Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office Announces Three Changes To Concealed Handgun Permit Process

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office announced three changes to the concealed handgun permit process, according to a news release.

The changes are as follows:

1. Cash payments are no longer accepted for online applications. Applicants can still pay cash by filling out the application at a kiosk in the gun permits lobby.
2. All CHP renewals will require an in-person visit to start the process. Applicants can no longer upload documents or submit renewals by fax, email, etc.
3. MCSO will only send mental health releases to the VA if the applicant indicates military service on the application.

The sheriff’s office said the decision to remove the cash payment option from the application was by their vendor, Permitium.

“Requiring renewals to start the process in person is to ensure customer applications are being processed efficiently,” a spokesperson from the sheriff’s office said. “MCSO staff have found that a large number of individuals were not completing the paperwork properly which caused delays in processing.

“By starting the process in person, we can ensure the documentation is received. The process of sending mental health releases to the VA has been in place for years, even before Sheriff Garry McFadden was elected [in 2018]. To provide the best customer service, MCSO has decided to only send applications to the VA if it is noted that the individual has served in the military.”