Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

News & Analysis Policies & Forms Your Library Attorney Network
News & Analysis Policies & Forms Your Library Attorney Network

User account menu

Sign in Get Started
x

You're signed out

Sign in to access subscriber actions.

Armed with the facts: What to know about ‘parking lot laws’

June 2025 employment law letter
Authors: 

Chase Riggs, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

Q           In instances of reasonable suspicion or when it relates to the company’s workplace violence policy prohibiting the possession of weapons, are we allowed to search an employee’s vehicle on company property, and can we add this to our employment policy?

Like most legal answers, it depends. In recent years, many states have passed what are known as “parking lot laws.” These types of statutes prohibit employers from banning firearms in their parking lots and, in some cases, prohibit employers from searching an employee’s vehicle for the presence of firearms. Therefore, before updating any policies, or even searching employees’ vehicles, you should look into your state’s governing law to ensure compliance.

Over 20 states have now passed some form of parking lot law, including Tennessee, West Virginia, and Kentucky. For example, under Tennessee law, employees lawfully carrying handguns may store the weapon in their vehicle at work if (1) the vehicle is parked in a location where it is permitted to be and (2) the firearm is kept from ordinary observation or—if the person isn’t in the vehicle—is kept from ordinary observation and locked away/securely affixed to the vehicle.

Continue reading your article with a HRLaws membership
  • Sign in
  • Sign up
Upgrade to a subscription now
to get unlimited access to everything on HR Laws.
Start subscription
Any time

Publications

  • Employment Law Letter
  • Employers State Law Alert
  • Federal Employment Law Insider

Your Library Reading List

Reading list 6
Creating List 7
Testing

Let's manage your states

We'll keep you updated on state changes

Manage States
© 2025
BLR®, A DIVISION OF SIMPLIFY COMPLIANCE LLC | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Footer - Copyright

  • terms
  • legal
  • privacy