This state of North Carolina has a shall-issue policy for firearms and concealed carry permits provided by the local county sheriff’s office, as long as you meet all requirements stated bylaws in the state, you will get an issued license.

You can also use a North Carolina concealed handgun permit to purchase a firearm in the state, or you apply for a purchase permit.

Other laws concerning concealed carry you must know about North Carolina include location restrictions, self-defense, CCW permit requirements, etc.

North Carolina Gun laws

You can conceal carry in North Carolina with a concealed handgun permit issued in the state. This serves as a CCW permit, just like in every other state in the country.

You must be at least twenty-one years old before you apply for North Carolina CCW permits.

Also, the permit is issued to only residents of the state, and members of the military posted to North Carolina.

The state requires that you complete a firearm training before North Carolina concealed carry permit application.

North Carolina CCW Permit Reciprocity

North Carolina is one of the states that accept a CCW permit from other states in the country.

Other aspects of its reciprocity include the following:

  • States that North Carolina will accept their CCW permit: Non-residents from other states can conceal carry in North Carolina as long as they have a CCW permit issued from their state, and they meet the minimum age requirement of twenty-one. This covers all states in America.
  • States that will honor CCW permits from North Carolina: You can conceal carry in these states with North Carolina CCW permit. There are nineteen of them.
  • States that will accept restricted reciprocity with North Carolina: You can conceal carry in these states only if you have a non-resident permit issued by North Carolina. There are five of them.
  • States that have permitless carry police: You can conceal carry in these states without a permit. However, you must meet the age requirements and all other restrictions for permitless carry provided by the gun laws of these states. There are fourteen of them.

Every state has its gun laws, and in some cases, they are entirely different from the gun laws of any other state.

So make sure that before you conceal carry in a state where you are non-resident, you have read and understood the gun laws.

Also, if you are only transporting the firearm through the state, make sure you know what the state laws say about this, and you are with your permits at all times.

Location Restriction In North Carolina

Another important aspect of North Carolina concealed carry law is location restrictions that prevent the possession of firearms in some places.

These places are off-limits, and except if you are a law enforcement officer or a peace officer, you cannot conceal carry there.

Places Where You Cannot Conceal Carry In North Carolina

  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in schools, both privately and publicly owned, as well as colleges and universities. However, you can keep your firearm away in its safe in your car. But private schools still have the right to prohibit this.
  • You cannot conceal carry in, vehicles used by schools, university campuses, and other areas used by an educational institution such as sports fields and recreational centers.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry during a program or event organized by a school.
  • You cannot conceal carry in buildings used by law enforcement agencies or offices used by law enforcement employees.
  • You cannot conceal carry in detention and correctional facilities in the state.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in buildings that contain offices of federal or state government officials.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry on any private building or property that has a post prohibiting the possession of a firearm on their premises.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in places like the New Carolina Capitol Building, executive mansions, on the western residence of the state governor, and within the premises of these buildings. However, if you have a North Carolina CCW permit, you can lock your firearm away in your vehicle.
  • You cannot conceal carry in public places of municipalities and counties such as a playground, sports field, swimming pool, etc., as long as these places have signage prohibiting the possession of firearms in their premises.
  • You cannot conceal carry in the fairground of North Carolina.
  • You cannot conceal carry in places where they sell alcoholic drinks if they have a post restricting firearms, or if you are under the influence of alcohol, the only exception to this is the owner of such a venture.
  • You cannot conceal carry in any place prohibited by federal laws.

Places Where You Can Conceal Carry In North Carolina

There are no gun laws in North Carolina that restrict you from concealed carry in the following places or situations:

  • Bars and Restaurants: You can conceal carry in bars and restaurants as long as you are not under the influence of alcohol, and there are no prohibitions by the management of the place.
  • In Private Vehicles: You can conceal carry in your private vehicle, but you must be with your North Carolina concealed handgun license.
  • State Parks and Forests: You can conceal carry in state and federal parks and forests, including Wildlife Management Areas.
  • Places of Worship: There are no restrictions by gun laws in North Carolina that prohibits you from the possession of firearms in places of worship. However, since they are also private properties, you might be banned from using your gun.

Concealed Carry For Law Enforcement Officers In North Carolina.

Officers of the law are allowed to conceal carry in every jurisdiction of the United States without location restrictions or any other limitation by state or local laws.

This is under The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act. This act covers active, out of service and retired officers of the law.

In North Carolina, the legislature allows the state Criminal and Justice Education and Training Standard Commissions to provide guidelines for retired officers’ firearm conceal carry qualification. This is done annually in the state.

Before a retired officer can conceal carry in North Carolina, he or she must meet these standards in either of the two ways:

  • The retired officer can qualify to conceal carry from the agency he or she retired. In this case, the agency will be in charge of the process, and the officer will submit all necessary documents to them. Hence, the state Criminal and Justice commission will not interfere with this process.
  • The retired officer will visit the state Criminal and Justice standard commission and complete the required training following LEOSA. After the officer qualifies, the commission will provide certification to conceal carry in the state.

Buying And Selling Of Firearms In North Carolina

Before you complete the sales of firearms in North Carolina, there are some requirements that you must fulfill.

This also includes the laws that cover the possession, transportation, and transfer of firearms in North Carolina.

