Albany County Clerk Programs and Services

How to Apply for a Pistol Permit, Amendment, or Gunsmith/Dealer License in Albany County

Pistol Permits

The Albany County Clerk's office is the recordkeeper for all pistol permits. You will actually submit your completed application directly to your local police agency, which will perform the investigation. Their file is then forwarded by the police to our office, where we log it into our system then send the complete file to a judge for their consideration and final decision.

We then contact you by mail and advise you of the judge's decision. The actual permit can then be picked up at our office. 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.

CLICK HERE for details on HOW TO APPLY FOR A PISTOL PERMIT in Albany County

Are you TRANSFERRING a Pistol Permit from another county within New York State?

CLICK HERE for our pistol permit transfer instructions [PDF*] and CLICK HERE to download the "Amendment" form you'll need to start this transfer

All permit transfers must be submitted on the PPB-5 "Transfer" form. Please follow the transfer instructions carefully.

Pistol Permit Amendments

Any change to a pistol permit, from a change of address, to the acquisition or disposal of a weapon, requires an amendment to your permit. Every amendment must be approved or disapproved by a judge, and a further background check may be required. Amendments can take anywhere from two to three months before a decision is reached by the judge.

Transfers of permits from one county to another are also processed by using this Amendment form.

CLICK HERE for information on applying for a PISTOL PERMIT AMENDMENT in Albany County

Gunsmith/Pistol Dealer's License

CLICK HERE for information on applying for a GUNSMITH/PISTOL DEALER'S LICENCE in Albany County

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APPLYING FOR YOUR PISTOL PERMIT IN ALBANY COUNTY

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• For pistol permit applications in the CITY of ALBANY, click here [PDF*]
• For pistol permit applications in the TOWN of COLONIE, click here [PDF*]
• For pistol permit applications in the TOWNS of BERNE, COEYMANS, KNOX, NEW SCOTLAND, RENSSELAERVILLE, or WESTERLO, click here

For pistol permit applications in ALL OTHER ALBANY COUNTY LOCATIONS (the City of Cohoes, the City of Watervliet, and the Towns of Bethlehem, Guilderland and Green Island):

First, read the information below, then follow the link to review our checklist of the steps to a pistol permit in Albany County.

The PPB-3 Standard Application form is now on the State Police website The New York State Police has authorized standardized application form PPB-3 for all pistol permits in New York State. Below is a link to their website. You will need to print TWO letter-size copies of the PPB-3 on plain white paper, and each MUST BE PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES OF ONE PAGE. We cannot accept applications that are NOT double-sided. You will then submit both of the completed and signed originals in accordance with the requirements.

New York State Police Pistol Permit Bureau webpage: http://www.troopers.ny.gov/firearms/ 

NEW: Electronic Fingerprinting is now required!

Here are instructions on how fingerprints will be taken from January 2010 onwards [PDF*]. Permit fingerprints are NO LONGER TAKEN BY POLICE AGENCIES but by L-1 Services.

Required Basic Pistol Safety Course

You must complete a basic course in pistol safety before applying. Information about these courses can be found here [PDF*].

Finally, this link takes you to our one-page sheet of instructions about the permit process [PDF*]. You may wish to print this out for your information.

PLEASE NOTE that pistol permit applications are processed right away by this office, and forwarded as soon as possible to a judge for decision. We will notify you in writing immediately after the judge's decision on your application. We ask you not to call to inquire about your permit. Callers are told they will receive a letter just as soon as we receive the judge's decision.

For information on applying for pistol permit AMENDMENTS, click here

For information on TRANSFERRING a pistol permit, click here [PDF*]

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APPLYING FOR A PISTOL PERMIT AMENDMENT IN ALBANY COUNTY

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You are responsible for advising our office of any change in your address, or any other change impacting a term or condition of your pistol permit. You must also submit an amendment request whenever you acquire or dispose of a pistol.

You will need to download and complete BOTH the New York State Police Amendment AND the Albany County Attachment.

DO NOT SIGN the Albany County attachment form until you deliver it personally to our office, because we need to witness your signature. You will need to bring your current Pistol Permit with you to be copied. You can instead have your signature witnessed by a Notary Public if you wish.

The originals of BOTH the PPB-5 AND the Albany County Attachment must be submitted to our office (County Courthouse, Room 128, 16 Eagle Street, Albany). You will be notified by mail just as soon as we receive word of the judge's decision on your amendment. The charge for each amendment is $3, payable when you pick up your amendment.

PLEASE NOTE that amendment applications are processed right away by this office, and forwarded as soon as possible to a judge for decision. We will notify you in writing immediately after the judge's decision on your application. We ask you not to call to inquire about your amendment. Callers are told they will receive a letter just as soon as we receive the judge's decision.

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APPLYING FOR A GUNSMITH/DEALER IN FIREARMS LICENSE IN ALBANY COUNTY

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The PPB-6 Gunsmith/Dealer in Firearms license form is now on the State Police website . The New York State Police has authorized this application form for all Gunsmith/Dealer license permits in New York State. Below is a link to their website. You will need to print two letter-size copies of both pages of the PPB-6 on plain white paper, and submit both completed and signed originals in accordance with the requirements.

New York State Police Pistol Permit Bureau webpage: http://www.troopers.ny.gov/firearms/ 

All the other requirements for a Gunsmith/Dealer in Firearms are the same as the requirements for a Pistol Permit, except that no pistol safety course is required. Please click here to view the Pistol Permit requirements.

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Pistol Permits | Pistol Permit Amendments | Gunsmith/Pistol Dealer's License

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