Delaware Gun Laws & Concealed Carry Reciprocity (2026)
Quick answer: Delaware (DE) is a restrictive permit state meaning you need a permit (Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons License) to carry concealed. Delaware honors permits from 21 states (list below). Your Delaware permit is honored in 7 states and 29 more are permitless allowing carry in 36 states total.
📌 Reviewed against official sources: August 14, 2026 · By James Nicholas
Where your Delaware permit works (carry out)
With a Delaware-issued resident permit you can legally carry in 36 states: 7 honor the permit itself and 29 are permitless-carry states where eligible visitors need no permit at all.
✅ Permitless — no permit needed (29)
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNew HampshireNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontWest VirginiaWyoming
✅ Honor your Delaware permit (7)
ColoradoMichiganMinnesotaNew MexicoNorth CarolinaVirginiaWisconsin
Whose permits does Delaware honor? (carry in)
Delaware honors resident permits from 21 states:
Conditions:
- Idaho: Enhanced permit only
- South Dakota: Enhanced permit only
- North Dakota: Class 1 license only
DE AG CCDW list (posted for Jan 15, 2025–Jan 15, 2026; carries over until a new list posts per 11 Del. C. 1441(j), unchanged as of Aug 14, 2026): ID and SD Enhanced permits only; ND Class 1 only; both resident and non-resident licenses from listed states recognized.
Key Delaware carry restrictions
- Concealed carry in a vehicle without CCDW is illegal (unpermitted handgun must be carried openly/visible)
- Magazines over 17 rounds banned (CCDW holders exempt); assault-weapons ban (2022)
- Handgun purchase permit required from Nov 2025 (CCDW holders exempt)
- No duty to inform
Duty to inform police: No.
Delaware permit basics
Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons (CCDW) License, issued by Delaware Superior Court — 11 Del. C. 1441 remains discretionary on its face (‘The Court may or may not, in its discretion, approve any application’); administered by Superior Court and not statutory shall-issue. Minimum age: 18.
Delaware carry FAQ
Can you conceal carry in Delaware without a permit?
No. Delaware requires a permit (Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons License) to carry a concealed handgun. It is a restrictive permit state.
What states honor a Delaware (DE) carry permit?
A Delaware resident permit is honored in 7 states, and 29 more states have permitless carry where no permit is needed — 36 states total. See the full lists on this page or use our interactive reciprocity map.
Does Delaware recognize out-of-state concealed carry permits?
Delaware honors resident permits from 21 states. Check the list on this page — some entries carry permit-type or age conditions.
Can I carry in Maryland with a Delaware permit?
No — Maryland does not honor a Delaware permit.
Is there a duty to inform police in Delaware?
No.
Official sources
- delcode.delaware.gov/title11/c005/sc07/index.html
- attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/criminal/concealed-carry-deadly-weapons…
- handgunlaw.us/states/delaware.pdf
- usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/de-gun-la…
Facts on this page were checked against the sources above on August 14, 2026 — including a dedicated primary-source verification pass against state statutes, attorney general and state police pages. Spot an error or a law change? Tell us and we’ll fix it fast.
Related states & resources
Neighboring states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
Tools: Interactive Reciprocity Map · Concealed Carry Reciprocity Guide · Concealed Carry by State · 2A Legal Glossary · carry gear reviews at Popular EDC.
Not legal advice. Freedom’s Lodge and Brand Avalanche Media are not attorneys; this page is general educational information, verified against the official sources above as of August 14, 2026 and subject to change at any time. Confirm current law with the official state source and/or a licensed attorney before carrying. See our full legal disclaimer and how we verify this data.
Take Delaware's carry rules with you
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