Is a South Dakota Non-Resident Permit Valid in North Carolina?

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)).

NC DOJ: 'Effective December 1, 2011, North Carolina automatically recognizes concealed carry permits issued in any other state' (G.S. 14-415.24(a)); no residency condition — out-of-state permittees are held to the same standards as NC permittees.

Carry rules in North Carolina

Your South Dakota habits may not match North Carolina's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.

• North Carolina imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. When approached or addressed by any officer, the permittee must disclose that they hold a valid concealed handgun permit and are carrying a concealed handgun, and must display permit and ID on request (G.S. 14-415.11; NC DOJ 'Do's and Don'ts').
• North Carolina sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• North Carolina is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit North Carolina recognizes.
• A valid permit (NC or out-of-state) allows a loaded concealed handgun in a vehicle; without a permit, concealing a handgun in a vehicle within the carrier's reach is unlawful (G.S. 14-269) — on a traffic stop, keep hands on the wheel and announce the handgun and permit.

Off-limits places in North Carolina

• Educational property (schools, colleges); permittees may secure a handgun in a locked vehicle
• State and federal courthouses and certain State property (G.S. 14-269.4)
• Law enforcement agencies and correctional facilities
• Picket lines, demonstrations and assemblies on public property
• Buildings housing only State or federal offices
• Any premises posted against concealed carry

Frequently asked questions

Is a South Dakota non-resident permit valid in North Carolina?

The premise fails at the first step. South Dakota issues no non-resident carry permit (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)), so reciprocity with North Carolina never comes into play for this permit type.

Do I have to tell police in North Carolina that I am carrying?

North Carolina imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. When approached or addressed by any officer, the permittee must disclose that they hold a valid concealed handgun permit and are carrying a concealed handgun, and must display permit and ID on request (G.S. 14-415.11; NC DOJ 'Do's and Don'ts').

Does North Carolina limit magazine capacity?

North Carolina sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.

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.