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Concealed Carry Map
State profile · SC

South Carolina Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity

A South Carolina resident permit (South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP)) is honored in 34 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 1 more allows permitless carry even though it does not recognize the permit itself. In 7 of those 34, recognition has conditions (such as holder age or permit class), marked in the lists below. In the other direction, South Carolina recognizes permits from 2 states on its official list. South Carolina allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Open the interactive map for a South Carolina permit →

South Carolina concealed carry reciprocity map

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

Alabama: recognized — and permitless carry appliesALAlaska: recognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry appliesAKArizona: recognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry appliesAZArkansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesARCalifornia: not recognizedCAColorado: not recognizedCOConnecticut: not recognizedCTDelaware: not recognizedDEDistrict of Columbia: not recognizedDCFlorida: recognized — holders 21+ only; 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 — holders 21+ only; 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: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMTNebraska: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNENevada: recognized — carry with your permitNVNew Hampshire: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNHNew Jersey: not recognizedNJNew Mexico: recognized — carry with your permitNMNew 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: not recognizedPARhode Island: not recognizedRISouth Carolina (home state)SCSouth 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 — holders 21+ onlyVAWashington: not recognizedWAWest Virginia: recognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry appliesWVWisconsin: recognized — holders 21+ onlyWIWyoming: recognized — and permitless carry appliesWY
  • Permit honored
  • Honored + permitless carry
  • Permitless carry only
  • Not honored
  • Confirm case-by-case
  • South Carolina

Which states honor a South Carolina CWP? (34)

Alabama, Alaska (holders 21+ only), Arizona (holders 21+ only), Arkansas, Florida (holders 21+ only), Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana (holders 21+ only), Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia (holders 21+ only), West Virginia (holders 21+ only), Wisconsin (holders 21+ only), Wyoming

Where a South Carolina permit is not honored (16)

Permitless carry still applies (1): Maine

No lawful carry on this permit (15): California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington

Where a South Carolina 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 — holders 21+ only; permitless carry appliesRecognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry applies
ArizonaRecognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry appliesRecognized — holders 21+ only; 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 — holders 21+ only; 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 — not for Indiana residents; permitless carry applies
IowaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — not for Iowa residents; permitless carry applies
KansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — not for Kansas residents; permitless carry applies
KentuckyRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — not for Kentucky residents; permitless carry applies
LouisianaRecognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry appliesRecognized — holders 21+ only & not for Louisiana residents; 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
MontanaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
NebraskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — not for Nebraska residents; permitless carry applies
NevadaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — not for Nevada residents
New HampshireRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
New JerseyNot recognizedNot recognized
New MexicoRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — not for New Mexico residents
New YorkNot recognizedNot recognized
North CarolinaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
North DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OhioRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — not for Ohio residents; permitless carry applies
OklahomaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OregonNot recognizedNot recognized
PennsylvaniaNot recognizedNot recognized
Rhode IslandNot recognizedNot recognized
South DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — not for South Dakota residents; permitless carry applies
TennesseeRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — not for Tennessee residents; 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 — holders 21+ onlyRecognized — holders 21+ only
WashingtonNot recognizedNot recognized
West VirginiaRecognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry appliesRecognized — holders 21+ only & not for West Virginia residents; permitless carry applies
WisconsinRecognized — holders 21+ onlyRecognized — holders 21+ only & not for Wisconsin residents
WyomingRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies

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

Whose permits South Carolina honors

S.C. Code 23-31-215(N)(1) honors out-of-state permits only when 'held by a resident of a reciprocal state' whose permitting requires a background check and firearm training; Georgia and North Carolina permits are recognized automatically under (N)(2). Recognition covers handguns only. Largely moot for visitors 18+, who may carry permitless.

South Carolina at a glance

Permit
South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP)
Issued by
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
18
Non-resident permits
Issued
Permitless carry
Yes (18+)
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
None

Can you carry in South Carolina without a permit?

South Carolina allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

H.3594, signed March 7, 2024 and effective immediately, allows anyone 18+ not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm to carry openly or concealed without training and without a permit (SLED Constitutional Carry Guidance).

Is South Carolina an open carry state?

Yes. South Carolina allows open carry of a handgun without a permit from age 18 for people who may legally possess one.

Adults 18 and older who may legally have a gun can carry openly or concealed without a permit or training. Guns are still banned in places such as schools, churches, courthouses, public buildings and anywhere posted with a no-guns sign.

How to get a South Carolina concealed carry permit

Apply to
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) — start online, then fingerprints and documents at an IdentoGo site (or apply by mail)
Minimum age
18
Fee
No fee (state law bars SLED from charging for a permit)
Training
A handgun education course covering South Carolina law, handgun safety and storage, holster use and de-escalation, with at least 25 rounds fired before an instructor, taken within three years before applying. SLED offers a free statewide course.
Issue policy
Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)

Non-residents qualify only if they own real property in South Carolina; SLED must decide an application within 90 days.

Does South Carolina issue non-resident permits?

Yes. South Carolina issues carry permits to non-residents, and a South Carolina non-resident permit is honored in 32 other states. Non-residents qualify only as 'qualified nonresidents' who own real property in South Carolina (S.C. Code 23-31-215).

Compare every state's non-resident permit →

Do you have to tell police you are carrying in South Carolina?

SLED H.3594 guidance: a CWP holder or permitless carrier 'DOES NOT have a duty to notify a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a firearm', and a CWP holder is not required to carry the CWP or disclose CWP status.

Carrying in a vehicle in South Carolina

No restrictions on guns inside vehicles — a person not prohibited from possessing a firearm may store it anywhere in a vehicle, openly or concealed (SLED H.3594 guidance).

Where you can't carry in South Carolina

Editor's verification notes

23-31-215(N) requires SLED to 'maintain and publish a list' of reciprocal states, but no current list page could be located on sled.sc.gov (the pre-redesign reciprocity page was last archived in 2022, before the 2024 law), so honored-states list contains only the two statutorily automatic states (GA, NC) — treat the list as a verified minimum, not exhaustive. official reciprocity page points to the statute because it is the only current official recognition source retrievable.

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor a South Carolina carry permit?
Alabama, Alaska (holders 21+ only), Arizona (holders 21+ only), Arkansas, Florida (holders 21+ only), Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana (holders 21+ only), Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia (holders 21+ only), West Virginia (holders 21+ only), Wisconsin (holders 21+ only), Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does South Carolina recognize out-of-state carry permits?
S.C. Code 23-31-215(N)(1) honors out-of-state permits only when 'held by a resident of a reciprocal state' whose permitting requires a background check and firearm training; Georgia and North Carolina permits are recognized automatically under (N)(2). Recognition covers handguns only. Largely moot for visitors 18+, who may carry permitless.

Official sources