{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-308.04.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-308.04.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-308.04.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-308.04.html"}],"law_id":82888,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82888,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.04","catch_line":"Processing of the application and issuance of a concealed handgun permit","history":"2013, c. 746; 2017, c. 47.","full_text":"A\n\nThe clerk of court shall enter on the application the date on which the application and all other information required to be submitted by the applicant is received.B\n\nUpon receipt of the completed application, the court shall consult with either the sheriff or police department of the county or city and receive a report from the Central Criminal Records Exchange.C\n\nThe court shall issue the permit via United States mail and notify the State Police of the issuance of the permit within 45 days of receipt of the completed application unless it is determined that the applicant is disqualified. Any order denying issuance of the permit shall be in accordance with § 18.2-308.08. If the applicant is later found by the court to be disqualified after a five-year permit has been issued, the permit shall be revoked.D\n\nA court may authorize the clerk to issue concealed handgun permits, without judicial review, to applicants who have submitted complete applications, for whom the criminal history records check does not indicate a disqualification and, after consulting with either the sheriff or police department of the county or city, about which application there are no outstanding questions or issues. The court clerk shall be immune from suit arising from any acts or omissions relating to the issuance of concealed handgun permits without judicial review pursuant to this section unless the clerk was grossly negligent or engaged in willful misconduct. This section shall not be construed to limit, withdraw, or overturn any defense or immunity already existing in statutory or common law, or to affect any cause of action accruing prior to July 1, 2010.E\n\nThe permit to carry a concealed handgun shall specify only the following information: name, address, date of birth, gender, height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes, and signature of the permittee; the signature of the judge issuing the permit, of the clerk of court who has been authorized to sign such permits by the issuing judge, or of the clerk of court who has been authorized to issue such permits pursuant to subsection D; the date of issuance; and the expiration date. The permit to carry a concealed handgun shall be of a size comparable to a Virginia driver’s license, may be laminated or use a similar process to protect the permit, and shall otherwise be of a uniform style prescribed by the Department of State Police.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":297097,"text":"The clerk of court shall enter on the application the date on which the application and all other information required to be submitted by the applicant is received.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":297098,"text":"Upon receipt of the completed application, the court shall consult with either the sheriff or police department of the county or city and receive a report from the Central Criminal Records Exchange.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":297099,"text":"The court shall issue the permit via United States mail and notify the State Police of the issuance of the permit within 45 days of receipt of the completed application unless it is determined that the applicant is disqualified. Any order denying issuance of the permit shall be in accordance with § 18.2-308.08. If the applicant is later found by the court to be disqualified after a five-year permit has been issued, the permit shall be revoked.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":297100,"text":"A court may authorize the clerk to issue concealed handgun permits, without judicial review, to applicants who have submitted complete applications, for whom the criminal history records check does not indicate a disqualification and, after consulting with either the sheriff or police department of the county or city, about which application there are no outstanding questions or issues. The court clerk shall be immune from suit arising from any acts or omissions relating to the issuance of concealed handgun permits without judicial review pursuant to this section unless the clerk was grossly negligent or engaged in willful misconduct. This section shall not be construed to limit, withdraw, or overturn any defense or immunity already existing in statutory or common law, or to affect any cause of action accruing prior to July 1, 2010.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":297101,"text":"The permit to carry a concealed handgun shall specify only the following information: name, address, date of birth, gender, height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes, and signature of the permittee; the signature of the judge issuing the permit, of the clerk of court who has been authorized to sign such permits by the issuing judge, or of the clerk of court who has been authorized to issue such permits pursuant to subsection D; the date of issuance; and the expiration date. The permit to carry a concealed handgun shall be of a size comparable to a Virginia driver’s license, may be laminated or use a similar process to protect the permit, and shall otherwise be of a uniform style prescribed by the Department of State Police.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13122,"edition_id":1,"name":"Concealed Weapons and Concealed Handgun Permits","identifier":"6.