South Carolina has shall-issue police for CCW permits in the state, done at the level of South Carolina Law Enforcement Agency (SLED).

The state has lenient gun laws, and as long as you meet the CCW permit requirements, you will get a license.

There are no purchase permits, neither do you have to undergo a background check while buying from a private dealer.

To conceal carry in South Carolina, you must understand state laws like self-defense, location restrictions, age requirements, etc.

South Carolina Gun Laws

In South Carolina, you can conceal carry with a resident issued CCW permit.

For non-residents to conceal carry, they require a permit from any state that South Carolina honors.

If you are non-resident and you want a South Carolina CCW permit, you must own property in the state.

Members of the military posted to South Carolina can also apply for the CCW permit.

To apply, you must be at least twenty-one years old.

South Carolina CCW Permit Reciprocity

South Carolina has reciprocity on CCW permits with some states in the USA.

Other aspects of its reciprocity include the following:

  • States that South Carolina will accept their CCW permit: You can conceal carry in territories of South Carolina as long as you have a CCW license from any of these states. There are twenty-five of them.
  • States that will accept CCW permit from South Carolina: If you have an issued CCW permit in South Carolina, you can conceal carry in these states. There are nineteen of them.
  • States that have restricted reciprocity with South Carolina: These states will only accept a resident-only CCW permit from South Carolina. Therefore, you cannot conceal carry with permits issued to non-residents or members of the military in these states. There are two of them.
  • States that have a permitless policy for conceal carry:  You can conceal carry without a CCW permit in these states. However, you must meet the age requirements and other restrictions for permitless carry in these states. There are fourteen of them.

As a non-resident that wants to conceal carry in South Carolina, you need to know that the state has various standards for CCW permits within its territory.

Also, residents of South Carolina that want to conceal carry in other states must understand the gun policies and requirements to conceal carry in these states.

Also, it is compulsory that you respect concealed carry laws such as location restrictions, dealing with firearms, and concealed carry requirements.

Location Restrictions For Concealed Carry In South Carolina

Even if you have a South Carolina CCW permit, you are not allowed to conceal carry in every location of the state.

These places are off-limits, except you are a law enforcement officer or a peace officer in the state.

Places Where You Can Conceal Carry In South Carolina

  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in schools, colleges, technical institutions, and universities in the state. The exceptions to this are if you get permission from the school management, or you are a permit holder, in which case you keep the firearm away in your vehicle.

  You are not allowed to conceal carry in a building used for public activities without getting approval from those in charge of the building, except permit holders who can keep the firearm in their vehicle.

  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in school sports centers or any professional sporting activity that is not related to firearms.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in daycare centers or children facilities.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in offices or meetings organized by those in charge of municipalities, districts, and counties in South Carolina.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in offices and facilities used by law enforcement agencies.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in prisons, detentions, and correctional facilities.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in courthouses and during court proceedings.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in polling units during election.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in churches, mosques, synagogues, or any other place of worship except you have permission from those in charge.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry within a hospital and buildings such as doctors’ offices unless you have permission to do so.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in private buildings and properties that have a post prohibiting the possession of firearms on their premises.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in public transportations.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in lodging ventures like guest houses and motels that have signage prohibiting firearm possession.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in the home of another person except if you have the permission to do so.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in state capitol grounds except permit holders that can lock the firearm away in a vehicle.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in places where federal laws restrict gun possessions.

Places Where You Can Conceal Carry In South Carolina

You can possess your firearms in the following places or situations:

  • Restaurants and Bars: You are allowed to conceal carry in restaurants and bars except you are under the influence of alcohol, or those in charge prohibits it.
  • Private vehicle: You can conceal carry in private cars.
  • Roadsides: You can conceal carry in roadsides and rest areas.
  • State/ National parks and Forests: You conceal carry in state/national forests and parks, as well as Wildlife Management Areas.

Conceal Carry For Law Enforcement Officers In South Carolina

Officers of the law in the United States can choose to conceal carry in a jurisdiction of the state, without location restrictions or any form of limitation from gun state or local laws.

This policy is according to the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Acts that covers active, out of service for good standing and retired officers of the law.

In South Carolina, retired officers must meet LEOSA standards before they qualify for concealed carry in the state.

The law enforcement agency that the officer retired from will be in charge of the training and qualification, and this is not different from the same standards for active officers.

Also, out of state retired officers that want to conceal carry in South Carolina must meet the state standards.

Buying And Selling Of Firearms In South Carolina

Before you deal with firearms in South Carolina, you must be aware of the various laws for buying, selling, transporting, and transferring firearms in the state.

Some of the things that you should know include:

Purchase Permits And Firearm Registrations In The State

You do not need a purchase permit to buy a firearm in South Carolina.

Also, the state does not have a firearm registration policy or roster list for accepted firearms.

