South Dakota is a constitutional carry state that issues permits for the possession of firearms.

The state has gun laws for the application of their pistol licenses, and you must meet all requirements provided by the law.

South Dakota Gun Permit Summary

South Dakota is a shall-issue state for the application of gun permits processed at the level of the sheriff’s office in a local county.

The state issues three types of pistol permits, namely, Regular, Gold, and Enhanced licenses, and they all have their various benefits.

How To Get A Gun Permit In South Dakota?

In South Dakota, a gun permit application is for anyone that is twenty-one or more and without a prohibition to possess firearms by a law court.

The gun license in for only concealed carry in the state.

South Dakota Gun Permit Laws

You can open carry firearms in South Dakota without a permit as long as you are eighteen years old, and you do not have a prohibition or restriction for the use of firearms issued federally or in the state.

However, you cannot open carry in all locations in the state. Some places are off-limit.

The state also prohibits the use of assault weapons such as machine guns and semi-automatic firearms except for law enforcement officers, military members, licensed individuals, and a person who just dispossesses it off an aggressor.

South Dakota Pistol Permit Requirements

To apply for a gun license in South Dakota, you must meet all the requirements provided by gun laws of the state, and they include the following:

  • You must meet the age requirement of eighteen for a regular CCW permit, and twenty-one for gold and enhanced license.
  • You must be a resident of the local country where you are making a South Dakota concealed carry permit application for at least thirty days. The only exception to this is members of the military posted to the state and their spouses.
  • You must be a citizen of America and reside legally in the country.
  • You must not be guilty or a convict of any felony crime that has to do with violence.
  • You must not be a drug addict or live in an intoxicated condition.
  • You must not be previously involved in any violent case.
  • You must not be mentally impaired or adjudged to be dangerous to yourself or others for ten years before the South Dakota permit application.
  • You must not have any firearm violation or involvement in the illegal use of firearms, controlled substances, or any misdemeanor charge, five years before a permit application in South Dakota.
  • You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name.
  • You must meet all federal law requirements for pistol permit applications.

Different Types Of Gun Permits In South Dakota

A summary of firearms permits issued in South Dakota includes the following:

  • State permit to purchase long guns: South Dakota does not issue a state permit to purchase long guns.
  • State permits to purchase handguns: South Dakota does not issue a state permit to purchase handguns.
  • State permit to open carry: South Dakota is a permissive state, so no permit required to open carry.
  • State permits to conceal carry long guns: South Dakota does not issue a state permit to conceal long guns.
  • State permits to conceal carry handguns: South Dakota issues a pistol permit to conceal carry handguns in the state.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A Gun License In South Dakota?

The price for a regular permit in South Dakota is ten dollars, gold cards cost seventy dollars and enhanced permit cots one hundred dollars.

Apart from these costs, you will pay an additional forty-three dollars and twenty-five cents for fingerprints while applying for gold or enhanced permits.

Gun Permits Application And Renewal Law In South Dakota?

The processes to apply for a pistol permit in South Dakota are:

Choose The Permit You Want

First, you need to determine if you want the regular permit, the gold permit, or the enhanced permit.

Your choice will determine how you go ahead with the whole process.

Complete Firearm Training

If you want an enhanced permit, you must complete a South Dakota firearm training class done twelve months before the application.

For other types of permit, firearm training isn’t a requirement.

Make sure that a state-certified instructor is in charge of the training.

Complete Application

Visit your county sheriff’s office to apply for a provisional application. If it is a gold card or an enhanced permit, then you have to provide your fingerprints too.

Note that the fingerprint will carry a separate payment for the criminal record background check.

Get Your Temporary Permit Card

The local sheriff will issue you a temporary card within five days of a permit application.

Get Your Permanent Card

After about seven days of application, your local sheriff will send a

copy of your form to the state secretary, who will be in charge of issuing you an official permit.

For the permit renewal process, you can begin the application in the sheriff office of your local county at least ninety days before the expiry date up until thirty days after the expiry date.

To renew, you will have to pay a fee of fifty dollars and complete a criminal record background check for gold and enhanced permits.

If you do not renew the permit up until thirty days after the expiry date, the permit becomes invalid, and you will have to apply for a new one.

Note that this renewal application process is for all types of permits issued in South Dakota.

For those whose permits were issued according to chapter twenty-three of the gun law statute, there is a sixty-day period to renew the permit after it expires.

During this period, you may still use the permit to conceal carry firearms. However, police or law enforcement officers can issue you a warning ticket as a reminder to renew your permit.

Note that these sixty days grace does not apply to those you cannot renew their current permit due to a crime they commit, or those whose renewal application was denied or rejected.

Gun Permit Reciprocity With South Dakota

South Dakota will honor permits issued by any jurisdiction of the United States of America.

