In many cases, the handling of weapons, in particular firearms and equivalent objects, requires an official permit. Although the Weapons Act is a federal law, its implementation is the responsibility of the federal states.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, a jurisdiction ordinance stipulates that in principle, the district police authority in whose area the habitual residence of the gun owner or the applicant is located, is responsible for implementing the weapons law and issuing permits.
General information on firearms law can be found on the central state information page.
The processing of applications under the Weapons Act is subject to a fee.