Application fo Explosives License or Permit

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OMB No. 1140-0070

U.S. Department of Justice

Application for Explosives License or Permit

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

All responsible persons must complete a Responsible Person Questionnaire, ATF Form— 5400.13A/5400.16 Part B.
Issuance of your federal explosives license or permit (FEL/P) will be delayed or denied if Part B is incomplete or missing.

For ATF use only

Please print or type all information.
1. Name of applicant (list individual, corporation, LLC, or name of each partner)

3. Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number
(SSN)(voluntary)(see Privacy Act information)

2. Trade name or business name (if any)

4. Name of county in which
business is located

5. Premises address (number, street, city, state, ZIP code)

6. Mailing address (if different from premises address)

7. Contact information (10-digit phone number)(please use check box to indicate your 24-hour contact number)
Business

Mobile

Fax

Other

8. E-mail address
9. Are you presently engaged in a business and/or operations for which a FEL/P is required under 18 U.S.C., chapter 40, Explosives?
(if yes, provide date business began)
Yes/date:
No
10. Is or will your business and/or operations be: (check appropriate box)
Sole Proprietor

Partnership

Corporation

Limited Liability Company

Other (specify)

11. Payment
You may only submit payment via www.pay.gov. (For information on pay.gov submission, see instruction #3)
Important: After completing payment process through pay.gov, record information from pay.gov transaction below and print payment confirmation
page. You must include a copy of your pay.gov payment confirmation with your application. Your pay.gov transaction is only the payment part of the
process. You must still complete the remainder of the application and submit it. Include copy of pay.gov payment confirmation with application.
Note: Payments received by mail will be returned and the application will not be processed.
Pay.gov transaction ID number:

Amount paid:

Pay.gov date of payment: __________________________________
Complete the remainder of the form and submit to ATF-FELC, 244 Needy Rd, Martinsburg, WV 25405.

ATF Form 5400.13/5400.16
Revised September 2025

12. This application is made for an FEL/P under 18 U.S.C., Chapter 40, as an: (see definitions 4–8)
Fee Renewal
fee

Explosives license
Manufacturer: (check the types of explosives you plan to
manufacture)
High explosives

Low explosives

Theatrical flash powder

Fireworks

Blasting agents

Other (specify)

User of explosives: (check the types of explosives you plan
to use)
$200

$100

Fireworks

Blasting agents

Other (specify)

High explosives

Fireworks

Blasting agents

Other (specify)

$100

$50

$12

Low explosives

Importer: (check the types of explosives you plan to import)
High explosives

Fee Renewal
fee

Explosives permit

Limited permit: (intrastate only) (check the types of
explosives you plan to use)
$200

$100

High explosives

Fireworks

Blasting agents

Other (specify)

$25

12a. Total fees

$

Low explosives

Low explosives
Dealer: (check the types of explosives you plan to deal in)
High explosives

Low explosives

Blasting agents

Fireworks

Black powder

Other (specify)

$200

$100

Is a State or local license or permit required for explosive business and/or operations? (if yes, provide license/permit numbers; if applied for
13. license/permit but not yet obtained, provide date of application)
Yes/numbers or date
No
14. The applicant’s business and/or operations premises are:
Owned

Leased/rented

Other (specify)

A residence

Other (specify)

15. The applicant’s business and/or operation is located in:
A commercial building

16. Hours of operation and/or availability of business activity (please provide at least one hour in which you may be contacted by ATF personnel)
Time

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Open
Closed
Storage facility/magazine: 18 U.S.C. § 842(j) provides: “It shall be unlawful for any person to store any explosive material in a manner not in
conformity with regulations promulgated by the Attorney General.” An application for a license/permit can be denied if upon investigation it is found
that any storage facilities/magazines do not comply with federal regulations.
17. Please indicate the total number and type of explosives storage magazine(s) you have and the address(es) where they are located: (attach additional sheets if necessary)
Address, including county, state, and zip code

Type 1
permanent

Type 2
Type 3 Type 4
mobile/ portable
low
portable temporary explosives

Type 5
blasting
agents

ATF Form 5400.13/5400.16
Revised September 2025

18. If the applicant has no storage facilities, list the name and license/permit number of the entity providing contingency storage location in space below
and attach contingency storage agreement letter. (see instruction 11)
19. Does user permit applicant intend to transport explosive materials in interstate or foreign commerce? (if yes, state where)
N/A

No

Yes

20. Does user permit applicant intend to purchase explosive materials in interstate or foreign commerce? (if yes, state where)
N/A

No

Yes

21. Do you intend to deal in black powder? Do you have a federal firearms license? ( if yes, provide the federal firearms license number)
No

