New York City Rifle and Shotgun Permit Requirements

New York City Administrative Code Section 10-303 generally makes it unlawful to possess a rifle or shotgun in the city without a rifle and shotgun permit. Section 10-302 concerns licenses for gunsmiths, manufacturers, and dealers. The individual possession-permit rule comes from Section 10-303.^[1]

Possession and the 72-Hour Application Rule

A city resident who acquires a rifle or shotgun outside New York City and does not already hold the city permit must apply within seventy-two hours after bringing the weapon into the city. Non-residents of the city may apply for a permit on the same conditions as residents.^[1]

Purchases From a City Dealer

A city dealer generally may dispose of a rifle or shotgun to a valid city permit holder. A licensed dealer in rifles and shotguns may dispose of one only to a person who produces a valid rifle and shotgun permit, shows lawful authority as a police or peace officer, or is an exempt person under the chapter.^[1]

Eligibility and Conviction Grounds

Section 10-303 lists eligibility and denial criteria. The conviction provisions include felony, serious-offense, misdemeanor domestic-violence, and specified misdemeanor-assault grounds. For the ten-year assault provision, the statute looks to whether the applicant was convicted of the qualifying assault during the ten years before the application was submitted, not merely when the conduct occurred.^[1]

Application and Processing Time

Applications are submitted through the NYPD License Division process. After the investigation is completed, the Police Commissioner generally must issue the permit or notify the applicant of denial within thirty days of submission. If the Commissioner determines that more investigation time is needed, the period may be extended but may not exceed sixty days.^[1][2]

State Semiautomatic Rifle License

The city permit is separate from New York's statewide license requirement to purchase or take possession of a semiautomatic rifle. A transaction may require both the NYC rifle and shotgun permit and the state semiautomatic-rifle license, depending on the item and purchaser.^[3]

Practical Rule

Under Section 10-303(f), a person carrying a rifle or shotgun must have the permit on their person and show it to any police officer or peace officer on demand.