Massachusetts Gun Laws & Concealed Carry Reciprocity (2026)
Quick answer: Massachusetts (MA) is a restrictive permit state meaning you need a permit (License to Carry) to carry concealed. Massachusetts honors no other state’s permit so visitors need a Massachusetts-issued license to carry. Your Massachusetts permit is honored in 5 states and 29 more are permitless allowing carry in 34 states total.
📌 Reviewed against official sources: August 14, 2026 · By James Nicholas
Where your Massachusetts permit works (carry out)
With a Massachusetts-issued resident permit you can legally carry in 34 states: 5 honor the permit itself and 29 are permitless-carry states where eligible visitors need no permit at all. Some destinations impose conditions (age 21+, enhanced-permit-only, or resident-permit rules) as always check the destination state page.
✅ Permitless — no permit needed (29)
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNew HampshireNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontWest VirginiaWyoming
✅ Honor your Massachusetts permit (5)
⚠ Conditional — verify first (1)
Minnesota Permit issued/renewed on or after 8/1/2024 only
Whose permits does Massachusetts honor? (carry in)
Massachusetts does not honor any other state’s carry permit. Visitors must qualify for and obtain a Massachusetts-issued license before carrying.
Official Mass.gov FAQ: ‘No. Massachusetts does not have reciprocity with any other states.’ Non-residents must obtain a MA non-resident LTC.
Key Massachusetts carry restrictions
- No duty to inform officers
- Large-capacity feeding device ban: >10 rounds (>5 shotgun shells)
- 2024 gun law (Ch. 135/H.4885): assault-style firearm registration; new non-resident applicants must complete a MA Basic Firearms Safety Course (training mandate delayed to ~July 2026 per handgunlaw.us)
- Prohibited: schools, courthouses, airports; large-capacity long guns must be unloaded in vehicles
Duty to inform police: No.
Massachusetts permit basics
License to Carry (LTC) Residents via local licensing authorities; non-residents via Firearms Records Bureau; shall-issue post-Bruen subject to suitability. Minimum age: 21. Commonly abbreviated as the “MA LTC.”
Massachusetts carry FAQ
Can you conceal carry in Massachusetts without a permit?
No. Massachusetts requires a permit (License to Carry) to carry a concealed handgun. It is a restrictive permit state.
What states honor a Massachusetts (MA) carry permit?
A Massachusetts resident permit is honored in 5 states (plus 1 with conditions), and 29 more states have permitless carry where no permit is needed — 34 states total. See the full lists on this page or use our interactive reciprocity map.
Does Massachusetts recognize out-of-state concealed carry permits?
No. Massachusetts does not honor any other state’s carry permit.
Can I carry in New Hampshire with a Massachusetts permit?
New Hampshire has permitless carry, so you can carry there without any permit if you’re 18+ and legally eligible.
Is there a duty to inform police in Massachusetts?
No.
Official sources
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: New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York.
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 Massachusetts's carry rules with you
Download the Massachusetts quick-reference PDF Get alerts when Massachusetts laws changeFree & printable — verified from official sources. Recent changes: Carry Law Change Log.