State profile · WI
Wisconsin Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Where Your Permit Works
A Wisconsin resident permit (Wisconsin Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) License) is honored in 32 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 3 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, Wisconsin recognizes permits from 44 states on its official list. Wisconsin is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Wisconsin recognizes.
Where a Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin honors
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Holder must be 21+ AND must NOT be a Wisconsin resident (a WI resident needs a WI license even if holding another state's permit). Recognition is based on the WI DOJ list of states whose permits require a background check comparable to Wisconsin's. Permit-class limits on the DOJ list: Virginia NON-RESIDENT licenses only; Florida NON-RESIDENT licenses only; Idaho regular or enhanced only (not emergency); West Virginia regular resident or non-resident CHLs only (not provisional); Missouri regular only (not provisional). NOT honored: Maine, New Jersey, Oregon (and Guam, Virgin Islands; Puerto Rico regular licenses only). Vermont issues no permits.
Wisconsin at a glance
- Permit
- Wisconsin Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) License
- Issued by
- Wisconsin Department of Justice (Firearms Section)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Resident minimum age
- 21
- Non-resident permits
- Not issued
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No
- Magazine limit
- None
Issued only to Wisconsin residents (valid WI driver's license or ID required) or active-duty military stationed in Wisconsin (WI DOJ CCW FAQ).
Vehicle carry
License holders may carry a loaded, concealed handgun in a vehicle. Without a license, a loaded handgun may be placed or transported in a vehicle (Wis. Stat. § 167.31(2)) but may NOT be concealed within reach — case law treats a hidden firearm within reach as unlawfully concealed.
Off-limits places in Wisconsin
- Police stations, sheriff's offices and state patrol stations (Wis. Stat. § 175.60(16))
- Prisons, jails, houses of correction and secured correctional facilities
- Secured units of mental health institutions and secure treatment facilities
- County, state and federal courthouses (and municipal courtrooms while court is in session)
- Areas beyond airport security checkpoints
- School grounds and premises (firearms; Wis. Stat. § 948.605 — applies to licensees too)
Frequently asked questions
- Which states honor a Wisconsin carry permit?
- Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
- Does Wisconsin recognize out-of-state carry permits?
- Holder must be 21+ AND must NOT be a Wisconsin resident (a WI resident needs a WI license even if holding another state's permit). Recognition is based on the WI DOJ list of states whose permits require a background check comparable to Wisconsin's. Permit-class limits on the DOJ list: Virginia NON-RESIDENT licenses only; Florida NON-RESIDENT licenses only; Idaho regular or enhanced only (not emergency); West Virginia regular resident or non-resident CHLs only (not provisional); Missouri regular only (not provisional). NOT honored: Maine, New Jersey, Oregon (and Guam, Virgin Islands; Puerto Rico regular licenses only). Vermont issues no permits.
- Can I carry in Wisconsin without a permit?
- Wisconsin is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Wisconsin recognizes.
- Do I have to tell police in Wisconsin that I am carrying?
- No proactive duty to inform; a licensee or out-of-state licensee must display the license and photo ID only upon an officer's request while the officer is acting in an official capacity ($25 forfeiture; Wis. Stat. § 175.60(2g)(c), (17)(a)).
Official sources
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Reciprocity (Out-of-State Licenses Recognized in Wisconsin) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — Concealed Carry Weapon License — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) — accessed 2026-08-08