Yes-federal firearms license #

Certification
22. Under the penalties imposed by 18 U.S.C. § 844, I certify that the answers are true, correct, and complete. I also certify that I am familiar with all
published state laws and local ordinances relating to explosive materials for the location in which I intend to do business. In addition, if the
application is for a limited permit, I certify that I will not receive explosives materials on more than six separate occasions during the 12-month
period for which my limited permit is valid.
Signature

Title

Date

For Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives use only
23. Application is
Approved
Disapproved*

Reason for disapproval/termination
Withdrawn*
*(fee will be refunded)

Signature of licensing official

Date

ATF Form 5400.13/5400.16
Revised September 2025

All applications are to be submitted to:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
National Services Center
Federal Explosives Licensing Center
244 Needy Road
Martinsburg, WV 25405
Instructions
1. Issuance of your FEL/P under 18 U.S.C., Chapter 40, will be delayed if
the fee is omitted or incorrect, or if the application is incomplete or
otherwise improperly prepared. You should submit this application at
least 90 days prior to the time the license or permit is required.
2. Submit the original of this form either typewritten or printed legibly
(blue or black ink) and a copy of the receipt from pay.gov to the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to the
address listed above.
Caution: Submitting this application does not authorize
you to engage in any of the activities covered by the requested license
or permit. The license or permit must be received before operations
commence.
3.

Total application fees must be made via www.pay.gov. You must
record the pay.gov payment transaction number in item 11 on the front
of this application and include a copy of the receipt from pay.gov with
your application. Please keep a copy of the pay.gov payment
confirmation that you receive from pay.gov for your records.
Applications mailed with other forms of payment will be returned
without processing. License and permits are issued for a period of three
years, no refund of any part of a license or permit fee will be made
where the operations of the license or permit are, for any reason,
discontinued for that period.

4. If separate sheets are needed to respond to the questions, they must be
identified with your name and address at the top of the page and
reference the question number being explained.
5. A separate or additional license is not required for storage facilities
operated by the applicant as an integral part of one’s business
premises, or to cover a location used by the applicant solely for
maintaining required records.
6. Only one user permit per person is required under this part, irrespective
of the number of locations relating to explosive materials operated by
the holder of the user permit.
7. A separate application and license fee are required for each premises at
which a person engages in the business of manufacturing, importing, or
dealing in explosives materials.
8. It is not necessary for a licensed manufacturer or importer
to also obtain a dealer’s license to engage in business as an explosives
material dealer, on their licensed premises. In the case of a licensed
manufacturer, a separate license is not required with respect to onsite
manufacturing.
9. All responsible persons must complete a Responsible Person
Questionnaire– ATF Form 5400.13A/5400.16 Part B, which is to
accompany this application. Issuance of your license or permit
will be delayed or denied if Part B is incomplete or missing.
10. All employee possessors must complete an Employee
Possessor Questionnaire, ATF Form 5400.28 which must
accompany this application.

11. For item 18, a “contingency storage agreement” is required
for explosive materials that cannot be used within the same day
of receipt. For example, a sufficient “contingency storage agreement”
would include a letter from an explosives licensee or permittee
having approved storage facilities available for use by the applicant
as needed.
12. The certification in item 22 must be signed by someone who will be a
Responsible Person of the business, such as the owner, a partner,
or in the case of a corporation, association, etc., by an officer duly
authorized to sign for the applicant.
13. If you have any questions relating to this application, please
contact the ATF National Services Center, Federal Explosives
Licensing Center, 244 Needy Road, Martinsburg, WV 25405,
(877) 283-3352, or review information online at www.atf.gov.
14. If the application is approved, you will receive an FEL/P issued by
the Federal Explosives Licensing Center. If the application is denied,
you will be advised in writing of the reason(s) for the denial. If
the application is abandoned, denied, or withdrawn, your application
fee will be refunded. However, a social security number or employer
identification number is required to process a refund request.
Definitions
(for additional definitions, please see 27 C.F.R. § 555.11)
1. Alien. An alien means any person who is not a citizen or national of
the United States.
2. Responsible person. An individual who has the power to direct the
management and policies of the applicant pertinent to explosive
materials. For example, responsible persons generally include sole
proprietors and explosives facility site managers. In the case of a
corporation, association, or similar organization, responsible persons
generally include corporate directors and officers, as well as
stockholders who have managerial powers and enforce policies.
3. Employee possessor. An employee possessor is an individual who has
actual or constructive possession of explosive materials during the
course of their employment.
Actual possession exists when a person is in immediate possession or
control of explosive materials (e.g., an employee who physically
handles explosive materials as part of the production process; an
employee who handles explosive materials in order to ship, transport,
or sell them; or an employee, such as a blaster, who actually uses
explosive materials).
Constructive possession exists when an employee lacks direct
physical control over explosive materials, but knowingly has the
power and intention to exercise dominion and control over the
explosive materials, either directly or indirectly through others (e.g.,
an employee at construction site who keeps keys for magazines in
which explosive materials are stored or who directs the use of
explosive materials by other employees).

