Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Washington County. Johnson City, the largest of the Tri-Cities, centers around East Tennessee State University, Quillen medical school, and the Veterans Affairs campus at Mountain Home. Orders ship to FFL dealers in the area, ensuring compliance with all federal and state regulations.
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 Tennessee law allows.
Tennessee requires no purchase permit, registration, or waiting period beyond federal requirements. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducts background checks for dealers, usually completing them in minutes. Federal age rules apply: 21 for handguns, 18 for rifles or shotguns. Orders ship to your chosen Tennessee dealer, who handles ATF Form 4473 and charges a transfer fee.
Dealers in these communities all work for Johnson City-area buyers:
Tennessee has allowed permitless handgun carry since 2021, with the age floor lowered to 18. The Department of Safety and Homeland Security issues enhanced and concealed handgun carry permits, with enhanced permits offering wider reciprocity. Schools, courthouses, posted parks, and private property remain off-limits. Verify current regulations for carrying in vehicles and on state land.
The Wildlife Resources Agency manages Tennessee as a single deer unit with a long gun season, except for west Tennessee counties in the chronic wasting disease area. Archery season opens in late September, muzzleloader in late October, and gun season runs from November to early January. Legal firearms include centerfire rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and archery gear. Check the current TWRA guide for bag limits and CWD rules.
Washington County is in Deer Management Unit 6 and Bear Hunt Zone 1, with early, mid, and late hound seasons in October, November, and December. Public hunting is primarily on Cherokee National Forest land south of town.
The Appalachian Trail crosses the Nolichucky gorge south of Johnson City, and Buffalo Mountain and the Unaka range offer national forest ground within twenty minutes of downtown.
The public ranges on the city pages are run or listed by the state wildlife agency, a state forest or a national forest, chosen by distance from each city. Licenses, passes and hours are set by the agency.
Source: State wildlife agency and public-land range listings, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Jonesborough, Elizabethton, Gray, Johnson City or anywhere in Washington County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
No. Tennessee does not require a purchase permit or waiting period. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation handles the background check for your dealer.
Yes. Permitless carry is valid in Tennessee, but an enhanced permit offers broader reciprocity and access to more locations.
TWRA manages west Tennessee counties separately due to chronic wasting disease, including specific carcass transport limits. Refer to the current TWRA guide for the county list.
.243, 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 in most of the country; .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster where the state requires straight-wall cartridges. The city page names the zone.
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.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our buying guide and check with Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Handgun Carry Permit Office or a local attorney about your own situation.