Is a South Carolina Resident Permit Valid in Arizona?
It depends on who holds the permit. Arizona accepts the South Carolina resident permit for holders 21 and older. Arizona also allows permitless carry for adults 21+ if you qualify. Holders under 21 have no lawful way to carry concealed there: this recognition does not cover them, and Arizona's permitless carry starts at 21.
Why
- Arizona recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Arizona honors out-of-state permits only for holders 21 and older, and South Carolina issues this permit from age 18.
- Arizona allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
A.R.S. § 13-3112(Q): Arizona recognizes any other state's permit if it is valid in the issuing state and the holder is legally present and not prohibited — no resident-only condition, so non-resident permits qualify. But out-of-state permit holders under 21 may not carry concealed in Arizona (§ 13-3112(S)).
The permit (South Carolina)
- Permit
- South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP)
- Issued by
- South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
The destination (Arizona)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Arizona
Your South Carolina habits may not match Arizona's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- No proactive duty, but if an officer asks whether you are carrying a concealed deadly weapon you must answer accurately (A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(1)(b)); permit holders must present the permit for inspection on request (§ 13-3112(A), civil penalty up to $300).
- Arizona sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Arizona allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Anyone 21+ who may lawfully possess may carry a loaded handgun, concealed, in a vehicle without a permit; under-21s are limited to visible-holster or cased transport.
Off-limits places in Arizona
Arizona bans carry in 5 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- School grounds (K-12)
- Polling places on election day
South Carolina vs Arizona: what changes at the state line
Crossing from South Carolina into Arizona changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → Yes (21+)); out-of-state permits honored (2 states → All states).
| Rule | South Carolina | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 2 states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, an Arizona resident permit in South Carolina: permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Arizona
How a South Carolina resident permit fares in the states bordering Arizona:
- California — Not recognized
- Nevada — Recognized — carry with your permit
- New Mexico — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Utah — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Arizona honor a South Carolina non-resident permit?
- Recognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the resident permit on this page.
- Can an Arizona resident permit holder carry in South Carolina?
- Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on South Carolina's law, not Arizona's.
- Where does Arizona publish its official reciprocity list?
- Arizona 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
- Arizona DPS — Concealed Weapons and Permits (reciprocity, non-resident applications, age) — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3112 (Arizona Legislature) — permit issuance and out-of-state permit recognition — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3102 (Arizona Legislature) — misconduct involving weapons; permitless carry, duty to answer, prohibited places — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3111 — minors prohibited from carrying or possessing firearms (AZ Legislature) — accessed 2026-09-27
- SLED — Constitutional Carry Guidance (H.3594) — accessed 2026-08-08
- SLED — Concealed Weapons Permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- S.C. Code of Laws Title 23, Chapter 31 (incl. 23-31-215(N) recognition) — accessed 2026-08-08