Is a West Virginia Non-Resident Permit Valid in Louisiana?
Yes, but not for every holder. Louisiana recognizes a West Virginia non-resident permit unless you live in Louisiana. Louisiana also allows permitless carry for adults 18+ if you qualify. Louisiana residents are not covered by this recognition, but Louisiana's permitless carry from age 18 still applies if they qualify.
Why
- Louisiana's official reciprocity list includes West Virginia.
- Louisiana does not honor an out-of-state permit held by a Louisiana resident.
- Louisiana allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
R.S. 40:1379.3(T)(2): a current, valid permit issued by another state to a holder aged 21+ is valid in Louisiana only if Louisiana's permit is valid in that state (mutual recognition - LSP publishes the list of 37 states). The statute does not require the holder to be a resident of the issuing state. (T)(4): an out-of-state permit is invalid for a LOUISIANA resident. Since July 4, 2024 any non-prohibited person 18+ may carry permitless regardless of permits.
The permit (West Virginia)
- Permit
- Concealed Handgun License (CHL)
- Issued by
- County sheriff (residents apply in their county of residence; non-residents may apply to any county sheriff)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Since early-2021 law changes, non-residents may obtain a WV CHL by applying to any county sheriff of their choice with the same requirements as residents (live-fire training, fees). Provisional CHLs (18-20) are limited to WV residents.
The destination (Louisiana)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 37 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- Yes — proactive
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Louisiana
Whatever your permit status, Louisiana law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.
- Louisiana imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. R.S. 40:1379.3(I)(2): a permittee - and anyone carrying under permitless R.S. 14:95(M) - must notify any police officer who approaches in an official manner that they have a weapon, submit to a pat-down and allow the officer to temporarily disarm them. Failure triggers automatic 6-month permit suspension for permittees.
- Louisiana sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Louisiana allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Carrying a handgun in a motor vehicle is legal under most circumstances (LSP FAQ), and the 18+ permitless-carry provision applies in vehicles; the statutory duty to inform applies on any official police contact.
Off-limits places in Louisiana
Louisiana bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Law enforcement offices, stations or buildings; detention facilities, prisons and jails (R.S. 40:1379.3(N))
- Courthouses and courtrooms
West Virginia vs Louisiana: what changes at the state line
Crossing from West Virginia into Louisiana changes 2 rules: duty to inform police (No → Yes); out-of-state permits honored (36 states → 37 states).
| Rule | West Virginia | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | Yes |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 36 states | 37 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Louisiana non-resident permit in West Virginia: no such permit issued.
Driving on from Louisiana
How a West Virginia non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Louisiana:
- Arkansas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Mississippi — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Texas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Louisiana honor a West Virginia resident permit?
- Recognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry applies. The verdict matches the non-resident permit on this page, but the conditions differ.
- Can a Louisiana non-resident permit holder carry in West Virginia?
- Louisiana does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in West Virginia.
- Where does Louisiana publish its official reciprocity list?
- Louisiana 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
- Louisiana State Police - Reciprocity (list read from Internet Archive snapshot 2025-10-28 of this official URL; page is script-rendered) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana State Police - Concealed Handgun Permit Laws and Administrative Rules booklet (full text of R.S. 40:1379.3 and R.S. 14:95) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana State Police - Concealed Handgun FAQs — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana State Police - CHP Fees — accessed 2026-09-27
- WV Attorney General — Gun Reciprocity Frequently Asked Questions — accessed 2026-08-08
- WV Attorney General — On The Mark: A Guide to Concealed Handgun Laws in West Virginia (July 2024, incl. full text of W. Va. Code § 61-7-6a) — accessed 2026-08-08
- WV Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map, as of October 1, 2025 — accessed 2026-08-08
- WV Legislature — HB 4106 (2026 RS) enrolled text, amending § 61-7-7(c) (permitless carry 18+) — accessed 2026-09-27
- WV Legislature — HB 4106 bill history (approved 2026-04-01; effective June 12, 2026; Acts ch. 75) — accessed 2026-09-27
- W. Va. Code § 61-7-4 — License to carry deadly weapons (fees, training, term) (via Wayback 2025-11-16) — accessed 2026-09-27