Concealed Handgun Licenses

Download application (PDF, 1.22 MB)

To apply for a new CHL, transfer your existing Oregon CHL, renew, or amend your current Washington County issued CHL, please complete the steps listed below.

Requirements

To qualify for a concealed handgun license under Oregon law, you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Be a citizen of the US or a legal resident alien with 6 months of residency within Washington County and have proof (receipt) of application to obtain citizenship.
• Be a resident of Washington County or if a resident of a contiguous state (WA, ID, NV, or CA), be able to explain in writing a compelling need that ties you to this county.
• Provide documentation that you have completed a qualifying handgun safety course.
• Pass a background check.
• Submit fingerprinting and have a photo taken (both done digitally, in office at time of appointment – a new photo is required every 4 years at renewal).

Application instructions

Apply for a new license ($115)

Follow these steps if you are applying for the first time:

1. Complete an approved handgun safety course.
   • Contact your local gun dealer or visit Oregon State Sheriffs' Association (OSSA) to access their educational course.
2. Complete the above application and submit it by email (as a PDF attachment) to [email protected] or mail a printed copy to the address listed on the application (please allow extra time for processing). You will receive an email confirmation with link to schedule your appointment.
   • IMPORTANT: We cannot process applications completed or emailed from phones, tablets, or other mobile devices. Please use a desktop computer only.
3. Attend your scheduled appointment in person, with the following:
   • Proof of safety course completion.
   • Two forms of identification, one must be state/government issued and include a photo.
   • Documentation of citizenship (original copies only).
   • Proof of legal name, if applicable (only if not shown on citizenship documentation).
   • Proof of residency within Washington County (unless applying as a resident of WA, ID, NV, or CA with a compelling need).
   • $115 fee payable by cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card.
     • Please make checks payable to WCSO.
     • We are unable to accept American Express or make change for $100 bills.
   • Oregon CHLs are valid for 4 years from the date of issuance.

See "Required documents for a new concealed handgun license application" below for more details.

Renew Washington County issued CHL ($75)

Special hours for walk-in renewals

Walk-in renewals are available from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays). Appointments are not required; we will help renewals in order of arrival with completed application. Please be aware there might be a lengthy wait around noon.

Follow these steps if you are renewing your Washington County issued CHL (late renewals do not require an additional handgun safety course or additional fees):

1. Print an application to complete and bring with you, or you may complete the application in the office – please do not email or send in your renewal application.
   • Walk-in hours: 9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday (excluding holidays).
   • Appointments are not required; we will help renewals in order of arrival with completed application. Please be aware there might be a lengthy wait around noon.
2. Bring the following with you to the CHL office:
   • State/government issued ID, including a photo.
   • Proof of residency within Washington County, or if a resident of a contiguous state (WA, ID, NV, or CA) be able to explain in writing a compelling need that ties you to this county.
   • Previously issued Washington County CHL, or second ID.
   • If your CHL has been expired for more than 8 years, we may also need to see proof of your citizenship; please call to confirm.
   • $75 fee payable by cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card.
     • Please make checks payable to WCSO.
     • We are unable to accept American Express or make change for $100 bills.

You may renew by mail ONLY if you are an active member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard of the United States, or the Oregon National Guard; AND you submit with the application proof of your military orders (ORS 166.295 (A) & (B)).

Oregon CHLs are valid for 4 years from the date of issuance. If you choose to renew early, you will not gain additional time.

See "Required documents to renew a concealed handgun license" below for more details.

Transfer ($30) or transfer and renew ($90) from another Oregon county

Follow these steps if you have been issued an Oregon CHL from another county in Oregon and now reside in Washington County:

1. Complete the above application and submit it by email (as a PDF attachment) to [email protected] or mail a printed copy to the address listed on the application (please allow extra time for processing). You will receive and email confirmation with a link to schedule your appointment.
   • IMPORTANT: We cannot process applications filled out or emailed from phones, tablets, or other mobile devices. Please use a desktop computer only.
2. Attend your scheduled appointment in person, with the following:
   • Previously issued Oregon CHL (or written proof from issuing county).
   • Two forms of identification, one must be state/government issued and include a photo.
   • Documentation of citizenship (original copies only).
   • Proof of legal name, if applicable (only if not shown on citizenship documentation)
   • Proof of residency within Washington County
   • $30/$90 fee payable by cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card.
     • Please make checks payable to WCSO.
     • We are unable to accept American Express or make change for $100 bills.
   • Oregon Transfer and Renew CHLs will be valid 4 years, Transfer only CHLs will retain original expiration date.

See "Required documents for a transfer concealed handgun license application" below for more details.

Name/address change or duplicate ($15)

Follow these steps if you have a current CHL issued by Washington County and have changed your name or address (but still reside within Washington County) or would like to request a duplicate license:

1. Please be sure to update your DMV record PRIOR to submitting your CHL change of name or address, then;

   • Complete the application and submit it along with the fee ($15 payable by check or money order) by mail to the address listed on the application or drop it in the drop box located inside the front doors of the building.

     OR

   • Complete the application and bring it to the CHL office to submit in person by 3:30pm Monday – Friday, excluding holidays. We will send the replacement card to you in the mail. The fee ($15) is then payable by cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card (we are unable to accept American Express or make change for $100 bills).
2. If you have moved outside of Washington County, please contact the Oregon County Sheriff's department where you now reside to transfer your license.

