Non-Resident permit · NJ → DC
Is a New Jersey Non-Resident Permit Valid in District of Columbia?
Not recognizedVerified 2026-08-08
Your permit stops at the state line. District of Columbia recognizes no New Jersey non-resident permit, and without a District of Columbia-issued license there is no lawful way for a visitor to carry concealed.
Why
- District of Columbia does not recognize any out-of-state carry permit.
No state's permit is valid in the District. An out-of-state license holder must obtain a DC Concealed Carry Pistol License - out-of-state licensure is a pathway to apply (22-4506), not a right to carry.
The permit (New Jersey)
- Permit
- State of New Jersey Permit to Carry a Handgun (PTC)
- Issued by
- Chief police officer of the applicant's municipality or the Superintendent of State Police; out-of-state applicants apply in person through an NJSP station
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — NJSP FAQ: out-of-state residents may apply (separate instruction set, assigned to an NJSP station); the credential issued is the same 'State of New Jersey Permit to Carry a Handgun' regardless of residency — 'a non-resident concealed carry permit... does not exist.'
The destination (District of Columbia)
- Recognition policy
- Honors no out-of-state permits
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- Yes — proactive
- Magazine limit
- 10 rounds
Carry rules in District of Columbia
Whatever your permit status, District of Columbia law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.
- District of Columbia imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. Affirmative duty - on any investigative stop, a licensee (and any accompanying licensee) shall disclose that they are carrying, present the license and registration certificate, identify the pistol's location, and comply with orders including temporary disarmament (D.C. Code 7-2509.04(d)).
- District of Columbia limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
- District of Columbia is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit District of Columbia recognizes.
- Licensees must have the license and the pistol's DC registration certificate on their person whenever carrying, including in a vehicle (D.C. Code 7-2509.04(c)); without a DC license, carrying a pistol in a vehicle is prohibited (22-4504).
Off-limits places in District of Columbia
District of Columbia bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Buildings or offices occupied by the DC government
- Schools and universities, including adjacent parking (K-12 and higher ed)
New Jersey vs District of Columbia: what changes at the state line
The core carry rules we track are the same in New Jersey and District of Columbia. Off-limits places still differ, so check the list above.
| Rule | New Jersey | District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | No |
| Duty to inform police | Yes | Yes |
| Magazine limit | 10 rounds | 10 rounds |
| Out-of-state permits honored | None | None |
| Open carry | No | No |
Going the other way, a District of Columbia non-resident permit in New Jersey: not recognized.
Driving on from District of Columbia
How a New Jersey non-resident permit fares in the states bordering District of Columbia:
Frequently asked questions
- Does District of Columbia honor a New Jersey resident permit?
- Not recognized. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a District of Columbia non-resident permit holder carry in New Jersey?
- Not recognized. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on New Jersey's law, not District of Columbia's.
- Where does District of Columbia publish its official reciprocity list?
- District of Columbia 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
- D.C. Code 22-4504 - Carrying concealed weapons (license required) — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 22-4506 - License to carry a pistol (issuance, non-residents) — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 7-2509.02 - Concealed carry license eligibility (age 21, registration, training) — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 7-2509.04 - Duties of licensees (duty to disclose on a stop) — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 7-2509.07 - Prohibited locations — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 7-2506.01 - Large capacity ammunition feeding devices (>10 rounds prohibited) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MPD — Fees & Payment (concealed carry license $75, fingerprinting $35) — accessed 2026-09-27
- D.C. Code § 7-2509.03 — expiration and renewal of licenses (2 years) — accessed 2026-09-27
- New Jersey State Police — Concealed Carry Facts and FAQ's (reciprocity, duty to disclose, magazine limit, sensitive places) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NJSP — N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.6 Places where carrying a firearm is prohibited (current as of 12-11-25) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NJSP — Concealed Carry Permit Instructions for Out-of-State Residents (03/03/2026) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NJ OAG — N.J.A.C. Title 13 Chapter 54 (Firearms and Weapons; 13:54-2.3 carry-permit criteria; under-21 handgun disability) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NJ Attorney General Directive 2022-07 — carrying of firearms in public after Bruen — accessed 2026-08-08
- NJSP — Concealed Carry Permits (how to apply, forms, CCARE) — accessed 2026-09-27
- NJSP — Concealed Carry Permit Instructions for N.J. Residents & Dual Residents (03/03/2026) — accessed 2026-09-27
- New Jersey P.L.2022, c.131 (permit to carry; $200 application fee) — accessed 2026-09-27