Non-Resident permit · NJ → SC
Is a New Jersey Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Carolina?
South Carolina says no to the permit and yes to permitless carry. Your New Jersey non-resident permit carries no legal weight there, but eligible adults for adults 18+ may carry concealed without one.
Why
- New Jersey is not on South Carolina's official reciprocity list.
- South Carolina allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
S.C. Code 23-31-215(N)(1) honors out-of-state permits only when 'held by a resident of a reciprocal state' whose permitting requires a background check and firearm training; Georgia and North Carolina permits are recognized automatically under (N)(2). Recognition covers handguns only. Largely moot for visitors 18+, who may carry permitless.
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 (South Carolina)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 2 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in South Carolina
Whatever your permit status, South Carolina law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.
- SLED H.3594 guidance: a CWP holder or permitless carrier 'DOES NOT have a duty to notify a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a firearm', and a CWP holder is not required to carry the CWP or disclose CWP status.
- South Carolina sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- South Carolina allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- No restrictions on guns inside vehicles — a person not prohibited from possessing a firearm may store it anywhere in a vehicle, openly or concealed (SLED H.3594 guidance).
Off-limits places in South Carolina
South Carolina bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Law enforcement, correctional or detention facilities
- Courthouses and courtrooms (publicly owned buildings where court is in session)
New Jersey vs South Carolina: what changes at the state line
Crossing from New Jersey into South Carolina changes 5 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); duty to inform police (Yes → No); magazine limit (10 rounds → None); out-of-state permits honored (None → 2 states); open carry (No → Yes, no permit).
| Rule | New Jersey | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | Yes | No |
| Magazine limit | 10 rounds | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | None | 2 states |
| Open carry | No | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a South Carolina non-resident permit in New Jersey: not recognized.
Driving on from South Carolina
How a New Jersey non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Carolina:
- Georgia — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- North Carolina — Recognized — carry with your permit
Frequently asked questions
- Does South Carolina honor a New Jersey 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina's.
- Where does South Carolina publish its official reciprocity list?
- South Carolina 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
- SLED — Constitutional Carry Guidance (H.3594) — accessed 2026-08-08
- SLED — Concealed Weapons Permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- S.C. Code of Laws Title 23, Chapter 31 (incl. 23-31-215(N) recognition) — accessed 2026-08-08
- 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