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 and is subject to its timing provisions and exceptions.[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. The permit rule also contains exemptions and nonresident provisions. It is therefore too broad to say that every person must complete the permit process before any possession can occur.[1]
Purchases From a City Dealer
A city dealer generally may dispose of a rifle or shotgun to a valid city permit holder. The code also recognizes exempt people and qualifying nonresidents. A nonresident purchaser may use the statutory process by presenting the required identity and residence documentation and satisfying the other delivery conditions. The dealer rule should not be stated as an absolute city-permit requirement for every purchaser.[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
Determine whether the person is a city resident, nonresident purchaser, traveler, or exempt person, then apply the exact Section 10-303 provision. Do not reduce the city code to a rule with no timing provisions or exceptions.