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Concealed Carry Map

State profile · RI

Rhode Island Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity

A Rhode Island resident permit (License to Carry a Concealed Pistol or Revolver (municipal licensing authority, § 11-47-11)) is honored in 26 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 8 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, Rhode Island recognizes no out-of-state carry permits. Rhode Island is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Rhode Island recognizes.

Open the interactive map for a Rhode Island permit →

Rhode Island concealed carry reciprocity map

Where a Rhode Island resident permit is valid. Each state links to the rules for that trip.

Alabama: recognized — and permitless carry appliesALAlaska: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAKArizona: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAZArkansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesARCalifornia: not recognizedCAColorado: not recognizedCOConnecticut: 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: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesLAMaine: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesMEMaryland: not recognizedMDMassachusetts: not recognizedMAMichigan: recognized — carry with your permitMIMinnesota: recognized — carry with your permitMNMississippi: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMSMissouri: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMOMontana: permit not recognized — but 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: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNDOhio: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOHOklahoma: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOKOregon: not recognizedORPennsylvania: not recognizedPARhode Island (home state)RISouth 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: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesWVWisconsin: recognized — carry with your permitWIWyoming: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesWY
  • Permit honored
  • Honored + permitless carry
  • Permitless carry only
  • Not honored
  • Confirm case-by-case
  • Rhode Island

Which states honor a Rhode Island carry permit? (26)

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin

Where a Rhode Island permit is not honored (24)

Permitless carry still applies (8): Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wyoming

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

Where a Rhode Island 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
AlabamaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
AlaskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArizonaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArkansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
CaliforniaNot recognizedNot recognized
ColoradoNot recognizedNot recognized
ConnecticutNot recognizedNot recognized
DelawareNot recognizedNot recognized
District of ColumbiaNot recognizedNot recognized
FloridaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
GeorgiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
HawaiiNot recognizedNot recognized
IdahoRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
IllinoisNot recognizedNot recognized
IndianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
IowaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KentuckyRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
LouisianaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
MainePermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
MarylandNot recognizedNot recognized
MassachusettsNot recognizedNot recognized
MichiganRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
MinnesotaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
MississippiRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MissouriRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MontanaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
NebraskaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
NevadaNot recognizedNot recognized
New HampshireRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
New JerseyNot recognizedNot recognized
New MexicoNot recognizedNot recognized
New YorkNot recognizedNot recognized
North CarolinaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
North DakotaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
OhioRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OklahomaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OregonNot recognizedNot recognized
PennsylvaniaNot recognizedNot recognized
South CarolinaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
South DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TennesseeRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TexasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
UtahRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VermontRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VirginiaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WashingtonNot recognizedNot recognized
West VirginiaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
WisconsinRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WyomingPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies

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

Whose permits Rhode Island honors

Rhode Island does not recognize any out-of-state concealed-carry permit.

No reciprocity for carrying within the state. Sole exception (§ 11-47-8(a)): a holder of a valid carry license from another state may transport a handgun through Rhode Island in a vehicle only while merely passing through, with no intent to stop or remain in the state.

Rhode Island at a glance

Permit
License to Carry a Concealed Pistol or Revolver (municipal licensing authority, § 11-47-11) · Weapons Carry Permit (Attorney General, § 11-47-18)
Issued by
City or town licensing authority (shall-issue path); Attorney General (discretionary alternative path)
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
21
Non-resident permits
Issued
Permitless carry
No
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
10 rounds

Can you carry in Rhode Island without a permit?

Rhode Island is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Rhode Island recognizes.

No permitless carry — a Rhode Island license is required to carry a handgun.

How to get a Rhode Island concealed carry permit

Apply to
Your city or town's licensing authority, usually the local police department (the Attorney General issues a separate permit)
Minimum age
21
Fee
$40 state permit fee; some towns add their own processing costs
Training
Must pass a handgun shooting qualification in front of a certified instructor (such as an NRA or police instructor)
Valid for
4 years
Issue policy
Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)

Does Rhode Island issue non-resident permits?

Yes. Rhode Island issues carry permits to non-residents, and a Rhode Island non-resident permit is honored in 24 other states. Under § 11-47-11 a person 21+ with a bona fide residence anywhere in the United States who holds a carry license issued by another state or subdivision may apply to a municipal licensing authority; the AG path (§ 11-47-18) is discretionary.

Compare every state's non-resident permit →

Do you have to tell police you are carrying in Rhode Island?

No Rhode Island statute imposes a duty to proactively inform police that you are carrying; licenses must be carried and produced on demand.

Carrying in a vehicle in Rhode Island

Carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle requires a Rhode Island carry license; an out-of-state permit holder may only transport through the state without stopping (§ 11-47-8(a)).

Where you can't carry in Rhode Island

Editor's verification notes

riag.ri.gov (HTTP 403) and webserver.rilegislature.gov (connection refused) blocked direct fetches during research; statutory and guidance text verified from indexed content of those official pages — re-fetch to confirm before publish. Per AG 2022-01 post-Bruen guidance and case law, municipal authorities may not require a showing of need under § 11-47-11. Statutory no-carry places are unusually sparse in RI, hence only two off-limits places list entries; courthouse restrictions stem from judicial administrative order.

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor a Rhode Island carry permit?
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does Rhode Island recognize out-of-state carry permits?
No reciprocity for carrying within the state. Sole exception (§ 11-47-8(a)): a holder of a valid carry license from another state may transport a handgun through Rhode Island in a vehicle only while merely passing through, with no intent to stop or remain in the state.

Official sources