You must immediately contact ATF to report lost or stolen explosives
Call toll free: 1-888-ATF-BOMB
ATF Form 5400.13/5400.16
Revised September 2025

Privacy Act Information
4. User permit. A user permit authorizes the holder, on a continuing
basis, to acquire for his own use and not for resale, explosive
materials from an explosives licensee in interstate or foreign
commerce, and to transport explosive materials so acquired in
interstate or foreign commerce. A user permit is issued for three years
and is renewable.
5. Limited permit. A limited permit authorizes the holder to receive for
his use explosive materials from a licensee or permittee in his State of
residence on no more than six occasions during the 12-month period
in which the permit is valid. A limited permit does not authorize the
receipt or transportation of explosive materials in interstate or foreign
commerce.
6. Manufacturer. Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing
explosive materials for purposes of sale or distribution or for his own
use.
7. Importer. Any person engaged in the business of importing or
bringing explosive materials into the United States for purposes of
sale or distribution.
8. Dealer. Any person engaged in the business of distributing explosive
materials at wholesale or retail.
9. High explosives. Explosive materials which can be caused to
detonate by means of a blasting cap when unconfined (for example,
dynamite).
10. Low explosives. Explosive materials that can be caused to
deflagrate when confined (for example, black powder).
11. Blasting agents. Any material or mixture, consisting of fuel and
oxidizer, intended for blasting, not otherwise defined as an explosive;
if the finished product, as mixed for use or shipment, cannot be
detonated by means of a number 8 test blasting cap when unconfined
(for example, ammonium nitrate fuel oil).

Note: There are five broad categories of explosives licenses and
permits that will determine the type of business each licensee or
permittee is engaged in: manufacturer of explosives, dealer of
explosives, importer of explosives, user of explosives, and limited
permit (intrastate only).
Exceptions
1. A person who has been convicted of a felony, or any other crime, for
which the judge could have imprisoned the person for more than one
year, is not prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing, or
receiving explosives if: (1) the conviction was properly invalidated by
a court on the basis that the conviction was unconstitutional; (2) in the
case of a Federal conviction, the person received a Presidential
pardon; or (3) ATF granted relief from federal explosives disabilities
under 18 U.S.C. § 845(b).
2. For purposes of this form, aliens can be responsible persons if they are
lawful permanent residents, lawful non-immigrants, or refugees/asylees.
18 U.S.C. §§ 842(d)(7) and 842(i)(5).

The following information is provided pursuant to Sections 3 and 7(b) of the
Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a(e)(3));
1. Authority. Solicitation of this information is made pursuant to
18 U.S.C. §§ 842 and 843, and implemented through Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations at 27
CFR part 555. Disclosure of this information by the applicant is
mandatory if the applicant wishes to obtain a federal explosives
license or permit.
2. Purpose. The information collected on ATF Form
5400.13/5400.16 is used to identify the applicant; to identify the
location of the premises; to determine the eligibility of the
applicant to obtain such license or permit; to determine the
ownership of the business or operations; and to identify responsible
persons in the business or operations.
3. Routine uses. The information collected may be disclosed as
permitted by the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a) and in
accordance with System of Records Notice (SORN)
JUSTICA/ATF-008, Regulatory Enforcement Record System. It
may be shared with federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law
enforcement and regulatory agencies for purposes including
criminal investigations, inspections, compliance monitoring, and
national security, to the extent such disclosure is authorized by law.
Finally, the information may be disclosed to members of the public
in order to verify the information on the application where such
disclosure is not prohibited by law.
4. Effects not supplying the requested information. Failure to supply
complete information will delay processing and may cause denial of
the application.
5. Disclosure of Social Security Number (SSN). Disclosure of the
individual’s SSN is voluntary. Under 18 U.S.C. §§ 842(f) and 843;
and Executive Order 9397, November 22, 1943, ATF has the authority
to solicit an individual’s SSN. The number may be used to verify the
individual’s identity.
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice
This request is in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
The information collection is used to determine the eligibility of the
applicant to engage in certain operations, to determine the location and
extent of operations, and to determine whether the operations will be in
conformity with Federal laws and regulations. The information requested
is required to obtain or retain a benefit and is mandatory by statute
(18 U.S.C. § 843).
The estimated average burden associated with this collection is 1 hour
and 30 minutes per respondent or recordkeeper, depending on individual
circumstances. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden
estimate and suggestions for reducing this burden should be directed to
Reports Management Officer, Resource Management Staff, Contract and
Forms Section, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 99
New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20226.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
Office of Management Budget control number.

ATF Form 5400.13/5400.16
Revised September 2025