Is a South Dakota Resident Permit Valid in Arizona?

Why

• Arizona recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
• Arizona honors out-of-state permits only for holders 21 and older, and South Dakota 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)).

Carry rules in Arizona

Recognition is only half the question. Once you're inside Arizona, its carry rules apply to you exactly as they do to locals.

• 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 Dakota vs Arizona: what changes at the state line

Crossing from South Dakota into Arizona changes one rule: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → Yes (21+)).

Going the other way, an Arizona resident permit in South Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Driving on from Arizona

How a South Dakota resident permit fares in the states bordering Arizona:

• California — Not recognized
• Nevada — Recognized — Enhanced permit only
• New Mexico — Recognized — carry with your permit
• Utah — Recognized — and permitless carry applies

Frequently asked questions

Does Arizona honor a South Dakota non-resident permit?

South Dakota does not issue non-resident carry permits (No non-resident permits — the applicant must have physically resided in and be a resident of the county of application for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application (SDCL 23-7-7.1)), so the question does not arise.

Can an Arizona resident permit holder carry in South Dakota?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on South Dakota'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.