Non-Resident permit · NC → SD
Is a North Carolina Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Dakota?
North Carolina has no non-resident permit program (applicant must have been a North Carolina resident for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application (G.S. 14-415.12(a)); no non-resident permits). Travelers who want multi-state coverage usually pair their home-state permit with a widely honored non-resident permit from another state.
Why
- North Carolina does not issue carry permits to non-residents (applicant must have been a north carolina resident for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application (g.s. 14-415.12(a)); no non-resident permits).
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 (North Carolina)
- Permit
- North Carolina Concealed Handgun Permit
- Issued by
- Sheriff of the applicant's county of residence
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- No — Applicant must have been a North Carolina resident for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application (G.S. 14-415.12(a)); no non-resident permits.
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
Your North Carolina habits may not match South Dakota's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- 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)
North Carolina vs South Dakota: what changes at the state line
Crossing from North Carolina into South Dakota changes 2 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); duty to inform police (Yes → No).
| Rule | North Carolina | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | Yes | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | All states |
Going the other way, a South Dakota non-resident permit in North Carolina: 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.
- 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 South Dakota
How a North Carolina non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Dakota:
Frequently asked questions
- Does South Dakota honor a North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
- South Dakota does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in North Carolina.
- Does North Carolina issue non-resident carry permits?
- No. North Carolina issues carry permits to residents only (applicant must have been a North Carolina resident for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application (G.S. 14-415.12(a)); no non-resident permits). 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
- 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
- NC DOJ — Concealed Handguns Reciprocity (automatic recognition of all states since 12/1/2011) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NC DOJ — North Carolina Firearms Laws publication (permit eligibility, duty to disclose, prohibited areas, penalties) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NC Sheriffs' Association — Firearms Laws and Permits (January 2024), linked from NC DOJ — accessed 2026-09-27
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.12 (concealed handgun permit criteria; training) — accessed 2026-09-27