State profile · LA
Louisiana Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Where Your Permit Works
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.
Where a Louisiana permit is honored
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
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.
Vehicle carry
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.
Off-limits places 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
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.
- Can I 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.
- Do I have to tell police in Louisiana that I am carrying?
- 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.
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