ATF Form 5300.38: Amended Federal Firearms License Application

ATF Form 5300.38, the Application for an Amended Federal Firearms License, is what you file when your business moves to a new premises or starts operating under a new trade name while the underlying ownership stays the same. There is no filing fee. The form must reach the ATF’s Federal Firearms Licensing Center at least 30 days before a premises move, and you have to include your original license with the application.¹ A completed copy also goes to the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the locality where the new premises will sit.²

When Form 5300.38 Is the Right Form

Use it for two situations: a change of premises address, or a change of trade name at the same location. It only works when ownership stays the same. If your business structure changes — for example, you convert from a sole proprietorship to a corporation, add a partner, or dissolve a partnership — you need a new license on ATF Form 7 instead.² The form itself asks whether any structural changes have occurred and routes you accordingly.

The Two Deadlines Run in Opposite Directions

An address change requires 30 days’ advance notice. File in duplicate at least 30 days before you move, and do not begin operating at the new site until the ATF approves the amended license.¹

A trade-name change works the other way. If you keep the same location but start doing business under a new name, send your license to the Federal Firearms Licensing Center for endorsement within 30 days after you begin using the new name.³ Advance notice for address; after-the-fact reporting for trade name. Mixing them up is a common mistake.

What to Attach

All entries must be typed or written in ball-point pen, and any attached sheets need your license name and license number at the top of each page with a reference to the question being answered.² Gather the following before you begin:

Your current original FFL. The ATF returns an amended version after approval.¹
Your 15-digit FFL number, its expiration date, and your EIN or SSN for Section 1.
A copy of the lease or rental agreement for the new premises, plus the property owner’s name, address, and contact information. If the lease does not spell out start and end dates or terms, add those on a separate sheet.
Copies of any state or local business licenses, occupational tax payments, or firearms-specific permits required at the new location.
A description of any deed restrictions or covenants that could prohibit firearms activity, if you own the new premises.
Written authorization from the Installation Commander if the new premises sits on a military installation.²

Completing the Form

Section 1: Current License Information

Enter your current FFL number, expiration date, and EIN or SSN. The form asks whether the address change is the result of a U.S. Postal Service or 9-1-1 re-addressing, meaning the physical location has not actually moved. If yes, check the box; processing is typically faster because no new premises inspection is needed.

Section 2: Current Business Details

Fill in your FFL name, trade name or names, current premises address, and phone numbers exactly as they appear on the existing license. Inconsistencies with what the ATF has on file can flag the application for manual review.

Section 3: The Changes

Indicate whether you are changing your trade name, your premises address, or both. For an address change, enter the full new address including county and any suite or unit number, the anticipated move date, and new contact numbers. The section also asks about changes in business structure; if your ownership or entity type has changed, the form directs you to Form 7 instead.

Zoning and Compliance

The form asks whether any zoning ordinances prohibit firearms activity at the new premises, and whether you need a state or local license, permit, or occupational tax payment to operate there. Answer accurately. The ATF verifies these answers with local authorities, and a mismatch is one of the fastest ways to lose an application.²

Certification and Signature

An existing responsible person on the license signs the certification, attesting that the business is not prohibited by state or local law at the new premises and that you will comply with applicable state and local requirements within 30 days of approval. The application is executed under penalties of perjury and the penalties in 18 U.S.C. § 924, which makes knowingly providing false information on a firearms license application a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.⁴

Where to Send It

Mail the completed form in duplicate, along with your original license and all supporting documents, to the Federal Firearms Licensing Center, 244 Needy Road, Martinsburg, WV 25405. You can also email the application to fflcfax@atf.gov.²

Send or deliver a completed copy separately to the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the locality where your new premises will be located. This is a distinct requirement under the Gun Control Act, and skipping it can hold up your approval.

After You Submit

The ATF does not publish a specific processing time for Form 5300.38, and notes that individual forms may take longer when additional research is needed or application volumes fluctuate.⁵

Expect the possibility of a premises inspection. An Industry Operations Investigator may visit the new location before or after approval to verify that storage, security, and layout meet federal standards for your license type.⁶ Inspections are more likely when the new site differs meaningfully from the current one, such as a larger retail space, a home-based setup, or a facility with manufacturing capabilities.

Because you sent your original license with the application, you will not have a physical FFL in hand while the amendment is pending. Keep a copy of the submitted application and any confirmation from the Licensing Center as proof that the amendment is in progress. Once approved, the ATF will mail your amended license reflecting the updated address or trade name. Do not begin firearms operations at the new premises until that amended license arrives.

1
eCFR. 27 CFR 478.52 – Change of Address
2
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ATF Form 5300.38 – Application for an Amended Federal Firearms License
3
eCFR. 27 CFR 478.53 – Change in Trade Name
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 924 – Penalties
5
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Current Processing Times
6
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Industry Operation Investigator Informational Packet