[JoeSmo]

I have owned a place in Florida since 2009, By the end of the year, I hope to make the transition by becoming a Florida resident. I will maintain a summer home in Michigan.

I‘ve have a Michigan conceal carry permit, have it for some time. and will like to ask how difficult the process is here. I live in Pinellas County when in florida.

I thought I would start here to gain any insight into the process here in Florida- and so I can avoid any pit falls. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[AirForceShooter]

Get a Florida Non Resident CCW.
There's no difference from a resident permit except the address it's registered to. When you move go on line and change it to a resident permit.

AFS

 

[RadTek]

AFS is correct. Florida makes no distinction between residency in Florida. It’s simply a license to carry. Period. Doesn’t matter where you live. Generally speaking, if you can legally buy and possess a firearm, you can get a Florida license.

The distinction comes into play in regard to reciprocity in other states. A few states will only recognize a Florida license to carry within that state provided you are a resident of Florida. But your license and mine (I’m in Texas) are identical to the folks who live in Florida otherwise.

Florida doesn’t care what you own or where it is.

 

[BeerHunter]

You should already meet the training requirement for applying in Florida and your MI permit is good for carry in Florida for 90 days after you establish Florida residency. What others have said is mostly true but it's a bit more complicated than "Florida doesn't care . . ." or that the "Permits are identical to what they issue to out of state residents;" they look identical and in Florida are treated as such for most things, but there are a couple of issues that might come up [have to look in Florida and Federal laws that are affected by state of residence (e.g. 1,000 yards of a school, etc.)].

Regardless, there is no address that appears on a Florida Concealed Weapons or Firearms Permit (CWFL) and there is no such thing as a Florida "Resident" or "Non-resident" CWFL, only resident/non-resident privileges in other states that recognize a Florida CWFL. For example, if you're official state of residency is not Florida, then South Carolina does not recognize a Florida CWFL for concealed carry within SC and for every trip I used to make regularly through SC on I-95, I would have to remove the weapon from my person and put it in the center console until I crossed into a neighboring state that did.

Even though there is no address shown on a CWFL, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Customer Service (DOACS) that issues the CWFL does associate the address in the state where you reside in their database and if you change addresses to a Florida residence, all you have to do is go to the DOACS website and fill out the form to change it to your new address.

Sorry this was so long and hope it helps!

 

[RadTek]

What I mean by “Florida doesn’t care...” is in the sense that owning property in Florida isn’t a requirement to obtain a license. I know people in just about all quadrants of the country with a Florida license. Even a couple idiots living in California and New York. (They’re family, I can get away with calling them that. )

 

[Coops]

I had a Florida carry license when I lived in New Jersey so I could carry in Pennsylvania. Until they changed the reciprocity law. When I moved to Florida I just changed my address online.

 

[mike_1950]

A non resident license is the solution. After moving to NY so my wife and I could be with my mother in law for the remaining couple of years of her life, I obtained a NY non restricted carry permit and a non resident Florida license till we eventually moved back to Florida. After moving back.....established Fl residency and converted the non resident into a reg license at the DMV.

 

[BeerHunter]

A non resident license is the solution. After moving to NY so my wife and I could be with my mother in law for the remaining couple of years of her life, I obtained a NY non restricted carry permit and a non resident Florida license till we eventually moved back to Florida. After moving back.....established Fl residency and converted the non resident into a reg license at the DMV.

That bolded refers to your FL Driver's License, correct? Or did you mean you changed your address with DOACS for your FL CWFL at the DMV?

 

[TitleIIToyLover]

The posts above cover almost all of the differences between a license held by a resident v non-resident. The only one I think we missed was the requirement for fingerprints for renewal. A Florida resident does not need to submit fingerprints for a renewal, a non-resident does.

