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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82888</law_id><section_number>18.2-308.04</section_number><catch_line>Processing of the application and issuance of a concealed handgun permit</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-308.07</reference><reference>18.2-308.08</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Crimes Involving Health and Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6.1">Concealed Weapons and Concealed Handgun Permits</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">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. <a id="paragraph-297097" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.04/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">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. <a id="paragraph-297098" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.04/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The court shall <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">order</span> denying issuance of the permit shall be in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Denial of a concealed handgun permit; appeal" href="/18.2-308.08/">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. <a id="paragraph-297099" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.04/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A court may authorize the clerk to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> concealed <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">issues</span>. The court clerk shall be immune from suit arising from any acts or omissions relating to the issuance of concealed <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">common law</span>, or to affect any <span class="dictionary">cause of action</span> accruing prior to July 1, 2010. <a id="paragraph-297100" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.04/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The permit to carry a concealed <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">judge</span> issuing the permit, of the <span class="dictionary">clerk of court</span> who has been authorized to sign such permits by the issuing <span class="dictionary">judge</span>, or of the <span class="dictionary">clerk of court</span> who has been authorized to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> such permits pursuant to subsection D; the date of issuance; and the expiration date. The permit to carry a concealed <span class="dictionary">handgun</span> shall be of a size comparable to a Virginia driver&#x2019;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. <a id="paragraph-297101" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.04/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2013, c. 746; 2017, c. 47.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
