Frequently Asked Questions

Licenses to carry firearms (LTC) and firearms identification (FID) cards are issued by the police department where you reside.

Yes. The Firearms Records Bureau issues nonresident LTCs as the designee of the Colonel of the State Police.

No firearms license is required to possess an air gun in Massachusetts. However, air guns are regulated by M.G.L. c. 269, § 128 which limits their use by minors.

Yes. At a minimum you need an FID Card for non-large capacity (not semiautomatic) rifles and shotguns. For handguns, you need an LTC or an FID Card + a PTP.

Yes. DCJIS has deployed the public-facing MIRCS Firearms Licensing Portal, which allows for individuals to apply for firearms licenses online and complete basic functions such as changing an address, retrieving a PIN, and checking the status of a firearms license application. The link to this site can be found on: https://www.mass.gov/firearms-services. You will be required to create an account with a user name and password.

If you are a Massachusetts resident, you should contact the police department where you applied. You can also call the DCJIS firearms license application hotline at (617) 660-4722 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. DCJIS has deployed the public-facing MIRCS Firearms Licensing Portal, which allows for individuals to apply for firearms licenses online and complete basic functions such as changing an address, retrieving a PIN, and checking the status of a firearms license application. The link to this site can be found on: https://www.mass.gov/firearms-services. If you are a non-resident, call the Firearms Records Bureau at (617) 660-4782.

You can contact your local firearms licensing officer, or the DCJIS PIN hotline at (617) 660-4722. This  service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or by retrieving yourself from your online firearms licensing account at https://www.mass.gov/firearms-services

Renewals are free for people over 70. A person is over 70 after their 70th birthday. For practical purposes the day after his 70th birthday, an applicant should be entitled to a free LTC or FID Card renewal.

A person issued an FID Card or LTC must report any change of address via the electronic firearm website where you can create an account for firearms licensing. This is administered by the commissioner of the department of criminal justice information services. Such notification shall be made online within 30 days of the move. Failure to make notice could result in suspension. NOTE: You no longer have to notify the PD you were originally licensed with or the PD in whose jurisdiction you are moving. 

You may request a name change through the licensing authority that issued the license, or complete a name change form online through the Firearms Records Bureau.

Yes. The applicant can have the application "stayed" pending judicial review, or the FID Card can be suspended for suitability. However, while the suspension takes effect upon notification, the process also requires filing a petition with the court for a hearing as specified under chapter 140, § 129B.

No. The law was changed in 2024 to require persons to apply where they reside.

The licensing authority is required to suspend a license any time they become aware of a disqualification or make a determination of unsuitability that would have resulted in a denial at time of application.

No. While both licenses arc issued pursuant to §131 of chapter 140, both allow possession of different weapons. A person possessing machine gun license still needs to have an LTC.