How to get a license to carry in Berks County

A license to carry firearms in Berks County comes from the Sheriff’s Office, costs $20, and is good for five years. You apply online or by mail, the sheriff runs a background check, and state law gives the office 45 days to approve or deny the application.

In Pennsylvania, this license is what lets you carry a handgun concealed on your body or in a vehicle. Without it, carrying a firearm hidden on you, or loaded in a car, is generally against the law outside your own home or business. The license is issued county by county, and Berks residents apply through the Berks County Sheriff.

Who can get one

Pennsylvania is a “shall issue” state, which means the sheriff must grant the license unless the law disqualifies you. To apply in Berks County you must:

Be 21 years of age or older.
Be a Berks County resident, or, if you live in another state, hold a current license to carry from your home state with no restrictions listed on it.
Not be barred from owning or carrying a firearm.

The sheriff can deny or later revoke a license for misuse, criminal activity, or a record that shows the person is likely to act in a way that is dangerous to public safety. Reasons someone is disqualified under state law include certain criminal convictions, an active protection-from-abuse order, a history of involuntary mental-health commitment, and a record of drug or alcohol dependence. The background check looks for these.

What it costs

The fee is $20 and covers the full five-year license. Pay by check or money order made out to “Sheriff of Berks County.” The county does not set this price; $20 is the total fee fixed by state law for every county in Pennsylvania.

How to apply

There are two ways to file, plus an in-person option once you are approved. Walk-ins are not accepted.

Online is the fastest route. Start the application at the county’s online portal, pay the fee, and you will be prompted to schedule an appointment to finish the process once the background check clears.
By mail, send the completed Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms application with your payment and a photocopy of your ID to: Berks County Sheriff’s Office, 633 Court Street, 3rd Floor, Reading, PA 19601.
In person at the Gun Permit Office in the courthouse, the Reading Regional Airport substation, or a remote site, all by appointment only.

Step by step

Gather what you need before you start: a valid, non-expired driver’s license or state photo ID showing your current Berks County address, and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of two references.
File the application online, or mail it in with your $20 check or money order and a photocopy of your ID.
The Firearm License Unit runs a background investigation.
If you are approved, the office contacts you to set an appointment. If you applied online, you schedule it through the portal.
Come to your appointment to have your photo taken and pick up the license.
The sheriff issues or denies the license within 45 days of the date you filed. If you are denied, the office must tell you why, and you can appeal.

What to bring

A current, non-expired driver’s license or state-issued photo ID with your present physical address. For a mailed application, include a photocopy.
Two references: name, address, and phone number for each.
Your $20 payment, by check or money order to “Sheriff of Berks County.”
Out-of-state applicants: a photocopy of the front and back of your current license to carry, which must show no restrictions.

Renewing your license

A license to carry lasts five years. The Sheriff’s Office mails a renewal reminder to your home address 30 to 60 days before your license expires. The license does not renew on its own, and there is no grace period once it lapses, so file the renewal before the expiration date. Renewal uses the same $20 fee and the same background check as a first-time application.

Where to go

Berks County Sheriff’s Office, Firearm License Unit, County Courthouse, 633 Court Street, 3rd Floor, Reading, PA 19601. Firearm License Unit phone: 610-478-6240, extension 3265. Building hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but all license-to-carry business is by appointment. Sheriff Mandy P. Miller leads the office.

For how the Sheriff’s Office fits alongside the county’s other offices, see how Berks County government works. The same office runs the county’s sheriff sales.

FAQ

How long does it take to get a Berks County license to carry?

State law gives the sheriff up to 45 days from the date you file to approve or deny the application. Applying online and responding quickly when the office contacts you to set an appointment is the fastest path. Many applications are decided well before the 45-day limit.

Do I need a reason to get a license to carry in Pennsylvania?

No. Pennsylvania does not require you to state a reason or show a special need. As long as you meet the age requirement and are not disqualified, the sheriff must issue the license.

Can someone who lives outside Berks County apply here?

Pennsylvania residents apply in the county where they live, so a resident of another Pennsylvania county applies to that county’s sheriff. A resident of another state can apply in Berks County as a non-resident, but only with a current, unrestricted license to carry from their home state.

What can disqualify me?

A license can be denied or revoked for reasons set in state law, including certain criminal convictions, an active protection-from-abuse order, a past involuntary mental-health commitment, a record of drug or alcohol dependence, or conduct showing the person is likely to be dangerous to public safety. The background check the Firearm License Unit runs is designed to find these.

Do I need a license just to keep a gun at home?

No. In Pennsylvania you do not need a license to own a firearm or to keep one in your home or place of business. The license to carry covers carrying a firearm concealed on your person or in a vehicle. Check current state rules for open carry, which has its own separate limits.