Concealed Carry Reciprocity (2026): How It Works, State by State
Quick answer: Concealed carry reciprocity is when one state honors another state's carry permit. There is no national standard — each state sets its own list, 29 states now allow permitless carry, and about a dozen honor no outside permits at all. Check your permit state on our interactive reciprocity map before you travel.
📌 Reviewed against official state sources: August 14, 2026 · By James Nicholas
How concealed carry reciprocity works
Your carry permit is only as good as the laws of the state you're standing in. Every state answers two separate questions: whose permits do we honor? and who may carry here without any permit? Reciprocity is the first answer — a state-by-state patchwork built from statutes, attorney-general agreements, and mutual-recognition deals. Some states (like Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina) honor every state's permit; others (like Minnesota or Nevada) publish a specific annual list; and a hard core — California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island — honor none.
Three details trip travelers up constantly: many states honor resident permits only (Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Maine and Pennsylvania among them — your non-resident permit from a third state doesn't count); several honor only enhanced or specific permit classes (Idaho Enhanced, North Dakota Class 1, South Dakota Enhanced); and nearly all require the traveling carrier to be 21+ even if the home state licenses younger carriers.
How to read the map
On the map, pick the state that issued your permit. Every state colors instantly: dark green = permitless (no permit needed), green = honors your permit, amber hatch = conditional (verify the permit-type or age condition), red = does not honor it. Tap any state for the plain-English explanation, duty-to-inform rule and key restrictions, share or download your result, or flip the toggle to see whose permits a state honors. You can also plan a multi-state road trip and get a combined answer.
Permit vs. constitutional carry in 2026
29 states now have constitutional (permitless) carry: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming. In these states anyone who may legally possess a handgun — at the state's minimum age, usually 18 or 21 — may carry concealed with no permit, and most extend this to visitors. The remaining states and D.C. require a permit, with California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and D.C. still imposing heavy requirements after the Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision ended may-issue discretion.
Permits still matter even in permitless America: a permit earns reciprocity when you cross state lines, can exempt you from purchase background-check paperwork in some states, and in several states unlocks carry in places permitless carriers cannot go.
Duty to inform, state by state
Whether you must proactively tell a police officer you're carrying is one of the most-asked — and most state-specific — questions. 11 states impose a true duty to inform. Quick reference (see each state page for the exact rule):
| State | Duty to inform police? |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Only if asked — must answer truthfully |
| Alaska | Yes — must inform immediately |
| Arizona | Only if asked |
| Arkansas | When asked for ID (licensees) |
| California | No statewide duty (license may impose one) |
| Colorado | No |
| Connecticut | Present permit on request |
| Delaware | No |
| District of Columbia | Yes |
| Florida | No proactive duty — show ID on demand |
| Georgia | No |
| Hawaii | Yes — disclose immediately when stopped |
| Idaho | No |
| Illinois | Only if asked during a stop |
| Indiana | Only if asked |
| Iowa | No |
| Kansas | No |
| Kentucky | No proactive duty — display license on request |
| Louisiana | Yes — must notify officers |
| Maine | Yes if carrying permitless |
| Maryland | No — present permit on demand |
| Massachusetts | No |
| Michigan | Yes — disclose immediately on contact (licensees) |
| Minnesota | Only if asked — display on demand |
| Mississippi | No — display license on demand |
| Missouri | No |
| Montana | No |
| Nebraska | Yes — must inform immediately |
| Nevada | No — present permit if requested |
| New Hampshire | No |
| New Jersey | Yes — disclose and display when stopped |
| New Mexico | No |
| New York | No |
| North Carolina | Yes — notify on initial contact |
| North Dakota | Yes (permitless carriers) on official contact |
| Ohio | Must disclose when asked during a stop |
| Oklahoma | Must disclose when asked |
| Oregon | No |
| Pennsylvania | No — produce license on demand |
| Rhode Island | No |
| South Carolina | No |
| South Dakota | No |
| Tennessee | No — display permit on demand |
| Texas | Yes (license holders) when asked for ID |
| Utah | No |
| Vermont | No |
| Virginia | No — display permit and ID on demand |
| Washington | No |
| West Virginia | No |
| Wisconsin | No — display license on request |
| Wyoming | No — carry permit + ID, produce on request |
Where you can't carry — even with reciprocity
Reciprocity gets your permit recognized; it does not override the destination state's restrictions. Almost every state bars carry in K-12 schools, courthouses and detention facilities; federal law bars federal buildings; and states add their own lists — bars and alcohol-service establishments, polling places, secure airport areas, hospitals, public transit, stadiums and posted private property are the most common. The restrictive states (California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii and others) now run expansive “sensitive places” regimes where most public spaces are off-limits by default. Several states also enforce magazine capacity limits (10 rounds at the strictest, in states like CA, CT, DC, HI, MD, NJ and NY) that apply to visitors, and New Jersey bars carrying hollow-point ammunition. Check the “key restrictions” on each state page before you travel.
