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

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)).

'A facially valid handgun permit, firearms permit, weapons permit or license issued by another state shall be valid in this state according to its terms' — handguns only; the permit must be in the holder's possession at all times while carrying; new Tennessee residents must obtain a TN permit within six months.

Carry rules in Tennessee

Recognition is only half the question. Once you're inside Tennessee, its carry rules apply to you exactly as they do to locals.

• No proactive duty. A permit holder carrying where only the permit allows it must have the permit in immediate possession and display it on demand of a law enforcement officer (TCA 39-17-1351(n)(1) and 39-17-1366(e) as amended by Public Chapter 108, 2021).
• Tennessee sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Tennessee allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Permit holders and permitless-qualified carriers under TCA 39-17-1307(g) may transport and store firearms in their motor vehicle in any public or private parking area, kept from ordinary observation (locked in trunk/glove box/interior when unattended) (TCA 39-17-1313).

Off-limits places in Tennessee

Tennessee bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• School buildings, buses, campuses and school activities (TCA 39-17-1309)
• Certain public parks, playgrounds and civic centers (TCA 39-17-1311)

See all 3 places you can't carry in Tennessee →

South Dakota vs Tennessee: what changes at the state line

Crossing from South Dakota into Tennessee changes one rule: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → Yes (21+)).

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

Permits that do work in Tennessee

These non-resident permits are honored in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee

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

• Alabama — No such permit issued
• Arkansas — No such permit issued
• Georgia — No such permit issued
• Kentucky — No such permit issued
• Mississippi — No such permit issued
• Missouri — No such permit issued
• North Carolina — No such permit issued
• Virginia — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Tennessee honor a South Dakota resident permit?

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

Can a Tennessee 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 Tennessee'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.