NORTH CAROLINA · FIREARMS
Firearms
Firearms laws in North Carolina (1970)
Conditional
Summary
Open carry: legal at 18 without a permit on foot; concealed handgun permit (CHP) required for OC in a vehicle. Concealed: shall-issue CHP. Pistol purchase permit repealed 2023.
Notable
Pistol Purchase Permit required from your county sheriff for any handgun.
Penalties
Firearms is allowed with limits in North Carolina — and crossing those limits still bites. See the fines, charges, and where the line is.
Exceptions & nuances
Firearms in North Carolina comes with real conditions. See the exemptions, age and place rules, and edge cases that decide outcomes.
Statute
Read the exact North Carolina statute covering firearms — the citation when you want to check the source.
Last updated: May 28, 2026
LawLert is informational only — not legal advice. Verify with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.