Resident permit · LA → ND
Is a Louisiana Resident Permit Valid in North Dakota?
Your Louisiana resident permit is valid in North Dakota. The state also has permitless carry for adults 18+, so the permit mainly buys you reciprocity certainty and some federal school-zone protection.
Why
- North Dakota's official reciprocity list includes Louisiana.
- North Dakota allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
AG: 'North Dakota will honor a valid concealed carry license/permit (resident and non-resident) issued by a state that has agreed to recognize a North Dakota license' (NDCC 62.1-04-03.1) — the honored list above is the AG's list of states recognizing the ND Class 1 license. Separately, any adult 18+ with a valid US state/territory ID who may lawfully possess can carry permitless regardless of permits.
The permit (Louisiana)
- Permit
- Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP)
- Issued by
- Louisiana State Police, Concealed Handgun Permit Unit (Dept. of Public Safety & Corrections)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
The destination (North Dakota)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 39 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in North Dakota
Crossing into North Dakota swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.
- Not proactive by statute: license carriers must produce the license for inspection upon an officer's request, and permitless carriers must disclose the firearm if the officer inquires and show state ID on request (NDCC 62.1-04-04; $20 noncriminal fee). The AG's Constitutional Carry page nonetheless instructs permitless carriers to inform law enforcement on any in-person contact — safest practice is to inform.
- North Dakota sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- North Dakota allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- A loaded handgun in a vehicle is legal for ND licensees, out-of-state reciprocity carriers, and permitless-eligible individuals carrying a valid state/territory ID (NDCC 62.1-02-10(3),(8)).
Off-limits places in North Dakota
North Dakota bans carry in 4 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Bar areas set aside for alcohol sale/consumption, and bingo gaming sites (NDCC 62.1-02-04)
- Schools and school-sponsored events on school property
Louisiana vs North Dakota: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Louisiana into North Dakota changes 2 rules: duty to inform police (Yes → No); out-of-state permits honored (37 states → 39 states).
| Rule | Louisiana | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | Yes | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 37 states | 39 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a North Dakota resident permit in Louisiana: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from North Dakota
How a Louisiana resident permit fares in the states bordering North Dakota:
- Minnesota — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Montana — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- South Dakota — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does North Dakota honor a Louisiana non-resident permit?
- Louisiana does not issue non-resident carry permits (r.S. 40:1379.3(B)(1) and (C)(3)-(4): permits are issued only to Louisiana residents aged 21+; a permit becomes invalid when the holder ceases to reside in Louisiana), so the question does not arise.
- Can a North Dakota resident permit holder carry in Louisiana?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Louisiana's law, not North Dakota's.
- Where does North Dakota publish its official reciprocity list?
- North 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
- ND Attorney General — Reciprocity with Other States (honors resident and non-resident licenses; Class 1/Class 2 lists) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Constitutional Concealed Carry (18+, any state/territory ID, inform-on-contact guidance) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Eligibility for a Concealed Weapon License (ages 18/21, residency and non-resident criteria) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NDCC Chapter 62.1-04 — Concealed Weapons (62.1-04-02, -03, -03.1, -04) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NDCC Chapter 62.1-02 — Possession of Weapons (liquor establishments, public gatherings, vehicle carry) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Online Application, New and Renewal — accessed 2026-09-27
- ND Attorney General — What Must Be Included With the Application — accessed 2026-09-27
- NDCC Chapter 62.1-03 — Handguns (62.1-03-01 carrying handgun) — accessed 2026-09-27
- 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