Firearms Carry or Purchase Permits

To make application you need

• to apply in person,
• have a copy of your gun safety training certificate,
• and a copy of your driver’s license verifying your correct address. 

Applications to carry are available at the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office located in Hibbing or Virginia, MN or the Public Safety Building in Duluth or can be downloaded from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) website. Click on the link below, if you can not click on the link, copy and paste it into your browser.

https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/administrative/Documents/Permit-to-Carry-a-Pistol-Application.pdf

There is no residency requirement for applying for a permit to carry.  That is to say, if you live in the State of Minnesota you must apply in the county where you live, if you live outside Minnesota you apply at any county within the State of Minnesota.  The charge for a permit to carry is $70 and that fee is non-refundable if denied the permit.  Checks or exact cash payments will be accepted. The department has 30 days to process the application.

If you have any questions regarding the Carry and Conceal permit process, contact the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office - Records Division, c/o Public Safety Building, 2030 N Arlington Avenue, Duluth, MN 55811, telephone 218-336-4360.

If you live in the jurisdiction of the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office (rural St. Louis County) you make application for a permit to purchase a handgun at the Sheriff's Office in the Public Safety Building or the Virginia or Hibbing Courthouses.  St. Louis County uses the same application that you can download from the BCA.  Click the link below:

https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-divisions/administrative/Documents/Permit-to-Purchase-Transfer-Application.pdf
If you reside within a city in St. Louis County, you must apply at your local police department.  Check with your local police department to find out what application form they use.

In other words - to obtain a permit to purchase a weapon and you live within the City of Duluth city limits, go to the Duluth Police Department.  If you live within the City of Proctor city limits, go to the Proctor Police Department, etc.  If you live outside the city limits but are in St. Louis County, then you would go to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office nearest you (Public Safety Building, Hibbing, or Virginia).

Applications are available at the above Sheriff’s Offices, you must have a copy of your driver's license or State identification card with your address on it.  There is no charge for a permit to purchase.  The department has seven (7) working days to process the application.