This is not legal advice.Concealed-carry reciprocity changes frequently and carries serious legal consequences. Verify current law with the destination state's official source before you carry.
South CarolinaConcealed Carry Permit & Reciprocity
South Carolina became a permitless (constitutional) carry state on March 7, 2024, when H.3594 (the South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2024) was signed into law. A person 18 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a handgun openly or concealed, without training and without a permit (SLED Constitutional Carry Guidance). South Carolina still issues a single class of Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) through the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) under S.C. Code § 23-31-215, and the CWP remains worth holding because it preserves reciprocity in states that recognize a South Carolina CWP but not permitless carry and eases firearm purchases from dealers. The CWP is available to residents and to qualified nonresidents (individuals who own real property in South Carolina but reside elsewhere); an applicant must be at least 18, submit fingerprints, and complete a handgun training course that includes live fire of at least 25 rounds — and SLED may not charge a fee for the permit. South Carolina's inbound recognition is list-based and resident-based: under § 23-31-215(N)(1) it honors a valid out-of-state permit held by a resident of a reciprocal state only if that state requires both a background check and a firearm training course, and § 23-31-215(N)(2) directs SLED to automatically recognize permits issued by Georgia and North Carolina.
South Carolina South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP)
- Carry regime
- constitutional
- Minimum age
- 18
- Fee
- $0
- Training
- Required
- Validity
- 5 years
Carry practicalities
Permitless carry
Allowed — minimum age 18
South Carolina has permitless (constitutional) carry since March 7, 2024 (H.3594, the South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2024, Act 110). A person 18 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a handgun openly or concealed, without training and without a SLED-issued concealed weapons permit (SLED Constitutional Carry Guidance). Residency is not required to carry permitlessly.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Open carry
Permitless
Open carry of a handgun is lawful in South Carolina without a permit under H.3594 (2024): a person not prohibited from possessing a firearm may "legally possess a firearm openly or concealed without training and without a concealed weapons permit" (SLED Constitutional Carry Guidance). Open carry remains subject to the off-limits locations below.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Duty to inform
Not required
South Carolina imposes no duty to inform. SLED's Constitutional Carry Guidance states that a CWP holder or a person carrying a firearm without a permit under H.3594 DOES NOT have a duty to notify a law enforcement officer that they are carrying. (H.3594 removed the prior notify-on-request provision; there is no affirmative duty to volunteer that you are armed.)
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Off-limits locations
- law enforcement, correctional, or detention facilities
- courthouses and courtrooms while court is in session
- polling places on election days
- offices of, or business meetings of, a county, municipality, special-purpose district, or public school district governing body
- K-12 schools, and school or college athletic events not related to firearms
- daycare and preschool facilities
- hospitals, medical clinics, doctor's offices, and other medical facilities, unless expressly authorized
- churches or other established religious sanctuaries, unless the church official or governing body gives express permission
- a residence or dwelling of another person without the owner's express permission
- any place clearly marked with a sign prohibiting the carrying of a concealable weapon
- places where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law
Curated key categories, not exhaustive. The prohibited places are enumerated in S.C. Code § 16-23-20(A) (cross-referenced by the CWP statute at § 23-31-215(M)); these location bans apply to all carriers, with or without a permit. Federal facilities and private property posted or where the owner prohibits carry are also off-limits.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
South Carolina reciprocity summary
South Carolina honors 3 states' permits · honored by 34 states
Where a South Carolina permit is honored →Whose permits South Carolina honors →
Last verified 2026-07-09 against South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) — Concealed Weapons Permit.
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Get notified when your state's reciprocity changes.
South Carolina FAQ
- Does South Carolina have constitutional carry?
- Yes. South Carolina is a constitutional (permitless) carry state — eligible adults may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The CWP remains available and is still worth holding for reciprocity in states that don't recognize permitless carry.
- How much does a South Carolina CWP cost?
- The CWP application fee in South Carolina is $0. SLED may not charge a fee of any kind for a concealable weapon permit (S.C. Code § 23-31-215(C)). Applicants still pay separately for the required training course and, where applicable, fingerprinting.
- Does South Carolina honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?
- South Carolina honors concealed-carry permits from 3 other states, subject to the qualifiers (resident-only or permit-class restrictions) noted on each reciprocity pair. See the full inbound list on the "who South Carolina honors" page.
- Where is a South Carolina CWP honored?
- A South Carolina CWP is honored by 34 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.
- How long is a South Carolina CWP valid?
- A South Carolina CWP is valid for 5 years before renewal is required.