 

[BeerHunter]

The posts above cover almost all of the differences between a license held by a resident v non-resident. The only one I think we missed was the requirement for fingerprints for renewal. A Florida resident does not need to submit fingerprints for a renewal, a non-resident does.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that AND in accordance with Chapter 790.06(5)(c), a full set of fingerprints of the applicant must be "administered by a law enforcement agency or the Division of Licensing of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or an approved tax collector pursuant to s. 790.0625." See the DOACS website for more info: Florida Concealed Weapon License Application Information - Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

 

[CelticWanderer99]

You should already meet the training requirement for applying in Florida and your MI permit is good for carry in Florida for 90 days after you establish Florida residency. What others have said is mostly true but it's a bit more complicated than "Florida doesn't care . . ." or that the "Permits are identical to what they issue to out of state residents;" they look identical and in Florida are treated as such for most things, but there are a couple of issues that might come up [have to look in Florida and Federal laws that are affected by state of residence (e.g. 1,000 yards of a school, etc.)].

Regardless, there is no address that appears on a Florida Concealed Weapons or Firearms Permit (CWFL) and there is no such thing as a Florida "Resident" or "Non-resident" CWFL, only resident/non-resident privileges in other states that recognize a Florida CWFL. For example, if you're official state of residency is not Florida, then South Carolina does not recognize a Florida CWFL for concealed carry within SC and for every trip I used to make regularly through SC on I-95, I would have to remove the weapon from my person and put it in the center console until I crossed into a neighboring state that did.

Even though there is no address shown on a CWFL, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Customer Service (DOACS) that issues the CWFL does associate the address in the state where you reside in their database and if you change addresses to a Florida residence, all you have to do is go to the DOACS website and fill out the form to change it to your new address.

Sorry this was so long and hope it helps!

BeerHunter, I've just moved to Florida and have a current Texas LTC valid for another 5 years. Do I still need to supply a copy of firearm training certificate/document as I've held the Texas LTC for 8 years and had to complete the classroom & live fire exercise to be signed off for that. My question is does the state recognize the LTC I already hold as proficiency or do I need to do another course to demonstrate proficiency here? Thank you

 

[BeerHunter]

BeerHunter, I've just moved to Florida and have a current Texas LTC valid for another 5 years. Do I still need to supply a copy of firearm training certificate/document as I've held the Texas LTC for 8 years and had to complete the classroom & live fire exercise to be signed off for that. My question is does the state recognize the LTC I already hold as proficiency or do I need to do another course to demonstrate proficiency here? Thank you

First, welcome to FCC from Palm Beach County, CelticWanderer! 🍻

Second, Florida Statutes Chapter 790.06(2)(h)6 states:

6. Is licensed or has been licensed to carry a firearm in this state or a county or municipality of this state, unless such license has been revoked for cause;

So I believe that means a copy of you Texas LTC supplied to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Customer Service (DOACS) should suffice, but I would contact DOACS here.

Thirdly, since you've now made your first post to FCC without first making the customary introduction, please now take the time to educate yourself on how FCC works (see last paragraph below) and then post you're own proper Introduction Thread to FCC letting forum members get to know you a little, of course without getting too personal. You can do that by going to the Introduce Yourself section of The Front Office and start your very own introduction thread. Then you'll find that lots of other FCC members will know to chime in to properly welcome you to the forum, and will be more responsive in answering your questions!

If you're a veteran, take a look at our Military Service Thread where you'll find many of us there, too!

In case you weren't aware, you can stay current on pertinent Florida Statutes regarding use of force and firearms law by going right to the source using these links for Chapter 776 - Justifiable Use of Force and Chapter 790 - Weapons and Firearms. I'd also like to suggest you obtain your own copy of FLORIDA FIREARMS Law, Use & Ownership by Jon Gutmacher!

Also, I highly recommend you read this thread to understand how to navigate FCC to get the most out of your experience. One particular item that's caught many veteran FCC members off guard is the "Recommended Reading" at the bottom of each page, which MAY contain quite old threads of inactive conversations lacking up-to-date information or context. So beware of the date of the last post (just to the right of the post number) in any thread you come across so you don't mistakenly think every post is recent and start responding to very old posts/threads that been dormant for quite some time, sometimes for many years.

Again, welcome to FCC and good luck!