Firearms in San Antonio, TX (2026)
4 verified firearms rules for San Antonio, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Local Firearms Preemption
San Antonio cannot enact local firearm ordinances — Texas Local Government Code Section 229.001 preempts municipal regulation of the transfer, ownership, keeping, transportation, licensing, or registration of firearms. Carry, purchase, and possession rules are uniform statewide.
San Antonio Firearm Rules: Texas State Law Preempts Local Ordinances
Few RestrictionsConcealed Carry
Since 2021, Texas House Bill 1927 lets most adults 21 and older carry a handgun concealed without a permit. The optional License to Carry under Texas Government Code chapter 411 still gives reciprocity, school-zone benefits, and federal background-check shortcuts in San Antonio.
Texas permitless carry plus optional License to Carry
Few RestrictionsTex. Penal Code Sec. 46.035(a)
Sec. 46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE HOLDER. (a) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and intentionally displays the handgun in plain view of another person in a public place. It is an exception to the application of this subsection th...
Open Carry
Texas allows open carry of handguns in a holster for adults 21 and older. House Bill 1927 (2021) removed the License to Carry requirement. Long guns have long been openly carried. San Antonio adds no local rules; only state sensitive-place limits apply.
Open carry of handguns legal across San Antonio
Few RestrictionsTex. Penal Code Sec. 46.02(a)
Sec. 46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun; (2) at the time of the offense: (A) is younger than 21 years of age; or (B) has been convicted of an offense under Section 22.01(a)(1), 22.05, 22.07, or 42.01(a)(7) or (8) committed in the five-year period preceding th...
Firearms in Vehicles
Under the Motorist Protection Act, Texas Penal Code section 46.02(a-1) lets adults legally entitled to possess a firearm carry a handgun inside their own motor vehicle or watercraft without a permit, provided it is not in plain view if the carrier is engaged in criminal activity.
Texas Motorist Protection Act allows handguns in vehicles
Few RestrictionsTex. Penal Code Sec. 46.02(a-1)
(a-1) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun in a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's control at any time in which: (1) the handgun is in plain view, unless the person is 21 years of age or older or is licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, G...
Looking for Bexar County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Antonio city rules.
Firearms in Bexar County →