Sheriff's Office

Acquiring Firearm Permits and Licenses

The Records Unit is responsible for issuing permits to purchase firearms and the registration of firearms.

NOTE: An application for a license to purchase a firearm cannot be initiated after 4:30pm.

Purchase Permits

If you would like to apply for a permit to purchase a firearm, you will need a valid Michigan Driver's License or a Michigan State I.D. with your current address to apply.

If you have already obtained your purchase permit and purchased your firearm you will need to make sure the registry copy or the licensing authority copy of the three part purchase permit is returned to the Kent County Sheriff's Office within 10 days from the date you purchased your firearm. You are no longer required to bring your firearm into the Sheriff's Office for a safety inspection. The firearm information will be entered into the Michigan State Police system based on the Police Department/Sheriff's Office copy of the purchase permit submitted to the Sheriff's Office. Once we have entered the appropriate information, we will forward the appropriate copy to the Michigan State Police Firearms Unit.

Concealed Pistol License holders are required to use a Firearm Sales Record upon the purchase of their firearm. This form can be obtained from the www.michigan.gov website. (Type in 'firearm sales record' or 'RI-060' in the search bar.) These should be filled on the (3) part form and distributed as follows: Seller Copy, Purchaser Copy, and Police Department/Sheriff's Office Copy. The Police Department/Sheriff's Office copy must be returned to the Kent County Sheriff's Office within 10 days from the date you purchased your firearm. You are no longer required to bring your firearm in to the Sheriff's Office for a safety inspection. The firearm information will be entered into the Michigan State Police System based on the Police Department/Sheriff's Office copy of the Firearm Sales Record submitted to the Sheriff's Office. Once we have entered the appropriate information we will forward the Police Department/Sheriff's Office copy to the Michigan State Police Firearms Unit.

For your convenience, the KCSO has installed drop boxes at the Main Office, North Substation, and South Substation for the return of firearm permits.