Nassau County Pistol Permit

Apply to the Nassau County Police Pistol License Section. Checked against the agency's own site on 2026-10-08.

• New license: $200 non-refundable application fee when you apply online, plus $87 for fingerprinting at your appointment.
• Local rules: Four character references who are Nassau County residents. For carry: notarized statements about any hospital admissions, schooling, convictions in the last five years, and any minors living with you. All forms have to reach your investigator within six months of fingerprinting.
• Good to know: Licenses expire after five years.

Apply to the Nassau County Police Pistol License Section · Every New York county

Common questions

How much does a pistol permit cost in 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. That's the 2nd most expensive of the 27 counties that post a full price; the typical one charges about $122. Training is paid separately, to the instructor.

Where do I apply for a pistol permit in Nassau County?

Apply to the Nassau County Police Pistol License Section.

What does Nassau County require beyond state law?

Four character references who are Nassau County residents. For carry: notarized statements about any hospital admissions, schooling, convictions in the last five years, and any minors living with you. All forms have to reach your investigator within six months of fingerprinting.

How long does a pistol permit take in Nassau County?

State law gives the licensing officer six months from when you hand in your application to approve or deny it, unless they tell you in writing why it's taking longer.

Rules every New York license follows

• 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))

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