Is a South Carolina Non-Resident Permit Valid in Louisiana?

Why

• Louisiana's official reciprocity list includes South Carolina.
• Louisiana honors out-of-state permits only for holders 21 and older, and South Carolina issues this permit from age 18.
• Louisiana does not honor an out-of-state permit held by a Louisiana resident.
• Louisiana allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.

R.S. 40:1379.3(T)(2): a current, valid permit issued by another state to a holder aged 21+ is valid in Louisiana only if Louisiana's permit is valid in that state (mutual recognition - LSP publishes the list of 37 states). The statute does not require the holder to be a resident of the issuing state. (T)(4): an out-of-state permit is invalid for a LOUISIANA resident. Since July 4, 2024 any non-prohibited person 18+ may carry permitless regardless of permits.

Carry rules in Louisiana

Whatever your permit status, Louisiana law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.

• Louisiana imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. R.S. 40:1379.3(I)(2): a permittee - and anyone carrying under permitless R.S. 14:95(M) - must notify any police officer who approaches in an official manner that they have a weapon, submit to a pat-down and allow the officer to temporarily disarm them. Failure triggers automatic 6-month permit suspension for permittees.
• Louisiana sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Louisiana allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Carrying a handgun in a motor vehicle is legal under most circumstances (LSP FAQ), and the 18+ permitless-carry provision applies in vehicles; the statutory duty to inform applies on any official police contact.

Off-limits places in Louisiana

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

• Law enforcement offices, stations or buildings; detention facilities, prisons and jails (R.S. 40:1379.3(N))
• Courthouses and courtrooms

South Carolina vs Louisiana: what changes at the state line

Crossing from South Carolina into Louisiana changes 2 rules: duty to inform police (No → Yes); out-of-state permits honored (2 states → 37 states).

Going the other way, a Louisiana non-resident permit in South Carolina: no such permit issued.

Driving on from Louisiana

How a South Carolina non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Louisiana:

• Arkansas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Mississippi — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Texas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies

Frequently asked questions

Does Louisiana honor a South Carolina resident permit?

Recognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry applies. The verdict matches the non-resident permit on this page, but the conditions differ.

Can a Louisiana non-resident permit holder carry in South Carolina?

Louisiana does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in South Carolina.

Where does Louisiana publish its official reciprocity list?

Louisiana 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.