The applicant must be a legal citizen of the United States of America or possess a Permanent Resident Card, and must be a legal citizen of the State of Alabama, and have a primary residence in Clay County, Alabama.  The applicant must have an Alabama Driver’s License, an Alabama Identification Card, or an active military identification card.   The applicant must be at least 18 years of age. 

Pistol Permits are $20.00 per year.  Persons obtaining a permit have the option to purchase permits for 1 year up to 5 years.   Renewals may be made by mail (41771 Hwy 77, Suite 2, Ashland, AL  36251) or in person.   For mail renewals, please allow several weeks for delivery.  Renewal requests should include; your current pistol permit number, any changes of address and /or phone numbers and a $20.00 money order, cashiers check or personal check made out to the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Fund. If you need additional information or have questions, please call (256) 354-2176.

Please note that permit fees are nonrefundable. For instance, if you obtain a multi-year permit and move out of the county before it expires, our office cannot refund the balance of your permit fee.

The Sheriff may deny a permit application if a determination has been made that the person is prohibited from the possession of a pistol or firearm pursuant to state or federal law, or has a reasonable suspicion that the person may use a weapon unlawfully or in such other manner that would endanger the person's self or others.

The Sheriff’s Office will issue or deny a Pistol License Application within 30 days of receipt of a completed application. 

The following cannot obtain a pistol permit:

• Any person who has been convicted of a felony (a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year).
• Any person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence, including murder, manslaughter(except manslaughter arising from the operation of a vehicle), rape, mayhem, assault with intent to rob, assault with intent to ravish, assault with intent to murder, robbery, distribution of a controlled substance, burglary and kidnapping.
• Any person who is an unlawful drug user, a drug addict or a habitual drunkard. Factors to consider include repeated and recent arrests or convictions for drug crimes, DUI, and/or public intoxication.
• Any person who is under indictment for a crime punishable for imprisonment exceeding one year.
• Any person who has been convicted of domestic violence, even if the conviction is a misdemeanor.
• Any person discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.
• Any person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution, or any person who has asserted a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity or mental defect in a criminal proceeding.
• Any person who is or has been a subject of an incompetency proceeding, the result of which may prohibit the possession of a firearm.
• Any person who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his/her citizenship.
• Any person who is a fugitive from justice.
• Any person who is an alien illegally in the United States or under a non-immigrant visa.
• Any person who is subject to a court order that restrains that person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of an intimate partner.
• Any person who causes justifiable concern for public safety. Ala. Act. No. 2013-283.

The applicant must not give false information, offer false information about his/her identity or criminal record when applying for a pistol permit. Applicants who do so will have their applications denied.

The Sheriff’s Office will issue or deny a Pistol License Application within 30 days of receipt of a completed application.