Unlawful carrying of weapons.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 38-118
in effectSec. 38-118. - Unlawful carrying of weapons.
(a) Unlawful concealed carry of weapons. Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to wear, carry, or transport any weapon concealed on or about their person.
(b) Unlawful open carry of weapons. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to openly wear, carry, or transport any weapon on or about their person or vehicle.
(c) Exceptions. It shall not be an offense under either subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section if, at the time of carrying, the person is abiding by all other federal, state, and local laws and is:
(1) A law enforcement officer;
(2) An active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces, while engaged in the performance of their duties;
(3) Acting with valid authorization from the city;
(4) In their own dwelling, place of business, or on property owned or under their control; or
(5) Transporting the weapon while travelling within a private automobile or other private means of conveyance for the purposes of hunting or the lawful protection of such person or their property, or another person or that person's property. Except for pistols and revolvers, any firearm being transported must be unloaded during such transport.
(d) Exception for concealed carry permit holders. It shall not be an offense under subsection (a) of this section if at the time of carrying a handgun, the person holds a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun and the person is carrying the handgun in conformance with any applicable federal, state, or local law, including, but not limited to, the valid issuance of a firearms endorsement on a person's security guard license.
(e) Affirmative defenses.
(1) It shall be an affirmative defense to charges brought under subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section if, at the time of the offense:
a. The person is carrying a household knife and there are reasonable grounds for the person having and carrying the knife away from a household; or
b. The person is carrying a firearm in a case designed for a firearm for one of the purposes in subsection (e)(2) below.
(2) It shall be an affirmative defense to charges brought under subsection (b) of this section if, at the time of the offense:
a. The person is a collector or dealer licensed pursuant to state or federal law and the person is handling or transporting the weapon for lawful exhibition or sale. If the weapon is a firearm other than a pistol or revolver, the firearm must be unloaded during such handling or transport;
b. The person is transporting the weapon to or from a place of sale or repair. If the weapon is a firearm other than a pistol or revolver, the firearm must be unloaded during such transport;
c. The person is transporting the weapon while moving personal property from a previous residence to a new residence. If the weapon is a firearm other than a pistol or revolver, the firearm must be unloaded during such transport;
d. The person is carrying the weapon for use in a legitimate sporting activity, including, but not limited to, shooting matches, target shooting, or trap or skeet shooting. If the weapon is a firearm other than a pistol or revolver, the firearm must be unloaded during such transport; or
e. The person is wearing, carrying, or transporting the weapon in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned.
(f) Presumptive evidence of possession of a weapon found in a motor vehicle. The presence of any weapon in a motor vehicle, other than a public bus, is presumptive evidence that the weapon is in the possession of all the occupants of the motor vehicle at the time any weapon is found, except if the weapon is found:
(1) In a taxicab which is being operated for hire by a duly licensed driver, the presumption shall not apply to the driver; or
(2) Upon the person of one (1) of the occupants of the vehicle, the presumption shall not apply to the other persons in the motor vehicle.
(Ord. No. 1493-21, § 4, 1-3-22; Ord. No. 401-22, § 1, 5-16-22)
Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH38OFMIPR_ARTIVOFAGPUORSA_DIV2WEOF_S38-118UNCAWEFetched: 10/27/2026