Florida generally allows a person 18 years of age or older to possess a concealed firearm within the interior of a private vehicle, without a license, if the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use.¹ Lawful firearm owners may lawfully carry a long gun anywhere in a private vehicle.²

School districts may adopt written and published policies that prohibit the possession of concealed firearms within the interior of a private vehicle for the purposes of student and campus parking privileges.³

In Florida, no public or private employer may prohibit a customer, employee, or invitee from possessing a legally owned firearm or ammunition locked inside or locked to a private motor vehicle in a parking lot.⁴ In addition, no employer may inquire regarding the presence of a firearm or ammunition inside or locked to a private motor vehicle in a parking lot or search a private motor vehicle in a parking lot to ascertain the presence of a firearm within the vehicle.⁵ Further, no employer may take any action against a customer, employee, or invitee based upon verbal or written statements of any party concerning possession of a firearm or ammunition stored inside a private motor vehicle in a parking lot for lawful purposes.⁶

Employers may not condition employment on whether the applicant possesses a license to carry a concealed firearm or on the existence of an agreement by the applicant not to possess a firearm or ammunition in a locked vehicle in a parking lot.⁷

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1. Fla. Stat. § 790.25(4)(a).[↩]
2. Id. at (b)(1).[↩]
3. Fla. Stat. § 790.115(2)(a)(3). “School” means any preschool, elementary school, middle school, junior high school, secondary school, career center, or post-secondary school, whether public or private. Id.[↩]
4. Fla. Stat. § 790.251(4)(a). For exceptions, see Fla. Stat. § 790.251(7).[↩]
5. Fla. Stat. § 790.251(4)(b). Such a search may only be conducted by on-duty law enforcement personnel, based upon due process, and “must comply with constitutional protections.” Id.[↩]
6. Id.[↩]
7. Fla. Stat. § 790.251(4)(c). Employers may not terminate the employment of or otherwise discriminate against an employee, or expel a customer or invitee for “exercising his or her constitutional right to keep and bear arms or for exercising the right of self-defense as long as a firearm is never exhibited on company property for any reason other than lawful defensive purposes.” Fla. Stat. § 790.251(4)(e).[↩]