How to Get an FFL in Colorado

The type of FFL you apply for depends on your intended business activities. Most Colorado gun stores apply for a Type 01 license, with the new state dealer permit fee effective July 2025.

• Type 01 Dealer in firearms other than destructive devices. The standard retail gun store license.
• Type 02 Pawnbroker dealing in firearms.
• Type 07 Manufacturer of firearms and ammunition.
• Type 03 Collector of Curio and Relic firearms.

1. Register your business and confirm zoning. Establish your business entity with the Colorado Secretary of State, obtain an EIN from the IRS, and register with the Colorado Department of Revenue for state sales tax. Confirm your premises meets local zoning requirements, since Colorado repealed statewide preemption in 2021 and local municipalities can impose their own restrictions.

2. Choose your FFL type and complete ATF Form 7. Select the FFL type that matches your business activities, then download and complete ATF Form 7 (5310.12). Provide complete details about your business, all responsible persons, and your premises. Errors are the number one cause of delays.

3. Complete fingerprint cards and photographs. Each responsible person must complete two FBI fingerprint cards (FD-258) and provide two 2x2 passport-style photographs. Fingerprinting is available through local police departments, sheriff's offices, and authorized vendors.

4. Submit your application and fee. Mail the completed Form 7, fingerprint cards, photographs, and your application fee to the ATF Federal Firearms Licensing Center in Atlanta, GA.

5. Notify your Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO). Send a copy of your completed ATF Form 7 to your local CLEO, typically your county sheriff or municipal chief of police. Colorado has 64 counties. This is notification only; CLEO approval is not required.

6. Complete the ATF interview and inspection. An ATF Industry Operations Inspector will schedule a premises visit to verify your identity, inspect storage and security, and confirm your understanding of federal and Colorado firearms laws, including 4473 procedures, A&D Book requirements, CBI InstaCheck, the 3-day waiting period, and multiple sale reporting.

7. Apply for the Colorado state dealer permit. After receiving your FFL, apply for the mandatory state dealer permit from the Colorado Department of Revenue, Firearms Dealer Division. The fee is $400 (valid for 3 years, and may increase by up to $25 per year). You must hold a valid FFL, have no adverse licensing actions in the prior 3 years, and have no firearms law violations in the prior 3 years.

8. Register with CBI InstaCheck and set up compliance. Send a copy of your FFL (with visible ATF seal) and business phone number to the CBI to establish your CBI InstaCheck account. Complete employee fingerprint background checks ($39.50 each through CBI). Establish your A&D Book, post required safe storage signage, and implement e4473 for digital 4473 processing and waiting period tracking from day one.

Plan for the standard federal FFL timeline of roughly 8 to 12 weeks, then additional time to obtain the new Colorado state dealer permit from the Department of Revenue and establish your CBI InstaCheck account. As of July 1, 2025, CBI will not process background checks for an FFL that has not applied for the state dealer permit, so build the state permit into your launch plan.

Colorado's firearms regulatory environment has shifted significantly toward stricter regulation since 2021. The combination of repealed preemption, universal background checks, a 3-day waiting period, a 21-and-over purchase age, the new state dealer permit, and upcoming semi-automatic rifle restrictions creates a demanding compliance environment.

State dealer permit (HB24-1353):

• Apply through the Colorado Department of Revenue, Firearms Dealer Division.
• Fee: $400 (valid for 3 years). DOR may increase the fee by up to $25 per year.
• Prerequisites: must hold a valid FFL; no adverse licensing actions in the prior 3 years; no firearms law violations in the prior 3 years.
• Operating without a state permit is an unclassified felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000.
• Employees who handle firearms must be at least 21, complete required training, and undergo fingerprint-based CBI background checks before work and annually.

Colorado firearms laws relevant to FFLs:

• CBI InstaCheck is the state point-of-contact system. All background checks go through the CBI InstaCheck Unit, which checks both state and federal databases. The fee is $15 per check (effective March 1, 2025).
• Must wait for a CBI proceed: under HB21-1298, Colorado dealers must wait for a CBI proceed response before transferring any firearm. The federal 3-business-day default does not apply.
• 3-day waiting period: under HB23-1219 (effective October 1, 2023), it is unlawful to transfer a firearm until 3 days after the dealer initiates the background check.
• Age 21 for all purchases: under SB23-169, the minimum age to purchase any firearm, including rifles and shotguns, is 21.
• Universal background checks: all transfers, including private sales, must go through an FFL with a CBI InstaCheck.
• 15-round magazine limit. Magazines owned before July 1, 2013 are grandfathered.
• Ghost gun ban: effective January 1, 2024, it is illegal to possess, transport, sell, or buy unserialized firearms or frames and receivers.
• Dealers must report stolen firearms within 48 hours of discovery.

Federal law requires you to provide a copy of your ATF Form 7 to the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) in your jurisdiction, typically your county sheriff or municipal chief of police. Colorado has 64 counties. This is notification only; the CLEO does not approve or deny your FFL.

Separately, the Colorado state dealer permit from the Department of Revenue is the state authorization you must hold to operate. As of July 1, 2025, CBI will not process InstaCheck background checks for an FFL that has not applied for the state permit. Contact the DOR Firearms Dealer Division if you have not yet applied.

Colorado is generally more accommodating for home-based FFLs than highly restrictive states like New York, Illinois, or California, but the landscape is changing.

• State dealer permit applies: home-based FFLs must obtain the $400 state dealer permit just like retail locations.
• Zoning varies significantly: rural counties and smaller municipalities are typically more permissive. Denver, Boulder, and other Front Range cities may have zoning restrictions, and local governments can enact their own firearms ordinances.
• Firearms security: HB24-1353 requires firearms to be secured to prevent unsupervised access. Home-based dealers should invest in quality commercial safes or vault storage.
• Employee background checks: even a sole operator who handles firearms is subject to the annual background check requirement.
• Insurance: standard homeowner's insurance will not cover commercial firearms inventory. A dedicated commercial firearms dealer policy is recommended.
• CBI InstaCheck account required regardless of location or volume.

The Eastern Plains, Western Slope, and mountain communities outside major metro areas offer the most favorable zoning environments. The Front Range (Denver, Boulder, and the Colorado Springs metro areas) has increasingly restrictive local ordinances.

Every firearm transfer in Colorado requires a completed ATF Form 4473, a CBI InstaCheck background check, and compliance with the 3-day waiting period. Colorado's must-wait-for-proceed rule means no transfer can happen until CBI explicitly approves. For a full walkthrough of the form, see what questions are asked on a 4473 form.

• ATF Federal Firearms Licensing Center (FFLC)
• ATF Form 7 (5310.12) application
• Colorado Department of Revenue, Firearms Dealer Division (state permit)
• Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI InstaCheck)
• Colorado Secretary of State (business registration)