Firearm Registration

Gun Registration & Purchase Permits

Under PA-377 of 2012 and PA-3 of 2013, if you are purchasing a weapon from a Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer which is a type 01 retail dealer (On Target, D&R, MC Sporting Goods, Gander Mountain, etc.) or a Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer who is a type 02, 07, 08, 09 or 10 dealer, you do not need a License to Purchase from the Sheriff's Office. This does not include type 03-Collector of Curios and Relics, or type 06 - Manufacturer of Ammunition for Firearms, as these licenses do not allow the licensee to sell firearms under 18 USC 923, which is the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check.

Permits

  • Purchase Permit Hours
    • Monday through Friday 9 am to 2 pm
  • Concealed Pistol License:
    • Application Fee (payable to the County Clerk): $120
  • Originals and Renewals are the same cost ($120) and are good for five years

You will be required to provide valid Michigan Identification reflecting your current address where you reside. Notarization of the Pistol Permit is the responsibility of the applicant. Pistol permits are now good for 30 days. The permits are now in triplicates. One is for the seller, one is for the purchaser and one is for the Michigan State Police (MSP).

You have ten days from the purchase of the weapon to return the MSP copy of the permit to the Sheriff's Office. You may either mail it or drop it off in the drop box located in the lobby of the jail. We no longer do pistol inspections, so you do not need to bring your weapon into the Sheriff's Office. You can go directly to the gun store for the License to Purchase and the purchase of the weapon. If you are purchasing from a Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealer doing business as a pawn broker or licensed as a collector of curios and relics you will need to come to the Sheriff's Office for a License to Purchase.

These are the situations in which you will need to come to the Sheriff's Office for a License to Purchase:

Purchasing Guns from a Friend or Relative

The purchaser must come to the Sheriff's Office during above listed hour and apply for a License to Purchase (LTP). The purchaser must have their signature notarized on the back of the LTP before they take it to the seller. The seller will fill in all the information about the weapon and sign all three forms. The seller will keep their copy. The purchaser will keep their copy and return the MSP copy to the issuing agency within 10 days of purchasing the weapon. We no longer do weapon inspections so you do not need to bring the weapon in. You must return the MSP copy by mail, in person to the Lobby Receptionist or place it in the Pistol Permit box in the Lobby of the Sheriff's Office which you have access to 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Under the Age of 21 but over the Age of 18 & Purchasing from a Friend or Relative

The purchaser must buy the weapon from an individual over the age of 21. The purchaser must come to the Sheriff's Office during above listed hour and apply for a License to Purchase (LTP). The purchaser must have their signature notarized on the back of the LTP before they take it to the seller. The seller will fill in all the information about the weapon and sign all three forms. The seller will keep their copy. The purchaser will keep their copy and return the MSP copy to the issuing agency within 10 days of purchasing the weapon. We no longer do weapon inspections so you do not need to bring the weapon in. You must return the MSP copy by mail, in person to the Lobby Receptionist or place it in the Pistol Permit box in the Lobby of the Sheriff's Office which you have access to 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Receiving a Gun from a Deceased Individual

The purchaser must come to the Sheriff's Office during above listed hour and apply for a License to Purchase (LTP). In addition, you will need a death certificate, obituary, memorial card or something showing that the individual is deceased. The purchaser must have their signature notarized on the back of the LTP. The deceased person's name and the word deceased in parenthesis needs to go in the sellers signature box. The purchaser will keep their copy and return the MSP copy to the issuing agency within 10 days of purchasing the weapon. We no longer do weapon inspections so you do not need to bring the weapon in. You must return the MSP copy by mail, in person to the Lobby Receptionist or place it in the Pistol Permit box in the Lobby of the Sheriff's Office which you have access to 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Transferring Weapons Into the State of Michigan from Another State

The individual moving into the State of Michigan must come to the Sheriff's Office during above listed hour and apply for a License to Purchase (LTP). They must have their signature notarized on the back of the LTP. You will need to put the name of the State you are transferring the weapons from and transfer out of state in parenthesis. The purchaser will keep their copy and return the MSP copy to the issuing agency within 10 days of purchasing the weapon. We no longer do weapon inspections so you do not need to bring the weapon in. You must return the MSP copy by mail, in person to the Lobby Receptionist or place it in the Pistol Permit box in the Lobby of the Sheriff's Office which you have access to 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Concealed Permit License

If you are a CPL holder, you may purchase a weapon from a private individual, relative or gun store using a Pistol Sales Record, you do not need a pistol permit. These forms do not have to be notarized. Forms may be found on the Michigan State Police website. You may also come to the Sheriff's Office and pick up blank pistol sales record forms. Once the transaction is complete the MSP copy will need to be returned within ten days of purchase to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office by either mail, in person or placed into the drop box located in the lobby of the Sheriff's Office.

If you are purchasing a weapon from out of State you must go through an FFL Dealer in the State you are purchasing and send the weapon from FFL Dealer to FFL Dealer.

Everyone, regardless of where you purchase your weapon and regardless of possessing a CPL, must return the MSP copy to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office within ten days of purchasing the handgun.

Contact

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office at 269-657-2006.
Van Buren County Sheriff's Office
205 S Kalamazoo Street
Paw Paw, MI 49079