How to Get an FFL in Florida

The type of FFL you apply for depends on your intended business activities. Most Florida gun stores apply for a Type 01 license. Because Florida has no state dealer fee, your costs stay close to the federal minimums.

• Type 01 Dealer in firearms other than destructive devices. The standard retail gun store license. $200 for three years, $90 to renew.
• Type 02 Pawnbroker dealing in firearms. $200 for three years.
• Type 06 Manufacturer of ammunition. $30 for three years.
• Type 07 Manufacturer of firearms and ammunition. $150 for three years.
• Type 03 Collector of Curio and Relic firearms. $30 for three years.

1. Register your business and confirm zoning. Establish your business entity with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz), obtain an EIN from the IRS, register for a Florida Sales Tax Certificate from the Department of Revenue, and verify your premises meets local zoning requirements. Florida's preemption law (790.33) prevents local firearms ordinances, but standard commercial and home-business zoning rules still apply.

2. Choose your FFL type and complete ATF Form 7. Select the FFL type that matches your business, 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, so review every field carefully.

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

4. Submit your application and fee. Mail the completed Form 7, fingerprint cards, photographs, and your application fee (check, credit card, or money order payable to ATF) 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. Florida has 67 counties, each with an elected sheriff. This is a notification only, and CLEO approval is not required.

6. Complete the ATF interview and inspection. An ATF Industry Operations Inspector (IOI) will schedule a premises visit. They will verify your identity, inspect storage and security, and confirm your understanding of federal and Florida firearms laws, including 4473 procedures, A&D Book requirements, the FDLE background check process, and the 3-day waiting period.

7. Register with the FDLE Firearm Purchase Program. Once your FFL is issued, register with the FDLE Firearm Purchase Program (FPP) to access the Firearm Eligibility System (FES) for background checks. You will receive login credentials and be set up for monthly invoicing of background check fees ($5 per check).

8. Set up your compliance systems. Before your first transaction, establish your A&D Book, implement 4473 processing, and configure your FDLE workflow. This is where most new FFLs benefit from starting digital from day one with e4473, for digital 4473 processing, automatic waiting period tracking, and cloud-based record retention.

Florida's straightforward requirements make for one of the fastest FFL startup timelines in the country: business and application preparation, mailing and ATF intake, the inspector interview, and final approval, followed by FDLE registration before your first sale. Clean applications with no errors move fastest.

Florida is consistently ranked among the most gun-friendly states in the country. The regulatory environment is lean compared to states like California or New York. Here is what Florida FFLs need to know.

FDLE Firearm Purchase Program (background checks):

• State point of contact (POC): Florida is a full state POC. All background checks go through the FDLE Firearm Purchase Program, not the FBI directly. FDLE checks both federal NICS and Florida-specific databases.
• Fee: $5 per check, with FDLE invoicing dealers monthly.
• Firearm Eligibility System (FES): dealers submit checks online through FES or by phone. FDLE reports that 98% of checks are resolved within minutes.
• Pawnbroker exception: pawnbrokers (Type 02) processing pawn redemptions within 90 days may contact FBI NICS directly instead of FDLE.
• Under Florida's 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act, dealers must wait for FDLE approval before transferring any firearm. The federal 3-business-day default transfer does not apply in Florida.

Waiting period:

• Under F.S. 790.0655, there is a mandatory waiting period of 3 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, between the purchase and delivery of any firearm, or until the FDLE background check is completed, whichever is later.
• Concealed Weapons License (CWL) holders are exempt from the waiting period but still require an FDLE background check.
• Other exemptions include trade-in of another firearm and certain rifle/shotgun purchases by buyers with hunter safety certification.
• County waiting periods: the Florida Constitution (Art. VIII, section 5(b)) allows counties to impose 3-to-5-day waiting periods for sales on public-access property.

Other key laws for FFLs:

• No assault weapons ban and no magazine capacity restrictions
• No state firearms registration (F.S. 790.335 prohibits any firearms registry in Florida)
• Minimum age 21 for all purchases from FFLs since the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act
• Permitless concealed carry since July 1, 2023 (HB 543), with an optional CWL still available
• Strong statewide preemption under F.S. 790.33
• Red flag law (Risk Protection Orders) under F.S. 790.401
• No additional state form is required for transfers; the federal ATF Form 4473 is the only transaction document

Federal law requires you to provide a copy of your ATF Form 7 to the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) in your jurisdiction. In Florida this is typically your county sheriff. Florida has 67 counties, each with an elected sheriff. This is a notification only; the CLEO cannot approve or deny your FFL.

How to find your CLEO:

• County sheriff: Florida's 67 sheriffs can be found through the Florida Sheriffs Association
• Municipal police chief: if operating within a city with its own police department, notify that department's chief

While CLEO notification is informational, skipping it can delay ATF processing. Send it at the same time you mail your ATF Form 7 or shortly after. Florida sheriffs are generally cooperative with FFL applicants.

Florida is one of the best states in the country for home-based FFLs. No state dealer license, no additional state fees, and a gun-friendly regulatory environment make it especially attractive for new dealers starting from home.

• No state barriers: Florida has no state-level restrictions on home-based FFLs. Your federal FFL is all that is required from a licensing perspective.
• Zoning is your main consideration: while Florida's preemption law prevents local firearms ordinances, standard commercial and home-business zoning rules still apply. Verify with your local planning and zoning department.
• Storage and security: the ATF inspector will verify secure firearm storage. A quality gun safe or dedicated locked storage area is expected.
• HOA restrictions: planned communities may have rules on home-based commercial activity, signage, or customer visits. Review your governing documents.
• Insurance: standard homeowner's insurance will not cover commercial firearms inventory or business liability. A dedicated commercial firearms dealer policy is essential.

Many Florida home-based FFLs operate primarily as transfer agents and online dealers with appointment-only visits, which minimizes foot traffic concerns while still allowing you to legally operate from your residence.

Every firearm transfer from a Florida FFL requires a completed ATF Form 4473 and an FDLE background check. Florida does not require any additional state form for transfers, so the federal 4473 is the only transaction document. 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
• FDLE Firearm Purchase Program (background checks)
• Florida Department of Revenue (sales tax certificate)
• Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz business registration)
• Florida Sheriffs Association (CLEO directory)