State profile · AR
Arkansas Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity
An Arkansas resident permit (Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL)) is honored in 36 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, Arkansas recognizes valid carry permits from every US state. Arkansas allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
Arkansas concealed carry reciprocity map
Where an Arkansas resident permit is valid. Each state links to the rules for that trip.
- Permit honored
- Honored + permitless carry
- Permitless carry only
- Not honored
- Confirm case-by-case
- Arkansas
Which states honor an Arkansas CHCL? (36)
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Where an Arkansas permit is not honored (14)
Permitless carry still applies (2): Maine, South Carolina
No lawful carry on this permit (12): California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington
Where an Arkansas permit is honored, state by state
Click any destination for the full rules — duty to inform, magazine limits, off-limits places, and official sources.
* a load-bearing fact could not be fully verified — confirm with the official source before carrying.
Whose permits Arkansas honors
Arkansas recognizes valid concealed-carry permits from every US state and DC.
Since Aug 16, 2013 Arkansas 'acknowledges all concealed handgun carry licenses lawfully issued by another state' (§ 5-73-321) — the statute covers any license issued to the person by another state, with no resident-only condition; out-of-state licensees are subject to Arkansas restrictions.
Arkansas at a glance
- Permit
- Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL) · Enhanced Concealed Handgun Carry License (E-CHCL)
- Issued by
- Arkansas State Police
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Resident minimum age
- 21
- Non-resident permits
- Not issued
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- Yes
- Magazine limit
- None
Can you carry in Arkansas without a permit?
Arkansas allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
Under § 5-73-120 (as amended by Act 1024 of 2021) carrying a handgun is an offense only if possessed 'with a purpose to attempt to unlawfully employ' it against a person, so carry without a license is lawful; § 5-73-119(a)(1) bars handgun possession under 18, setting the effective floor at 18.
Is Arkansas an open carry state?
Yes. Arkansas allows open carry of a handgun without a permit from age 18 for people who may legally possess one.
Carrying a handgun, openly or concealed, is only a crime if done with intent to use it unlawfully against someone. No one under 18 may possess a handgun.
How to get an Arkansas concealed carry permit
- Minimum age
- 21
- Fee
- $50 (new); $25 if 65 or older; no fee for veterans and active-duty military
- Training
- A State Police–approved handgun training course (the enhanced license adds a longer class with live-fire qualification, about 8 hours total)
- Valid for
- 5 years
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)
Residents apply to the State Police, which also runs the instructor search and application status check.
Does Arkansas issue non-resident permits?
No. Arkansas does not issue carry permits to non-residents. Requires Arkansas residency for 90+ continuous days (§ 5-73-309(2)); exception — active-duty US Armed Forces members and their spouses are exempt from the residency requirement.
Do you have to tell police you are carrying in Arkansas?
Arkansas imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. ASP rule (Code of Arkansas Rules, CHCL): a licensee carrying a handgun who is asked by an officer for identification must present the CHCL AND notify the officer of the handgun — even if the officer never asks about weapons. No notification is required if not carrying, and § 5-73-315(b)(2) separately requires displaying the license on demand.
Carrying in a vehicle in Arkansas
A loaded handgun may be carried in a private vehicle without a license — § 5-73-120(c)(1) presumes lawful purpose in one's own vehicle, and lawful carry extends to vehicles generally absent unlawful intent.
Where you can't carry in Arkansas
- K-12 school property, school buses and designated bus stops
- Courthouses, courtrooms and county offices
- Police stations, sheriff's offices and detention facilities
- Airport passenger terminals
- Portions of establishments licensed to serve alcohol on premises (restaurants excepted)
- Publicly owned buildings and State Capitol grounds (E-CHCL exceptions apply)
Editor's verification notes
License available at 18 for active-duty military, National Guard/reserve members, and honorably discharged veterans (§ 5-73-309(3)(B)). E-CHCL (§ 5-73-322) unlocks many otherwise-prohibited places, including public colleges and most public buildings. duty to inform marked true because the ASP rule compels unprompted disclosure whenever an officer requests identification — stricter than display-on-demand.
Frequently asked questions
- Which states honor an Arkansas carry permit?
- Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, 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 Arkansas recognize out-of-state carry permits?
- Since Aug 16, 2013 Arkansas 'acknowledges all concealed handgun carry licenses lawfully issued by another state' (§ 5-73-321) — the statute covers any license issued to the person by another state, with no resident-only condition; out-of-state licensees are subject to Arkansas restrictions.
Official sources
- Arkansas State Police — Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing (recognition of all states since 2013) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Arkansas Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing Code §§ 5-73-301–329 (eligibility, § 5-73-321 recognition, § 5-73-315) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Weapons Possession and Use Code §§ 5-73-101–133 (Aug 1, 2025; § 5-73-120 permitless carry, § 5-73-119) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Locations Where Possession of a Handgun is Prohibited (July 31, 2023) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Code of Arkansas Rules, CHCL (July 8, 2025; notification duty on ID request) — accessed 2026-08-08