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

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)).

AG: 'North Dakota will honor a valid concealed carry license/permit (resident and non-resident) issued by a state that has agreed to recognize a North Dakota license' (NDCC 62.1-04-03.1) — the honored list above is the AG's list of states recognizing the ND Class 1 license. Separately, any adult 18+ with a valid US state/territory ID who may lawfully possess can carry permitless regardless of permits.

Carry rules in North Dakota

Whatever your permit status, North Dakota law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.

• Not proactive by statute: license carriers must produce the license for inspection upon an officer's request, and permitless carriers must disclose the firearm if the officer inquires and show state ID on request (NDCC 62.1-04-04; $20 noncriminal fee). The AG's Constitutional Carry page nonetheless instructs permitless carriers to inform law enforcement on any in-person contact — safest practice is to inform.
• North Dakota sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• North Dakota allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• A loaded handgun in a vehicle is legal for ND licensees, out-of-state reciprocity carriers, and permitless-eligible individuals carrying a valid state/territory ID (NDCC 62.1-02-10(3),(8)).

Off-limits places in North Dakota

North Dakota bans carry in 4 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Bar areas set aside for alcohol sale/consumption, and bingo gaming sites (NDCC 62.1-02-04)
• Schools and school-sponsored events on school property

See all 4 places you can't carry in North Dakota →

South Dakota vs North Dakota: what changes at the state line

Crossing from South Dakota into North Dakota changes one rule: out-of-state permits honored (All states → 39 states).

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

Permits that do work in North Dakota

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

• 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
• Arizona non-resident permit · honored in 31 states

Driving on from North Dakota

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

• Minnesota — No such permit issued
• Montana — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does North Dakota honor a South Dakota resident permit?

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

Can a North Dakota 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 North Dakota'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.