State profile · LA
Louisiana Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity
A Louisiana resident permit (Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP)) is honored in 36 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 1 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, Louisiana recognizes permits from 36 states on its official list. Louisiana allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
Louisiana concealed carry reciprocity map
Where a Louisiana 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
- Louisiana
Which states honor a Louisiana CHP? (36)
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Where a Louisiana permit is not honored (14)
Permitless carry still applies (1): South Carolina
No lawful carry on this permit (13): California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island
Where a Louisiana 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 Louisiana honors
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
R.S. 40:1379.3(T)(2): a current, valid permit issued by another state to a holder aged 21+ is valid in Louisiana only if Louisiana's permit is valid in that state (mutual recognition - LSP publishes the list of 37 states). The statute does not require the holder to be a resident of the issuing state. (T)(4): an out-of-state permit is invalid for a LOUISIANA resident. Since July 4, 2024 any non-prohibited person 18+ may carry permitless regardless of permits.
Louisiana at a glance
- Permit
- Louisiana Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP)
- Issued by
- Louisiana State Police, Concealed Handgun Permit Unit (Dept. of Public Safety & Corrections)
- 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 Louisiana without a permit?
Louisiana allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
R.S. 14:95(M), added by Act 1 of the 2024 2nd Extraordinary Session (effective July 4, 2024): any person 18+ not prohibited under R.S. 14:95.1, 18 U.S.C. 922(g) or other law may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. Permitless carriers are bound by R.S. 40:1379.3(I) and (L)-(O) (duty to inform, prohibited places) per R.S. 14:95(N).
Is Louisiana an open carry state?
Yes. Louisiana allows open carry of a handgun without a permit from age 18 for people who may legally possess one.
Louisiana law restricts only hidden carry, so adults 18 and older can carry a handgun openly without a permit. Since July 4, 2024 they can also carry concealed without one.
How to get a Louisiana concealed carry permit
- Apply to
- Louisiana State Police, Concealed Handgun Permit Unit (online, in person in Baton Rouge, or by mail)
- Minimum age
- 21
- Fee
- $125 (5-year, resident) · $250 (5-year, non-resident) · half price at 65+ or on active duty · honorably discharged veterans pay nothing
- Training
- An approved course of at least 9 hours, including 2 hours of live range fire (at least 36 rounds at 6, 10 and 15 feet) and instruction on safe handling, ammunition, Louisiana carry and self-defense law, and child access prevention.
- Valid for
- 5 years
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)
Add $50 if you have not lived in Louisiana continuously for the past 15 years. Louisiana residents can also buy a lifetime permit ($500).
Does Louisiana issue non-resident permits?
No. Louisiana does not issue carry permits to non-residents. R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(1) and (C)(3)-(4): permits are issued only to Louisiana residents aged 21+; a permit becomes invalid when the holder ceases to reside in Louisiana.
Do you have to tell police you are carrying in Louisiana?
Louisiana imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. R.S. 40:1379.3(I)(2): a permittee - and anyone carrying under permitless R.S. 14:95(M) - must notify any police officer who approaches in an official manner that they have a weapon, submit to a pat-down and allow the officer to temporarily disarm them. Failure triggers automatic 6-month permit suspension for permittees.
Carrying in a vehicle in Louisiana
Carrying a handgun in a motor vehicle is legal under most circumstances (LSP FAQ), and the 18+ permitless-carry provision applies in vehicles; the statutory duty to inform applies on any official police contact.
Where you can't carry in Louisiana
- Law enforcement offices, stations or buildings; detention facilities, prisons and jails (R.S. 40:1379.3(N))
- Courthouses and courtrooms
- Polling places
- Meeting places of governing authorities and the state capitol building
- Any portion of an establishment with a Class A-General retail alcohol permit (bars)
- Schools, school campuses and school buses; places of worship unless authorized
Editor's verification notes
legis.la.gov was unreachable from the research environment (DNS timeout); statutory text was verified from the official LSP law-and-rules booklet PDF instead. The LSP FAQ line that an applicant 'does not need to be a resident' contradicts R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(1)/(C)(3); the statute (resident-only) controls. Louisiana recognition has a hard 21+ age floor even though its own permitless carry is 18+.
Frequently asked questions
- Which states honor a Louisiana carry permit?
- Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
- Does Louisiana recognize out-of-state carry permits?
- R.S. 40:1379.3(T)(2): a current, valid permit issued by another state to a holder aged 21+ is valid in Louisiana only if Louisiana's permit is valid in that state (mutual recognition - LSP publishes the list of 37 states). The statute does not require the holder to be a resident of the issuing state. (T)(4): an out-of-state permit is invalid for a LOUISIANA resident. Since July 4, 2024 any non-prohibited person 18+ may carry permitless regardless of permits.
Official sources
- Louisiana State Police - Reciprocity (list read from Internet Archive snapshot 2025-10-28 of this official URL; page is script-rendered) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana State Police - Concealed Handgun Permit Laws and Administrative Rules booklet (full text of R.S. 40:1379.3 and R.S. 14:95) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana State Police - Concealed Handgun FAQs — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana State Police - CHP Fees — accessed 2026-09-27