Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Hillsborough County. Tampa sits at the head of Tampa Bay with MacDill Air Force Base on the peninsula and a port and cigar-era neighborhoods along the Hillsborough River. Orders go to licensed dealers across Hillsborough County, from Plant City to Ruskin.
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 Florida law allows.
Florida is stricter than most of the South on the buying side. The buyer must be 21 for any firearm from a dealer, with a narrow exception for law enforcement and military members buying a rifle or shotgun at 18. There is a three-day waiting period, excluding weekends and legal holidays, or until the records check clears, whichever is later, and counties may extend it to five days. Holders of a Florida concealed weapon license are exempt from the wait, as are rifle and shotgun buyers with a hunter safety certificate or a Florida hunting license. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs every dealer check.
Dealers in these communities all work for Tampa-area buyers:
Florida has allowed concealed carry without a license since July 1, 2023 for people who meet the eligibility rules, and you must carry identification and show it on demand. After a First District Court of Appeal decision in September 2025 and guidance from the Attorney General, open carry is also lawful statewide, subject to the prohibited locations list and the rule against threatening exhibition. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issues the optional concealed weapon or firearm license, and following a 2026 appellate ruling it now issues to qualified applicants 18 and older.
Florida runs four deer zones with staggered dates. General gun season is November 7 to January 24 in Zone C, which covers Duval and most of Hillsborough, and November 26 to 29 plus December 12 to February 21 in Zone D in the western Panhandle. Zone B, which takes in eastern Hillsborough, runs December 5 to February 21. Rimfire rifles are not legal for deer, centerfire semi-automatic rifles are limited to five-round magazines, and full metal jacket ammunition is prohibited. Feral hogs may be taken year round on private land with permission.
Most of Hillsborough County is Zone C, unit C1, while the eastern end around Plant City falls in Zone B with much later dates. The FWC public range at Tenoroc near Lakeland is the closest state range.
Green Swamp and the Hillsborough River tracts are the closest public hunting to the city, and the bay flats and Gulf beaches keep boats and coastal gear moving year round.
The public ranges below are run or officially listed by state wildlife agencies, state forests or the national forests in the states we cover. Most ask for a hunting license, a range permit or a small day fee, and hours change with the season, so check the agency page before you drive out.
Source: State wildlife agency and U.S. Forest Service public range lists, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Brandon, Plant City, Riverview, Tampa or anywhere in Hillsborough County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
Generally no. Florida requires buyers to be 21 for any firearm from a dealer, with a narrow exception for law enforcement and military members buying a rifle or shotgun.
Three days, not counting weekends and legal holidays, or until the records check clears, whichever is later. A Florida concealed weapon license exempts you, and counties may extend the wait to five days.
Yes. Following the 2025 appellate decision and the Attorney General's guidance, open carry is lawful statewide, subject to the prohibited locations list and private property rules.
Most city buyers start with a duty-size 9mm pistol because it is easier to store and practice with indoors. A 16-inch carbine with a red dot and a weapon light is the next step for home defense where local range access allows rifle practice.
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 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or a local attorney about your own situation.