Pennsylvania Gun Laws & Concealed Carry Reciprocity (2026)

Quick answer: Pennsylvania (PA) is a shall-issue permit state meaning you need a permit (License to Carry Firearms) to carry concealed. Pennsylvania honors permits from 32 states (list below). Your Pennsylvania 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

Shall-issueCarry regime
21+Permit age
34States you can carry in
NoConstitutional carry
NoDuty to inform
This is not legal advice. Freedom’s Lodge and Brand Avalanche Media are not attorneys or a law firm; this is general educational information only. Gun laws change frequently and without notice, vary by locality, and can be interpreted differently by courts and officers as reciprocity and carry status can change at any time. You are solely responsible for confirming current law with official state sources and/or a licensed attorney before carrying. Information reflects the best available sources as of August 14, 2026 only. Read the full legal disclaimer →
Open the interactive reciprocity map →Reciprocity explained

Where your Pennsylvania permit works (carry out)

With a Pennsylvania-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.

✅ Permitless — no permit needed (29)

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNew HampshireNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontWest VirginiaWyoming

✅ Honor your Pennsylvania permit (5)

ColoradoMichiganNorth CarolinaVirginiaWisconsin

❌ Do not honor it (16)

CaliforniaConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaHawaiiIllinoisMarylandMassachusettsMinnesotaNevadaNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkOregonRhode IslandWashington

Whose permits does Pennsylvania honor? (carry in)

Pennsylvania honors resident permits from 32 states:

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasColoradoConnecticutFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMichiganMississippiMissouriMontanaNew HampshireNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaRhode IslandSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Conditions:

  • Connecticut: AG chart ‘Yes’ despite no agreement or statutory basis on the chart — confirm before relying
  • Rhode Island: AG chart ‘Yes’ despite no agreement or statutory basis on the chart — confirm before relying
  • Idaho: Enhanced permit only
  • North Dakota: Class 1 license only
  • Utah: Regular permit only (no Provisional)

PA AG page (updated May 5, 2026): PA honors licenses issued to RESIDENTS of listed states, holder 21+. CT & RI: the AG chart answers ‘Yes’ for resident licenses despite listing no agreement and no statutory basis — confirm before relying. Permit-type limits: ID Enhanced, ND Class 1, UT Regular only.

Key Pennsylvania carry restrictions

  • No duty to inform, but must produce LTC upon lawful demand
  • License required to carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle
  • License required to carry in Philadelphia (city of the first class), including open carry (2025 court ruling creates uncertainty)
  • Prohibited: courthouses, elementary/secondary school property (case-law nuances), mental health facilities

Duty to inform police: No — produce license on demand.

Pennsylvania permit basics

License to Carry Firearms (LTC) County sheriffs (Philadelphia: chief of police); 5-year term; 18 Pa.C.S. 6109. Minimum age: 21.

Pennsylvania carry FAQ

Can you conceal carry in Pennsylvania without a permit?

No. Pennsylvania requires a permit (License to Carry Firearms) to carry a concealed handgun. It is a shall-issue permit state.

What states honor a Pennsylvania (PA) carry permit?

A Pennsylvania resident permit is honored in 5 states, 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 Pennsylvania recognize out-of-state concealed carry permits?

Pennsylvania honors resident permits from 32 states. Check the list on this page — some entries carry permit-type or age conditions.

Can I carry in Ohio with a Pennsylvania permit?

Ohio has permitless carry, so you can carry there without any permit if you’re 21+ and legally eligible.

Is there a duty to inform police in Pennsylvania?

No — produce license on demand.

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: Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Maryland.

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.

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