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12973,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:18","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:18","permalink":{"id":167119,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13122,"identifier":"6.1","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1","url":"\/18.2\/7\/6.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12973,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Health and Safety","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":166501,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12973,"identifier":"7","token":"18.2\/7","url":"\/18.2\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":85552,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-307.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/18.2-307.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-307.1","metadata":false},{"id":56600,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308","catch_line":"Carrying concealed weapons; exceptions; penalty","url":"\/18.2-308\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308","metadata":false},{"id":78687,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.01","catch_line":"Carrying a concealed handgun with a permit","url":"\/18.2-308.01\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.01","metadata":false},{"id":57991,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.010","catch_line":"Renewal of concealed handgun permit","url":"\/18.2-308.010\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.010","metadata":false},{"id":54818,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.011","catch_line":"Replacement permits","url":"\/18.2-308.011\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.011","metadata":false},{"id":56622,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.012","catch_line":"Prohibited conduct","url":"\/18.2-308.012\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.012","metadata":false},{"id":76584,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.013","catch_line":"Suspension or revocation of permit","url":"\/18.2-308.013\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.013","metadata":false},{"id":54156,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.014","catch_line":"Reciprocity","url":"\/18.2-308.014\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.014","metadata":false},{"id":77380,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.015","catch_line":"Inclusion of Supreme Court website on application","url":"\/18.2-308.015\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.015","metadata":false},{"id":77788,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.016","catch_line":"Retired law-enforcement officers; carrying a concealed handgun","url":"\/18.2-308.016\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.016","metadata":false},{"id":54280,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.02","catch_line":"Application for a concealed handgun permit; Virginia resident or domiciliary","url":"\/18.2-308.02\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.02","metadata":false},{"id":73895,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.03","catch_line":"Fees for concealed handgun permits","url":"\/18.2-308.03\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.03","metadata":false},{"id":82888,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.04","catch_line":"Processing of the application and issuance of a concealed handgun permit","url":"\/18.2-308.04\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.04","metadata":false},{"id":60909,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.05","catch_line":"Issuance of a de facto permit","url":"\/18.2-308.05\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.05","metadata":false},{"id":67217,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.06","catch_line":"Nonresident concealed handgun permits","url":"\/18.2-308.06\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.06","metadata":false},{"id":71655,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.07","catch_line":"Entry of information into the Virginia Criminal Information Network","url":"\/18.2-308.07\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.07","metadata":false},{"id":73002,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.08","catch_line":"Denial of a concealed handgun permit; appeal","url":"\/18.2-308.08\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.08","metadata":false},{"id":85822,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.09","catch_line":"Disqualifications for a concealed handgun permit","url":"\/18.2-308.09\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.09","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":73895,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.03","catch_line":"Fees for concealed handgun permits","url":"\/18.2-308.03\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.03","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":60909,"structure_id":13122,"section_number":"18.2-308.05","catch_line":"Issuance of a de facto permit","url":"\/18.2-308.05\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.05","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-308.04\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2013. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 746<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2017, chapter 47<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":71655,"section_number":"18.2-308.07","catch_line":"Entry of information into the Virginia Criminal Information Network","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-308.07\/"},{"id":73002,"section_number":"18.2-308.08","catch_line":"Denial of a concealed handgun permit; appeal","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-308.08\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":73002,"section_number":"18.2-308.08","catch_line":"Denial of a concealed handgun permit; appeal","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-308.08\/"}],"permalink":{"id":167169,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82888,"identifier":"18.2-308.04","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.04","url":"\/18.2-308.04\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-308.04\/","token":"18.2\/7\/6.1\/18.2-308.04","dublin_core":{"Title":"Processing of the application and issuance of a concealed handgun permit","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-308.04","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The clerk of court<\/span> shall enter on the application the date on which the application and all other information required to be submitted by the applicant is received. