New Jersey Open Carry Laws (2026)

Restricted: Open carry is illegal in New Jersey, with or without a permit.

RestrictedVerified Oct 12, 2026

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Open carry is illegal in New Jersey, with or without a permit. A permit allows carry only concealed, in a holster. Carrying a handgun openly in public is a fourth-degree crime, and carrying one without a permit is a second-degree crime on top of that. For a permit holder, brief, accidental exposure while holstering or from a shift of clothing is treated as a minor infraction.

Official source: pub.njleg.state.nj.us →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Open Carry in states bordering New Jersey

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

DelawarePermitted
Open carry of a handgun is legal in Delaware without a permit for anyone 21 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm.
Verified May 31, 2026 · Source: attorneygeneral.delaware.gov · Full Delaware rule →
New YorkRestricted
New York has no license for openly carrying a handgun. The carry license covers concealed carry only. Without a license, possessing a handgun is a crime, and possessing a loaded handgun outside your home or business is a felony.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: troopers.ny.gov · Full New York rule →
PennsylvaniaConditional
At 18 or older, you may carry a handgun openly on foot in most of Pennsylvania without a license. A License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) is required in a vehicle and on public streets or property during a declared state or local emergency. Philadelphia law also requires an LTCF; a 2025 appeals court ruling held that unconstitutional as applied to one unlicensed carrier, but the law stays on the books and may still be enforced.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: pa.gov · Full Pennsylvania rule →

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