Non-Resident permit · TN → DC
Is a Tennessee Non-Resident Permit Valid in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia says no. Your Tennessee non-resident permit isn't recognized, permitless carry isn't available to you, and carrying regardless is a chargeable offense. Check District of Columbia's own permit options, which it does issue to non-residents, if you travel there often.
Why
- District of Columbia does not recognize any out-of-state carry permit.
No state's permit is valid in the District. An out-of-state license holder must obtain a DC Concealed Carry Pistol License - out-of-state licensure is a pathway to apply (22-4506), not a right to carry.
The permit (Tennessee)
- Permit
- Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit
- Issued by
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Only the 8-year Enhanced permit, for out-of-state residents who prove employment in Tennessee of at least 30 hours per week for at least six consecutive months and who hold a current valid handgun permit from their home state (TN DOSHS FAQ).
The destination (District of Columbia)
- Recognition policy
- Honors no out-of-state permits
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- Yes — proactive
- Magazine limit
- 10 rounds
Carry rules in District of Columbia
Crossing into District of Columbia swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.
- District of Columbia imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. Affirmative duty - on any investigative stop, a licensee (and any accompanying licensee) shall disclose that they are carrying, present the license and registration certificate, identify the pistol's location, and comply with orders including temporary disarmament (D.C. Code 7-2509.04(d)).
- District of Columbia limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
- District of Columbia is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit District of Columbia recognizes.
- Licensees must have the license and the pistol's DC registration certificate on their person whenever carrying, including in a vehicle (D.C. Code 7-2509.04(c)); without a DC license, carrying a pistol in a vehicle is prohibited (22-4504).
Off-limits places in District of Columbia
District of Columbia bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Buildings or offices occupied by the DC government
- Schools and universities, including adjacent parking (K-12 and higher ed)
Tennessee vs District of Columbia: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Tennessee into District of Columbia changes 5 rules: permitless carry (Yes (21+) → No); duty to inform police (No → Yes); magazine limit (None → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (All states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → No).
| Rule | Tennessee | District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | Yes |
| Magazine limit | None | 10 rounds |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | None |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | No |
Going the other way, a District of Columbia non-resident permit in Tennessee: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from District of Columbia
How a Tennessee non-resident permit fares in the states bordering District of Columbia:
Frequently asked questions
- Does District of Columbia honor a Tennessee resident permit?
- Not recognized. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a District of Columbia non-resident permit holder carry in Tennessee?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Tennessee's law, not District of Columbia's.
- Where does District of Columbia publish its official reciprocity list?
- District of Columbia publishes its recognition policy on an official state page, linked in the sources on this page. That page is the authority — check it shortly before travel, because recognition lists change without much notice.
Official sources
- D.C. Code 22-4504 - Carrying concealed weapons (license required) — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 22-4506 - License to carry a pistol (issuance, non-residents) — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 7-2509.02 - Concealed carry license eligibility (age 21, registration, training) — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 7-2509.04 - Duties of licensees (duty to disclose on a stop) — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 7-2509.07 - Prohibited locations — accessed 2026-08-08
- D.C. Code 7-2506.01 - Large capacity ammunition feeding devices (>10 rounds prohibited) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MPD — Fees & Payment (concealed carry license $75, fingerprinting $35) — accessed 2026-09-27
- D.C. Code § 7-2509.03 — expiration and renewal of licenses (2 years) — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit FAQ — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Related Laws — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Public Chapter 108 (2021) — permitless carry, vehicle carry, display-on-demand — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Public Chapter 356 (2025) — permit age lowered to 18 — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit Fees — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit Types — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — How To Apply — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit Training Requirements (PDF) — accessed 2026-09-27