Non-Resident permit · WV → SD
Is a West Virginia Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Dakota?
Yes on both counts: permit reciprocity and permitless carry. South Dakota recognizes West Virginia non-resident permits and separately allows eligible adults for adults 18+ to carry without one.
Why
- South Dakota recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- South Dakota allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
Official Firearm Handbook: 'The state of South Dakota recognizes any valid concealed pistol permit issued to a nonresident of South Dakota, according to the terms of its issuance in the state of its issue' — any state's permit qualifies as long as the holder is not a South Dakota resident (SD residents simply carry permitless).
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 (South Dakota)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in South Dakota
Your West Virginia habits may not match South Dakota's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- No duty-to-inform provision appears in the Secretary of State's official Firearm Handbook or in SDCL chapter 23-7.
- South Dakota sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- South Dakota allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Permitless concealed carry under SDCL 23-7-7 applies statewide, including in vehicles, for residents and non-residents 18+ who may lawfully possess a pistol.
Off-limits places in South Dakota
South Dakota bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- County courthouses (SDCL 22-14-23)
- The state capitol (SDCL 22-14-23; limited enhanced-permit exceptions)
West Virginia vs South Dakota: what changes at the state line
Crossing from West Virginia into South Dakota changes one rule: out-of-state permits honored (36 states → All states).
| Rule | West Virginia | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 36 states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a South Dakota non-resident permit in West Virginia: no such permit issued.
Driving on from South Dakota
How a West Virginia non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Dakota:
- Iowa — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Minnesota — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Montana — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Nebraska — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- North Dakota — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Wyoming — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does South Dakota honor a West Virginia resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a South Dakota non-resident permit holder carry in West Virginia?
- South Dakota does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in West Virginia.
- Where does South Dakota publish its official reciprocity list?
- South Dakota 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
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Concealed Carry Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- South Dakota Secretary of State — South Dakota Firearm Handbook (July 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Pistol Permit FAQs — accessed 2026-09-27
- South Dakota Secretary of State — How to Apply for a Permit — accessed 2026-09-27
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Types of Concealed Carry Permits — 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