Florida Permitless Carry Restricted Locations You Need to Know Before You Head Out
Florida permitless carry restricted locations catch people off guard constantly, precisely because the underlying law feels so straightforward on its surface. Since permitless concealed carry took effect in Florida on July 1, 2023, under House Bill 543, qualifying adults over 21 can carry a concealed weapon or firearm without needing to obtain a license first. That change generated genuine excitement across the state. What gets far less attention is that this permitless framework still operates under the same list of restricted locations that governed license holders before the change, and violating those restrictions carries real criminal consequences.
Carrying Concealed in Florida and Want to Make Sure You’re Following the Rules?
Florida permitless carry restricted locations include several places that surprise even experienced gun owners. Call John Guidry at (407) 423-1117 if you’re facing a charge connected to one of these restrictions.
The Obvious Restrictions Worth Mentioning Briefly
Some restricted locations under Florida Statute § 790.06(12) require little explanation. Airports and any area protected by security screening, courthouses, courtrooms, police and sheriff stations, and detention facilities all prohibit concealed weapons and firearms regardless of permitless carry eligibility. These restrictions make intuitive sense to almost everyone and rarely catch people by surprise.
The Restrictions That Trip People Up
Several other restricted locations under the same statute prove far less obvious, and understanding them matters just as much as understanding the obvious ones.
Elementary and secondary schools, along with their administration buildings, remain fully restricted even when no metal detector or security screening exists on site. This includes school parking lots and any area of school property, not just classroom buildings themselves.
Professional athletic events represent a genuinely surprising restriction for many Florida gun owners. The statute prohibits concealed weapons and firearms at any professional athletic event, and this applies regardless of whether the specific venue has metal detectors. Some venues, including smaller ones without extensive security screening, still fall under this restriction purely because of the nature of the event itself, not because of any physical security measure in place.
College and university campuses carry their own restriction, covering all buildings and outdoor areas of the campus. A narrow exception exists for registered students, employees, or faculty members, but that exception applies only to specific non-lethal defensive devices like stun guns, not to handguns or traditional firearms. Anyone assuming they qualify for a broader exception because of student or faculty status needs to review the statute carefully rather than assume general permission exists.
Bars and similar establishments create another commonly misunderstood restriction. Florida Statute § 790.06(12)(a) specifically prohibits carrying a concealed weapon or firearm into any portion of an establishment licensed to serve alcohol for consumption on premises, where that portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to serving alcohol. This means a restaurant that happens to serve alcohol alongside food generally doesn’t trigger this restriction the same way a venue that operates primarily as a bar does, though the specific facts of how an establishment operates matter considerably in close cases.
Why These Restrictions Matter So Much Under Permitless Carry
Violating any of these restrictions can result in a first-degree misdemeanor charge, and depending on the specific circumstances, potentially more serious consequences. Because permitless carry expanded who can lawfully carry a concealed firearm in Florida, more people now carry without having gone through the licensing process that historically included education about exactly these restrictions. That expansion makes understanding this list of prohibited locations even more important than it was before permitless carry took effect, since fewer carriers have necessarily received formal instruction on where these restrictions apply.
A Note on Florida’s Separate Open Carry Development
Worth mentioning briefly, Florida’s approach to open carry, as opposed to concealed carry, shifted significantly in 2025 following developments in state enforcement guidance. This is a separate legal question from the concealed carry restrictions discussed here, and the specific rules governing open carry continue to develop. Anyone navigating Florida’s firearms laws should stay current on both concealed and open carry requirements separately, since the two frameworks don’t always track each other precisely.
What This Means If You’re Carrying Concealed in Florida
Given how many of these restrictions apply to ordinary locations people visit regularly, from college campuses to sporting events to bars and restaurants, taking time to actually read through Florida Statute § 790.06(12) rather than relying purely on general assumptions about permitless carry protects against an entirely avoidable criminal charge. Understanding exactly where these restrictions apply, and recognizing that permitless carry didn’t eliminate any of the location-based restrictions that existed under the prior licensing system, matters enormously for anyone exercising this right responsibly.
If You Want More Related Content
Check out our more videos and breakdown articles covering major updates in Florida defense law. You can also use the links below to stay informed. Learn how to protect your constitutional rights when dealing with law enforcement.
Watch: https://youtu.be/Z-IP8soLkX8
Read: https://jgcrimlaw.com/articles/unlawful-possession-firearm-florida-marijuana-trap/
John’s Takeaways
- Florida permitless carry, effective since July 1, 2023, doesn’t eliminate the restricted locations list under Florida Statute § 790.06(12). All the location-based restrictions that existed under the prior licensing system still apply.
- Elementary and secondary schools, including administration buildings and parking lots, remain fully restricted, even without any metal detector or security screening present.
- Professional athletic events prohibit concealed weapons regardless of venue security measures. Even smaller venues without metal detectors fall under this restriction.
- College and university campuses remain restricted for handguns and firearms, with only a narrow exception for certain non-lethal defensive devices carried by registered students, employees, or faculty.
- Bars and establishments primarily devoted to serving alcohol prohibit concealed weapons under Florida Statute § 790.06(12)(a), though restaurants serving alcohol alongside food generally fall outside this restriction.
Facing a Weapons Charge Connected to Florida’s Restricted Locations Law?
I’ve been handling weapons-related charges across Central Florida since 1993, and understanding exactly how these location restrictions apply to specific facts matters enormously in these cases. I represent clients across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Brevard, and Volusia County.
Give my office a call. Let’s go through exactly what happened and how the statute applies to your situation.
John Guidry — (407) 423-1117
About John Guidry II
John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.
John Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.
Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.
When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.