Non-Resident permit · MD → SD
Is a Maryland Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Dakota?
You're covered either way. South Dakota honors Maryland non-resident permits, and its permitless-carry law also lets eligible visitors carry without any permit at all.
Why
- South Dakota recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- South Dakota allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
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 (Maryland)
- Permit
- Maryland Wear and Carry Permit (Handgun Permit)
- Issued by
- Maryland State Police, Licensing Division
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Pub. Safety §5-306 contains no residency requirement; out-of-state residents apply through the same MSP Licensing Division process.
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 Maryland.
- 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)
Maryland vs South Dakota: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Maryland into South Dakota changes 4 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); magazine limit (10 rounds → None); out-of-state permits honored (None → All states); open carry (With a permit → Yes, no permit).
| Rule | Maryland | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | 10 rounds | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | None | All states |
| Open carry | With a permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a South Dakota non-resident permit in Maryland: no such permit issued.
Driving on from South Dakota
How a Maryland non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Dakota:
- Iowa — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Minnesota — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Montana — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Nebraska — Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
- North Dakota — Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
- Wyoming — Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does South Dakota honor a Maryland resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a South Dakota non-resident permit holder carry in Maryland?
- South Dakota does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Maryland.
- Where does South Dakota publish its official reciprocity list?
- South Dakota 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
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Concealed Carry Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- South Dakota Secretary of State — South Dakota Firearm Handbook (July 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Pistol Permit FAQs — accessed 2026-09-27
- South Dakota Secretary of State — How to Apply for a Permit — accessed 2026-09-27
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Types of Concealed Carry Permits — accessed 2026-09-27
- Maryland State Police — Wear & Carry Permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maryland State Police — Firearms FAQs (reciprocity statement) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maryland State Police — Prohibited Places to Carry a Firearm (incl. Kipke v. Moore status) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Public Safety §5-306 (permit qualifications, no residency or good-and-substantial-reason requirement) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Criminal Law §4-305 (detachable magazines over 10 rounds) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Public Safety §5-308 (permit must be carried) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Criminal Law §4-203 — wearing, carrying or transporting a handgun (concealed or open) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Md. Public Safety §5-309 — permit term and renewal — accessed 2026-09-27