Are firearms legal in North Carolina?

Q: Are firearms legal in North Carolina?

Firearms in North Carolina are legal only under specific conditions. North Carolina requires a permit to carry concealed, and the minimum age is 21. It is shall-issue through the county sheriff, and North Carolina is not permitless.

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NORTH CAROLINA · FIREARMS

Firearms

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Conditional: North Carolina requires a permit to carry concealed, and the minimum age is 21.

Conditional

Summary

North Carolina requires a permit to carry concealed, and the minimum age is 21. It is shall-issue through the county sheriff, and North Carolina is not permitless.

Source: ncdoj.gov → · Updated July 6, 2026

North Carolina Firearms topics

Concealed Carry in North Carolina →Conditional
North Carolina requires a permit to carry concealed, and the minimum age is 21.
Open Carry in North Carolina →Permitted
Open carry of a handgun needs no permit in North Carolina if you are 18 or older and not otherwise prohibited.
Magazine Capacity in North Carolina →Permitted
No state law limits magazine capacity in North Carolina — standard-capacity and high-capacity magazines are legal to buy and possess under state law.
Gun Possession in North Carolina →Permitted
North Carolina has no red-flag law (also called an Extreme Risk Protection Order, or ERPO), and no assault-weapon ban or state-level restriction on magazines.
Transporting Firearms in North Carolina →Conditional
In North Carolina, without a concealed handgun permit, a handgun in a vehicle must not be BOTH hidden from view and readily accessible.
Duty to Inform Police in North Carolina →Conditional
North Carolina has a duty to inform. When an officer approaches or addresses you, you must disclose that you hold a valid permit and are carrying a concealed handgun.
Suppressors & Silencers in North Carolina →Conditional
Suppressors are legal in North Carolina as long as you comply with federal law.
Reciprocity — where is my North Carolina permit honored? →
State-by-state map of which states honor a North Carolina concealed-carry permit.

Other North Carolina laws

Firearms in nearby states

Browse all state laws →

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