Non-Resident permit · PA → ND
Is a Pennsylvania Non-Resident Permit Valid in North Dakota?
Legal, yes. North Dakota honors the permit, and permitless carry for adults 18+ applies there too. Either way, North Dakota's carry rules — not Pennsylvania's — control while you're in the state.
Why
- North Dakota's official reciprocity list includes Pennsylvania.
- North Dakota allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
AG: 'North Dakota will honor a valid concealed carry license/permit (resident and non-resident) issued by a state that has agreed to recognize a North Dakota license' (NDCC 62.1-04-03.1) — the honored list above is the AG's list of states recognizing the ND Class 1 license. Separately, any adult 18+ with a valid US state/territory ID who may lawfully possess can carry permitless regardless of permits.
The permit (Pennsylvania)
- Permit
- Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms (LTCF)
- Issued by
- County sheriff (in Philadelphia, the chief of police)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Non-residents 21+ may apply; Pennsylvania State Police note applicants generally need a valid carry permit from their home state, and some county sheriffs decline non-resident applications.
The destination (North Dakota)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 39 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in North Dakota
Whatever your permit status, North Dakota law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.
- Not proactive by statute: license carriers must produce the license for inspection upon an officer's request, and permitless carriers must disclose the firearm if the officer inquires and show state ID on request (NDCC 62.1-04-04; $20 noncriminal fee). The AG's Constitutional Carry page nonetheless instructs permitless carriers to inform law enforcement on any in-person contact — safest practice is to inform.
- North Dakota sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- North Dakota allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- A loaded handgun in a vehicle is legal for ND licensees, out-of-state reciprocity carriers, and permitless-eligible individuals carrying a valid state/territory ID (NDCC 62.1-02-10(3),(8)).
Off-limits places in North Dakota
North Dakota bans carry in 4 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Bar areas set aside for alcohol sale/consumption, and bingo gaming sites (NDCC 62.1-02-04)
- Schools and school-sponsored events on school property
Pennsylvania vs North Dakota: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Pennsylvania into North Dakota changes 2 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); out-of-state permits honored (30 states → 39 states).
| Rule | Pennsylvania | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 30 states | 39 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a North Dakota non-resident permit in Pennsylvania: not recognized.
Driving on from North Dakota
How a Pennsylvania non-resident permit fares in the states bordering North Dakota:
- Minnesota — Not recognized
- Montana — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- South Dakota — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does North Dakota honor a Pennsylvania resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a North Dakota non-resident permit holder carry in Pennsylvania?
- Not recognized. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Pennsylvania's law, not North Dakota's.
- Where does North Dakota publish its official reciprocity list?
- North Dakota 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
- 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
- PA Office of Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity (per-state map data) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Pennsylvania State Police — Carrying Firearms in Pennsylvania — accessed 2026-08-08
- PA OAG press release — Virginia becomes 30th reciprocity state — accessed 2026-08-08
- Chester County Sheriff — PA License to Carry Firearms Information — accessed 2026-09-27
- Centre County Sheriff — License to Carry Firearms — accessed 2026-09-27
- City of Philadelphia — Application for a Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearm — accessed 2026-09-27