Is a North Carolina Non-Resident Permit Valid in Washington?

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).

AG list as of 2026-07-10. Permit-class limits: Idaho ENHANCED permits only; Kansas standard licenses only; Montana ENHANCED permits only (not 18-20 restricted permits); North Dakota CLASS 1 permits only; South Dakota unrestricted ENHANCED and GOLD permits only; Utah permits recognized EXCLUDING provisional (under-21) permits. RCW 9.41.073 requires the issuing state to recognize WA CPLs, not license under-21s, and require a fingerprint-based criminal and mental-health background check; holder residency in the issuing state is not a statutory condition.

Carry rules in Washington

Crossing into Washington swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.

• No statutory duty to proactively tell an officer you are carrying; the CPL must be in your possession while carrying a concealed pistol and presented on demand.
• Washington sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Washington is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Washington recognizes.
• A loaded pistol in a vehicle requires a CPL and must be on the licensee's person, or the licensee must remain in the vehicle, or the pistol must be locked in the vehicle and concealed from view when the licensee leaves; without a CPL the pistol must be unloaded, and if left in the vehicle, locked and hidden from view (RCW 9.41.050).

Off-limits places in Washington

Washington bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Restricted areas of jails, law enforcement facilities and courthouses/courtrooms (RCW 9.41.300)
• Licensed inpatient psychiatric facilities (RCW 9.41.300)

See all 6 places you can't carry in Washington →

North Carolina vs Washington: what changes at the state line

Crossing from North Carolina into Washington changes 2 rules: duty to inform police (Yes → No); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 10 states).

Going the other way, a Washington non-resident permit in North Carolina: recognized — carry with your permit.

Permits that do work in Washington

These non-resident permits are honored in Washington, 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
• Utah non-resident permit · honored in 31 states

Driving on from Washington

How a North Carolina non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Washington:

• Idaho — No such permit issued
• Oregon — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Washington honor a North Carolina resident permit?

Recognized — carry with your permit. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Washington treats the two permit types differently.

Can a Washington non-resident permit holder carry in North Carolina?

Recognized — carry with your permit. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on North Carolina's law, not Washington's.

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.