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Upon receipt of the completed application, the court shall consult with either the sheriff or police department of the county or city and receive a report from the Central Criminal Records Exchange. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The court shall issue<\/span> the permit via United States mail and notify the State Police of the issuance of the permit within 45 days of receipt of the completed application unless it is determined that the applicant is disqualified. Any order<\/span> denying issuance of the permit shall be in accordance with § 18.2-308.08<\/a>. If the applicant is later found by the court to be disqualified after a five-year permit has been issued, the permit shall be revoked. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> A court may authorize the clerk to issue<\/span> concealed handgun<\/span> permits, without judicial review, to applicants who have submitted complete applications, for whom the criminal history records check does not indicate a disqualification and, after consulting with either the sheriff or police department of the county or city, about which application there are no outstanding questions or issues<\/span>. The court clerk shall be immune from suit arising from any acts or omissions relating to the issuance of concealed handgun<\/span> permits without judicial review pursuant to this section unless the clerk was grossly negligent or engaged in willful misconduct. This section shall not be construed to limit, withdraw, or overturn any defense or immunity already existing in statutory or common law<\/span>, or to affect any cause of action<\/span> accruing prior to July 1, 2010. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The permit to carry a concealed handgun<\/span> shall specify only the following information: name, address, date of birth, gender, height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes, and signature of the permittee; the signature of the judge<\/span> issuing the permit, of the clerk of court<\/span> who has been authorized to sign such permits by the issuing judge<\/span>, or of the clerk of court<\/span> who has been authorized to issue<\/span> such permits pursuant to subsection D; the date of issuance; and the expiration date. The permit to carry a concealed handgun<\/span> shall be of a size comparable to a Virginia driver’s license, may be laminated or use a similar process to protect the permit, and shall otherwise be of a uniform style prescribed by the Department of State Police. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROCESSING OF THE APPLICATION AND ISSUANCE OF A CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMIT (\u00a7\n18.2-308.04)\n\nA. The clerk of court shall enter on the application the date on which the\napplication and all other information required to be submitted by the applicant\nis received.\n\nB. Upon receipt of the completed application, the court shall consult with\neither the sheriff or police department of the county or city and receive a\nreport from the Central Criminal Records Exchange.\n\nC. The court shall issue the permit via United States mail and notify the State\nPolice of the issuance of the permit within 45 days of receipt of the completed\napplication unless it is determined that the applicant is disqualified. Any\norder denying issuance of the permit shall be in accordance with §\n18.2-308.08. If the applicant is later found by the court to be disqualified\nafter a five-year permit has been issued, the permit shall be revoked.\n\nD. A court may authorize the clerk to issue concealed handgun permits, without\njudicial review, to applicants who have submitted complete applications, for\nwhom the criminal history records check does not indicate a disqualification\nand, after consulting with either the sheriff or police department of the county\nor city, about which application there are no outstanding questions or issues.\nThe court clerk shall be immune from suit arising from any acts or omissions\nrelating to the issuance of concealed handgun permits without judicial review\npursuant to this section unless the clerk was grossly negligent or engaged in\nwillful misconduct. This section shall not be construed to limit, withdraw, or\noverturn any defense or immunity already existing in statutory or common law, or\nto affect any cause of action accruing prior to July 1, 2010.\n\nE. The permit to carry a concealed handgun shall specify only the following\ninformation: name, address, date of birth, gender, height, weight, color of\nhair, color of eyes, and signature of the permittee; the signature of the judge\nissuing the permit, of the clerk of court who has been authorized to sign such\npermits by the issuing judge, or of the clerk of court who has been authorized\nto issue such permits pursuant to subsection D; the date of issuance; and the\nexpiration date. The permit to carry a concealed handgun shall be of a size\ncomparable to a Virginia driver’s license, may be laminated or use a\nsimilar process to protect the permit, and shall otherwise be of a uniform style\nprescribed by the Department of State Police.\n\nHISTORY: 2013, c. 746; 2017, c. 47.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}