Delaware carry status overview
Delaware requires a Concealed Deadly Weapon License (CDWL) to carry a concealed handgun. Applications are filed with the Prothonotary of the Superior Court, and Delaware is a may-issue state: the court evaluates "good moral character" and retains discretion to deny. In practice most qualified applicants are approved, but meeting the checklist is not a legal entitlement to a license. Carrying concealed without one is a class G felony under 11 Del. C. § 1442 — a class D felony if the weapon is a firearm.
| Concealed carry | Concealed Deadly Weapon License (CDWL) required |
| Governing law | Delaware Code Title 11 § 1441 |
| Minimum age | 21 years old |
| Vehicle carry | CDWL required to carry concealed in a vehicle. |
| Issuing authority | Prothonotary of Superior Court |
| Process | May-issue — court discretionThe Superior Court judges "good moral character" and retains discretion. Meeting the listed requirements does not guarantee issuance, though in practice most qualified applicants are approved. |
Delaware Concealed Deadly Weapon License (CDWL) — permit details
| Issuing authority | Prothonotary of Superior Court |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Training required | Character references and other documentation historically required — verify current process |
| Background check | Yes — state and FBI NICS |
| Application | https://courts.delaware.gov/ ↗ |
Key prohibited locations
- K–12 school buildings and grounds
- Courthouses and court facilities
- Law enforcement and correctional facilities
- Secure areas of airports
- Any location prohibited by federal law
- Private property with posted prohibition
Always verify the complete prohibited locations list at the official statute source.
The newspaper publication requirement
Delaware's CDWL application includes a step that exists in no other state, and it surprises nearly every first-time applicant: you must publish your application in a newspaper before you file it.
The publication must appear once in an approved newspaper of general circulation in your county, at least 10 business days before the application is filed with the court. Your full legal name — no initials — and your home address appear in the notice. The newspaper must have circulation covering at least 35% of the population in your zip code, and the Superior Court publishes an approved paper list by county and zip code rather than letting applicants choose freely.
After publication you obtain an affidavit from the newspaper confirming the notice ran, and attach that affidavit to your application. Filing without it will stall the application.
This requirement is worth understanding before you begin rather than partway through, because it has a real privacy cost that some applicants would rather weigh up front: the fact that you are seeking a carry license, along with where you live, becomes a matter of public record in your local paper.
The full Delaware application sequence
The steps run roughly in this order, and several must happen before filing rather than after:
- Five references. Five residents of your county must sign a certificate vouching for you. They must be county residents — not friends from out of state.
- Newspaper publication at least 10 business days before filing, plus the newspaper's affidavit.
- Fingerprinting, scheduled through the state's identity vendor using a county-specific service code. Proof of payment must be submitted at filing.
- Notarized application filed with the Prothonotary of the Superior Court in your county.
- Firearms training including live fire. Delaware is one of the states that requires actual range work rather than classroom-only instruction. You may complete training before applying, or within 90 days after your application is approved.
- Review by the Attorney General's office and the court. The court makes the final decision and retains discretion.
Budget accordingly. Between publication lead time, fingerprint scheduling, reference gathering and court review, this is a multi-week process even when nothing goes wrong.
Reciprocity and the resident trap
Delaware recognizes permits only from states on the Attorney General's annual recognized-state list, which runs from January 15 to January 15 each year. A listed permit stays valid for that year and cannot be removed without a full year's notice, which makes the list unusually stable compared with other states' lists.
Several states appear with qualifications rather than blanket recognition — Idaho and South Dakota enhanced permits only, North Dakota Class 1 permits only — so "my state is on the list" is not the end of the question if you hold a basic-tier permit.
The Attorney General may also issue a limited temporary license to a non-resident who demonstrates a short-term need to carry in Delaware in connection with employment, for the protection of person or property. This is discretionary and narrow, not a general-purpose non-resident permit.
Frequently asked questions — Delaware
How do I get a Delaware carry permit?
File with the Prothonotary of the Superior Court in your county. The process is unusually involved: publish your application in an approved county newspaper at least 10 business days beforehand and obtain the newspaper's affidavit, gather five references from residents of your county, get fingerprinted, and complete a firearms training course that includes live fire. Delaware is may-issue — the court has discretion and is not obliged to grant the license even if you meet every listed requirement.
Can I carry in my car without a permit in Delaware?
CDWL required to carry concealed in a vehicle. Without a permit, additional restrictions may apply — verify specific vehicle carry rules with the official statute.
Does Delaware honor out-of-state carry permits?
Only permits from states on the Attorney General's recognized list, which is republished annually and runs from January 15 to January 15. Around twenty states appear on it, several with restrictions (for example, Idaho and South Dakota enhanced permits only, North Dakota Class 1 only). Check the current list on the Delaware DOJ site before travelling.
I live in Delaware and have an out-of-state permit. Can I carry?
No. Delaware residents must hold a Delaware CDWL to carry concealed in Delaware, regardless of any other permit they hold. Reciprocity applies to visiting non-residents, not to residents.
Do I really have to publish my application in a newspaper?
Yes, and it is the step most applicants are unprepared for. Your application — including your full name (no initials) and home address — must be published once in an approved newspaper of general circulation in your county, at least 10 business days before you file. The newspaper must have circulation covering at least 35% of the population in your zip code, and the courts publish an approved list by county and zip code. You then obtain an affidavit from the newspaper confirming publication and attach it to your application.
How long is a Delaware CDWL valid?
An initial license runs three years. Renewals extend it five years at a time. Renewal is much simpler than the initial application — you file an affidavit stating you still need the license and still qualify, with no additional training required, and the statute bars the court from adding requirements beyond those in the renewal provision. The court can still deny a renewal for good cause, but this is uncommon.