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

Why

• South Dakota does not issue carry permits to non-residents (no non-resident permits — the applicant must have physically resided in and be a resident of the county of application for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application (sdcl 23-7-7.1)).

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

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

• 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

See all 6 places you can't carry in Louisiana →

South Dakota vs Louisiana: what changes at the state line

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

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

Permits that do work in Louisiana

These non-resident permits are honored in Louisiana, ranked by how many states honor each one. They are issued to people who live outside the issuing state, subject to its eligibility rules.

• North Dakota non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
• Ohio non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
• Idaho non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Texas non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Florida non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• South Carolina non-resident permit · honored in 32 states

Driving on from Louisiana

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

• Arkansas — No such permit issued
• Mississippi — No such permit issued
• Texas — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Louisiana honor a South Dakota resident permit?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Louisiana treats the two permit types differently.

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

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

Does South Dakota issue non-resident carry permits?

No. South Dakota issues carry permits to residents only (no non-resident permits — the applicant must have physically resided in and be a resident of the county of application for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application (SDCL 23-7-7.1)). Non-residents who want multi-state coverage usually obtain a non-resident permit from a state that offers one, such as those listed in our non-resident permit guide.