Is an Alabama Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Dakota?

Why

• Alabama does not issue carry permits to non-residents (alea: alabama issues concealed carry permits only to alabama residents, via the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence).

Official Firearm Handbook: 'The state of South Dakota recognizes any valid concealed pistol permit issued to a nonresident of South Dakota, according to the terms of its issuance in the state of its issue' — any state's permit qualifies as long as the holder is not a South Dakota resident (SD residents simply carry permitless).

Carry rules in South Dakota

South Dakota's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.

• No duty-to-inform provision appears in the Secretary of State's official Firearm Handbook or in SDCL chapter 23-7.
• South Dakota sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• South Dakota allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Permitless concealed carry under SDCL 23-7-7 applies statewide, including in vehicles, for residents and non-residents 18+ who may lawfully possess a pistol.

Off-limits places in South Dakota

South Dakota bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• County courthouses (SDCL 22-14-23)
• The state capitol (SDCL 22-14-23; limited enhanced-permit exceptions)

See all 3 places you can't carry in South Dakota →

Alabama vs South Dakota: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Alabama into South Dakota changes one rule: permitless carry (Yes (19+) → Yes (18+)).

Going the other way, a South Dakota non-resident permit in Alabama: no such permit issued.

Permits that do work in South Dakota

These non-resident permits are honored in South Dakota, ranked by how many states honor each one. They are issued to people who live outside the issuing state, subject to its eligibility rules.

• North Dakota non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
• Ohio non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
• Idaho non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Texas non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Florida non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• South Carolina non-resident permit · honored in 32 states

Driving on from South Dakota

How an Alabama non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Dakota:

• Iowa — No such permit issued
• Minnesota — No such permit issued
• Montana — No such permit issued
• Nebraska — No such permit issued
• North Dakota — No such permit issued
• Wyoming — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does South Dakota honor an Alabama resident permit?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because South Dakota treats the two permit types differently.

Can a South Dakota non-resident permit holder carry in Alabama?

South Dakota does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Alabama.

Does Alabama issue non-resident carry permits?

No. Alabama issues carry permits to residents only (aLEA: Alabama issues concealed carry permits only to Alabama residents, via the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence). Non-residents who want multi-state coverage usually obtain a non-resident permit from a state that offers one, such as those listed in our non-resident permit guide.