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Concealed Carry Map

State profile · AL

Alabama Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity

An Alabama resident permit (Alabama Concealed Carry Permit (Pistol Permit)) is honored in 32 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 2 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, Alabama recognizes valid carry permits from every US state. Alabama allows permitless concealed carry from age 19 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Open the interactive map for an Alabama permit →

Alabama concealed carry reciprocity map

Where an Alabama resident permit is valid. Each state links to the rules for that trip.

Alabama (home state)ALAlaska: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAKArizona: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAZArkansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesARCalifornia: not recognizedCAColorado: recognized — carry with your permitCOConnecticut: not recognizedCTDelaware: not recognizedDEDistrict of Columbia: not recognizedDCFlorida: recognized — and permitless carry appliesFLGeorgia: recognized — and permitless carry appliesGAHawaii: not recognizedHIIdaho: recognized — and permitless carry appliesIDIllinois: not recognizedILIndiana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesINIowa: recognized — and permitless carry appliesIAKansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKSKentucky: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKYLouisiana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesLAMaine: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMEMaryland: not recognizedMDMassachusetts: not recognizedMAMichigan: recognized — carry with your permitMIMinnesota: not recognizedMNMississippi: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMSMissouri: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMOMontana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMTNebraska: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNENevada: not recognizedNVNew Hampshire: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNHNew Jersey: not recognizedNJNew Mexico: not recognizedNMNew York: not recognizedNYNorth Carolina: recognized — carry with your permitNCNorth Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNDOhio: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOHOklahoma: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOKOregon: not recognizedORPennsylvania: recognized — carry with your permitPARhode Island: not recognizedRISouth Carolina: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesSCSouth Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry appliesSDTennessee: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTNTexas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTXUtah: recognized — and permitless carry appliesUTVermont: recognized — and permitless carry appliesVTVirginia: recognized — carry with your permitVAWashington: not recognizedWAWest Virginia: recognized — and permitless carry appliesWVWisconsin: recognized — carry with your permitWIWyoming: recognized — and permitless carry appliesWY
  • Permit honored
  • Honored + permitless carry
  • Permitless carry only
  • Not honored
  • Confirm case-by-case
  • Alabama

Which states honor an Alabama carry permit? (32)

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Where an Alabama permit is not honored (18)

Permitless carry still applies (2): Nebraska, South Carolina

No lawful carry on this permit (16): California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington

Where an Alabama permit is honored, state by state

Click any destination for the full rules — duty to inform, magazine limits, off-limits places, and official sources.

DestinationResident permitNon-resident permit
AlaskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
ArizonaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
ArkansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
CaliforniaNot recognizedNo such permit issued
ColoradoRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
ConnecticutNot recognizedNo such permit issued
DelawareNot recognizedNo such permit issued
District of ColumbiaNot recognizedNo such permit issued
FloridaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
GeorgiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
HawaiiNot recognizedNo such permit issued
IdahoRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
IllinoisNot recognizedNo such permit issued
IndianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
IowaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
KansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
KentuckyRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
LouisianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
MaineRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
MarylandNot recognizedNo such permit issued
MassachusettsNot recognizedNo such permit issued
MichiganRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
MinnesotaNot recognizedNo such permit issued
MississippiRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
MissouriRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
MontanaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
NebraskaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
NevadaNot recognizedNo such permit issued
New HampshireRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
New JerseyNot recognizedNo such permit issued
New MexicoNot recognizedNo such permit issued
New YorkNot recognizedNo such permit issued
North CarolinaRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
North DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
OhioRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
OklahomaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
OregonNot recognizedNo such permit issued
PennsylvaniaRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
Rhode IslandNot recognizedNo such permit issued
South CarolinaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
South DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
TennesseeRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
TexasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
UtahRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
VermontRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
VirginiaRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
WashingtonNot recognizedNo such permit issued
West VirginiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
WisconsinRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
WyomingRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued

* a load-bearing fact could not be fully verified — confirm with the official source before carrying.

Whose permits Alabama honors

Alabama recognizes valid concealed-carry permits from every US state and DC.

Attorney General: 'The state of Alabama recognizes any concealed carry permit issued by another state' (Ala. Code § 13A-11-85(a)); no resident-only condition stated.

Alabama at a glance

Permit
Alabama Concealed Carry Permit (Pistol Permit)
Issued by
County sheriff
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
19
Non-resident permits
Not issued
Permitless carry
Yes (19+)
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
None

Can you carry in Alabama without a permit?

Alabama allows permitless concealed carry from age 19 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Permitless concealed carry since Jan 1, 2023 (Act 2022-133) for anyone 19+ who may lawfully possess a handgun; 18+ for active-duty military and retired/honorably discharged veterans or law enforcement (per Jefferson County Sheriff guidance).

Is Alabama an open carry state?

Yes. Alabama allows open carry of a handgun without a permit for people who may legally possess one.

You can carry a handgun openly without a permit. A visible, holstered or secured pistol is presumed not to be disorderly conduct, but carry bans in schools, courthouses and other listed places still apply.

How to get an Alabama concealed carry permit

Apply to
Sheriff of your county of residence (Alabama residents only)
Minimum age
19
Fee
Set by each county under local law; statutory default where no local law exists is $25 (1-year) · $125 (5-year)
Training
None required by statute
Valid for
5 years
Issue policy
Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)

Permits can be issued for 1 year, 5 years or lifetime; veterans and service members may apply at 18.

Does Alabama issue non-resident permits?

No. Alabama does not issue carry permits to non-residents. ALEA: Alabama issues concealed carry permits only to Alabama residents, via the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence.

Compare every state's non-resident permit →

Do you have to tell police you are carrying in Alabama?

No proactive duty to inform found on any official Alabama source; answer truthfully and present a permit if an officer asks during a lawful stop.

Carrying in a vehicle in Alabama

Since Jan 1, 2023 a loaded handgun may be carried in a vehicle without a permit by anyone who may carry permitless (Act 2022-133 removed the vehicle-carry permit requirement).

Where you can't carry in Alabama

Editor's verification notes

Permit minimum age 19 (18 for veterans/active military) per issuing-sheriff pages; the Code of Alabama portal (alison.legislature.state.al.us) was unreachable during research, so statutory text of §§ 13A-11-75 and 13A-11-61.2 was verified via AG, ALEA and sheriff (issuing authority) pages. Prohibited-places list mirrors § 13A-11-61.2; express permission of the operator can lift some.

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor an Alabama carry permit?
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does Alabama recognize out-of-state carry permits?
Attorney General: 'The state of Alabama recognizes any concealed carry permit issued by another state' (Ala. Code § 13A-11-85(a)); no resident-only condition stated.

Official sources