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

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)).

Maine recognizes a permit 'issued by another state to its resident' only where that state recognizes Maine's resident permit - non-resident permits are not honored. Extra conditions: permit holders from Alaska, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Virginia must be 21+ (Virginia holders must also carry government-issued photo ID). In practice most visitors 21+ may simply carry permitless.

Carry rules in Maine

Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Maine, these rules replace the ones you know from South Dakota.

• Permit holders have no proactive duty to inform. A person carrying WITHOUT a permit under Maine's permitless-carry law must immediately inform the officer that they are carrying a concealed handgun upon any routine stop, detention or arrest.
• Maine sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Maine allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• A person 21+ who may legally possess a firearm may keep a loaded concealed handgun in a vehicle without a permit, but if carrying without a permit must immediately inform law enforcement during any stop.

Off-limits places in Maine

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

• Courthouses
• Schools and school property

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

South Dakota vs Maine: what changes at the state line

Crossing from South Dakota into Maine changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → Yes (21+)); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 23 states).

Going the other way, a Maine non-resident permit in South Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Driving on from Maine

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

• New Hampshire — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Maine honor a South Dakota resident permit?

Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Maine treats the two permit types differently.

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

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on South Dakota's law, not Maine's.

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.