Permits & Inspections

Gun Permits

Effective July 1, 2022, Indiana will have a permitless carry option, provided you meet the criteria for a proper person under Indiana law. If you choose to carry under the permit-less option, it is recommended that you speak to an attorney to determine your personal compliance with IC 35- 47-2-1.5 before carrying a handgun under this new law. However, you may still apply for a lifetime permit or a 5-year firearms permit. The State of Indiana requires residents seeking a handgun permit to complete the process through the police department with primary jurisdiction. All applications must be completed online through the Indiana State Police Firearms License Application Process.

1. Go online to the Indiana State Police Firearms License Application Process to fill out the gun permit application. (Most libraries provide Internet access, subject to terms of service.)

2. Schedule an appointment with L1 / MorphoTrust USA to have fingerprints taken.  (The records department does not handle fingerprinting for gun permits.)

3. Call the Elkhart Police Department Records Division at (574) 295-7070 and inform staff of your submission of an application with fingerprints. NO VISIT TO THE POLICE STATION IS NECESSARY AT THIS TIME.

4. After the initial review, you will receive a telephone call from the Elkhart Police Department Records Division to come to the station to continue the process. You will be asked to complete and sign a background check waiver at this time. 

The records division is located at 175 Waterfall Drive, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Please bring the following:
– Driver’s license with current address, Social Security card, L1 / Morpho Trust fingerprint receipt, and (if applicable) previous handgun permit. Records will make copies of these items for the background check.

The State of Indiana will email the applicant confirmation that their application has been transferred to the State of Indiana after the application is approved locally.

The Indiana State Police makes all final determinations, generally within 12 weeks, and issues permits. Please contact the Indiana State Police with any questions regarding denials or to obtain a replacement permit if your permit is lost.

If your home address has a five-digit street number, you are a county resident, and you must complete the process through the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, (574) 891-2300.

Salvage Vehicle Inspection

To request an Elkhart Police Department officer for a salvage vehicle inspection, please contact us at 574-389-4746 or email contact@elkhartpolice.org and include your name and phone number.

The requesting individual will be contacted with additional information, including a time window for the inspection.

Additionally, the requesting individual must complete the owner and vehicle sections of the salvage motor vehicle restoration paperwork before meeting with an EPD officer. Paperwork can be found at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles and in the Indiana Salvage Motor Vehicle Restoration Title Application Checklist