Is an Alabama Resident Permit Valid in West Virginia?

Why

• West Virginia's official reciprocity list includes Alabama.
• West Virginia honors out-of-state permits only for holders 21 and older, and Alabama issues this permit from age 19.
• West Virginia allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.

W. Va. Code § 61-7-6a: an out-of-state permit is valid in WV only if the holder is 21+, has the permit in immediate possession, is NOT a West Virginia resident, and the issuing state recognizes WV CHLs (governor notification or written reciprocity agreement). The issuing state's permit need not be a resident permit, so qualifying non-resident permits count. Recognition is largely academic for visitors 21+, who may carry permitless anyway; under-21 out-of-state permit holders are NOT covered. Honored list derived from the AG's official reciprocity map (as of Oct 1, 2025): every permit-issuing state recognizes WV CHLs except CA, CT, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI and WA (Vermont issues no permits).

Carry rules in West Virginia

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

• No proactive duty-to-inform appears in WV statute, the AG's guide or the AG's FAQ; out-of-state holders must have the permit in immediate possession (§ 61-7-6a(a)(2)).
• West Virginia sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• West Virginia allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Permitless carry (21+, non-prohibited) extends to loaded handguns in vehicles. A lawfully possessed firearm may be kept locked and out of view in a vehicle in any parking lot (§ 61-7-14) and on the State Capitol Complex (§ 61-6-19(b)).

Off-limits places in West Virginia

West Virginia bans carry in 5 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• State Capitol Complex (W. Va. Code § 61-6-19(b); locked-vehicle exception)
• Regional jails, detention facilities and Division of Corrections facilities (§ 61-5-8(c))

Alabama vs West Virginia: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Alabama into West Virginia changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (19+) → Yes (18+)); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 36 states).

Going the other way, a West Virginia resident permit in Alabama: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Driving on from West Virginia

How an Alabama resident permit fares in the states bordering West Virginia:

• Kentucky — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Maryland — Not recognized
• Ohio — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Pennsylvania — Recognized — holders 21+ only
• Virginia — Recognized — holders 21+ only

Frequently asked questions

Does West Virginia honor an Alabama non-resident permit?

Alabama does not issue non-resident carry permits (ALEA: Alabama issues concealed carry permits only to Alabama residents, via the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence), so the question does not arise.

Can a West Virginia resident permit holder carry in Alabama?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Alabama's law, not West Virginia's.

Where does West Virginia publish its official reciprocity list?

West Virginia 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.