Application Process 

1. Pistol permit applications are submitted to your local police agency. They investigate the application and forward the file to our office.
2. We process the application right away and send it to a judge as soon as possible for the final decision. 
3. We notify you in writing immediately after the judge's decision.
   We ask you not to call to inquire about your permit. Callers are told they will receive a letter as soon as we receive the judge's decision.
4. The permit can then be picked up in our office. We maintain records of all pistol permits.

The process requires considerable effort on your part, and on the part of the police and the courts. For this reason, it can take six to twelve months before a final decision is reached. 

Required Basic Pistol Safety Course

You must complete a basic course in pistol safety before applying. Below is a list of approved instructors.

• Albany County Pistol Club
• American Tactical Systems
• Arms Traders of America, Training Division
  Visit on Facebook
  (845) 605-2767 Office
  (914) 388-5124 Cell
• C&G Solutions: (347) 242-4312
• Concealed Coalition: (949) 386-8215
• Emblazoned Industries: (518) 423-2805
• Learn to Shoot NY
• RC Sportsmen Club
• SafeShoot Shooting Sports Complex
• Upstate Defense Solutions
• Lee Borman: (518) 410-1155
• Scott diMonda: (518)-858-4040
• Tony Dorangrichia: (518) 477-0245
• Steven Mapes: (518) 527-2976; mapessteven@gmail.com
• Jason Haines, Big J's Firearms Academy: (518) 819-9400
• Les McDermott, The Indoor Gun Range: (518) 279-4867

Pistol Permit Applications:

• City of Albany
• Town of Bethlehem
• Town of Colonie
• Town of Guilderland
• Towns of Berne, Coeymans, Green Island, Knox, New Scotland, Rensselaerville, or Westerlo
• All other Albany County locations: Print two letter-size, double-sided copies of the PPB-3 application (also available on the NYS Police website) on plain white paper. We cannot accept single-sided applications. Submit both of the completed and signed originals in accordance with the requirements.

Electronic Fingerprinting

• Fingerprint information

Renewable Pistol Permits

NYS Penal law §400, 5(b) can be summarized:

All licensees shall be recertified by the Division of State Police every five years thereafter. Any license issued before the effective date of the chapter of the laws of Two Thousand Thirteen which added this paragraph shall be recertified on or before January Thirty-First, Two Thousand Eighteen, and not less than one year prior to such date.

We believe this means: The State Police will be responsible for this new recertification process, and they have not yet informed County Clerks how they are going to implement this program, but by January 2018 all current lifetime pistol permits will be replaced by 5-year recertified permits everywhere in New York State.

• The-two part form is available on this site.
• To avoid long wait times, we encourage you to mail your completed form.
• Please send the $3.00 fee with the form, and include a daytime phone number on the top right side of the form.
•  If you are acquiring, disposing or changing your address on your permit, please include an additional $5.00 for a new card. 
• When processed and approved by the judge, we will mail the amendment and the purchase coupon back to you.
• Please note: duplicate licenses will not be mailed, you will be notified by mail and will have to make an appointment to pick it up.

Submit an amendment application when: 

• You change your address, or any other detail affecting a  term or condition of your pistol permit.
• You acquire or dispose of a pistol.

Bring to our office:

• Original PPB-5 Standard Amendment Form
• Original Albany County attachment to the PPB-5 amendment form – DO NOT SIGN
  We can witness your signature when you bring the documents into our office, or you can sign in front of a notary public of your choosing.
• Your current pistol permit to be copied

Additional Information

• We process the application right away and send it to a judge as soon as possible for the final decision. 
• We notify you in writing immediately after the judge's decision.
  We ask you not to call to inquire about your application. Callers are told they will receive a letter as soon as we receive the judge's decision.

• Print two letter-size copies of both pages of the PPB-6 on plain white paper, and submit both completed and signed originals as required.
• Additional information is available from the NYS Police Pistol Permit Bureau
• All the other requirements for a Gunsmith/Dealer in Firearms are the same as the requirements for a Pistol Permit (above), except that no pistol safety course is required.

New York State Law

• Pistol permits are governed by section 400.00 of the Penal law of the State of New York. This is a long and complex law. You can read the exact law on the NYS Legislature's website.
• New York State has a website regarding the NYSAFE Act

• FOIL Exemption Form
• NYS Police FOIL Form FAQ

Note: Forms are forwarded to a judge who must review the request. So far, all requests have been approved. If a request is ever denied, we will notify that person immediately by mail.

• NYSAFE website assault weapon FAQs
• New York State assault weapon registration