Law enforcement (LEOSA), military and other special cases
Qualified active and retired law-enforcement officers carry nationwide under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (18 U.S.C. § 926B and § 926C) — separate from state reciprocity, with its own ID and qualification requirements. Active-duty military members often qualify for lower permit ages and some state exemptions, but state carry law still applies off-base. Both groups should verify their specific status with the relevant agency.
National reciprocity: H.R. 38 & S. 65 status tracker
The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 would require every state to recognize other states' carry permits. Current status, verified August 14, 2026:
| Bill | Sponsor | Latest action | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.R. 38 | Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) | Reported by House Judiciary Committee, Oct 3, 2025 (ordered reported 18–9 on Mar 25, 2025) | Out of committee — awaiting House floor vote |
| S. 65 | Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) | Introduced Jan 9, 2025 | Introduced |
Neither bill is law. Nothing about current reciprocity changes unless and until a bill passes both chambers and is signed — we track status here and update this page when it moves (sources: govtrack.us/hr38, govtrack.us/s65).
Every state's gun-law & reciprocity guide
Reciprocity FAQ
What is concealed carry reciprocity?
Concealed carry reciprocity means one state recognizes (honors) a concealed-carry permit issued by another state, so you can legally carry there. It is a state-by-state patchwork set by each state’s law or agreements, and it changes often — always verify before traveling.
What states honor my concealed carry permit?
It depends on your issuing state. Most permits are honored in 25–38 states once you count the 29 permitless-carry states where no permit is needed. Use our interactive reciprocity map: pick your permit state and every state instantly shows honored, conditional, or not honored.
Was the concealed carry reciprocity act passed?
No. As of August 14, 2026, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 (H.R. 38) was reported out of the House Judiciary Committee on October 3, 2025 but has not passed the House; the Senate companion (S. 65) remains at the introduced stage. Neither is law.
How many states have constitutional carry in 2026?
29 states have constitutional (permitless) carry in 2026: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming. In these states, anyone who can legally possess a handgun (and meets the state’s age rule) may carry concealed without a permit.
Can I carry my gun in another state?
Only if that state honors your permit, or has permitless carry that covers visitors, and you follow its laws (duty to inform, off-limits places, magazine limits). Several states — including California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Illinois, Oregon, Rhode Island, Connecticut and D.C. — honor no out-of-state permits at all.
Do I need a permit if the state has constitutional carry?
Generally no, if you meet that state’s age and eligibility rules — most permitless states extend this to non-residents. A permit is still valuable: it earns reciprocity in permit states, and some states’ permitless laws have nuances for visitors.
What is a non-resident permit and why get one?
Some states issue carry permits to non-residents (Utah and Florida are the best known). Because different states honor different permits, adding a widely-honored non-resident permit can meaningfully expand where you can legally carry.
Is my permit valid in New York City?
No out-of-state permit is valid anywhere in New York State, and even New York State licenses issued outside NYC are not valid in the five boroughs unless validated. NYC is one of the strictest carry jurisdictions in the country.
Related: Concealed Carry by State (2026) · Firearms & 2A Legal Glossary · firearm guides at Guns & Gadgets Daily · carry gear at Popular EDC.
Not legal advice. Freedom's Lodge and Brand Avalanche Media are not attorneys; this guide is general educational information verified as of August 14, 2026 and subject to change at any time. Confirm current law with official state sources and/or a licensed attorney before carrying. Full legal disclaimer · How we verify this data.
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