Non-Resident permit · ND → CT
Is a North Dakota Non-Resident Permit Valid in Connecticut?
Connecticut says no. Your North Dakota non-resident permit isn't recognized, permitless carry isn't available to you, and carrying regardless is a chargeable offense. Check Connecticut's own permit options, which it does issue to non-residents, if you travel there often.
Why
- Connecticut does not recognize any out-of-state carry permit.
Connecticut recognizes no out-of-state permit of any kind. CGS 29-35(a) requires a permit 'issued as provided in section 29-28'; out-of-state permit holders must obtain a Connecticut non-resident permit before carrying.
The permit (North Dakota)
- Permit
- North Dakota Concealed Weapon License — Class 1 Firearm License
- Issued by
- Director of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (Office of Attorney General)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Non-residents qualify only if they are (a) full-time active military stationed in ND, or (b) a resident of a state that has reciprocity with ND who holds a valid home-state license (NDCC 62.1-04-03(1)(b)); all testing must be completed inside North Dakota.
The destination (Connecticut)
- Recognition policy
- Honors no out-of-state permits
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- 10 rounds
Carry rules in Connecticut
Crossing into Connecticut swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.
- No duty to volunteer. The holder must carry the permit while carrying and must present it upon request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable suspicion of a crime (CGS 29-35(b)).
- Connecticut limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
- Connecticut is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Connecticut recognizes.
- A permit holder may carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle. Without a permit, a pistol may only be transported under narrow exceptions and must be unloaded and not readily accessible from the passenger compartment (or in a locked container) (CGS 29-35(a)(3)-(4)).
Off-limits places in Connecticut
Connecticut bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- K-12 school grounds and school-sponsored activities (CGS 53a-217b, class D felony)
- Any premises where the owner or person in control prohibits firearms (CGS 29-28(e))
North Dakota vs Connecticut: what changes at the state line
Crossing from North Dakota into Connecticut changes 4 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → No); magazine limit (None → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (39 states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → No).
| Rule | North Dakota | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | 10 rounds |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 39 states | None |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | No |
Going the other way, a Connecticut non-resident permit in North Dakota: permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Connecticut
How a North Dakota non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Connecticut:
- Massachusetts — Not recognized
- New York — Not recognized
- Rhode Island — Not recognized
Frequently asked questions
- Does Connecticut honor a North Dakota resident permit?
- Not recognized. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a Connecticut non-resident permit holder carry in North Dakota?
- Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on North Dakota's law, not Connecticut's.
- Where does Connecticut publish its official reciprocity list?
- Connecticut 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
- CT DESPP - Connecticut State Pistol Permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- CT DESPP - Pistol Permit FAQ (non-resident application process) — accessed 2026-08-08
- CGS Chapter 529 - Secs. 29-28 (permits) and 29-35 (carrying without permit prohibited) — accessed 2026-08-08
- CGS Sec. 53-202w - Large capacity magazines (10-round limit) — accessed 2026-08-08
- CGS Sec. 53a-217b - Possession of a weapon on school grounds — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Reciprocity with Other States (honors resident and non-resident licenses; Class 1/Class 2 lists) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Constitutional Concealed Carry (18+, any state/territory ID, inform-on-contact guidance) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Eligibility for a Concealed Weapon License (ages 18/21, residency and non-resident criteria) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NDCC Chapter 62.1-04 — Concealed Weapons (62.1-04-02, -03, -03.1, -04) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NDCC Chapter 62.1-02 — Possession of Weapons (liquor establishments, public gatherings, vehicle carry) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Online Application, New and Renewal — accessed 2026-09-27
- ND Attorney General — What Must Be Included With the Application — accessed 2026-09-27
- NDCC Chapter 62.1-03 — Handguns (62.1-03-01 carrying handgun) — accessed 2026-09-27