Is a Vermont Resident Permit Valid in Massachusetts?

Why

• Vermont does not issue carry permits at all (vermont issues no carry permits to anyone, resident or non-resident — there is no permit system at all. vermont residents who need a permit recognized elsewhere must obtain a non-resident permit from another state that issues them) — there is no Vermont permit to recognize.

Mass.gov firearms FAQ: 'No. Massachusetts does not have reciprocity with any other states.' The former MGL c.140 §131G exemption letting non-residents with home-state permits carry for competition/hunting was REPEALED by Ch. 135 of the Acts of 2024, effective Oct 2, 2024 — no out-of-state permit is valid in MA for any purpose.

Carry rules in Massachusetts

Crossing into Massachusetts swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.

• No Massachusetts statute imposes a proactive duty to tell an officer you are carrying; carry the LTC when carrying and present it on lawful demand.
• Massachusetts limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
• Massachusetts is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Massachusetts recognizes.
• An LTC is required to have a loaded handgun in a vehicle, and MGL c.140 §131C requires it to be under the licensee's direct control or secured in a locked container.

Off-limits places in Massachusetts

Massachusetts bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Elementary/secondary schools, colleges and universities without written authorization (MGL c.269 §10(j))
• Government administrative, judicial/court and correctional buildings, including grounds and parking areas (MGL c.269 §10(k), added by Ch. 135 of 2024)

See all 3 places you can't carry in Massachusetts →

Vermont vs Massachusetts: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Vermont into Massachusetts changes 4 rules: permitless carry (Yes → No); magazine limit (15 rounds → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (All states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → With a permit).

Going the other way, a Massachusetts resident permit in Vermont: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Driving on from Massachusetts

How a Vermont resident permit fares in the states bordering Massachusetts:

• Connecticut — No such permit issued
• New Hampshire — No such permit issued
• New York — No such permit issued
• Rhode Island — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Massachusetts honor a Vermont non-resident permit?

Vermont does not issue non-resident carry permits (vermont issues no carry permits to anyone, resident or non-resident — there is no permit system at all. Vermont residents who need a permit recognized elsewhere must obtain a non-resident permit from another state that issues them), so the question does not arise.

Can a Massachusetts resident permit holder carry in Vermont?

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

Does Vermont issue carry permits at all?

No — to anyone. Vermont has no carry-permit system; carry there is permitless. Vermont residents who want reciprocity coverage elsewhere obtain a non-resident permit from a state that issues one.