NORTH DAKOTA GUN LAWS

QUICK FACTS

Carry In Vehicle SEE DETAILS

Must Notify Officer SEE DETAILS

Carry In State Parks Allowed YES

No Weapons Signs Enforced NO

Open Carry PermittedSEE DETAILS

Carry In Liquor Establishments YES

Constitutional Carry NO

Permit Information

North Dakota gun laws operate on a “Unrestricted” and "Shall Issue" policy. There is no requirement for ND residents to have a permit to carry. However, you can still obtain the Class 1 & 2 permits if you wish to travel out-of-state. Applications are processed by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation after you have submitted documents to your local sheriff’s office. Applicants will need to pass a written test for a Class 1 or 2 permits and in addition complete a firearms course for Class 1 permits.

states that

honor a North dakota permit

state permits

North dakota honors

CCW Reciprocity Map

north dakota

CCW license recognition

Permit honored
Permit not honored

Residential permits only

Issuing state

States that honor a north dakota permit

RESIDENT
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

NON-RESIDENT
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

North dakota honors permits from these states

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Permits/Licenses

North Dakota is an “Unrestricted” (effective 1 Aug 2017) and “shall issue” state.
Non-Resident permits are available.
The permit is valid for 5 years.

NOTE – there are two types of permit/licenses available;
Class 1 – has reciprocity in many more states
Class 2 – less reciprocity but both licenses are treated the same within North Dakota

Age 18 for a Class 2 license, or age 21 for a Class 1 license.
A United States citizen or legal permanent resident alien.
Legally able to possess a firearm/dangerous weapon.
Must be a resident of North Dakota for 1 year as evidenced by ND driver license or ND ID card.
Successfully complete the training requirements.
Not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a firearm.
No disqualifying offenses. A criminal background check is conducted on every new and renewal applicant. If you have been convicted of any alcohol-related offense within the past 10 years, you are ineligible for a Class 1 license but may apply for a Class 2 license.
Federal Law – Prohibits the following persons

Follow these steps to obtain a permit
No permit will be required after August 1, 2017

Decide if you want a Class 1 or Class 2 license
Download the application under the FORMS tab.
Make an appointment with a test Administrator. All first time applicants must pass a written test based on the Concealed Weapon License Manual.
If you chose a Class 1 license you will also need to complete a firearms proficiency test.
Gather the required documents together

Cashiers check or money order for $60;
Photocopy of your drivers license;
Two color passport photos
Two fingerprint cards (for new applicants)

Mail the completed application and all required documents to;

BCI-CWL
PO Box 1054
Bismarck ND 58502

You will be notified by mail if your application has been approved.

Off Limit Areas

Where You Can Carry

State parks
State and national forests
Road side rest areas
Vehicle
All areas of the state – except those listed below

Where You Cannot Carry

Public gatherings
Athletic or sporting events
Schools or school functions
Churches or church functions
Political rallies or functions
Musical concerts
Any establishment that sells alcoholic beverages or is used as a gaming site
individuals in publicly owned parks where hunting is not allowed by proclamation and publicly owned or operated buildings
Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by Federal Law.

Details on North Dakota Gun Laws

who issues a permit

processing time

must notify officer

NO/YES – Must Inform Officer on Contact By Law

NO – North Dakota gun laws do not require you to inform law enforcement you are carrying a firearm if you have a license to carry. But you are legally obligated to carry your permit/license at all times you have a firearm on your person and to hand the permit over if requested by law enforcement.

YES – If you are carrying under permitless carry laws and do not have a firearms license then you are required to inform law enforcement that you have a weapon on your person.

no weapons signs enforced

NO
“No Weapons” signs are not mentioned in North Dakota gun laws. There are no legal penalties for entering a private property or business that has posted these signs. They have no force of law unless they are posted in areas that are mentioned by the law as being off limits.

GunsToCarry recommends that you do not enter a property displaying a “No Weapons” sign whether the law is for or against signage. If asked to leave a property and you refuse to do so then you are breaking the law and put yourself at risk of being charged.

vehicle carry

open carry

restaurant carry

YES – In Restaurants That Serve Alcohol
Allowed in any part of a restaurant were a person under 21 years of age is permitted.
“Yes” or “No” states if you can carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol. Some restaurants may be posted with “NO GUN” signs. Check with the staff if this means just the bar area. If we have indicated a “Yes” then it should be legal to have a meal without drinking alcohol.

state park carry

Get in Touch

Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)

Hours

Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed

Contact

Address 600 East Boulevard Ave.

CityBismarck, ND 58505

Phone 1-855-562-4946

Comments

October 24, 2020 Reply
Curt Londroche

I have a concealed carry permit in Minnesota. If I move to North Dakota do I still have to wait one year before I can obtain a permit there or can I immediately apply for one?
I have legally carried in Minnesota for over ten years.
July 14, 2019 Reply
John Metzger

I was pulled over for left lane change violation be honest it was a DUI check here’s why I pulled you over license registration and insurance please roll down your window more and I need your phone number step out of the car what caliber pistol is that a pellet gun or 9 or 40 so there was 4 cops there and went in my car after the gun checked the chamber but empty arrested me for conceal weapons and failure to notify officer spent the night in jail. Now I’m looking at a misdemeanor they obviously seen the gun why mention what they know.
May 22, 2019 Reply
Rich

does ND honor a non residential utah permit
May 22, 2019 Reply
Rich

does ND honor a utah non residential permit I have a ILccw
May 22, 2019 Reply
Rich

does ND honor a non residential utah permit if you a IL ccw permit
March 6, 2019 Reply
alex

In “Where You Cannot Carry”, you should add that it cannot be carried in a publicly owned or operated building (with the exception of restrooms).

62.1-02-05
https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t62-1c02.pdf#nameddest=62p1-02-01
November 26, 2018 Reply
Darrell West

You do not need a permit to purchase a pistol in North Dakota.
1. December 26, 2018 Reply
  Alex
  
  if you are a resident you do not need a permit. if you do not have a permit a background check is required.
October 23, 2018 Reply
Irv Stark

Need to re-check North Dakota gun laws. I believe that ND IS a Constitutional Carry state.
1. October 30, 2018 Reply
  Tim
  
  You are correct, ND is a Constitutional carry state. I was going to make this comment until I saw yours, so instead, I will just confirm.
  1. April 14, 2019 Reply
    NoDak
    
    Also ND is now a must notify state.
July 7, 2018 Reply
Alex

The must notify officer is a bit vague and could be taken in a way that will get you in serious trouble. If you are using the constitutional carry to conceal a firearm you MUST INFORM the officer that you have a firearm, you should also mention that bingo halls are a no go zone for carrying firearms as well.
April 26, 2018 Reply
Alex

You state on https://www.gunstocarry.com/ccw-reciprocity-map/ quote “Currently, the state concealed carry permit that has the highest recognition is from Ohio being honored in 38 states.”

Yet, here you state that North Dakota is recognized by 39 states. So doesn’t that make North Dakota the most powerful CC license in the nation?

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