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

Why

• South Carolina is not on Pennsylvania's official reciprocity list.

AG rule: where Pennsylvania grants reciprocity, ONLY individuals who are both residents of the issuing state AND 21 or older may carry in Pennsylvania — non-resident permits are never recognized. Several states are recognized only for specific license classes (see overrides). Virginia became the 30th recognized state in Feb 2026. Not recognized: CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, MN, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, SC, VT, WA.

Carry rules in Pennsylvania

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

• No Pennsylvania statute requires a carrier to proactively inform police; carry the license and produce it on lawful demand.
• Pennsylvania sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Pennsylvania is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Pennsylvania recognizes.
• Carrying a firearm in any vehicle, loaded or unloaded, requires a valid LTCF or a recognized reciprocal license (18 Pa.C.S. § 6106).

Off-limits places in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Court facilities (18 Pa.C.S. § 913)
• Elementary and secondary school buildings, grounds and buses (18 Pa.C.S. § 912; statutory 'other lawful purpose' defense)

See all 3 places you can't carry in Pennsylvania →

South Carolina vs Pennsylvania: what changes at the state line

Crossing from South Carolina into Pennsylvania changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → No); out-of-state permits honored (2 states → 30 states).

Going the other way, a Pennsylvania non-resident permit in South Carolina: permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies.

Driving on from Pennsylvania

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

• Delaware — Not recognized
• Maryland — Not recognized
• New Jersey — Not recognized
• New York — Not recognized
• Ohio — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• West Virginia — Recognized — and permitless carry applies

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Pennsylvania honor a South Carolina resident permit?

Not recognized. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.

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

Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on South Carolina's law, not Pennsylvania's.

Where does Pennsylvania publish its official reciprocity list?

Pennsylvania 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.