Understanding the Limits of Pennsylvania's Open Carry Law
If you’ve been charged with a gun crime in Pennsylvania, the Law Office of David Jay Glassman in Philadelphia can be your best hope for a favorable outcome.
www.myphillycriminalattorney.comAs of the latest available reporting, open carry in Philadelphia appears to be legal in at least some circumstances after a Pennsylvania Superior Court ruling in June 2025 struck down Philadelphia’s unique open-carry ban as unconstitutional in one case. The city’s gun-permit page still shows that Philadelphia issues License to Carry Firearms instructions, so the practical rules may still depend on licensing and how police are enforcing the law right now.[3][10]
What changed
Before that ruling, Philadelphia was treated differently from the rest of Pennsylvania: open carry without a license was generally allowed elsewhere in the state, but not in Philadelphia. The court said that treating Philadelphia residents differently created an unconstitutional burden on the right to bear arms.[3]
What this means now
The most recent reporting suggests the old Philadelphia restriction has been invalidated at least as applied in the case that was decided, but the exact day-to-day enforcement picture can still be complicated. Pennsylvania gun-law sources note that Philadelphia still has permit-related processes and that rules can differ for carrying in a vehicle or in restricted places like schools and government buildings.[2][10]
Practical caution
Even if open carry is now more legally protected, that does not mean it is risk-free to do so in Philadelphia. Enforcement, location-based restrictions, and whether you also have a valid license can still matter a lot.[10][2]