Rankings Law

Duty to Inform States

Ten states require concealed carriers to inform police proactively. Seventeen require it only if asked, and 21 states have no duty to inform.

World Population Review. Duty to Inform States 51 entries Updated Jul 25, 2026
Jump to data

Key Takeaways

Duty to Inform States

  1. 1

    Ten states plus the District of Columbia have a proactive duty to inform law: Alaska, Arkansas, D.C., Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas.

  2. 2

    Seventeen states require disclosure only if an officer asks, the largest category. That is more than the 21 states with no duty to inform law at all.

  3. 3

    Maine and North Dakota are permit dependent: duty to inform applies only when carrying without a permit, not when carrying with one. California has no statewide law, though some localities have their own duty to inform requirements.

Map

Duty to Inform States 2026 Map

Duty to Inform
Yes
Only If Asked
Permit Dependent
Other
No
Duty to Inform States 2026 Map
State Duty to Inform
Alabama Only If Asked
Alaska Yes
Arizona Only If Asked
Arkansas Yes
California Other
Colorado No
Connecticut No
Delaware No
District of Columbia Yes
Florida Only If Asked
Georgia No
Hawaii Yes
Idaho No
Illinois Only If Asked
Indiana No
Iowa No
Kansas No
Kentucky Only If Asked
Louisiana Yes
Maine Permit Dependent
Maryland No
Massachusetts No
Michigan Yes
Minnesota Only If Asked
Mississippi No
Missouri Only If Asked
Montana No
Nebraska Yes
Nevada No
New Hampshire No
New Jersey Yes
New Mexico No
New York Only If Asked
North Carolina Yes
North Dakota Permit Dependent
Ohio Only If Asked
Oklahoma Only If Asked
Oregon Only If Asked
Pennsylvania Only If Asked
Rhode Island No
South Carolina No
South Dakota No
Tennessee Only If Asked
Texas Yes
Utah No
Vermont No
Virginia Only If Asked
Washington Only If Asked
West Virginia No
Wisconsin Only If Asked
Wyoming Only If Asked

Ten states and Washington, D.C. require proactive disclosure to a law enforcement officer. Seventeen require it only if asked. Maine and North Dakota depend on whether the carrier has a permit, and 21 states have no duty to inform law at all.

Duty to Inform States Table

51 entries
Duty to Inform

States That Require Proactive Disclosure

A police officer standing beside a car during a traffic stop, representing states that require proactive disclosure of a concealed firearm
Ten states and Washington, D.C. require a concealed carrier to proactively inform a law enforcement officer during a stop.

Ten states and Washington, D.C. require a concealed carrier to proactively inform a law enforcement officer during a stop: Alaska, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas.

Seventeen states require disclosure only if an officer asks, including Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. This is the largest single category, one more state than the 21 states with no duty to inform law at all.

States Where Duty to Inform Depends on the Permit

A concealed carry permit card, representing states where the duty to inform depends on whether the carrier holds a permit
In Maine and North Dakota, duty to inform applies only when carrying without a permit.

Maine and North Dakota are permit dependent. In Maine, duty to inform applies only when carrying without a permit. Carrying with a permit removes the requirement, and North Dakota's rule works the same way for residents constitutionally carrying without one.

California is the only state marked Other: there is no duty to inform law at the state level, but some localities are known to have their own duty to inform requirements.

Quick Answers

Which states require you to tell police you are carrying a concealed gun?
Ten states and Washington, D.C. require proactive disclosure: Alaska, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas.
Do you have to tell police you have a gun in Texas?
Yes. Texas requires a concealed carrier to proactively inform a law enforcement officer during a stop.
Which states only require disclosure if an officer asks?
Seventeen states require disclosure only if asked, including Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
Does California have a duty to inform law?
No statewide law exists in California, but some localities are known to have their own duty to inform requirements.
What is the duty to inform rule in Maine?
Maine's duty to inform applies only when carrying without a permit. Carrying with a permit removes the requirement.
How many states have no duty to inform law?
21 states have no duty to inform law at all, more than any single other category.

Methodology

Duty to inform status reflects whether state law requires a concealed carrier to disclose that fact to a law enforcement officer during a stop, on record as of 2026. This page is informational only and does not constitute legal advice.

Sources

Information is cross-referenced with official state archives.
Found an error? Report it here.
Explore More
Data
State Rankings

Compare all 50 states by population, land area, statehood date, and more.

View Rankings
Curated
Collections

Themed lists - states sharing the same bird, oldest symbols, flags with bears, and more.

Browse Collections
Compare
Compare States

Side-by-side comparison of population, area, income, taxes, climate, and more.

Compare Now
Genealogy
Last Names by State

Top 20 most common surnames per state - with origins, meanings, and heritage context. Is yours on the list?

Explore Last Names

You Might Also Like