Is a Virginia Resident Permit Valid in District of Columbia?

Why

• District of Columbia does not recognize any out-of-state carry permit.

No state's permit is valid in the District. An out-of-state license holder must obtain a DC Concealed Carry Pistol License - out-of-state licensure is a pathway to apply (22-4506), not a right to carry.

Carry rules in District of Columbia

Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter District of Columbia, these rules replace the ones you know from Virginia.

• District of Columbia imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. Affirmative duty - on any investigative stop, a licensee (and any accompanying licensee) shall disclose that they are carrying, present the license and registration certificate, identify the pistol's location, and comply with orders including temporary disarmament (D.C. Code 7-2509.04(d)).
• District of Columbia limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
• District of Columbia is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit District of Columbia recognizes.
• Licensees must have the license and the pistol's DC registration certificate on their person whenever carrying, including in a vehicle (D.C. Code 7-2509.04(c)); without a DC license, carrying a pistol in a vehicle is prohibited (22-4504).

Off-limits places in District of Columbia

District of Columbia bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Buildings or offices occupied by the DC government
• Schools and universities, including adjacent parking (K-12 and higher ed)

See all 6 places you can't carry in District of Columbia →

Virginia vs District of Columbia: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Virginia into District of Columbia changes 4 rules: duty to inform police (No → Yes); magazine limit (None → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (All states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → No).

Going the other way, a District of Columbia resident permit in Virginia: recognized — carry with your permit.

Driving on from District of Columbia

How a Virginia resident permit fares in the states bordering District of Columbia:

• Maryland — Not recognized

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does District of Columbia honor a Virginia non-resident permit?

Not recognized. The answer is the same as for the resident permit on this page.

Can a District of Columbia resident permit holder carry in Virginia?

Recognized — carry with your permit. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Virginia's law, not District of Columbia's.

Where does District of Columbia publish its official reciprocity list?

District of Columbia 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.