Qualifications | Purchase Permits
Safety Inspections & Registration | Concealed Pistol License (CPL) 
 CPL New Applicants | CPL Renewal Applicants
 

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 midnight

The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office issues over 1,300 handgun permits and  over 400 Concealed Pistol Licenses each year. Owning a firearm comes with great responsibility on your part to safeguard your welfare as well as the welfare of others when operating a firearm. There is no cost to obtain a Purchase Permit/Registration.

• Qualifications - To legally own and use a firearm, you must meet the following criteria:
    
  1. You must be at least 21 years of age, or you must be at least 18 years of age if you are purchasing the firearm from a relative.
      
  2. If you have ever been convicted of a felony, you will not be eligible.
      
  3. If you have any criminal cases pending against you or old cases without a court disposition, you will not be eligible.
      
  4. If you have any court orders that state you may not purchase or own a firearm, you will not be eligible.
      
  5. You must obtain a Purchase Permit in the County where you reside.
      
  6. You must present valid picture identification showing your current address. We will not accept expired identifications.
      
  7. You must be a Michigan resident for at least 90 days before you apply.
     
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• Purchase Permits
   
  1. To purchase a pistol, you must first come into the Sheriff's Office to obtain a Purchase Permit.
       
  2. You will need to show a valid picture I.D.
       
  3. You will be asked to fill out a general questionnaire and also be required to take a short quiz regarding handgun rules and safety.
      
  4. We will do a background check to verify that you meet all the qualifications.
      
  5. Once you have been approved, you will be issued a Purchase Permit. This is a four (4) part form. Section 1 is for your records. Section 2 is for the Seller's records. Section 3 is for the Sheriff's Office. Section 4 is for the State of Michigan. You will have ten (10) days from the date you are issued your permit to obtain your handgun.
      
  6. Once you have obtained your gun, you have an additional ten (10) days to send in or drop off the two sections of your Purchase Permit that are labeled Agency Copy and MSP Copy. If you do not return these forms to our office within ten (10) days of purchasing your firearm, you will need to re-apply for a Purchas Permit.
     
     

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• Safety Inspections/Registration
   
  • As of January 7, 2009, the State of Michigan no longer requires gun owners to have their firearms Safety Inspected. As referred to in the paragraph above, once you return the Agency Copy and MSP Copy of our Purchase Permit to the Sheriff's Office, we will record your information and automatically register your firearm with the State of Michigan.
     
  • FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW FIREARMS REGISTRATION LAWS, PLEASE CONTACT THE STATE OF MICHIGAN FIREARMS UNIT.
    
    

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• Concealed Pistol License (CPL)- You can obtain a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) Application Packet from the Sheriff's Office or online on the Michigan State Police web site.
   
  • CPL New Applicants
     
    1. Complete the required 8 hour training course.
        
    2. Submit your completed UNSIGNED application with the following items to the Hillsdale County Clerk's Office:
        
       1. Training Certificate
       2. Two (2) passport quality photographs (Can be obtained from Wal-Mart, Meijer, CVS Pharmacy, Nash Drugs or Walgreens)
       3. Valid picture I.D. with current address.
       4. $105.00 fee payable by cash or check (Check payable to: Hillsdale County Clerk)
           
    3. Complete and sign the Mental Health Form.
         
    4. Once you have completed the above steps, you will need to take your paid receipt to the Hillsdale County Jail to have your fingerprints taken (Fingerprinting hours of operation). Allow 2-4 months before the next step.
        
    5. You will receive a letter, in the mail, telling you what day and time to appear before the Gun Board.
       
       

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  • CPL Renewal Applicants
     
    1. Complete 3 hours of review of the required training and have at least 1 hour of firing range time in the last 6 months. The Hillsdale County Concealed Pistol Licensing Board recommends that you contact your previous instructor, or any firearms instructor, for more detailed information.
        
    2. Submit your completed UNSIGNED application with the following items to the Hillsdale County Clerk's Office:
       1. Two (2) NEW passport quality photographs (Can be obtained from Wal-Mart, Meijer, CVS Pharmacy, Nash Drugs or Walgreens)
          NOTE: Photographs from the previous application process will not be accepted.
       2. Valid picture I.D. with current address.
       3. Previous license.
       4. $105.00 fee payable by cash or check (Check payable to: Hillsdale County Clerk).
           
    3. Complete and sign the Mental Health Form.
        
    4. Once you have completed the above steps, you will need to take your paid receipt to the Hillsdale County Jail to have your fingerprints taken (Fingerprinting hours of operation).
       Note: If you were previously fingerprinted after the date of January 1, 2006, you will not need to be reprinted. The State of Michigan will review your existing fingerprints that they have on file.
       Allow 2-4 months before the next step.
         
    5. The Hillsdale County Concealed Pistol Licensing Board will review renewal applications to select which applicants will need to be seen again. If you are not selected, you will received a letter in the mail stating that your application has been approved. You will then be required to return to the Hillsdale County Clerk's Office to pick up your new license.
        
  • Please refer to your Concealed Pistol License Application Packet or the Michigan State Police web site for further information.
    
    

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