Suffolk County Sheriff Pistol Permit

Apply to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office (Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island). Checked against the agency's own site on 2026-10-08.

• New license: $10 application fee (cash or check), plus $88.25 for state fingerprint processing (money order only).
• Local rules: Four character reference affidavits, each notarized. Two passport-style photos taken within 30 days. Applications are taken 9 a.m. to noon on weekdays so you can be fingerprinted the same visit.
• Wait: At least six to seven months.
• Good to know: Licenses expire after five years. The office is in Riverhead.

Apply to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office · Every New York county

Common questions

How much does a pistol permit cost in eastern Suffolk County?

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. That's the 3rd cheapest 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 eastern Suffolk County?

Apply to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office (Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island).

What does the Suffolk County Sheriff require beyond state law?

Four character reference affidavits, each notarized. Two passport-style photos taken within 30 days. Applications are taken 9 a.m. to noon on weekdays so you can be fingerprinted the same visit.

How long does a pistol permit take in eastern Suffolk County?

At least six to seven months. 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.