Posted on 12/23/20

December 22, 2020 (Minneapolis) - County residents seeking permit to carry firearms permits will now be able to apply online for appointments, and that two additional permitting locations are reopening.

Like all sheriff’s offices in Minnesota, the HCSO is mandated by state law to process applications, conduct background checks and issue permits to carry firearms for applicants who are legally able to carry a gun. Throughout the course of the pandemic, the HCSO has made changes to the permitting process to more safely meet its statutorily mandated duty. Most notably, the HSCO switched to an appointment-only system and consolidated all permit appointments to a single location, room 22 of Minneapolis City Hall, this past summer.

Online appointments

However, due to the ever increasing demand for permits to carry firearms, applicants can now schedule an appointment online by visiting the permit to carry page  on the HCSO website. Permit seekers should bring their completed application, course certificate, application fee (payable by cash or check, or credit card with an additional 2.5% processing fee) and identification to their appointments. We anticipate appointments should last about ten minutes.

Online appointments can be booked for April 1, 2021 and beyond. The option to make an appointment by calling 612-348-8008 is still available.

Permitting Locations Reopen 

Beginning next week, the first of two permitting locations will reopen to process applications. On Monday, December 28th, the HCSO Water Patrol Headquarters will reopen for scheduled permit to carry appointments. No walk-in appointments are available. The HCSO Water Patrol office is located at 4141 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN 55384. The permit desk will be open one day a week from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Mondays only, unless Monday is a holiday. In that case, the gun permit desk will be open on Tuesday.

In addition, the gun permit desk located at the Public Safety Services Division (PSSD) in Brooklyn Park is expected to reopen for permit applications in early January. PSSD is located at 9401 83rd Ave N, Brooklyn Park 55445.

Please keep checking the HCSO website as new appointment times become available. If you already have a scheduled appointment, the opening of these new locations may allow us to get you in sooner. If you have an existing appointment and have scheduled a new appointment online 

Face masks are required for appointments at all locations.