back to Vermont’s original model.

What’s distinctive in 2026 is that Vermont has layered significant gun-control regulations on top of the original Vermont carry framework. Universal background checks, 21-plus purchase age, magazine capacity limits, 72-hour waiting period, and ERPO co-exist with the no-permit constitutional-carry rule. The result is the most heavily-regulated constitutional-carry state in the country.

Buying a Firearm in Vermont

TL;DR: Vermont gun laws send all firearm transfers (handgun and long gun, dealer and private) through a federally licensed dealer with a NICS check under 13 V.S.A. § 4019. The minimum purchase age for any firearm is 21 under § 4020 (with limited hunter exceptions for long guns by 16-21 year olds with hunter-safety certification). Magazine capacity at the time of purchase must comply with § 4021 (10 long-gun, 15 handgun). After NICS approval, a 72-hour waiting period under § 4023 applies before the buyer can take possession.

1. Verify eligibility. Age 21+ for any firearm purchase (limited hunter-safety long-gun exceptions for 16-21). Not a prohibited person.
2. Pick a dealer or seller. All sales (FFL or private) must be processed through an FFL for the NICS check.
3. Complete the paperwork. ATF Form 4473 plus Vermont state purchase paperwork.
4. NICS check. The FFL submits the buyer to NICS.
5. Wait 72 hours. Even with NICS Proceed, the FFL cannot transfer until 72 hours have elapsed (Act 14 of 2023).
6. Take possession. Pay any FFL transfer fees and complete the transfer.

Magazine Capacity Limits and Pending Assault Weapons Ban

TL;DR: Vermont caps detachable magazine capacity under 13 V.S.A. § 4021 at 10 rounds for long guns and 15 rounds for handguns, effective April 11, 2018. Possession of magazines manufactured before that date is grandfathered. The 2025 Assault Weapons Ban (S 0044) was introduced in the 2025 session but has not advanced as of April 2026.

Self-Defense: Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground (Case Law)

TL;DR: Vermont recognizes both Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground through case law rather than statute. Vermont courts have consistently held that there is no duty to retreat inside one’s dwelling and that the use of deadly force is justified when reasonably necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury. Vermont does not have separate statutory civil immunity, and the criminal-justification finding governs both the criminal and civil cases.

Reciprocity: Out-of-State Permits

TL;DR: Vermont doesn’t have or need formal reciprocity. The state’s constitutional-carry framework extends to non-residents. Adults 18+ from any other state can lawfully carry concealed in Vermont without a permit. Vermont also has no permit to honor or be honored, so the question of reciprocity is moot.

Where You Can’t Carry: Sensitive Locations

TL;DR: Vermont gun laws prohibit carry in K-12 schools (13 V.S.A. § 4004), courthouses (13 V.S.A. § 4005), federal facilities (18 U.S.C. § 930), and posted private property. State preemption under 24 V.S.A. § 2295 limits municipal authority to add carry-prohibited zones, but allows discharge ordinances and posted municipal property restrictions.

State Preemption: 24 V.S.A. § 2295

TL;DR: Vermont gun laws are preempted under 24 V.S.A. § 2295. Local jurisdictions cannot regulate firearm ownership, possession, or transfer beyond state law. The 2018 strengthening retained carve-outs for discharge ordinances and posted municipal property restrictions. Burlington has historically tested the limits of preemption with proposed local ordinances, all of which have been blocked or limited.

NFA Items in Vermont

TL;DR: Vermont defers to federal NFA law. Suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, and pre-1986 transferable machine guns are all legal in Vermont with proper federal ATF registration. Vermont does not impose a state-level NFA layer. Hunting with suppressors is permitted under Vermont Fish & Wildlife rules.

For background on the federal regime itself, see our National Firearms Act explainer or the ATF National Firearms Act page. Vermont has a small but present SOT dealer footprint; most NFA acquisition runs through dealers in Burlington, Rutland, and Brattleboro.

Recent Changes (2018-2026)

• Act 17 of 2018, Universal Background Checks. 13 V.S.A. § 4019. All firearm transfers must run through an FFL with NICS.
• Act 92 of 2018, Extreme Risk Protection Order. 13 V.S.A. § 4054. State’s attorney petition, ex parte order possible, hearing within 14 days.
• Act 94 of 2018, 21+ Age and Magazine Cap. 13 V.S.A. § 4020 (21+ age) and § 4021 (10 long-gun / 15 handgun magazine cap). Effective April 11, 2018.
• Act 14 of 2023, 72-Hour Waiting Period and Safe Storage. 13 V.S.A. § 4023 (72-hour wait) and expanded safe storage requirements.
• 2025 session. Assault Weapons Ban (S 0044) introduced; not advanced as of April 2026.
• 2026 session. Convened January 7, 2026. Multiple firearms bills on both sides of the issue have been introduced.

Our Take on Vermont Gun Laws

For practical everyday purposes, Vermont gun laws are an unusual hybrid. Constitutional carry without a permit is the original “Vermont carry” tradition that the rest of the country has slowly adopted, and it remains intact. But the layered restrictions from 2018 and 2023 (universal background check, 21+ age, magazine cap, 72-hour wait, ERPO) make Vermont meaningfully more restrictive than other constitutional-carry states.

The hardest part of Vermont gun laws in 2026 is the 21-plus minimum purchase age. The federal floor for FFL handgun purchases is 21, but Vermont extends 21+ to all firearms including long guns and private transfers. That’s more restrictive than the federal long-gun floor of 18 and creates real practical issues for hunting families. The hunter-safety carve-out for 16-21 year olds buying long guns helps but is narrow.

The 72-hour waiting period is another meaningful imposition relative to constitutional-carry peers. None of the other 28 constitutional-carry states impose any state waiting period. Vermont and a small number of restrictive permit states share the wait, putting Vermont in an unusual middle position. For our broader state-by-state comparison, see the all 50 state gun-law guides hub.

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Vermont-Specific Carry Questions

Has Vermont always been a permitless-carry state?

Yes, in functional terms. Vermont has never enacted a state-level concealed carry permit framework, making it permitless-carry by default since the state’s founding. The state recognizes constitutional carry as the baseline, and no Vermont-issued license exists. Vermont residents who travel to states that require a permit for reciprocity often obtain a non-resident permit from a neighboring state, most commonly a Utah, Florida, or New Hampshire non-resident license.

What are Vermont’s rules around magazine capacity?

Vermont restricts new handgun magazines to 15 rounds and long-gun magazines to 10 rounds under Act 94 enacted in 2018. Magazines lawfully owned before the effective date were grandfathered. The statute survived a state constitutional challenge in 2019, with the Vermont Supreme Court holding the restrictions do not violate Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution.

How does Vermont’s Castle Doctrine work without a Stand Your Ground statute?

Vermont recognizes Castle Doctrine through case law rather than codified statute. The defender inside a home has no duty to retreat from an intruder who has entered unlawfully, and the use of proportional defensive force is recognized under common-law self-defense principles. Outside the home, Vermont case law applies the general self-defense standard without an explicit Stand Your Ground extension.

Does Vermont have any sensitive-location carry restrictions?

Yes. Schools, courthouses, state institutions, posted government buildings, and private property posted no-carry by the owner are off-limits to carry under Vermont statute. The federal Gun-Free School Zone Act applies within 1,000 feet of K-12 schools, with the licensed-carrier exception unavailable in Vermont because the state does not issue a license.

Frequently Asked Questions: Vermont Gun Laws