Out of state applicants

Washington County may consider your application if you live in a contiguous state (WA, ID, NV, or CA), meet all the requirements, and include a statement explaining a compelling business interest or other legitimate demonstrated need that exhibits a correlation to Washington County specifically and the frequency with which you visit. If Washington County is not your primary destination in Oregon, you need to apply in the county you visit most often. Please follow the directions for "Apply for a new license" and be sure to include a detailed response in the "Out of State Applicants" section on the application. This information will also be required at each renewal.

Required documents

Required documents for a new (or transfer) concealed handgun license

You may apply for a Washington County-issued Oregon concealed handgun license by meeting the requirements set forth in ORS (166.291). You will need to provide proof of:

Citizenship - please bring one of the following:

• Birth certificate issued by Vital Statistics (no photocopies accepted)
• US Passport
• Certificate of Naturalization
• N-300 or N-400 receipt from USCIS (along with proof of 6 months residency in Washington County AND Permanent Resident ID)

Residency – please bring one of the following:

• Current Oregon driver’s license (or DMV ID) with address correct within DMV system
• Oregon tax return for most recent year with residential address listed
• Voter registration card issued under ORS 247.181
• Current rental or lease agreement
• Real property ownership documentation (tax records or purchase agreement)

Handgun safety course – please bring one of the following/digital copy accepted:

• Handgun Safety course certificate including the NRA instructor’s name and NRA ID number
• Hunter Safety class certificate, with documentation indicating handgun safety was a component of the class
• A handgun safety class taught by law enforcement or a community college utilizing NRA instructors
• Evidence of equivalent experience with a handgun through participation in organized shooting competition, security guard, investigators, reserve law enforcement officers or military service training
  • DD214 may qualify only if it specifies pistol marksmanship, pistol sharpshooter, or pistol expert badge
• Concealed handgun license, issued by a county in Oregon, unless the license has been revoked

Two forms of current identification, one must be state/government issued and include a photo:

• Must include printed name and signature or printed name and photo
  • Examples include: valid driver’s license, DMV issued ID card, current CHL, signed debit/credit card, Costco membership card, work or student ID

Required documents to renew a concealed handgun license

A concealed handgun license is renewable by repeating the procedures set out in ORS 166.291 and 166.292, except for the requirement to submit fingerprints and provide character references. You will need to provide proof of:

Residency – please bring one of the following:

• Current Oregon driver’s license (or DMV issued ID) with address correct within DMV system
• Oregon tax return for most recent year with residential address listed
• Voter registration card issued under ORS 247.181
• Current rental or lease agreement
• Real property ownership documentation (tax records or purchase agreement)

Two forms of current identification, one must bear a photograph:

• Must include printed name and signature or printed name and photo
  • Examples include: valid driver’s license, DMV issued ID card, current CHL, signed debit/credit card, Costco membership card, work or student ID

Citizenship may be required at renewal if your concealed handgun license has been expired for more than 8 years. Please call to confirm.

You may renew by mail ONLY if you are an active member of the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard of the United States, or the Oregon National Guard; AND you submit with the application proof of your military orders and a copy of your military identification (ORS 166.295 (A) & (B)).

What will disqualify you from obtaining a concealed handgun license

Oregon law prohibits the issuance of a concealed handgun license to anyone:

• Who is currently on any form of pretrial release, this may include forms of court ordered diversion.
• Who has had a misdemeanor conviction within the past four years.
• Who has EVER been convicted of a felony.
• Who has a current warrant for their arrest.
• Who makes false statements on the application.
• Who could be a danger to self, others, or the community as a result of their mental or psychological state, or as demonstrated by a past pattern of behavior involving unlawful violence or threats of unlawful violence.
• Who is the subject of a restraining order or protection order. See ORS 166.735, 30.866, 107.700 to 107.732, or 163.738.
• Who has had a dishonorable discharge from the US Armed Forces.
• Who is a registered sex offender.
• Who was convicted as a juvenile of a crime that if committed by an adult would constitute a felony or a misdemeanor involving violence and was under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court within the past 4 years.
• Who is not yet 21 years of age.
• Who has been convicted of an offense involving controlled substances or participated in a court-supervised drug diversion program in any state. (ORS 166.291 (L)) allows one exception for a single conviction of marijuana possession that constituted a misdemeanor or violation in the jurisdiction of the offense.
• Who has not met the conditions of application. You are also ineligible for a concealed handgun license if you are not a US citizen, unless you are a legal resident alien who can show documentation of continuous residency in the country for at least six months and have declared in writing to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services the intent to acquire citizenship. You must be able to provide proof of the written declaration.

Contact the CHL Unit

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am to 4:30pm (excluding holidays)

Walk-in Renewals: Monday - Friday, 9am to 3pm (excluding holidays)

Phone: 503-846-2761

Email: [email protected]

Mail:
Washington County Sheriff's Office
Concealed Handgun License Unit
215 SW Adams Ave MS-32
Hillsboro, OR 97123

Dropbox:
215 SW Adams Ave
Hillsboro, OR 97123
Located just inside front doors