Dallas County, TX Firearms: Open Carry (2026)
Key Facts
- Open carry status
- Legal, age 21+
- Permit needed
- None since HB 1927
- Required mode
- Holstered handgun
- County rules
- None added
Summary
Texas allows open carry of holstered handguns by adults 21 and older without a permit. House Bill 1927 (2021) ended the License to Carry requirement. Long guns may also be openly carried. Dallas County adds no local rule; state sensitive-place limits apply.
Sec. 46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS ... (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, Government Code, and the handgun is carried in a holster; or (2) the person is: (A) engaged in criminal activity, other than a Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance regulating traffic or boating; or (B) prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
Full Breakdown
Open carry of a holstered handgun has been legal in Texas since 2016 with a License to Carry, and HB 1927 (2021) extended permitless open carry to most adults 21 and older under Texas Penal Code 46.02. Long guns may be openly carried by adults absent disqualification. In Dallas County, no county ordinance restricts open carry on public sidewalks, in vehicles, or at most public places. State sensitive-place limits in Penal Code 46.03 and 46.035, including the courthouse, jail, schools, polling places, and 51-percent alcohol establishments, still apply. Posted private property under Penal Code 30.07 can exclude open carriers. Disorderly conduct under Penal Code 42.01 covers display calculated to alarm.
Violations & Fines
Disorderly display of a firearm under Penal Code 42.01 is a Class B misdemeanor; carrying in posted or prohibited locations is a Class A misdemeanor or felony with fines up to four thousand dollars and possible jail time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I openly carry a holstered handgun on a Dallas County sidewalk?
Can I open carry inside the Dallas County courthouse?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas County to another location·View the Texas firearms overview
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