North Carolina Gun Laws
Carry Information
Legal & Resources
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does North Carolina have an Assault Weapons Ban? | 🚫 No. Assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines are not banned. |
| Are background checks required for private gun sales? | 🚫 No. North Carolina does not require background checks for private transfers. |
| Are background checks required through FFL dealers? | ✅ Yes. Federal law mandates background checks through licensed dealers. |
| Is North Carolina a Stand Your Ground state? | ✅ Yes. State law includes Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine protections. |
| What kind of restrictions does North Carolina have? |
|
| Does North Carolina have any gun storage laws? | ⚠️ No general safe storage law, but child access could lead to negligence charges. |
| Can you buy firearms in bulk in North Carolina? | ✅ Yes. There are no state limits on firearm purchase quantities. |
| Does North Carolina have a red flag law? | 🚫 No. North Carolina does not have ERPO/red flag legislation. |
| Age to purchase firearms? |
|
| Do I have to register my guns in North Carolina? | 🚫 No. North Carolina does not require firearm registration. |
| Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun? | 🚫 No. Purchase permits are not required. |
| Does North Carolina have a waiting period for firearms? | 🚫 No. There is no state-imposed waiting period. |
🚫 No. Assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines are not banned.
🚫 No. North Carolina does not require background checks for private transfers.
✅ Yes. Federal law mandates background checks through licensed dealers.
✅ Yes. State law includes Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine protections.
- ℹ️ Permitless open carry for 18+ (no permit required)
- ℹ️ Concealed carry requires a permit (CCP)
- ℹ️ No waiting period
- ℹ️ No magazine capacity limit
⚠️ No general safe storage law, but child access could lead to negligence charges.
✅ Yes. There are no state limits on firearm purchase quantities.
🚫 No. North Carolina does not have ERPO/red flag legislation.
- ℹ️ 18+ for long guns,
- ℹ️ 21+ for handguns from dealers.
🚫 No. North Carolina does not require firearm registration.
🚫 No. Purchase permits are not required.
🚫 No. There is no state-imposed waiting period.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does North Carolina allow Open Carry? | ✅ Legal without a permit for anyone 18 and older. |
| Does North Carolina allow Concealed Carry? | ✅ Legal only with a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP); no permitless concealed carry. |
| Non‑Lethal Weapons? | ✅ Legally carry pepper spray; stun guns are legal with permit. |
| Places allowed to carry? | ✅ Private property (with owner permission), vehicles, and many public places (subject to signage). |
| Places not allowed to carry? | 🚫 Schools, courthouses, government buildings, bars, and posted “no firearms” private spaces. |
| States honored? | ✅ Honors CHPs from states with formal reciprocity agreements. |
| States reciprocate? | ✅ New Mexico concealed carry permits are recognized in:
⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel. |
| Permit duration & renewal? | ℹ️ 5 Years. |
| Can you conceal anything other than a handgun? | 🚫 No. Only applies to handguns. |
| Permit Licensure? | ℹ️ Required for concealed carry. Must complete training, submit fingerprints, and pass background check.
|
✅ Legal without a permit for anyone 18 and older.
✅ Legal only with a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP); no permitless concealed carry.
✅ Legally carry pepper spray; stun guns are legal with permit.
✅ Private property (with owner permission), vehicles, and many public places (subject to signage).
🚫 Schools, courthouses, government buildings, bars, and posted “no firearms” private spaces.
✅ Honors CHPs from states with formal reciprocity agreements.
✅ New Mexico concealed carry permits are recognized in:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.
ℹ️ 5 Years.
🚫 No. Only applies to handguns.
ℹ️ Required for concealed carry. Must complete training, submit fingerprints, and pass background check.
- Concealed handgun permits are issued by the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence.
| Resources | Links |
|---|---|
| Official Licensing & State Info | |
| Gun Laws & Legal References | |
| Training & Certification | |
| Gun Safety & Education |
North Carolina Leadership
- Born: September 13, 1966 (Washington, D.C.)
- Term Started: January 1, 2025
- Previous Role: Former Attorney General of North Carolina (2017–2025)
- Born: August 30, 1960 (Jacksonville, FL)
- Senate Service: Since January 3, 2015
- Committees:
- Armed Services
- Banking Housing and Urban Affairs
- Judiciary
- Veterans’ Affairs
- Born: October 21, 1971 (Winston-Salem, NC)
- Senate Service: Since January 3, 2023
- Committees:
- Armed Services
- Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP)
- Commerce Science and Transportation