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Concealed Carry Map

State profile · WV

West Virginia Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Where Your Permit Works

A West Virginia resident permit (Concealed Handgun License (CHL)) is honored in 35 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, West Virginia recognizes permits from 36 states on its official list. West Virginia allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Open the interactive map for a West Virginia permit →

Where a West Virginia permit is honored

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
ColoradoRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
ConnecticutNot recognizedNot recognized
DelawareRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
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
LouisianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and 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 — and permitless carry applies
NevadaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
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 DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OhioRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OklahomaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OregonNot recognizedNot recognized
PennsylvaniaRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
Rhode IslandNot 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
WisconsinRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
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 West Virginia honors

W. Va. Code § 61-7-6a: an out-of-state permit is valid in WV only if the holder is 21+, has the permit in immediate possession, is NOT a West Virginia resident, and the issuing state recognizes WV CHLs (governor notification or written reciprocity agreement). The issuing state's permit need not be a resident permit, so qualifying non-resident permits count. Recognition is largely academic for visitors 21+, who may carry permitless anyway; under-21 out-of-state permit holders are NOT covered. Honored list derived from the AG's official reciprocity map (as of Oct 1, 2025): every permit-issuing state recognizes WV CHLs except CA, CT, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI and WA (Vermont issues no permits).

West Virginia at a glance

Permit
Concealed Handgun License (CHL) · Provisional Concealed Handgun License (ages 18-20)
Issued by
County sheriff (residents apply in their county of residence; non-residents may apply to any county sheriff)
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
21
Non-resident permits
Issued
Permitless carry
Yes (21+)
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
None

Since early-2021 law changes, non-residents may obtain a WV CHL by applying to any county sheriff of their choice with the same requirements as residents (live-fire training, fees). Provisional CHLs (18-20) are limited to WV residents.

Vehicle carry

Permitless carry (21+, non-prohibited) extends to loaded handguns in vehicles. A lawfully possessed firearm may be kept locked and out of view in a vehicle in any parking lot (§ 61-7-14) and on the State Capitol Complex (§ 61-6-19(b)).

Off-limits places in West Virginia

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor a West Virginia carry permit?
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does West Virginia recognize out-of-state carry permits?
W. Va. Code § 61-7-6a: an out-of-state permit is valid in WV only if the holder is 21+, has the permit in immediate possession, is NOT a West Virginia resident, and the issuing state recognizes WV CHLs (governor notification or written reciprocity agreement). The issuing state's permit need not be a resident permit, so qualifying non-resident permits count. Recognition is largely academic for visitors 21+, who may carry permitless anyway; under-21 out-of-state permit holders are NOT covered. Honored list derived from the AG's official reciprocity map (as of Oct 1, 2025): every permit-issuing state recognizes WV CHLs except CA, CT, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI and WA (Vermont issues no permits).
Can I carry in West Virginia without a permit?
West Virginia allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
Do I have to tell police in West Virginia that I am carrying?
No proactive duty-to-inform appears in WV statute, the AG's guide or the AG's FAQ; out-of-state holders must have the permit in immediate possession (§ 61-7-6a(a)(2)).

Official sources