New York Pistol Permits by County

In New York you need a license just to own a handgun, and you get it from your county, not the state. A county judge decides in most of the state, and each county can ask for more than state law does: a safety course even for a home-only license, references who live in the county, a year or two of residency, a letter to the judge. Costs run from under $100 to over $400.

Checked against each agency's own site on 2026-10-08. New York gun laws.

The same everywhere

• Who decides: In New York City it's the police commissioner, in Nassau the county police commissioner, and in Suffolk either the police commissioner or the sheriff, depending on your town. Everywhere else a county judge makes the call, after the clerk's or sheriff's office takes your paperwork and runs the background check. (N.Y. Penal Law § 265.00(10))
• The county's own fee: Outside New York City, Nassau and Westchester, which set their own, the license itself costs $3 to $10. What makes a permit expensive is everything around it: fingerprinting for the background check, photos, and the safety course. (N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(14))
• Why counties differ: The law lists what every applicant has to provide, then lets the licensing officer ask for more. That one line is why one county wants a safety course for a home-only license, or references who live in the county, and the next one doesn't. (N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(1)(o)(v))
• Character references: Every carry application needs at least four people who'll vouch for you. Counties decide the rest: whether they must live in the county, how long they've known you, and whether their signatures must be notarized. (N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(1)(o)(ii))
• Training for a carry license: A concealed carry license takes 16 hours of classroom training and 2 hours of live fire with a state-approved instructor, plus a written test. A premises license (home or business only) doesn't need it under state law, but many counties require some safety course anyway. (N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(19))
• How long they have to decide: Six months from when you hand in your application, unless the licensing officer tells you in writing why it's taking longer. Many counties still quote 6 to 12 months, and a few say more. (N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(4-b))

Every county

• Albany County: A new pistol permit in Albany County costs about $112: $10 in local fees plus about $102 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Allegany County: The Allegany County Sheriff's Office doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Broome County: A new pistol permit in Broome County costs about $140, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Cattaraugus County: A new pistol permit in Cattaraugus County costs $140 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Cayuga County: A new pistol permit in Cayuga County costs about $101.50, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Chautauqua County: A new pistol permit in Chautauqua County costs about $132, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Chemung County: A new pistol permit in Chemung County costs $15 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Chenango County: A new pistol permit in Chenango County costs about $170, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Clinton County: A new pistol permit in Clinton County costs $15 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Columbia County: A new pistol permit in Columbia County costs about $112: $25 in local fees plus $87 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Cortland County: The Cortland County Clerk doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Delaware County: A new pistol permit in Delaware County costs about $122: $20 in local fees plus about $102 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Dutchess County: A new pistol permit in Dutchess County costs about $127: $25 in local fees plus about $102 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Erie County: A new pistol permit in Erie County costs about $122: $20 in local fees plus about $102 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Essex County: A new pistol permit in Essex County costs about $124.50, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Franklin County: A new pistol permit in Franklin County costs $15 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Fulton County: The Fulton County Sheriff's Civil Division doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Genesee County: A new pistol permit in Genesee County costs $25 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Greene County: The Greene County Sheriff's Pistol Permit Division doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Hamilton County: The Hamilton County Clerk doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Herkimer County: A new pistol permit in Herkimer County costs $25 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Jefferson County: A new pistol permit in Jefferson County costs about $136.75, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Lewis County: The Lewis County Clerk doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Livingston County: A new pistol permit in Livingston County costs about $112: $10 in local fees plus about $102 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Madison County: A new pistol permit in Madison County costs $15 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Monroe County: A new pistol permit in Monroe County costs $129 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Clerk and County Court doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Nassau County: A new pistol permit in Nassau County costs about $287: $200 in local fees plus $87 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• New York City: A new pistol permit in New York City costs about $429.75: $340 in local fees plus $89.75 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Niagara County: A new pistol permit in Niagara County costs $20 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Oneida County: A new pistol permit in Oneida County costs $10 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Onondaga County: A new pistol permit in Onondaga County costs about $162: $60 in local fees plus about $102 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Ontario County: A new pistol permit in Ontario County costs about $112: $10 in local fees plus about $102 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Orange County: A new pistol permit in Orange County costs $111.50 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Orleans County: A new pistol permit in Orleans County costs $10 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Oswego County: A new pistol permit in Oswego County costs about $122: $20 in local fees plus about $102 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Otsego County: A new pistol permit in Otsego County costs $101 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Putnam County: A new pistol permit in Putnam County costs about $98.25, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Rensselaer County: A new pistol permit in Rensselaer County costs $46 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Rockland County: A new pistol permit in Rockland County costs $150 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• St. Lawrence County: The St. Lawrence County Clerk doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Saratoga County: A new pistol permit in Saratoga County costs about $142: $40 in local fees plus about $102 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Schenectady County: A new pistol permit in Schenectady County costs about $126.50, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Schoharie County: A new pistol permit in Schoharie County costs about $92, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Schuyler County: A new pistol permit in Schuyler County costs $10 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Seneca County: A new pistol permit in Seneca County costs about $104.25, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Steuben County: A new pistol permit in Steuben County costs $10 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.
• Suffolk County Police: A new pistol permit in western Suffolk County costs about $97: $10 in local fees plus $87 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Suffolk County Sheriff: A new pistol permit in eastern Suffolk County costs about $98.25: $10 in local fees plus $88.25 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Sullivan County: A new pistol permit in Sullivan County costs about $140, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Tioga County: The Tioga County Sheriff's Office doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Tompkins County: The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Ulster County: A new pistol permit in Ulster County costs about $112, including fingerprinting for the state and FBI background check.
• Warren County: The Warren County Clerk doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Washington County: The Washington County Sheriff's Office doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Wayne County: The Wayne County Sheriff's Office doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Westchester County: A new pistol permit in Westchester County costs about $262: $175 in local fees plus $87 for fingerprinting and the state and FBI background check.
• Wyoming County: The Wyoming County Clerk doesn't post its pistol permit fees online, so call or check its site before you apply.
• Yates County: A new pistol permit in Yates County costs $109 in posted fees, and fingerprinting (often around $100) may be extra.

Not legal advice. Confirm fees with the agency before you pay.