2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 18 - CRIMINAL CODE (§§ 18-1-101 — 18-26-102) › Article 12 - OFFENSES RELATING TO FIREARMS AND WEAPONS (§§ 18-12-101 — 18-12-508) › Part 2 - PERMITS TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS (§§ 18-12-201 — 18-12-216) › Section 18-12-204 - Permit contents - validity - carrying requirements

(1)
(a)
Each permit shall bear a color photograph of the permittee and shall display the signature of the sheriff who issues the permit. In addition, the sheriffs of this state shall ensure that all permits issued pursuant to this part 2 contain the same items of information and are the same size and the same color.
(b)
A permit is valid for a period of five years after the date of issuance and may be renewed as provided in section
18-12-211
. A permit issued pursuant to this part 2, including a temporary emergency permit issued pursuant to section
18-12-209
, is effective in all areas of the state, except as otherwise provided in section
18-12-214
.
(2)
(a)
A permittee, in compliance with the terms of a permit, may carry a concealed handgun as allowed by state law. The permittee shall carry the permit, together with valid photo identification, at all times during which the permittee is in actual possession of a concealed handgun and shall produce both documents upon demand by a law enforcement officer. Failure to produce a permit upon demand by a law enforcement officer raises a rebuttable presumption that the person does not have a permit. Failure to carry and produce a permit and valid photo identification upon demand as required in this subsection (2) is a petty offense. A charge of failure to carry and produce a permit and valid photo identification upon demand pursuant to this subsection (2) shall be dismissed by the court if, at or before the permittee's scheduled court appearance, the permittee exhibits to the court a valid permit and valid photo identification, both of which were issued to the permittee prior to the date on which the permittee was charged with failure to carry and produce a permit and valid photo identification upon demand.
(b)
The provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) apply to temporary emergency permits issued pursuant to section
18-12-209
.
(3)
(a)
A person who may lawfully possess a handgun may carry a handgun under the following circumstances without obtaining a permit and the handgun shall not be considered concealed:
(I)
The handgun is in the possession of a person who is in a private automobile or in some other private means of conveyance and who carries the handgun for a legal use, including self-defense; or
(II)
The handgun is in the possession of a person who is legally engaged in hunting activities within the state.
(b)
The provisions of this subsection (3) shall not be construed to authorize the carrying of a handgun in violation of the provisions of section
18-12-105
or
18-12-105.5
.
Amended by 2021 Ch. 462, § 349, eff. 3/1/2022.
L. 2003: Entire part added, p. 639, § 1, effective May 17. L. 2021: (2)(a) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 3212, p. 3212, § 349, effective 3/1/2022.
Section 803(2) of chapter 462 (SB 21-271), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act changing this section applies to offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022.
2021 Ch. 462, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).