What does a Colorado concealed carry class and permit cost?
Last verified against primary sources: · Updated
Colorado sets the government fees by statute but not the class price. Your county sheriff's permit fee is capped at $100, plus a fingerprint-processing fee set by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation; renewals are capped at $50 and a temporary emergency permit at $25 (C.R.S. §§ 18-12-205, 18-12-211, 18-12-209). The required training class is charged separately by the instructor, and Colorado statute does not set that price — it varies by instructor.
The two costs: government fees vs. the class
Getting a Colorado permit has two kinds of cost. The government fees — what the sheriff and the state charge to process the permit — are capped by statute, and those caps are stated exactly below. The training class is bought from a private (or agency) instructor, and Colorado law does not fix its price; it varies by instructor, so we do not quote a figure.
Statutory fee caps
Permit (application) fee — capped at $100
An applicant shall also submit to the sheriff a permit fee not to exceed one hundred dollars for processing the permit application. The sheriff shall set the amount of the permit fee... In addition, the applicant shall submit an amount specified by the director of the bureau... for processing the applicant's fingerprints through the bureau and through the federal bureau of investigation. Neither the permit fee nor the fingerprint processing fee shall be refundable in the event the sheriff denies the applicant's permit application or suspends or revokes the permit subsequent to issuance.
Two things to note from the statute. First, the $100 is a ceiling — each sheriff sets the actual amount, so your county may charge less. Second, there is a separate fingerprint-processing fee set by the CBI director (covering the state and FBI fingerprint checks); the statute does not put a dollar figure on it, so we do not state one. Neither fee is refundable if you are denied.
Renewal fee — capped at $50 (plus a $15 late fee in the grace period)
Renewing within the 120-day window before expiration costs no more than $50, set by the sheriff. If you let the permit lapse, the grace period adds a flat late fee:
(2) A permittee who fails to file a renewal form on or before the permit expiration date may renew the permit by paying a late fee of fifteen dollars in addition to the renewal fee established pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. No permit shall be renewed six months or more after its expiration date, and the permit shall be deemed to have permanently expired. A person whose permit has permanently expired may reapply for a permit, but the person shall submit an application for a permit and the fee required pursuant to section 18-12-205...
Miss the six-month grace window and the permit permanently expires — you then pay the full new-application fee again, not the renewal fee. See how long a Colorado CCW is good for.
Temporary emergency permit — capped at $25
A temporary emergency permit (for a person the sheriff believes is in immediate danger) carries a fee "not to exceed twenty-five dollars, as set by the sheriff" (§ 18-12-209(2)(a)).
Lost or replacement permit — $15
If your permit is lost, stolen, or destroyed, a duplicate costs $15 to the issuing sheriff, with a notarized statement (§ 18-12-210(2)).
| Government fee | Statutory amount | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| New permit (application) | Set by sheriff, not to exceed $100 | § 18-12-205(2)(b) |
| Fingerprint processing | Set by CBI director (amount not fixed in statute) | § 18-12-205(2)(b) |
| Renewal | Set by sheriff, not to exceed $50 | § 18-12-211(1) |
| Late renewal (within 6-month grace) | Renewal fee + $15 | § 18-12-211(2) |
| Temporary emergency permit | Set by sheriff, not to exceed $25 | § 18-12-209(2)(a) |
| Lost/replacement permit | $15 | § 18-12-210(2) |
The class cost is separate — and set by the instructor
Colorado law requires an in-person, 8-hour concealed handgun training class (with live fire and a written exam) from a sheriff-verified instructor, but it does not regulate what the instructor may charge for it. That fee — plus range time and ammunition for the 50-round live-fire exercise — is a separate, market-set cost that varies by instructor and county. Because reliable statewide price figures are not in our verified sources, we do not publish a class-price estimate; contact verified instructors listed on your sheriff's website for current pricing. What the class must contain is covered on the concealed carry hub and in how to get a Colorado concealed carry permit.
Fee caps are fixed by statute, but the actual amount within each cap is set locally and can change. Confirm the current permit and fingerprint fees with your county sheriff before you apply.
Common questions
How much is the Colorado concealed carry permit fee?
The sheriff's permit fee is capped at $100 and set by each county, plus a separate fingerprint-processing fee set by the CBI director (§ 18-12-205). Neither fee is refundable if your application is denied.
Does Colorado set the price of the CCW training class?
No. Colorado law dictates what the 8-hour class must contain and that a verified instructor must teach it, but it does not set the price. The class fee is charged by the instructor and varies, so we do not quote a figure.
How much does it cost to renew a Colorado concealed carry permit?
The renewal fee is capped at $50, set by the sheriff (§ 18-12-211(1)). If you renew after expiration, within the six-month grace period, add a flat $15 late fee.
Is the Colorado CCW fee refundable if I'm denied?
No. The statute states that neither the permit fee nor the fingerprint-processing fee is refundable if the sheriff denies the application or later suspends or revokes the permit (§ 18-12-205(2)(b)).