"You Can Now Carry Without a Permit in Florida — But Here's What Most People Get Wrong"

By Jamarkus B. Anderson, USCCA Training Counselor | NRA Certified Firearms Instructor | Owner, Integrity Tactical Solutions, LLC | St. Petersburg, FL

Florida's gun laws have changed more in the last three years than in the previous three decades. If you're a gun owner in the Tampa Bay area — or anywhere in the state — and you haven't caught up with where things stand right now, this post is for you.

I'm not going to spin this as good news or bad news. I'm going to walk you through exactly what changed, what it means for you day-to-day, and — just as importantly — what it doesn't mean. Because the biggest danger I'm seeing right now isn't people with bad intentions. It's good people, legal gun owners, who think "permitless carry" means there are no rules anymore.

There are still rules! And some of them carry felony charges if you get them wrong.

Let's break it down.

What Is Permitless Carry — and When Did It Become Law in Florida?

Florida's permitless carry law — officially known as constitutional carry — went into

effect on July 1, 2023, when Governor DeSantis signed HB 543 into law. Before that, if you wanted to carry a concealed firearm in public, you had to obtain a Florida Concealed Weapons License (CWL), which required a background check, a training course, and an application fee.

Under the new law, if you are 21 years of age or older and you're not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit. No license required. No training required by law.

That last part is what keeps me up at night, and I'll address it in a moment.

Does This Mean Florida Now Allows Open Carry Too?

This is where a lot of people are confused right now — and for good reason.

For nearly 40 years, open carry was flat-out illegal in Florida under Florida Statute § 790.053. That changed in September 2025, not through legislation, but through a court ruling. The First District Court of Appeal ruled in McDaniels v. State that Florida's open carry ban violated the Second Amendment under the U.S. Supreme Court's Bruen framework. Florida's Attorney General directed law enforcement to stop enforcing the ban.

So as of now, open carry is legal in Florida for eligible adults — meaning you can carry a visible, holstered firearm in public. That's a major shift.

But here's what you need to understand: just because something is now legal doesn't mean it's automatically wise in every situation. We'll talk about that, too.

Who Qualifies to Carry Under Florida's Permitless Carry Law?

The criteria for lawfully carrying under Florida's permitless carry law mirror what was previously required to obtain a CWL. You must:

• Be 21 years of age or older (18–20 if you are active military or an honorably discharged veteran)

• Be legally permitted to possess a firearm under both Florida and federal law

• Not have been convicted of a felony offense

• Not have a current injunction for domestic violence or repeat violence

• Not have been adjudicated incapacitated or committed to a mental institution

• Not chronically and habitually use alcoholic beverages to the extent that your normal faculties are impaired

• Not be in possession of drugs or controlled substances while carrying

The law removed the requirement to prove you meet these standards ahead of time — but the standards themselves didn't go away. You are still responsible for knowing whether you qualify. Ignorance is not a defense.

Where Can You Still NOT Carry — Even With Permitless Carry?

This is the most critical section of this post. Read it carefully!

Permitless carry does not mean you can carry anywhere. Florida Statute § 790.06(12) specifically prohibits carrying — concealed or open — in the following locations:

• Inside school buildings or on school-sponsored events

• Police, sheriff, or highway patrol stations

• Detention facilities, prisons, or jails

• Courthouses and courtrooms

• Polling places

• Government meetings open to the public

• The passenger terminal and sterile areas of airports

• Establishments with a license to dispense alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption (bars)

• Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law

Private property owners can also restrict carry on their premises. If a business posts a no-firearms sign or an employee asks you to leave because of your firearm, you must comply. Failure to do so can result in an armed trespass charge — a third-degree felony.

What About That Open Carry Court Ruling — Are There Still Limits?

Yes. Significant ones.

The court struck down Florida's blanket ban on open carry, but the prohibited-locations list still applies to everyone — whether you're carrying concealed or open. You cannot openly carry into a school, a bar, a courthouse, or any other restricted location.

Additionally, private businesses can still prohibit open carry on their property. Open carry at public demonstrations is also prohibited. And the Legislature is actively working on bills to clarify the rules further — so expect this area of law to continue evolving through 2026 and beyond.

