Firearms in Jacksonville, FL: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Jacksonville or are thinking about moving there, firearms are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Jacksonville has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of firearms, and some of them might surprise you.

Concealed Carry

Florida HB 543 (2023) authorizes permitless concealed carry of handguns by law-abiding adults aged 21 and over statewide. Jacksonville follows state law unchanged; the city cannot impose extra permits, training mandates, or carry zones beyond Chapter 790.

Key details: Statute: FL §790.01 (HB 543). Effective: July 1, 2023. Minimum age: 21 years. Permit required: No (optional). City add-ons: None permitted.

Carrying while a prohibited person, in a posted sensitive place, or refusing to identify on officer demand can be a first-degree misdemeanor or third-degree felony, with confiscation and possible firearm rights loss.

Jacksonville is more permissive than most cities when it comes to concealed carry. That said, there are still limits.

Open Carry

Florida Statute 790.053 prohibits open carry of firearms in public, with narrow exceptions for hunting, fishing, camping, target shooting, and lawful self-defense. Jacksonville follows state law; the city cannot loosen, tighten, or add open-carry overlays beyond Chapter 790.

Key details: Statute: FL §790.053. Default rule: Open carry banned. Penalty: 2nd-degree misdemeanor. Hunting exception: Allowed if licensed. City additions: None permitted.

Open display of a firearm in public is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days jail and a $500 fine, plus possible loss of concealed-carry rights and federal firearm prohibitions if convicted.

Firearms in Vehicles

Florida Statute 790.25(5) permits any law-abiding adult to keep a firearm in a private vehicle if it is securely encased or otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. Jacksonville follows the state rule and adds no local vehicle-storage requirements.

Key details: Statute: FL §790.25(5). Storage standard: Securely encased. Glove box OK: Locked or unlocked. Permit needed: None for storage. City rules: None added.

Carrying an accessible firearm in a vehicle without permitless-carry eligibility is a second-degree misdemeanor; concealed carry without lawful authority by a prohibited person is a third-degree felony with up to five years prison.

The rules around firearms in vehicles in Jacksonville lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Local Firearms Preemption

Jacksonville cannot enact local firearm ordinances — Florida Statutes Section 790.33 reserves to the state Legislature the whole field of firearm and ammunition regulation. Local officials who knowingly enact preempted ordinances face civil fines up to $5,000 and possible removal from office.

Key details: Preemption Statute: Fla. Stat. Sec. 790.33. Enacted / Strengthened: 1987; 2011; 2021. Officials' Penalty: $5,000 personal fine + removal from office. Private Damages: Up to $100,000 + attorney fees. Statewide Carry: Permitless concealed carry (21+) since July 2023.

Any Jacksonville/Duval ordinance conflicting with Sec. 790.33 is void. A court must enjoin enforcement; a knowing-and-willful violation can result in a personal $5,000 civil fine against the official, removal from office by the Governor, and private damages up to $100,000 plus attorney's fees.

The rules around local firearms preemption in Jacksonville lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Jacksonville gives residents more room on firearms. 3 of the 4 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Jacksonville's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.