However, you can buy a firearm with a South Carolina CCW permit in the state.

Criminal Record Background Check For Firearm Purchase In South Carolina

Background check Is compulsory for state and federally licensed dealers in South Carolina. But it is not a requirement for private sellers.

You should keep your firearm sales receipt in case you have to prove ownership of your gun.

If you have a CCW permit, you do not have to undergo a background check.

Waiting Period For Firearm Purchase In South Carolina

There is no waiting period requirement for buying a firearm in South Carolina.

As long as you complete the background check and pay for it, the deal is complete.

Age Requirement For The Possession Of Firearms In South Carolina

You must be at least eighteen years old before you can transport and purchase a firearm in South Carolina.

Possession Of Firearms On Personal Properties

You do not need a South Carolina CCW permit to possess a firearm in your home of residence, your place or business, or any other personal property.

Castle Doctrine In South Carolina

South Carolina has a castle doctrine law for self-defense in the state.

If you are not involved in any illegal activity, and you are somewhere you are legally bound to be, you do not have a duty to retreat when under an attack.

Therefore, you can stand your ground and use the necessary force for self-protection.

This could be a deadly force against severe bodily harm, an imminent death, or violent activity.

Castle doctrine in South Carolina applies in your home or any dwelling place, your vehicle, your place of business, etc. Outside these places, you have to retreat and flee from an attack.

The castle doctrine law will grant you immunity against civil liability in the state.

CCW Permit Requirements In South Carolina

Before you can make a South Carolina concealed carry permit application, you must meet all requirements provided by the laws of the state.

The requirements include the following:

  • You must be at least twenty-one years old.
  • You must be a resident of South Carolina or a non-resident that has property in the state.
  • You must enroll and qualify for a South Carolina concealed carry permit course for firearm training.
  • You must not be a convict for any felony or a crime that has to do with violence.
  • You must not have a bad vision.
  • You must not have a court order that prohibits you from using, handling, and possession of firearms in South Carolina.
  • You must meet all federal law requirements for a concealed carry permit in the United States.

How To Apply For CCW Permit In South Carolina

After meeting all South Carolina concealed carry permit requirements, you can then apply for the concealed carry license.

The application process includes the following:

Complete Firearm Training Course

You must apply for a recognized South Carolina concealed carry permit class before proceeding with the application procedure.

This could also be a South Carolina concealed carry permit online course, as long as a certified instructor conducts it.

Download Application Form

Review the concealed carry guide for South Carolina CCW permit application, and download the application form online

Submit Application

You can either submit your application physically, go to the IdentoGo site for online registration, or you make the application via a mail.

For the online application, visit the IdentoGo site and make an appointment. You can then submit, take your fingerprint and send it electronically.

Submit The Necessary Documents

Some of the documents you have to submit with the application form include the following:

  • A state-issued driver’s license or ID card.
  • Proof of property with tax form if you are non-resident.
  • Your firearm training certificate with an appended signature from you and the certified firearm instructor.
  • Your applicant checklist.
  • Two fingerprint cards.
  • The required fee, payable to SLED.

Military members that are actively in service must provide a military order, while retired and honorably discharged members must provide proof.

Retired law enforcement officers, honorably discharged members of the military, and disabled veterans are exemptions for CCW permit fees in South Carolina.

The address to mail your application is SLED data center, Columbia, South Carolina 29221-1398. P.O. BOX 21398.

Receive Notification.

You will receive notification by mail if your application is accepted.

Firearm Training Requirements South Carolina

South Carolina firearm training requires that you should demonstrate your expertise in handling firearms and your knowledge of the gun laws in the state.

You must complete a State Carolina concealed carry permit course conducted by a law enforcement agency or any other nationally accepted organization that oversees firearms safety.

You must have completed the course in the past three years, and it must include the following:

  • Details of gun laws in the state and the use of excessive force.
  • Details on the use of a handgun and how to handle safely.
  • Details on firearm storage and practices to minimize accidental injury for children.
  • A live-fire session conducted by the certified firearm instructor.

South Carolina Concealed Carry FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions on CCW in South Carolina.

For How Long Can I Use My South Carolina CCW Permit?

South Carolina CCW permit is valid for five years, after which you have to apply for a renewal application.

How Much IS South Carolina CCW Permit?

Both initial and renewal permits cost fifty dollars each.

How Long Will It Take Me To Get My CCW Permit In South Carolina?

The processing period for CCW permits in South Carolina is ninety days.

How Soon Can I Apply For A Renewal Application In South Carolina?

You will get a renewal application mail within a period of ninety to one hundred and twenty days before the permit expires.

Note that there is no online renewal.

Additional Resources

South Carolina Gun Laws
South Carolina Open Carry Laws
South Carolina Gun Permit Laws

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