If you live in Texas and are wondering whether you can openly carry a handgun, the answer is yes. Texas legalized “permitless carry” (also called constitutional carry) in September 2021, and that law remains in place through 2025. That means most adults 21 or older may openly carry a handgun in a holster without needing a state-issued license. However, this doesn’t mean you can carry anywhere or without conditions. There are important location restrictions, firearm-type rules, and eligibility requirements every Texan should know.
How Open Carry Works in Texas (2025)
Texas law allows eligible adults to openly carry a handgun in a holster. The holster can be:
- Belt holster
- Shoulder holster
- Chest holster
- OWB/IWB design (after 2021 law changes)
There is no longer a requirement that the holster be a “belt or shoulder” model only.
You may open carry:
- Without a state-issued permit (LTC)
- In most public places
- If you are legally allowed to possess a firearm under state and federal law
Who Can Open Carry Without a Permit?
In general, you can openly carry a handgun in 2025 if you meet all these criteria:
- Age 21 or older
- No felony conviction
- Not under a protective order that restricts firearm possession
- Not prohibited by federal law (e.g., certain domestic-violence convictions)
- Not intoxicated while carrying
Texas does not require background checks or training for permitless open carry — though training is strongly encouraged.
Where Open Carry Is NOT Allowed
Even under constitutional carry, Texas maintains a long list of “gun-free zones.” You cannot openly carry a handgun in:
- Schools and school grounds
- Polling places during voting
- Courthouses and court offices
- Racetracks
- Secure airport areas
- Bars where alcohol sales are 51% or more of revenue (look for the “51% sign”)
- Sporting events (unless you are a participant with authorization)
- Corrective facilities or civil commitment centers
- Private properties or businesses with posted “30.05,” “30.06,” or “30.07” signs
- Federal buildings and federal property (post offices, military bases without permission)
Texas business owners can completely ban open carry by posting a 30.07 sign.
Do You Still Need a License to Carry (LTC)?
Not to openly carry inside Texas — but the LTC still offers major benefits:
- It allows you to carry in more states (reciprocity).
- It allows permitless carry in some restricted areas where LTC holders are exempt.
- It provides an official background-check/vetting process which may help during encounters with law enforcement.
- It allows for faster gun purchases because you skip certain NICS checks.
Hundreds of thousands of Texans still keep their LTC for these reasons.
Open Carry for Long Guns
Texas has never banned the open carry of rifles or shotguns. You can legally carry a long gun openly in most public places, but:
- It must be done without intent to alarm (disorderly conduct laws apply).
- Some police may question you if the carry appears threatening or reckless.
Even constitutional carry doesn’t override disorderly conduct laws.
What About Carrying in a Vehicle?
You can openly carry a handgun in your vehicle without a permit if:
- You are 21+ and legally allowed to have a firearm
- The gun is not in plain view unless it’s in a holster
- You are not engaged in criminal activity (other than a traffic offense)
Most Texans simply keep their handgun concealed in the car, but open carry in a holster is permitted.
Common Mistakes Texans Make
Even though the law sounds simple, these errors can get people in trouble:
- Carrying while intoxicated
- Carrying into a business with a “51%” sign
- Assuming open carry applies everywhere (it does not)
- Thinking long-gun carry is a free-for-all (reckless display can still be a crime)
- Ignoring posted private-property signs
- Carrying while legally prohibited due to a prior conviction or protective order
A lawful open-carry situation can quickly become illegal if the location or conduct is wrong.
Final Take
In Texas, open carry is legal for most adults aged 21 and older, thanks to the state’s constitutional-carry law. You do not need a license to openly carry a handgun, but you must use a holster and follow strict location restrictions. Certain places remain completely off-limits, and people with specific criminal histories or prohibiting orders cannot carry. As long as you’re eligible and mindful of where you are, Texas continues to be one of the most open-carry-friendly states in the country.
