Friday, December 22nd 2017, County Clerk Mickey Kearns announced changes to the pistol permit application process. The Erie County Pistol Permit Office is experiencing a higher than average volume of customers, due to the NY SAFE Act’s re-certification deadline. Effective immediately, those wishing to apply for a pistol permit will need to schedule an appointment. One looking to apply for a Pistol Permit will now call the Erie County Clerk’s office at 716-858-8785, provide their name, address and phone number. The applicant will then be mailed an application and followed up with to schedule an appointment to begin the process.

“While the Clerk’s office is not directly responsible for re-certification, this new requirement under the NY SAFE Act is causing high stress on our Pistol Permit office,” said County Clerk Mickey Kearns. “To ease the wait times for both our pistol permit applicants as well as our permit holders using the office for quick transactions and modifications to their permit, we are adjusting our permit application process. The one on one service for our permit applicants will help to ensure any errors in the application are caught early on, expediting individuals getting through the permit process. Making this change will also allow our Pistol Permit Office workers more time to serve our current licensees in a timely manner.”

If someone already has a completed permit application, they must call the Erie County Clerk’s office to schedule an appointment to come in. This new application process will be in effect through the NYS re-certification time period.