Alaska gun laws

A plain-English overview of carrying, buying and traveling with firearms in Alaska.

This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and details matter. Check the current Alaska Statutes and federal law, and talk to an Alaska attorney about your own situation. Reviewed September 2026.

Carrying a handgun

No permit needed at 21+. Adults 21 and older who may legally possess a firearm can carry a concealed handgun without a permit.
Open carry needs no permit for people who may legally possess a firearm.
Permits are still available. The Alaska Department of Public Safety issues concealed handgun permits (AS 18.65.700), which other states may honor.
Duty to inform. If a peace officer contacts you in an official capacity while you're carrying concealed, you must tell the officer immediately and allow them to secure the weapon for the contact (AS 11.61.220).

Places with restrictions

Alaska law (AS 11.61.220 and related sections) restricts carrying in certain places, including the home of another person without their permission, school grounds, courthouses, domestic-violence shelters, child-care facilities, and bars and other places serving alcohol for on-site drinking (with limited exceptions). Federal law separately prohibits firearms in federal facilities and federal courthouses, and at airports past security. Check the statute for the exact rules and exceptions.

Buying a gun in Alaska

No state permit to buy and no state registration.
From a dealer: federal law applies — ATF Form 4473 and a background check. Dealers sell handguns to buyers 21+ and long guns to buyers 18+.
Private sales between Alaska residents don't need a background check under state law, but selling to a prohibited person is illegal, and sales to residents of other states must go through a licensed dealer.
Buying online: the firearm ships to a licensed dealer, who runs the background check when you pick it up — the same way we ship every gun.

Non-residents and travel

Visitors generally follow the same carry rules as residents if they may legally possess firearms.
Non-residents may buy long guns from Alaska dealers if the sale is legal in their home state; handguns must be transferred through a dealer in their home state.
Driving the Alaska Highway through Canada means following Canadian law — many handguns and some rifles are prohibited there. Check before you travel.
Flying: firearms must be unloaded and declared in checked baggage in a locked hard case. Airlines set their own ammunition limits — check with yours.

Federal land and parks

Federal law lets people possess firearms in national parks according to state law, so Alaska's rules apply across most parks and preserves — but not inside federal buildings such as visitor centers. Other federal agencies and military land have their own rules.

Hunting

Seasons, legal methods and permits are set by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and change each year. If you kill a bear in defense of life or property, it must be reported to ADF&G and the hide and skull salvaged. See our bear-defense guide and moose & caribou rifles.

Official sources

Alaska Statutes — akleg.gov (Title 11, Chapter 61; Title 18, Chapter 65)
Alaska Department of Public Safety — dps.alaska.gov (concealed handgun permits)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game — adfg.alaska.gov (hunting regulations)
ATF — atf.gov (federal firearms rules)

Do you need a permit to carry a gun in Alaska?

No. Since 2003, people 21 or older who may legally possess a firearm can carry a concealed handgun in Alaska without a permit. Open carry also needs no permit. Alaska still issues concealed handgun permits, which are useful for carrying in other states that honor them.

Do I have to tell police I'm carrying?

Yes. If you are carrying a concealed weapon and a peace officer contacts you in an official capacity (a traffic stop, for example), Alaska law requires you to tell the officer immediately and let them secure the weapon during the contact (AS 11.61.220).

Can non-residents carry a gun in Alaska?

Alaska's permitless-carry rules are not limited to residents, so visitors who are 21+ and may legally possess firearms generally follow the same carry rules as residents. Visitors must still follow federal law when buying, and should check the laws of every state they travel through.

Can a non-resident buy a gun in Alaska?

Under federal law, a non-resident can buy a rifle or shotgun from a licensed dealer in Alaska if the sale is legal in both Alaska and their home state. A handgun can only be transferred to a non-resident through a licensed dealer in their home state.

Can you carry a gun in your car in Alaska?

Yes, for people who may legally possess firearms. The duty to inform an officer still applies if you are stopped while carrying concealed. Restrictions on certain places — such as school grounds — still apply when you arrive.

Can you carry a gun in Alaska's national parks?

Federal law allows people to possess firearms in national parks in accordance with state law, so Alaska's rules apply in most of the park. Firearms remain prohibited inside federal facilities such as visitor centers and ranger stations, which are usually posted.

Are there assault-weapon or magazine limits in Alaska?

Alaska has no state ban on so-called assault weapons and no state limit on magazine capacity. Federal law, including the National Firearms Act, still applies.

Do private gun sales in Alaska need a background check?

State law does not require a background check for a private sale between two Alaska residents. Federal law still makes it illegal to sell to someone you know or have reason to believe is prohibited, and sales to residents of other states must go through a licensed dealer.

What about gun laws for felons in Alaska?

Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from possessing any firearm or ammunition, regardless of state law. Alaska also has its own restrictions. Rules on restoring rights are complicated — talk to an Alaska attorney before touching a firearm.