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North Carolina is considered unrestrictive and operates on a “Shall Issue” basis.
There are limited restrictions for open carry, and there are no restrictions for magazine size or caliber.
You must be a resident of North Carolina, 21, and have completed a firearms training course to obtain a permit.
There are exceptions for military personal if they’re posted at the state.
A permit is required to purchase a firearm and applications are processed at the county level by the local sheriff’s office.
| Open Carry Permitted? | Yes! |
| Carry In Vehicle? | Yes! |
| Carry In State Park? | Yes! |
| Carry In Restaurants? | Yes! |
| Constitutional Carry? | No |
| No Weapon Sign Enforced? | Yes! |
| Must Notify Officer? | Yes! |
North Carolina will honor concealed carry permits that have been issued in any other state. There are 38 states that will honor a North Carolina permit, 6 of these states will only honor the residential permit.
North Carolina has signed reciprocity agreements with 36 other states. An official list of these states can be seen at the Attorney Generals website.
YES – WITHOUT A PERMIT Open carry is legal in North Carolina. You may not carry in places listed as Off-Limit areas and local governments can place limited restrictions on open carry in some locations. The Law 160A-189 – Firearms 153A-129 – Firearms
YES – WITHOUT A PERMIT A person without a CCW permit can carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle if it is not concealed and visible, and they have no felony convictions. The current definition of concealed is if the handgun cannot be readily seen by a person approaching and the gun is readily accessible. A handgun under the front seat or in an unlocked glove box or console is illegal. A handgun openly displayed or in a locked glove box, locked console, or in the trunk is lawful. If you have a permit from North Carolina you may carry a loaded concealed handgun within a vehicle.
YES If the restaurant is not posted with a “No Weapons” sign then it is OK to enter. “Yes” or “No” states if you can carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol. Some restaurants may be posted with “NO GUN” signs. Check with the staff if this means just the bar area. If we have indicated a “Yes” then it should be legal to have a meal without drinking alcohol. The Law 14-269.3
NO
North Carolina does not have constitutional carry yet. In 2017 a bill to introduce permit-less carry passed the lower stages of the house so we are still waiting to see if it actually becomes law.
YES
North Carolina gun laws give “No Weapons” signs the force of law. There are legal penalties for entering a private property or business that has posted these signs.
YES – MUST INFORM OFFICER North Carolina gun laws state that you must inform a law enforcement officer you have a firearm when approached on official business. You are required to carry your permit at all times during which the permittee is in actual possession of a concealed handgun. The Law 14-415.21