Other aspects of its reciprocity include:

States That Recognize South Dakota Pistol Permit

In these states, you can possess your firearms with a pistol permit issued in South Dakota, but you must comply with the state’s gun law while carrying the firearm. They include:

  • Alabama
  • Indiana
  • Montana
  • North Dakota

States That Have Restricted Reciprocity With South Dakota

These states will honor a pistol permit from South Dakota, but the licensee must meet other requirements before he or she can possess firearms with these permits. The states are:

  • Colorado
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
  • Puerto Rico

States That Have Restricted Reciprocity With South Dakota

In these states, you do not need a pistol permit to open or conceal carry firearms. However, there might be other requirements you must satisfy before the possession of firearms. They are:

  • Arizona
  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • Oklahoma
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia

FAQs About Gun Permits In South Dakota

Some of the most frequently asked questions about South Dakota pistol permit application include the following:

Do I Need A Permit To Conceal Carry Firearms In South Dakota?

Yes, you must have a gun license in South Dakota before you conceal carry in the state.

How Long Is South Dakota Gun Permit Valid?

The permit is valid for five years, after which you have to apply for a renewal.

Can Non-Residents Apply For South Dakota Gun Permits?

No, only non-residents that are members of the military posted to the state, and their spouses can apply for a South Dakota gun permit license.

How Many Types Of Pistol Licenses Does South Dakota Issue?

South Dakota issues regular, gold, and enhanced permits.

Regular permits holders will be able to possess firearms with the license in some states.

Gold permit holders will have the same benefits as regular permit holders, and the license can also serve as proof that they complete a criminal record background check.

Enhanced permit holders will benefit from the same advantages as regular and gold permits, as well as the possession of firearms in at least more than six states than the other two types of licenses.

How Can I Change The Name And Address On My South Dakota Gun Permit License?

For a change of name, address, or any other relevant detail on your South Dakota pistol license, you have to send a letter to the state secretary with details such as your Date of birth, the new name and old name or the new address and old address, with a fee of two dollars.

What Can I Do If I Lost My South Dakota Permit Or It Gets Stolen?

Write a letter to the state secretary explaining the loss of your permit, other essential details, and a two dollars’ fee for a replacement permit.

How Soon Can I Apply For South Dakota Gun Permit After Moving To The State?

New residents that want to apply for South Dakota permits can only do so after living in the state for at least thirty days.

Can I Make Use Of South Dakota Gun Permit After Moving To Another State In The Country?

No, as soon as you establish residency in another state in the country, your South Dakota permit automatically expires and becomes invalid.

Do I Need A South Dakota Pistol Permit To Open Carry In The State?

No, South Dakota does not issue a pistol permit for the open carry of firearms in the state.

It is a permissive open carry state, and as long as you have legal rights to possess firearms, you can open carry.

What Is The Minimum Age Requirement To Apply For South Dakota Pistol Permit?

You must be at least eighteen years old to apply for a gun permit in South Dakota.

Do I need A Permit To Purchase Firearms In South Dakota?

No, South Dakota does not issue a purchase permit to buy firearms.

Does My Firearm Permit Exempt Me From Completing A Criminal Record Background Check Before Buying Firearms In South Dakota?

Only gold and enhanced gun permits will exempt you from completing a criminal record check to buy firearms in the state.

Do I Need A South Dakota Permit To Possess Firearms In My Private Property?

No, you do not need a gun license to possess firearms in your home, private properties, or personal vehicle.

Do I Need To Complete A Firearm Training Before Applying For South Dakota Pistol Permit?

Only enhanced permit applications require the completion of a firearm training course.

What Is The Processing Period For Firearm Permits In South Dakota?

The processing period of a regular permit will take about five days. But since you need to complete a criminal record check before the application of gold and enhanced permits, the processing period will take about thirty days.

What Is The Age Requirements To Possess Firearms In South Dakota?

You must be eighteen years old or more to possess firearms in South Dakota.

Relevant Gun Laws Permits And Legislature In South Dakota

Some of South Dakota pistol permit relating to the possession of a firearm in the state include the following:

Possession Of Firearms In Private Vehicles Of The State

Yes, you do not need a permit to possess firearms in your private vehicle in South Dakota as long as you are eighteen years old or more.

[S.D. Codified Laws §§ 23-7-7.4 & 23-7-7]

Possession Of Firearms In Roadside Areas

You can conceal carry firearms in roadside areas of the state as long as you are a pistol permit holder.

Possession Of Firearms In State Parks, Forests, And Wildlife Management Areas

According to the statute, [S.D. Codified Laws § 1-26-6.10], you can possess firearms in state and national parks, forests, and wildlife management areas as long as you are a South Dakota pistol permit holder.

Possession Of Firearms In Restaurant And Bar Areas Of The State

You can only conceal carry firearms in the eatery area of a restaurant and bar venture if you are a licensee, but not in the bar area. If there is a post prohibiting the possession of firearms in these areas, you cannot conceal carry firearms there.

[S.D. Codified Laws § 23-7-70]

Possession Of Firearms In Hotels

In South Dakota, there are no statutes for the regulation of firearms in hotels since hotels can develop their privacy policies to control or prohibit firearms on their premises.

Therefore, being a South Dakota pistol permit holder is not a guarantee that you can possess firearms in hotels.

For more information, visit hotel websites.

Additional Resources

South Dakota Gun Laws
South Dakota Concealed Carry Laws
South Dakota Open Carry Laws

Get Your
Concealed Carry Weapons Permit 
Online In Minutes

About the Author

Follow me


{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}