Non-Resident permit · CA → WY
Is a California Non-Resident Permit Valid in Wyoming?
Your California Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) License is not honored in Wyoming. The workable path is Wyoming's permitless carry for adults 18+: qualify under that law and you may carry concealed without a permit.
Why
- California is not on Wyoming's official reciprocity list.
- Wyoming allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
Statutory test, not a closed list: Wyoming honors an out-of-state permit if (1) the issuing state recognizes Wyoming permits and (2) the permit is valid statewide in the issuing state — holder residency in the issuing state is not required, so qualifying non-resident permits count. DCI publishes the 35-state list above 'for convenience only... this listing has no legal effect.' Largely academic for most visitors: permitless carry already covers any US resident who may lawfully possess a firearm.
The permit (California)
- Permit
- California Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) License
- Issued by
- County sheriff or city police chief
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Since January 1, 2026, Penal Code § 26150(b) requires a county sheriff to issue a license to a non-California resident who is 21 or older, is not disqualified under California or home-state law, shows a home-state driver's license or ID, applies to the sheriff of the county where they mainly intend to travel or spend time, completes the required training and live-fire qualification for each listed firearm, and lists each firearm to be carried.
The destination (Wyoming)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 35 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Wyoming
Whatever your permit status, Wyoming law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.
- No proactive duty to inform. Permit holders must carry the permit with valid ID whenever carrying concealed and display both upon request of any peace officer (W.S. 6-8-104(b)).
- Wyoming sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Wyoming allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Permitless carry extends to vehicles — any US resident who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry a loaded handgun concealed in a vehicle without a permit.
Off-limits places in Wyoming
Wyoming bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Law enforcement facilities, without the chief administrator's written consent (W.S. 6-8-104(t))
- Detention facilities, prisons and jails
California vs Wyoming: what changes at the state line
Crossing from California into Wyoming changes 4 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); magazine limit (10 rounds → None); out-of-state permits honored (None → 35 states); open carry (Restricted → Yes, no permit).
| Rule | California | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | 10 rounds | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | None | 35 states |
| Open carry | Restricted | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Wyoming non-resident permit in California: no such permit issued.
Permits that do work in Wyoming
These non-resident permits are honored in Wyoming, 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 Wyoming
How a California non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Wyoming:
Frequently asked questions
- Does Wyoming honor a California resident permit?
- Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a Wyoming non-resident permit holder carry in California?
- Wyoming does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in California.
- Where does Wyoming publish its official reciprocity list?
- Wyoming publishes its recognition policy on an official state page, linked in the sources on this page. That page is the authority — check it shortly before travel, because recognition lists change without much notice.
Official sources
- Wyoming DCI — Concealed Firearm Permits FAQ (permitless carry, reciprocity list, prohibited places) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wyoming DCI — Concealed Firearm Permits (program page) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wyoming Legislature — 2026 HB0096, Carrying of concealed weapons-age requirement (21 -> 18, effective July 1, 2026) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wyoming Legislature — 2025 HB0172 Enrolled Act No. 24, Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act (effective July 1, 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wyoming Legislature — Title 6 compiled statutes (W.S. 6-8-104(a)(iv), (b)(ii) as amended) — accessed 2026-09-27
- California DOJ — Firearms FAQs (out-of-state permits not valid; 10-round magazine limit) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Penal Code § 26150 (CA Legislature) — shall-issue standard, age 21, county residency/employment — accessed 2026-08-08
- Penal Code § 26230 (CA Legislature) — sensitive places off-limits to CCW licensees (SB 2) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Penal Code § 25610 (CA Legislature) — unlicensed vehicle transport (unloaded, locked container) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Penal Code § 26350 (CA Legislature) — crime of openly carrying an unloaded handgun — accessed 2026-09-27
- Penal Code § 26190 (CA Legislature) — license fees (DOJ + local) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Penal Code § 26165 (CA Legislature) — 16-hour training course and live fire — accessed 2026-09-27
- Penal Code § 26220 (CA Legislature) — license term (2 years) — accessed 2026-09-27
- California Penal Code § 26150 (as amended by Stats. 2025, ch. 570, AB 1078, eff. 2026-01-01) — accessed 2026-09-27