North Carolina Carry Rules
North Carolina lets adults carry a handgun openly without a permit, but carrying one concealed requires a permit. Concealed carry is a crime except on your own property or with a concealed handgun permit (G.S. 14-269(a1)). Open carry is unregulated at the state level (Everytown).
Key facts
- Open carry of a handgun needs no permit (Everytown).
- Concealed carry requires a permit, and applicants must be 21+ (G.S. 14-415.12).
- The pistol purchase permit ended on March 29, 2023 (S.L. 2023-8).
- A permitless carry bill was vetoed in 2025, and the House has not voted to override (bill history).
Carrying and buying a handgun in North Carolina
Source: G.S. 14-269, 14-415.12, S.L. 2023-8, ncleg.gov, Everytown
Concealed Carry Permit
The sheriff issues concealed handgun permits to applicants who meet the state’s criteria. An applicant must be 21 or older, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and a North Carolina resident for at least 30 days before applying (G.S. 14-415.12). The statute also bars people with certain convictions and conditions.
A permit also matters when you travel. Senate Bill 50, the permitless carry bill, would keep permits available “for the purposes of reciprocity,” meaning carrying in other states that honor North Carolina’s permit (S50 text).
Pistol Purchase Permit Repeal
North Carolina ended its sheriff-issued pistol purchase permit in 2023, over the governor’s veto. The permit law, G.S. 14-402, was “repealed by Session Laws 2023-8, effective March 29, 2023” (G.S. 14-402). The governor vetoed the bill on March 24, 2023. The Senate overrode it 30-19, and the House 71-46 (bill history).
The House override had no votes to spare. Three-fifths of the 117 members voting was 71, and the override got exactly 71, a margin of 0.
Permitless Carry Bill
Senate Bill 50 would let U.S. citizens 18 and older carry a concealed handgun without a permit. It keeps the permit available for people who want one (S50 text and history). It passed both chambers in 2025 and was vetoed by Gov. Josh Stein.
- Senate passes
- House passes
- Governor vetoes
- Senate overrides
- House calendar, no vote
Senate Bill 50, Freedom to Carry NC: March 20, 2025: Senate passes (26-18). June 11, 2025: House passes (59-48). June 20, 2025: Governor vetoes. July 29, 2025: Senate overrides (30-19). April 21, 2026: House calendar, no vote (Last scheduled date on record).
The House vote math explains the delay. When the House passed the bill, 59 members voted yes out of 107 voting. An override needs three-fifths of members present and voting, which at that attendance is 65, so supporters were 6 votes short. WUNC reported in August 2025 that the House had not taken up the override (WUNC). The bill remains eligible through the end of the 2025-2026 session.
- 59
- House votes for the bill in June 2025
- 65
- needed to override at that attendance
- 30
- Senate votes to override
North Carolina gun rules, by situation
I want to carry a handgun openly
- No state permit is required for open carry.
- Private property owners and some public places can still ban guns.
- Check posted signs before you enter.
Everytown open carry data; G.S. 14-269.
I want to carry concealed
- Apply to your county sheriff for a concealed handgun permit; you must be 21 or older.
- You need to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and a state resident for 30 days.
- Without a permit, concealed carry is legal only on your own premises.
G.S. 14-269(a1) and 14-415.12.
I am buying a handgun
- No sheriff purchase permit is needed since March 29, 2023.
- A licensed dealer runs the federal background check.
S.L. 2023-8.
Where Things Stand
North Carolina gun laws and bills
As of September 30, 2026
- Permitless concealed carry (2025 Senate Bill 50) Proposal, Veto override pending in the House
Vetoed June 20, 2025. The Senate overrode 30-19 on July 29, 2025. The House has not voted; it last placed the override on its calendar for April 21, 2026. (source)
- Pistol purchase permit repeal (S.L. 2023-8) Law, Since March 29, 2023
Enacted over a veto: Senate 30-19, House 71-46. (source)
Source: ncleg.gov bill histories
North Carolina Gun Questions
Is North Carolina a permitless carry state?
Not for concealed carry. You need a concealed handgun permit, and you must be 21 or older to get one. Open carry of a handgun is allowed without a permit. Senate Bill 50 would allow permitless concealed carry at 18, but it was vetoed and the House has not voted to override.
Can you open carry in North Carolina?
Yes. North Carolina does not require a permit to carry a handgun openly, and it is not among the states that regulate open carry. Local rules and posted private property still limit where you can carry.
Do you need a permit to buy a handgun in North Carolina?
No, not since March 29, 2023. A 2023 law repealed the sheriff’s pistol purchase permit. A licensed dealer still runs the federal background check.
How old do you have to be to carry concealed in North Carolina?
21. A concealed handgun permit applicant must be 21 or older, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and a state resident for at least 30 days.
What happened to the permitless carry bill?
Senate Bill 50 passed the Senate 26-18 and the House 59-48. Gov. Josh Stein vetoed it on June 20, 2025. The Senate overrode the veto on July 29, 2025. The House has placed the override on its calendar many times without a vote, most recently for April 21, 2026.
What You Can Do
- Tell your state representative where you stand on the Senate Bill 50 override. The decision rests with the House. Our letter-writing guide shows how.
- Know the open and concealed carry lines before you carry in public.
- Compare other states. Our open carry states guide covers all 50, and our Texas and California pages show two very different systems.
- Read the constitutional background in our 2nd Amendment explainer.