This guide provides information on Texas and federal gun laws including: background checks, open carry, concealed carry, handgun licenses, restrictions for felons, and local regulation of firearms and shooting ranges.
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In 2021, changes in the law removed the requirement to have a license to carry (LTC) in order to carry a handgun in Texas. However, private properties like businesses can still prohibit firearms on their property.
If property owners want to ban guns, they generally must give proper "notice" to people at the property. This notice can be given verbally or through written communication. There are specific requirements in Texas law for giving written notice.
Some types of private property are always considered "prohibited places" where firearms are not allowed. These are listed in Section 46.03 of the Texas Penal Code.
Sections 30.05 through 30.07 of the Texas Penal Code explain the requirements for giving "notice" that firearms are not allowed.
This section, "Places Weapons Prohibited," provides a list of places where the carry of firearms may not be allowed.
The library cannot determine which signs are appropriate for your property. If you have questions about what sign is best for your business, please ask an attorney.
Businesses and other private property owners can ban guns on their property using several types of signs.
Certain businesses and other places that are considered "prohibited places" for firearms under Penal Code Sec. 46.03 have different rules for signage than what is listed below (for example, hospitals, racetracks, and amusement parks).
Section 30.05 of the Texas Penal Code has an option for private property owners to post a sign that prohibits the carry of firearms (handguns and long guns) on the property.
(c) A person may provide notice that firearms are prohibited on the property by posting a sign at each entrance to the property that:
(1) includes language that is identical to or substantially similar to the following:
'Pursuant to Section 30.05, Penal Code (criminal trespass), a person may not enter this property with a firearm';
(2) includes the language described by Subdivision (1) in both English and Spanish;
(3) appears in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height; and
(4) is displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public.
Note Because of the way the law is written, it is a "defense to prosecution" under Section 30.05 if the person who is charged with a crime was carrying a handgun with a license to carry and certain other criteria were met. It's possible that a private property owner would need to post multiple signs in order to ban both unlicensed carry and licensed carry.
Sections 30.06 and 30.07 of the Texas Penal Code allow property owners to use signs to prohibit people with a license to carry from carrying a handgun on the property.
Property owners should consult an attorney for advice on the proper signage for their situation.
These statutes set out the offense of trespassing with an openly carried or concealed handgun for those who have "received notice" that handguns are prohibited on the property. These statutes also set out signage requirements for property owners who wish to restrict the carry of handguns on their property.
Texas law restricts the carry of firearms at places that sell alcohol.
Bars that make more than half of their sales from alcohol have different rules than other places that sell alcohol. According to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC):
Alcoholic beverage retailers that derive 51% or more of its income from the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption must post the red sign. The red sign has 51% in large red letters superimposed over a warning that says possession of a handgun on the premises is unlawful.
You can see a sample red sign on the TABC's website.
This page from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) describes what signs are required in places where alcohol is sold.
In 2019, HB302 passed, restricting the ability of landlords to ban guns on residential property. It made changes to various statutes, including the Penal Code and the Property Code
HB 302 added provisions to the trespassing statutes adding defenses to prosecution for several groups of people. These groups include tenants and their guests of condos, "leased premises," or manufactured homes. Please read the statutes for details.
tenants of a residential unit (apartment, condominium, and manufactured housing) have the right to lawfully possess firearms and ammunition in those locations, and to transport them directly en route between their residential units and their vehicles.
This page describes a 2019 law having to do with residential tenants' ability to possess firearms where they live.
Although a new law in 2021 removed the requirement to have a license to carry a handgun, employers may still be able to restrict the carry of handguns by their employees at work.
This law discusses an employer's ability to restrict the carry of firearms by their employees on premises.
On the employment front, [HB 1927 from 2021] does not substantively amend Section 52.062(b) of the Texas Labor Code, which allows employers to prohibit an employee from possessing a firearm on their "premises."
