Firearm Permits

Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces’

Information related to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' ruling 2021R-08F, which clarifies when a rifle is designed, made, and intended to be fired from the shoulder can be found on their website.

How do I get a Permit to Purchase?

• The Anoka County Sheriff's Office is only capable of issuing Permits to Purchase to residents of the following cities: Andover, Bethel, Columbus, East Bethel, Ham Lake, Nowthen, Linwood, and Oak Grove.  If you live in any other city, you will need to apply with your local police department.  
• If applying with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, you may do so in person, at the Sheriff’s office or via mail.
• Applicants must present a current MN driver’s license, state-issued ID or Passport (or a legible photocopy).
• Applicants must be a resident of the state of MN (Your Driver’s license must be from MN, and MN must be considered your permanent residence).
• Applicants must be at least 21 years old to purchase handguns, or 18 years old to purchase semi-automatic rifles.
• If you chose to apply via mail, you must send a completed application and a copy of a current MN driver’s license, State issued ID or Passport to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, Attn: Gun Permits, 13301 Hanson Boulevard NW, Andover, MN 55304.  Incomplete applications will be denied.
• Permit to Purchase applications can be found here and are available at the Sheriff’s Office. 
• There is no charge for obtaining a Permit to Purchase.
• Application approval may take up to 30 days and is dependent on a detailed background check. If your application is approved your card will be mailed directly to your home address. If you are denied, you will receive a letter stating why.
• A MN Permit to Purchase is valid for 1 year. The process for renewing is the same as the initial application.
• Please call the gun permits department at 763-324-5022 if you have questions.

 How do I get a Permit to Carry?

• You must apply in person at the Anoka County Sheriff’s office located at: 13301 Hanson Boulevard NW, Andover, MN 55304.
• You must present a current MN driver’s license, state issued ID or Passport (or a legible photo copy).
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must present a current certificate of completion of a MN Permit to Carry class taught by a BCA certified instructor (these certificates are valid for one year from the date it was issued).  BCA Certified Instructors can be found here.
• Please have the payment with you when you come to apply.
• Applications can be found here and are available at the Sheriff’s Office.
• Applications must be filled out completely, incomplete or inaccurate applications may result in getting denied.
• Application approval may take up to 30 days and is dependent on a detailed background check. If your application is approved your card will be mailed directly to your home address. If you are denied, you will receive a letter stating why.
• A MN Permit to Carry is valid for 5 years.

How do I renew my MN Permit to Carry?

• You must apply in person at the Anoka County Sheriff’s office located at: 13301 Hanson Boulevard NW, Andover, MN 55304.
• You must present a current MN driver’s license, state issued ID or Passport (or a legible photo copy).
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must take another permit to carry class to renew and present a current certificate of completion of a MN Permit to Carry class taught by a BCA certified instructor (these certificates are valid for one year from the date it was issued).
• Applications can be found here and are available at the Sheriff’s Office.
• Applications must be filled out completely, incomplete or inaccurate applications may result in getting denied.
• Application approval may take up to 30 days and is dependent on a detailed background check. If your application is approved your card will be mailed directly to your home address. If you are denied, you will receive a letter stating why.
• No permits may be renewed more than 90 days prior to their expiration.
• There is a discount available for people who can renew early and the fee is payable by cash, check or credit card.  Please have the payment with you when you come to apply.

What do I need to do if I have a Permit to Carry and my address or name has changed?

• You are required to notify the Sheriff’s Office within 30 days of a name or address change.
• You must notify the issuing county for each data change, until your card expires.
• To update your information, you may do so in person at the Anoka County Sheriff's Office or via mail.
• You must present a current MN driver’s license, state issued ID or passport (or a legible photo copy).
• You will need to complete the first page of the Permit to Carry application. Applications can be found here (first page only) and are available at the Sheriff’s office.
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You are not required to get a new card if your data changes. However, if you would like one, new cards are available for $10. We recommend that you get a new card because most gun dealers will not sell to you if your permit to carry card and driver’s license addresses don’t match.
• If you choose to notify name or address changes via mail, you must send a completed application found here (first page only) and a copy of a current MN driver's license, State issued ID, or Passport to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, Attn: Gun Permits, 13301 Hanson Boulevard NW, Andover, MN 55304.  You are not required to get a new card for data changes, however if you would like one, you must also include a $10 check made out to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.

I wear a mask in public for health reasons.  Am I still able to carry a firearm in public?

Yes.  A Minnesota Permit to Carry is valid if carried with a government issued photo identification.  If you are approached by law enforcement, you may be asked to remove your mask briefly to facilitate your identification.

Quick Facts

• You are able to come into the Sheriff’s Office and apply Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays).
• The Gun Permit department at the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at 763-324-5022.
• We are located on the second floor of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.
• For more detailed information about gun permits and answers to frequently asked questions, you can visit the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s website here.
• For information about Minnesota’s law regarding a private party transferring ownership of firearms please visit here.
• Please visit the following link for the private party record of transfer form for handgun and semi-automatic military style assault rifle only.  The buyer must have a valid Minnesota Permit to Purchase or Minnesota Permit to Carry.  These firearm types cannot be sold to out of state residents in this manner.  
• Out of state buyers of handguns and semi-automatic military style assault rifles will need to contact a federal firearms license business for instructions on how to proceed.
• For information about federal firearms laws please visit the ATF’s website here.
• For information about your Minnesota Permit to Carry and reciprocity please visit here.