Non-Resident permit · SC → UT
Is a South Carolina Non-Resident Permit Valid in Utah?
Both doors are open: Utah accepts your South Carolina non-resident permit, and its permitless law covers eligible visitors for adults 21+ regardless of permits.
Why
- Utah recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Utah allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
'In accordance with U.C.A. 53-5a-102.2, Utah will honor a permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by any other state or county' (BCI) — no holder-residency restriction.
The permit (South Carolina)
- Permit
- South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP)
- Issued by
- South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Non-residents qualify only as 'qualified nonresidents' who own real property in South Carolina (S.C. Code 23-31-215).
The destination (Utah)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Utah
Your South Carolina habits may not match Utah's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- BCI FAQ: 'there is no legal requirement to identify yourself to a law enforcement officer' as carrying, though BCI recommends immediately identifying yourself as armed for officer safety.
- Utah sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Utah allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- A loaded firearm may be carried in a vehicle the person lawfully possesses or with the possessor's consent (under-18s may not carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle; loaded rifles/shotguns prohibited in vehicles) — U.C.A. 76-10-505 as amended by HB 60.
Off-limits places in Utah
Utah bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Secure areas of airports
- Courts and law-enforcement secured areas
South Carolina vs Utah: what changes at the state line
Crossing from South Carolina into Utah changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → Yes (21+)); out-of-state permits honored (2 states → All states).
| Rule | South Carolina | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 2 states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Utah non-resident permit in South Carolina: permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Utah
How a South Carolina non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Utah:
Frequently asked questions
- Does Utah honor a South Carolina resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a Utah 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 Utah's.
- Where does Utah publish its official reciprocity list?
- Utah 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
- Utah BCI — States that Honor the Utah Permit(s) (U.C.A. 53-5a-102.2 recognition) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Utah BCI — Concealed Firearm Permit FAQ (duty to inform, prohibited places, non-resident eligibility) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Utah DPS News — Permit-less Concealed Carry H.B. 60 FAQ — accessed 2026-08-08
- Utah Legislature — HB 60 (2021) enrolled text (76-10-505 vehicle carry, 76-10-523) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Utah BCI — How Do I Apply for a Concealed Firearm Permit? (via Wayback 2026-06-01) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Utah BCI — How Do I Renew My Concealed Firearm Permit? (via Wayback 2026-04-20) — accessed 2026-09-27
- SLED — Constitutional Carry Guidance (H.3594) — accessed 2026-08-08
- SLED — Concealed Weapons Permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- S.C. Code of Laws Title 23, Chapter 31 (incl. 23-31-215(N) recognition) — accessed 2026-08-08