Nevada gun laws

A plain-English overview of buying, owning and carrying firearms in Nevada.

This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and the details matter. Read the current Nevada Revised Statutes and federal law, and talk to a Nevada attorney about your own situation. Reviewed September 2026.

Buying a gun

No permit to buy and no state registration. Nevada does not issue or require a purchase permit, and it keeps no registry of firearms.
From a dealer: federal rules apply, so ATF Form 4473 and a background check. Dealers sell handguns to buyers 21 and older, long guns to buyers 18 and older.
The check runs through NICS. Since 2020 Nevada dealers contact the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System directly instead of a state agency. Most results come back in minutes.
No waiting period. If the check clears, the transfer can be finished the same day.
Private sales need a check too. An unlicensed seller must take the buyer to a licensed dealer, who runs the background check and keeps the record (NRS 202.2547). The statute lists narrow exceptions, including certain immediate-family and temporary transfers.
Buying online: the firearm ships to a licensed dealer, who runs the check when you pick it up, the same way we ship every gun.

Owning a gun

No magazine-capacity limit anywhere in the state.
No state assault-weapon ban. Semi-automatic rifles that are restricted in some other states are ordinary rifles in Nevada.
No registration of any firearm, handgun included, since state preemption ended Clark County's blue-card scheme in 2015.
Federal law still applies in full. The National Firearms Act covers suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns and machine guns, and we don't sell any of them.

Carrying a gun

Open carry: legal without a permit for people 18 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm.
Concealed carry: needs a Nevada concealed firearm permit. Carrying concealed without one is a crime (NRS 202.350). Permits are issued by your county sheriff under NRS 202.3653 and the sections that follow. See our CCW guide.
In a vehicle: a firearm carried concealed on or about your person still needs a permit. How and where a gun is stored in a car changes the answer, so read the statute or ask an attorney rather than relying on a rule of thumb.

Local rules and preemption

Nevada law reserves the regulation of firearms, ammunition and their components to the state. Cities (NRS 268.418) and counties (NRS 244.364) cannot write their own registration, licensing, transfer or ownership rules. That is why the rules in Las Vegas, Reno, Elko and unincorporated county land are the same. Local governments still set rules for their own buildings and property, and private property owners can bar firearms from their premises.

Where you cannot carry

School and child-care property. Carrying a firearm there is restricted by NRS 202.265, which sets out the limited exceptions.
Airports past the security checkpoint. Federal law. Firearms in checked baggage must be unloaded, declared and in a locked hard case.
Federal buildings and courthouses. Federal law, regardless of a state permit.
Public buildings with controlled access. NRS 202.3673 limits where a permit holder may carry, including buildings screened by metal detectors and those posted under the statute.
Private property. A business or landlord can prohibit firearms on their premises.

Prohibited persons

Nevada (NRS 202.360) and federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)) both list people who may not own or possess a firearm, including anyone convicted of a felony, people subject to certain court orders, and unlawful users of controlled substances. If you are unsure whether a past case affects you, ask a Nevada attorney before you buy or handle a firearm.

Hunting

Seasons, legal weapons and tags are set by the Nevada Department of Wildlife and change every year. Nevada issues most big-game tags through a draw you apply for in advance. Check the current season rules before you plan a hunt, and see our desert hunting rifle guide for calibers and rifles.

Official sources

Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 202 — leg.state.nv.us
Nevada Department of Public Safety — dps.nv.gov (concealed firearm permits, reciprocity)
Nevada Department of Wildlife — ndow.org (hunting seasons and tag draws)
ATF — atf.gov (federal firearms rules)

Do you need a permit to buy a gun in Nevada?

No. Nevada does not require a permit, license or card to buy a firearm. You buy from a licensed dealer, fill out ATF Form 4473 and pass the background check at the counter.

Is there a waiting period to buy a gun in Nevada?

Nevada has no state waiting period. If your background check clears at the counter you can take the firearm home the same day. A delayed check means the dealer holds the gun until it is resolved.

Do private gun sales in Nevada need a background check?

Yes. Since the 2019 law, an unlicensed person who sells or transfers a firearm to another unlicensed person must go through a licensed dealer, who runs the background check (NRS 202.2547). The statute sets out narrow exceptions, including transfers between certain immediate family members and some temporary transfers. Read the statute before relying on an exception.

Does Nevada register firearms?

No. There is no statewide firearm registration. Clark County once required handguns to be registered, the so-called blue card, but state preemption ended that in 2015.

Does Nevada limit magazine capacity?

No. Nevada sets no limit on magazine capacity and has no state ban on so-called assault weapons. Federal law, including the National Firearms Act, still applies.

Can you open carry in Nevada?

Yes. Open carry of a firearm is legal in Nevada without a permit for people 18 or older who may lawfully possess one. Place restrictions, such as schools and airports past security, still apply.

Do you need a permit to carry concealed in Nevada?

Yes. Carrying a concealed firearm requires a Nevada concealed firearm permit (NRS 202.350), issued by the sheriff of your county. See our CCW guide.

Can a city or county in Nevada make its own gun rules?

Generally no. State law preempts local regulation of firearms, ammunition, components and their registration, licensing and transfer (NRS 268.418 for cities, NRS 244.364 for counties). Local governments still control their own buildings and property.

Can a non-resident buy a gun in Nevada?

Under federal law a non-resident can buy a rifle or shotgun from a Nevada dealer if the sale is legal in both Nevada and their home state. A handgun can only be transferred to a non-resident through a licensed dealer in their home state.

Who is prohibited from having a gun in Nevada?

State law (NRS 202.360) and federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)) both bar certain people from possessing firearms, including anyone convicted of a felony, people subject to certain court orders, and unlawful users of controlled substances. The rules on restoring rights are complicated, so talk to a Nevada attorney before touching a firearm.