Skip to content
Concealed Carry Map

Non-Resident permit · KY → SD

Is a Kentucky Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Dakota?

No such permit issuedVerified 2026-09-27

A Kentucky non-resident permit isn't something you can hold — the state doesn't issue one (kentucky residents (or US citizens / lawfully admitted persons on active military duty assigned to a Kentucky posting) only - KSP CCDW qualifications). The question for South Dakota is which resident or non-resident permits from other states it honors.

Why

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).

The permit (Kentucky)

Permit
Kentucky Concealed Deadly Weapon (CCDW) License
Issued by
Kentucky State Police (KRS 237.110)
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Issued to non-residents?
No — Kentucky residents (or US citizens / lawfully admitted persons on active military duty assigned to a Kentucky posting) only - KSP CCDW qualifications.

The destination (South Dakota)

Recognition policy
Honors permits from all states
Permitless carry
Yes (18+)
Duty to inform
No (present permit on demand)
Magazine limit
No state limit

Carry rules in South Dakota

Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter South Dakota, these rules replace the ones you know from Kentucky.

Off-limits places in South Dakota

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

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

Kentucky vs South Dakota: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Kentucky into South Dakota changes one rule: permitless carry (Yes (21+) → Yes (18+)).

RuleKentuckySouth Dakota
Permitless carryYes (21+)Yes (18+)
Duty to inform policeNoNo
Magazine limitNoneNone
Out-of-state permits honoredAll statesAll states
Open carryYes, no permitYes, no permit

Going the other way, a South Dakota non-resident permit in Kentucky: 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.

Driving on from South Dakota

How a Kentucky non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Dakota:

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

See the full 50-state map for a Kentucky non-resident permit →

Frequently asked questions

Does South Dakota honor a Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
South Dakota does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Kentucky.
Does Kentucky issue non-resident carry permits?
No. Kentucky issues carry permits to residents only (kentucky residents (or US citizens / lawfully admitted persons on active military duty assigned to a Kentucky posting) only - KSP CCDW qualifications). 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.

Official sources