One more important thing: briefly and accidentally exposing a concealed firearm is not a crime. The McDaniels ruling clarified this. If your shirt rides up and someone can momentarily see your holster, you're not breaking the law. Intent matters. Brandishing or displaying a firearm in a threatening or careless way, however, is still punishable under § 790.10.

Should You Still Get a Florida Concealed Weapons License?

My answer: Yes — absolutely. Here's why. Permitless carry gives you the legal right to carry in Florida. But a Florida CWL gives you much more:

Out-of-state reciprocity. Florida's CWL is recognized by 37+ states. If you travel with your firearm, the license is practically essential. Permitless carry in Florida does not give you carry rights in other states.

Waiting period exemption. Florida has a 3-business-day waiting period on firearm purchases. CWL holders are exempt from that waiting period.

The License gives you an "air of legitmacy." It is proof that you have undergone SOME training. That intangible is a good thing to have should you find yourself in court.

The CWL is worth the investment, even now. I'd also add: getting formally trained — even though it's no longer required by law — is worth far more.

Here's What I Really Want You to Hear

Since July 2023, something has happened in Tampa Bay that concerns me deeply. According to reporting from WFLA, the number of people taking concealed carry training classes in this area dropped by roughly 80% after permitless carry went into effect. Before the law, training providers were seeing close to 1,000 students per month. After — closer to 200.

That tells me a lot of people heard "you don't need a license" and translated it as "you don't need training." Those are not the same thing.

A firearm is a serious tool. The legal right to carry one doesn't automatically give you the skills to carry it responsibly — the muscle memory, the situational awareness, the judgment under stress, the knowledge of when not to use it. That takes training. Real, hands-on, instructor-led training.

I've been training students in St. Petersburg and across the Tampa Bay area since 2020. I've seen people come in with zero firearms experience and leave as confident, capable, legally informed gun owners. I've also seen what happens when people skip that step.

The law changed. Your responsibility didn't.

What About Carrying as a Black Gun Owner in Florida?

I'm going to say something out loud that doesn't always get said in these conversations.

Florida's permitless carry law applies equally to everyone who legally qualifies — regardless of race. But the reality is that Black gun owners, and gun owners of color broadly, often face a different lived experience when armed in public. Perception, implicit bias, and inconsistent enforcement are real considerations that we don't get the luxury of ignoring.

As the co-founder of Black Brass Gun Club, I believe in the full exercise of Second Amendment rights by our community. And I also believe that training, knowledge of the law, and situational awareness are more important for us — not less.

Know your rights. Know the law. Know how to carry safely and legally. And know how to de-escalate before a situation ever requires you to reach for a firearm.

That's what we teach at ITS. And that's the standard I hold myself to every time I step out the door.

The Bottom Line

Florida's gun laws in 2026 look dramatically different than they did just three years ago. Permitless concealed carry has been in effect since July 2023. Open carry became legal through a court ruling in September 2025. There are still meaningful restrictions on where you can carry, and those restrictions carry serious legal consequences.

Here's what I want you to walk away with:

• You can legally carry concealed without a permit if you're 21+ and legally eligible

• Open carry is now legal in Florida, but restricted locations still apply

• A CWL is still worth getting for reciprocity and other benefits

• Training is no longer required by law — but it's more important than ever

• Know exactly where you can and cannot carry before you step out the door

If you're in the Tampa Bay area and you want to understand your rights, carry legally, and carry well — I'm here. Integrity Tactical Solutions serves St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon, and the surrounding communities.

Let's make sure the right people are the best-trained people in the room.

Train Hard. Train Smart. Train SAFE.™ — Jamarkus

📞 (727) 231-1198 | ✉️ info@integritytacsolutions.com | 🌐 integritytacsolutions.com 📱 @integritytacsolutions on Instagram & Facebook

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Florida firearms law is evolving rapidly. For legal guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed Florida attorney.

Sources: Florida Statute § 790.06 | Florida Statute § 790.053 | HB 543 (2023) | McDaniels v. State, First DCA (September 2025) | WFLA News Tampa Bay (2023)