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Gun shop Houston, Texas

Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Harris County. Houston is the largest city in Texas, built on the bayous near Galveston Bay, with the energy industry, the Port of Houston and the Texas Medical Center at the heart of its economy. NASA's Johnson Space Center is southeast of downtown near Clear Lake.

Houston, Harris County
CountyHarris
LicensesTexas Department of Public Safety, Handgun Licensing
Hunting zoneNorth Zone
Public range

How buying a gun in Houston works

Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where Texas law allows.

Texas has no permit to purchase, no gun registration and no state waiting period. When you buy from a licensed dealer you show photo ID, complete ATF Form 4473 and the dealer runs a federal NICS background check; a valid Texas License to Carry can stand in for the NICS check at many dealers. Federal law sets the dealer minimum at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns. Private sales between Texas residents need no state background check, but it is a crime to sell to someone you know cannot legally have a gun.

Dealers in these communities all work for Houston-area buyers:

  • Pasadena
  • Katy
  • Sugar Land
  • Pearland
  • Humble
  • Spring
  • Baytown
  • Cypress
  • Bellaire

Carrying a gun in Harris County

Since September 1, 2021, adults 21 and older who may legally have a firearm can carry a handgun in Texas without a license, concealed or openly in a holster, unless a recent conviction for certain assault, deadly conduct, threat or firearm disorderly conduct offenses bars them. The License to Carry is still issued, statewide, by the Texas Department of Public Safety, not the county. It costs $40, needs four to six hours of classroom training plus a shooting test, and runs four years at first and five on renewal. Schools, courts, polling places, 51 percent bars and posted businesses stay off-limits.

Hunting near Houston

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sets deer seasons county by county. For 2026-27, white-tailed deer archery season runs October 3 to November 6, 2026, and the general season runs November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027 in the North Zone, which takes in all of Central Texas, and to January 17, 2027 in the South Zone. Many counties add a special late or muzzleloader season from January 4 to 17, 2027. Any legal firearm may be used except rimfire ammunition, which is banned for deer. Check the Harris County page in the Outdoor Annual for bag limits and antler rules.

Harris County is in the North Zone for deer, with a four-deer bag, antler restrictions and a muzzleloader season in January. The Sam Houston National Forest Wildlife Management Area, about an hour north, is open to public hunting with the right permits.

Duck and goose hunters head from Houston to the coastal prairies and marshes around Galveston Bay each winter.

Concealed carry pistols for Houston

Carry guide →

Home defense for Houston

Home defense guide →

Buying a gun in Houston: common questions

Can I buy a gun online and pick it up in Houston?

Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Pasadena, Katy, Sugar Land, Houston or anywhere in Harris County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.

Do I need a permit to buy a gun in Houston?

No. Texas has no permit to purchase and no registration. You pass a NICS background check and complete Form 4473 at the licensed dealer near Houston who receives your order.

Is there a waiting period in Texas?

No. Texas has no state waiting period, so once the dealer's NICS check comes back as proceed you can take the firearm home the same day.

Who issues License to Carry permits in Harris County?

The Texas Department of Public Safety issues every License to Carry in the state; the Harris County sheriff does not. You apply online, get fingerprinted and finish four to six hours of classroom training plus a shooting test with a certified instructor.

How does a gun I order get to Houston?

We ship every firearm to a licensed dealer near Houston that you choose at checkout. The dealer runs the background check and hands the gun over; ammunition, optics and most parts ship to your door.

Can I carry without a license around Houston?

Yes, if you are 21 or older and not barred from having a firearm. Carry concealed or openly in a holster, and stay out of places state law or a posted sign puts off-limits.

Where can I shoot near Houston?

Texas Parks and Wildlife does not run public ranges, so shooters around Houston use municipal, club and commercial ranges. Target practice is not allowed on state public hunting lands, so check a range's hours and rules before you drive.

What does an FFL transfer cost in Houston?

Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.

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More Texas guides

General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our Texas gun law overview and check with Texas Department of Public Safety, Handgun Licensing or a local attorney about your own situation.