Firearm Licensing Information

Procedure for Obtaining Firearms Licenses and Firearms Identification Cards (FID)

Types of Licences and FID's;
License to Carry (Class A)
License to Carry (Class B)
Firearms Identification Card (FID)
Restricted Firearms Identification Card (Restricted FID)

Requirements:

You must be 21 years old to obtain a License to Carry (Class A or B).
You must be 18 years old to obtain a Firearms Identification Card.

(FID applicants 15-18 years can obtain a FID with written consent from their parent/guardian)

Determine which License to Carry (LTC) or Firearms Identification Card (FID) you will need. (See description of categories in the pamphlet from the Massachusetts Gun Control Act of 1998.)
Attend and successfully complete a certified (LTC or FID) BASIC FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE by an instructor approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (You must be trained for the appropriate category you are applying for and the instructor must document this on your certificate.)
Complete and submit an APPLICATION FOR NEW/RENEWAL OF A FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION CARD OR LICENSE TO CARRY FIREARMS form to the Police Department. The following MUST be submitted with the application:

$100.00 Application fee (non-refundable if application is denied) Check or money order. (Applicants over 70 years old renewing are exempt from fee.) (Applicants renewing Restricted FID's are exempt from fee.)
3 Photographs ( approximate size 1"x 1") can be obtained at the Police Department for an additional fee of $10 to be paid with the Application fee.
Full set of fingerprints (except on renewals) (Applicants can be fingerprinted at the Police Station by appointment.)
Certificate from BASIC FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE (First time applicants only.)
Submit (2) letters of reference from non-family members
Letter from your employer if employment related (First time applicants only.)

First time applicants will be interviewed by a representative of the Police Department. (By appointment)
You may stop by the Police Station any time for an application and the information pamphlet from the Massachusetts Gun Control Act of 1998.

AFTER YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED .......

Please call within 3 - 7 days for your appointment. This Department will review the application, conduct a background check, either approve, restrict, or deny the application, then submit the application package to the Department of Public Safety (State Police).

Within an additional 30 days, the Department of Public Safety will conduct a fingerprint check, and either approve or deny the application.

When the Department of Public Safety approves/denies the application, they will notify this Department, and this Department will notify the applicant.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION.......

A Firearms Identification Card is required to purchase/carry mace or pepper spray.

All Licenses to Carry (LTC) and Firearms Identification Cards (FID) are valid for 4 years and expire on the applicant's birthday. There is no longer a 90 day grace period for an expired LTC or FID.

The licensing authority (Chief of Police) may suspend or revoke a License to Carry or Firearms Identification Card if he has cause.

All firearms must be equipped with an approved locking device, or stored in a locked container.

If you have recently moved to/from another state/municipality, you must notify the:

Department of Public Safety (200 Arlington Street, Suite 2000, Chelsea, Ma 02105), the local Police Department of the jurisdiction that you moved from, AND the local Police Department of the jurisdiction that you moved into.

This notification must be in writing, addressed to the Chief of Police, and must contain your name, old address, new address, your type of License (LTD of FID), and your License number.

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Last Updated October 19, 2003