Delaware CCDW License
A practical guide to Delaware’s License to Carry a Concealed Deadly Weapon: eligibility, publication, fingerprints, references, training, filing, renewals and reciprocity.
Who can apply for a Delaware CCDW?
Section 1441 permits a person of full age and good moral character to seek a license to carry a concealed deadly weapon for personal protection, protection of property, or both, when the statutory requirements are strictly satisfied.
Delaware resident applications are initiated through Superior Court and filed with the Prothonotary in the county where the applicant resides. The Delaware Department of Justice reviews submitted applications and returns them to the Court.
It is not a general firearm-ownership license. Separate laws govern firearm possession, prohibited persons, purchasing, locations and particular weapons.
New Delaware CCDW application process
The current Court instructions require publication once in a qualifying newspaper of general circulation at least 10 business days before filing.
Fingerprints must be taken through the State Bureau of Identification within 45 days before filing. Use the county-specific IdentoGO service code published by Superior Court.
The five references must be citizens of the county where you reside, cannot be related to you or live at your address, and must have known you for at least one year.
Prepare the application and required duplicate with attachments. Superior Court notes that notary service is available at each Prothonotary’s Office.
Include two recent color passport-style photographs and the $65 statutory filing fee.
New applications may be filed at any time. The Court and Attorney General’s Office then review the application.
The statute requires the training certificate before initial issuance. Court instructions allow an applicant to submit the qualifying certificate after approval, subject to the Court’s deadline.
New applicants must publish notice
Superior Court’s current instructions require a new applicant to arrange publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the applicant’s county. The newspaper must meet the Court’s circulation requirement for the applicant’s ZIP code.
The Court instructions state that publication must occur once, at least 10 business days before filing, and the newspaper affidavit must be attached to the application.
Fingerprinting must be completed close to filing
Superior Court requires fingerprints through the State Bureau of Identification within 45 days before the application is filed. Applicants schedule through IdentoGO using the service code for their filing county.
Verify the service code on the current Superior Court page immediately before scheduling, because administrative instructions can change.
Five county references are required
Section 1441 requires a certificate from five respectable citizens of the county where the applicant resides. Current Court instructions further state that a reference cannot be related to the applicant or reside at the same address and must have known the applicant for at least one year.
What must Delaware CCDW training include?
Before the initial license is issued, the applicant must file a notarized training certificate from a qualifying instructor or sponsoring organization. The statutory curriculum includes:
The statute expressly requires live-fire shooting exercises on a range with a minimum expenditure of 100 rounds of ammunition.
Coastal Training Group provides Delaware firearm training. Confirm the current course and scheduling details before registering.
Where is the application filed?
The application is filed with the Prothonotary’s Office in the applicant’s county of residence. New applications may be filed at any time.
Wilmington, DE 19801-3704
(302) 255-0557
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 735-1901
Georgetown, DE 19947
(302) 856-5252
Verify office addresses and filing instructions on the current Superior Court website before mailing or hand-delivering an application.
How long is a Delaware CCDW valid?
The current statute provides that the initial license is valid for 3 years. A qualifying renewal extends the license for 5 years, and subsequent renewals may likewise be made for 5-year periods.
Superior Court states that renewal affidavits may be filed after January 1 and no later than June 1 of the year the license expires. Follow the current Court instructions for exact filing timing and documents.
Does a Delaware CCDW replace the Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit?
A person holding a valid Delaware CCDW under § 1441 is exempt from obtaining the separate Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit. Other applicable purchase and transfer laws still apply.
See the full handgun purchaser-permit guide for the distinction between a permit exemption and a training exemption.
Where is a Delaware CCDW recognized?
Reciprocity can change. The Delaware Department of Justice publishes the official information on which out-of-state permits Delaware recognizes and provides guidance for Delaware license holders traveling to other states.
A Delaware CCDW does not make Delaware carry rules portable to another state. The traveler must comply with the destination and transit states’ current laws, including location restrictions, vehicle rules and any duty to inform law enforcement.
Because the DOJ’s displayed reciprocity list can be updated on a different schedule from other site content, use the official DOJ page as the source of truth rather than relying on a copied list.
Frequently asked questions
How many references do I need?
Five. Current Court instructions require them to be citizens of your county, unrelated to you, living at a different address, and to have known you for at least one year.
Do I have to publish my application in a newspaper?
For a new resident application, yes. Follow the Court’s current county- and ZIP-specific newspaper instructions and timing requirement.
How many rounds are required in the CCDW course?
The statutory training curriculum requires live-fire exercises on a range with a minimum expenditure of 100 rounds.
How long does the initial license last?
Under the current statute, the initial license is valid for 3 years. Renewals are for 5 years.
Does my CCDW exempt me from Delaware’s handgun purchaser permit?
Yes. A valid Delaware CCDW holder is exempt from obtaining the separate Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit.
Can I rely on an old reciprocity chart?
No. Reciprocity changes. Check the current Delaware DOJ page and the official law of every state where you intend to carry.
Official Delaware resources
11 Del. C. § 1441 — License to carry concealed deadly weapons
Delaware Superior Court — CCDW instructions, forms and procedural rules
Delaware Department of Justice — CCDW information, instructors and reciprocity
Delaware Courts — Licenses & Registrations — Current CCDW forms and instructions
DelawareGunLaws.com is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the State of Delaware or any government agency. Filing procedures, forms, reciprocity and firearm laws can change. Verify current primary sources before relying on this information.
Last legal review: August 8, 2026
Open Carry in Delaware
Next: open carry, location restrictions, vehicles and the difference between open and concealed carry.