Purchase Permits And Handgun Registrations In North Carolina

You must have a handgun purchase permit before buying a handgun in North Carolina.

However, if you have the North Carolina Concealed Handgun License, you do not need a purchase permit to buy firearms.

Also, there are no Handgun registrations in the state of North Carolina.

Criminal Background Record Check In North Carolina.

To get either the purchase permit or the state’s concealed handgun permit, you must complete NICS criminal background record check.

Waiting Period For Completing The Sale Of Firearm In North Carolina

There is no specified rule that you have to wait to complete the sales of a firearm in North Carolina.

But if you want to apply for a purchase permit, it will take fourteen days before you can receive and can use it.

Age Requirement For Possession And Transportation Of Firearm In North Carolina

You must be at least eighteen years old to possess or transport a firearm in North Carolina.

Possession Of Firearm In Private Properties

You do not require a license or permit whatsoever to possess a firearm in your home of residence of any property that you lease or rent.

Handgun Purchase Process In North Carolina

Before you can purchase a firearm in North Carolina, you must have the CCW permit of a purchase permit.

You can apply for a handgun purchase permit from your county of residence sheriff’s office.

Just like North Carolina CCW permit, you must be a resident of the state for at least one month before applying for a purchase permit.

You must also have a means of identification from the state. This could either be a driver’s license or a North Carolina Identification card.

You can either apply for the permit online through the website or visit the country sheriff’s office.

In most counties, if you apply physically, you will not have to pay a convenience fee.

Upon completing a purchase permit application, you will get a release or court order form. You must notarize this and submit to the sheriff’s office within five days.

The processing period for the permit is between two weeks to one month, depending on your local county.

The county will forward a letter via mail to notify you of approval or denial after this processing period.

If you get an approval mail, make sure that you go and pick up your permit on or before twenty-eight days.

Castle Doctrine In North Carolina

North Carolina adopts the famous castle doctrine law; this means that you are allowed to stand your ground in the face of an attack when you are in your dwelling place.

In North Carolina, your use of deadly force is justified. You have no duty to retreat as long as you are in a place where you lawfully bided to be, and you believe that such force is needed to protect your life or that of someone that is with you.

Castle doctrine law also applies in your vehicle and place of work, provided the force used was for self-defense, and against an intruder or someone committing a felony act such as rape, kidnap, or armed robbery.

North Carolina CCW Permit Requirements

Before North Carolina concealed carry permit application, you must meet all requirements provided by the laws of the states.

They include the following:

  • You must be at least twenty-one years old.
  • You must complete North Carolina concealed carry permit course for firearms training. The only exceptions to this are members of the military and law enforcement officers.
  • You must be a legal citizen of the United States of America.
  • You must be a resident of North Carolina for at least thirty days before application.
  • You must be a resident of the county you are applying to.
  • You must not be a felony or under any indictment whatsoever.
  • You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name.
  • You must not be physically or mentally disabled in such a way that it can affect your handling or firearm.
  • You must not be a dishonorably discharged member of the military.
  • You must not be a narcotic or an unlawful user of marijuana or any controlled substance.
  • You must not be guilty of any crime involving violence or misdemeanor three years before application.
  • You must not be guilty of crimes such as assault, stalking, child abuse, battery, or have a protection order from any law court.
  • You must not be guilty or sentenced for a crime relating to the assault of a law enforcement officer, a probation officer, medical personnel, an emergency responder, or a parole officer.
  • You must not be a convict for any driving offense three years before the application.
  • You must meet all federal laws for the CCW permit application.

How To Apply For CCW Permit In North Carolina

After you have met all North Carolina concealed carry permit requirements, you can then apply for the concealed handgun license.

The application process includes the following:

Complete A Firearm Course

North Carolina requires that you complete an eight hours firearm course before you apply for your concealed carry permit.

You can also enroll for a North Carolina concealed carry permit online course. But make sure that any firearm training you apply for is state-approved with a licensed instructor.

Obtain The Application

You can either download the application online or visit your local county sheriff’s office to apply, depending on your county of residence.

Submit The Necessary Documents

Take your application form to the sheriff’s office and complete it under oath. Other documents you will need include the following:

  • Your firearm training certificate.
  • Your North Carolina state ID card or driver’s license and proof of residence.
  • If you are military personnel, you must bring proof of active duty or discharge from duty.
  • If you are a Naturalized citizen of the United States, bring either a certificate to prove this or United States passport.
  • Citizens born outside the United States to American parents must provide documentation from the state department.
  • If you are a permanent resident, you must provide your permanent resident card.

At the county office, you must provide your fingerprints and sign a release disclosure for mental health records.

Receive Notification

You will receive a mail notification for approval or denied permit.

North Carolina Concealed Carry FAQs

Some of the frequently asked questions about CCW in North Carolina that you must know:

How Long Is My North Carolina CCW Permit Valid For?

Your CCW permit is valid for five years.

How Much Is CCW Permit In North Carolina?

An initial permit costs ninety dollars, while a renewal application costs seventy-five dollars. However, this could vary from one county to another.

How Long Will It Take To Get My CCW Permit in North Carolina?

CCW permits in North Carolina have a processing period of forty-five days.

Additional Resources

North Carolina Gun Laws
North Carolina Open Carry Laws
North Carolina Gun Permit Laws

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