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

Why

• Washington's official reciprocity list includes North Dakota.

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

Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Washington, these rules replace the ones you know from North Dakota.

• 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 Dakota vs Washington: what changes at the state line

Crossing from North Dakota into Washington changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → No); out-of-state permits honored (39 states → 10 states).

Going the other way, a Washington non-resident permit in North Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Driving on from Washington

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

• Idaho — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Oregon — Not recognized

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Washington honor a North Dakota resident permit?

Recognized — carry with your permit. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.

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

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on North Dakota's law, not Washington's.

Where does Washington publish its official reciprocity list?

Washington 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.