How to Get an FFL in Pennsylvania

The type of FFL you apply for depends on your intended business activities. Most Pennsylvania gun stores apply for a Type 01 license, and pawn shops with firearms choose Type 02.

• 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. Prepare your business structure. Decide on your business entity (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation). Register with the Pennsylvania Department of State if forming an LLC or corporation, obtain an EIN from the IRS, register for Pennsylvania Sales Tax with the PA Department of Revenue, and confirm your premises meets local zoning requirements.

2. Choose your FFL type and complete ATF Form 7. Select the FFL type matching your 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, 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 Pennsylvania, fingerprints are available at many local police departments, sheriff offices, and third-party providers like IdentoGO.

4. Submit your application and fee. Mail the completed Form 7, fingerprint cards, photographs, and your application fee (check or money order payable to ATF) to the ATF Federal Firearms Licensing Center in Atlanta, GA. The correct mailing address is on the form instructions.

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. This is a notification only, and CLEO approval is not required for your FFL.

6. Complete the ATF interview and inspection. An ATF Industry Operations Inspector (IOI) will schedule a premises visit. Be prepared to demonstrate knowledge of the PICS system, the SP 4-113 handgun transfer form, and how your compliance workflow handles the distinction between handgun and long gun transfers.

7. Apply for the Pennsylvania License to Sell Firearms. After your federal FFL is issued, apply for the state License to Sell Firearms through your county sheriff under 18 Pa.C.S. 6113. Bring a copy of your federal FFL approval. The statutory fee is $30, and some counties charge additional local fees. You must hold this state license before conducting firearm sales or transfers.

8. Register with the Pennsylvania State Police PICS. Once your FFL and state dealer license are issued, register with the Pennsylvania State Police Firearms Division to access the PICS background check system. You cannot legally transfer handguns in Pennsylvania until your PICS access is established.

9. Set up your compliance systems. Before your first transaction, establish your A&D Book, implement 4473 processing, and configure your PICS workflow. Pennsylvania FFLs must manage two parallel processes for handgun sales: the federal 4473 and the Pennsylvania SP 4-113 form. This is where most new FFLs benefit from starting digital from day one with e4473, which speeds up the federal side so your team can stay organized across both requirements.

Plan for a multi-step timeline in Pennsylvania: federal ATF preparation, mailing and intake, the inspector interview, and final ATF approval, followed by the state License to Sell Firearms through your county sheriff and PICS registration before your first handgun transfer. Clean applications with no errors move fastest.

Pennsylvania's firearms laws are among the most operationally complex for FFL dealers in the mid-Atlantic region. The state requires a separate dealer license through the county sheriff, runs its own PICS background check system, mandates handgun transfer forms, and requires all private handgun sales to go through an FFL or sheriff.

State business requirements:

• Pennsylvania License to Sell Firearms: required under 18 Pa.C.S. 6113 for any person engaged in the business of selling or transferring firearms. Apply through your county sheriff after receiving your federal FFL. The statutory fee is $30, and additional local fees may apply.
• Pennsylvania Sales Tax license: required from the PA Department of Revenue. Pennsylvania's sales tax rate is 6% (Philadelphia 8%, Allegheny County 7%). Firearms and ammunition are subject to sales tax.
• Business registration: LLCs and corporations must register with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Domestic LLCs carry a $125 filing fee.
• Local permits: Pennsylvania has over 2,500 municipalities. Check with your local borough, township, or city for business licensing and zoning requirements.

Pennsylvania firearms laws relevant to FFLs:

• PICS background check system: Pennsylvania operates its own Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS), run by the Pennsylvania State Police, used for all firearm transfers (handguns and long guns).
• Mandatory handgun transfer through FFL or sheriff: under 18 Pa.C.S. 6111, all handgun transfers, including private party sales, must go through a licensed FFL dealer or the county sheriff's office.
• SP 4-113 Firearm Sales Record: for every handgun transfer, Pennsylvania FFLs must complete the PA State Police SP 4-113 form in addition to the federal ATF Form 4473.
• Long gun transfers also go through PICS, but the SP 4-113 form is not required for long guns, only the federal 4473.
• No state waiting period for firearm purchases
• No state assault weapons ban and no magazine capacity restrictions
• NFA items are legal with appropriate federal tax stamps
• No constitutional carry: Pennsylvania requires a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) for concealed carry; open carry is generally permitted without a license
• Preemption: 18 Pa.C.S. 6120 prohibits municipalities from enacting firearms regulations stricter than state law

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. Pennsylvania has 67 counties. This is a notification only; the CLEO cannot approve or deny your FFL.

In Pennsylvania, the county sheriff plays an additional operational role beyond CLEO notification. Sheriffs issue the License to Carry Firearms (LTCF), issue the state License to Sell Firearms to dealers, and can process handgun transfers on behalf of private parties. Establishing a positive relationship with your county sheriff's office early is especially important in Pennsylvania.

How to find your CLEO:

• County sheriff: find yours via the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania or your individual county website. Your county sheriff is also the issuing authority for your state License to Sell Firearms.
• Municipal police chief: if operating within a borough or city with its own police department, notify that department's chief.
• Pennsylvania State Police: in municipalities without local police, PSP may be the appropriate CLEO contact.

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.

Pennsylvania allows home-based FFLs, and there is no state law prohibiting them. Pennsylvania's mix of rural townships, small boroughs, and suburban communities creates varied zoning environments. Key considerations:

• State License to Sell Firearms: home-based dealers must obtain the state license through their county sheriff, same as any other dealer. Bring your federal FFL approval when you apply.
• Zoning: Pennsylvania's 2,500-plus municipalities each have their own zoning ordinances. Rural townships typically have minimal restrictions, while suburban municipalities around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh may have stricter home occupation rules. Always verify with your local zoning officer before applying.
• Storage and security: the ATF inspector will verify secure firearm storage. A quality gun safe or dedicated locked storage area is expected.
• SP 4-113 workflow: home-based dealers must have a reliable workflow for completing and retaining SP 4-113 forms for every handgun transfer.
• Insurance: standard homeowner's insurance will not cover commercial firearms inventory or business liability. A dedicated commercial firearms dealer policy is essential before taking in any inventory.

Because Pennsylvania requires all handgun transfers to go through an FFL or sheriff, many home-based dealers build steady transfer business while operating by appointment to minimize foot traffic concerns.

Every firearm transfer from a Pennsylvania FFL requires a completed ATF Form 4473 and a PICS background check. For handgun transfers, you must also complete the Pennsylvania SP 4-113 Firearm Sales Record, a state requirement in addition to the federal form. For a full walkthrough of the federal form, see what questions are asked on a 4473 form.

• ATF Federal Firearms Licensing Center (FFLC)
• ATF Form 7 (5310.12) application
• Pennsylvania State Police Firearms Division (PICS and SP 4-113)
• PA Department of Revenue (sales tax license)
• Pennsylvania Department of State (business registration)
• Your county sheriff (state License to Sell Firearms)