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Carrying

G.S. 14-415.11 — a permit for a concealed handgun, and disclosure when an officer approaches

In North Carolina, carrying a concealed pistol or gun willfully and intentionally is unlawful except on the person's own premises, or for a handgun carried under a concealed handgun permit within the permit's scope. A first offense is a Class 2 misdemeanor, and a second or later one a Class H felony.

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A permit holder tells the officer, and shows the permit. A permit holder carries the permit and valid identification whenever carrying concealed, tells any law enforcement officer who approaches or addresses them that they hold a valid permit and are carrying a concealed handgun, and shows both on request. Carrying without the permit in possession, or not telling the officer, is an infraction.

The sheriff issues a permit to an applicant who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident, has lived in the state 30 days or longer, is 21 years of age or older, has no infirmity that prevents safe handling of a handgun, and has completed an approved safety and training course that includes actually firing handguns, among the other criteria. A permit is valid throughout the state for five years.

  • A law enforcement or correctional facility.
  • A building housing only state or federal offices, or a state or federal office in a shared building.
  • Private premises where the person in control has posted a conspicuous notice against carrying a concealed handgun.
  • Areas barred by federal law, and the areas other listed sections of the criminal law bar.

Carrying a concealed handgun while consuming alcohol, or with any alcohol remaining in the body, is unlawful with or without a permit, except on the person's own property; for a permit holder it is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A permit holder carrying past a posted notice commits an infraction with a fine of up to $500, or may surrender the permit instead. Permit holders may carry in state parks, and anyone may carry openly at state owned rest areas and hunting and fishing reservations.

Sources for this section (4)
  1. G.S. 14-415.11 — Permit to carry concealed handgun; scope of permit
  2. G.S. 14-269 — Carrying concealed weapons
  3. G.S. 14-415.12 — Criteria to qualify for the issuance of a permit
  4. G.S. 14-415.21 — Concealed handgun violations punishable as an infraction

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.