Berkeley Residents Urge Council to Refund Concealed Carry Permit Fees

BERKELEY, NJ — Residents are pushing back on concealed carry permit costs, saying the price has gotten so high it’s starting to price people out.

Even a councilman felt it.

Jim Byrnes said when he went through the process himself, the total caught him off guard.

“You’ve got about $50 upfront, then another $150,” he said. “At some point, that stops being administrative and starts feeling like a tax.”

Here’s the breakdown:

• $25 per permit
• $50 for a firearm ID card
• $150 for a carry permit

Officials say those fees are set by the state — not the township.

Residents aren’t buying that as an excuse.

One speaker said costs have jumped nearly 400%.

Another, a 70-year-old resident, said he waited his whole life to legally carry — and now might not be able to afford to renew.

“I’m probably going to get priced out,” he said.

Others pointed to everything stacked on top of the permit itself — required classes, training, and additional requirements that didn’t exist years ago.

Residents are now asking for refunds and pushing towns to bring local costs down to under $50.

Some claim nearby towns have already started doing it.

No changes yet in Berkeley — but this isn’t going away anytime soon.