In addition to any applicable federal or state requirements, the following procedures apply to all licensees seeking to acquire and register a handgun to one or more of their licenses.
(a) No person shall acquire a firearm if such person has acquired a firearm within the previous ninety (90) days. Licensees who acquire and attempt to register more than one (1) firearm in a ninety (90) day period, shall not be granted an authorization form to take possession of an additional firearm until the ninety (90) day period has elapsed.
(b) Any licensee who obtains a handgun must purchase or obtain a safety locking device at the time of acquisition of such handgun, in accordance with § 10-311 of the Administrative Code, to be used for the safeguarding of the handgun when not in use. The following types of safety locking devices will be deemed to comply with the requirement to obtain a safety locking device:
(1) a trigger lock, which prevents the pulling of the trigger without the use of a key;
(2) a combination handle, which prevents the use of the weapon without the alignment of the combination tumblers; or
(3) a detachable or non-detachable locking device that is composed primarily of steel or other metal of significant gauge to inhibit breaking, and renders the weapon inoperable until the locking device is removed with a metal key or combination lock.
(c) A licensee may not take possession of a handgun without prior written authorization from the Division Head, License Division. For new and existing licensees, the License Division will provide a handgun purchase authorization form, which is valid for thirty (30) calendar days from the issuance date and must be provided to the firearms dealer at the time of purchase of such handgun.
(d) A licensee may not take possession of a handgun before it has been inspected by License Division personnel and entered on the license. A licensee must contact the License Division within 72 hours of purchase of such handgun to request inspection of the handgun and safety locking device. Requests for inspection must include the following:
(1) A completed authorization form issued by the License Division, in accordance with subdivision (c) of this section, with the background check number filled out by the firearms dealer from whom the handgun was purchased.
(2) The Bill of Sale/Receipt for the handgun which shall include the following information:
(i) make, model, calibre, and serial number of handgun sold;
(ii) Seller’s name, address, and license number if applicable;
(iii) Buyer’s name, address, and license number, date of sale.
If the handgun is acquired from an individual, rather than a dealer, the sale must comply with the requirements set forth in section 898 of the General Business Law and the Bill of Sale shall be signed and notarized by the transferor.
(3) A color photograph depicting the entirety of the handgun purchased with accurate color representation,
(4) A color photograph that legibly captures the handgun’s serial number.
(5) A color photograph depicting the safety locking device for the purchased handgun.
(6) Proof of ownership of safe storage, which consists of:
(i) A Bill of Sale; and
(ii) Two (2) color photos of the safe or other locked container, one with the door open and one with the door closed. Photos may not be stock images and must depict the entirety of the safe, not merely a portion thereof.
The Division Head, License Division may reject the type of safe proposed for safeguarding the handgun, where it is determined that the safety features are insufficient to safeguard such handgun.
(7) Where the licensee has acquired a handgun from the estate of a deceased immediate family member, the licensee shall also provide:
(i) A copy of the voucher for the handgun(s).
(ii) The decedent’s license, if not previously surrendered, showing registration of the handgun(s) in question.
(iii) A copy of the death certificate.
(iv) A notarized Bill of Sale from the Executor or Administrator of the decedent’s estate, indicating the weapon, make, model, caliber and serial number, and stating that they are being sold to: the licensee’s name, address and license number.
(v) If there is a Will: a short certificate of Letters Testamentary that gives the Executor the authority to dispose of the property.
(vi) If there is no Will: a short certificate of Letters of Administration that gives the administrator the authority to dispose of the property.
(e) For new licensees, the completed authorization form and license card with the registered handgun printed on such card shall be mailed to the licensee’s address of record. The licensee shall use these documents to take possession of the registered handgun purchased from the seller. Following a completed transaction, or within ten (10) calendar days of its expiration date, the completed authorization form shall be returned to the License Division.
(f) The License Division may waive specific requirements identified in subdivision (d) of this section for extenuating circumstances, including, but not limited to, where a licensee lawfully acquired a handgun in another jurisdiction and has not maintained the Bill of Sale. The licensee shall contact the License Division via email at DG_LIC-Purchaseorders@NYPD.org with a detailed explanation of such extenuating circumstances so that the License Division may provide individualized guidance on lawfully registering their firearm(s). The License Division may require the submission of additional information in such circumstances.
(g) Number of handguns allowed on a handgun license. The number of handguns allowed under each type of handgun license is listed below:
(1) Premises Residence – One handgun, except that additional handguns shall be approved upon request after the licensee shows evidence of appropriate safeguarding and establishes compliance with the mandatory waiting periods pursuant to subdivision (b) of § 10-302.1 of the Administrative Code and § 400.20 of the Penal Law.
(2) Premises Business – One handgun.
(3) Carry and Special Carry – Two handguns, provided that requests for additional handguns shall be evaluated in accordance with the standards set forth for a premise residence license in paragraph (1) of this subdivision. Carry and Special Carry licensees may only carry one (1) handgun at a time. Additional handguns must remain safeguarded.
(4) Carry Guard and Special Carry Guard – One handgun. Requests for additional handguns shall be reviewed on an individual basis.
(5) Gun Custodian – Number of handguns shall be determined by the Division Head, License Division, consistent with the demonstrated needs of the applicant.
(h) Requests for amendments to “Special Carry” and “Special Carry Guard” licenses – Holders of “Special Carry” licenses shall comply with the purchase authorization request guidelines of the county in which they hold their Carry handgun license. Once the addition has been made to a county handgun license, a request to amend a licensee’s New York City Special Carry license may be made to the License Division, in writing, via email to: DG_LIC-Purchaseorders@NYPD.org. The following documents shall accompany the request:
(1) The licensee’s current County Carry license;
(2) A copy of the county Handgun Purchase Authorization form; and
(3) A copy of the Bill of Sale.
(i) Provisions of this section adopted on an emergency basis pursuant to Section 1043 of the New York City Charter after October 11, 2024 are deemed to have been in effect on and after such date, notwithstanding the promulgation of such provisions at a later date.
(Amended City Record 12/16/2022, eff. 12/16/2022; amended City Record 8/12/2024, eff. 8/12/2024; amended City Record 10/23/2024, eff. 10/23/2024)