Getting a CCW in North Carolina (2026)

Data verified 2026-10-13 · general legal information, not individualized advice · facts cite official sources (see verification dataset)

Requirements, costs, and steps for a North Carolina concealed carry permit · Updated October 13, 2026 · Not legal advice

This guide is general legal information, not individualized legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your county sheriff before applying. Last reviewed 2026-10-13.

Quick facts

Pulled from the live reciprocity dataset (ccw.workmanfirearms.com/data/reciprocity.json) and verified against official sources as of 2026-10-13:

• Permit type: Shall Issue — North Carolina Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP), issued by the sheriff of your county (G.S. § 14-415.13).
• Constitutional carry: No. Dataset: "No constitutional carry." Senate Bill 50 ("Freedom to Carry NC") was vetoed by Governor Stein on June 20, 2025; the Senate overrode the veto on July 29, 2025 (30–19), but the House has not voted on the override — the bill's last action as of 2026-10-13 was being placed on the House calendar for April 21, 2026 (April 6, 2026 action), and the House reconvenes in November 2026 (override deadline December 31, 2026). A CHP is therefore still required to carry concealed (G.S. §§ 14-269, 14-415.11; NCSA firearms guide, March 2026).
• Minimum age: 21 (G.S. § 14-415.12(a)(2); dataset).
• Duty to inform: Yes. Dataset: "Must immediately disclose permit to law enforcement upon contact." Statute: a permit holder must disclose to any law enforcement officer, when approached or addressed by the officer, that the person holds a valid permit and is carrying a concealed handgun, and must display both the permit and proper identification upon the officer's request (G.S. § 14-415.11(a)).
• Open carry: Allowed without a permit (dataset: openCarryAllowed = true).
• Restricted locations (dataset): schools, government buildings, courthouses, establishments serving alcohol (consumption prohibition), law enforcement facilities, parades, funeral processions. A permit does not authorize carrying on private premises where carrying is prohibited by posted notice (G.S. § 14-415.11(c)(8)).

Who can apply

Per G.S. § 14-415.12 (as of 2026-10-13), an applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, or a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and have been a resident of North Carolina for at least 30 days immediately preceding the filing of the application; apply with the sheriff of your county of residence (G.S. § 14-415.12(a)(1); § 14-415.13).
• Be 21 or older.
• Not suffer from a physical or mental infirmity that prevents safe handling of a handgun.
• Have completed an approved firearms safety and training course (see Training requirement).
• Not be disqualified — including felony conviction (unless rights restored), pending felony indictment or probable cause, fugitive status, unlawful drug use/addiction, dishonorable discharge from the armed forces, certain misdemeanor crimes of violence, impaired-driving conviction within 3 years, or federal domestic-violence prohibitions.

Step-by-step application process

Issuing authority: the sheriff of your county of residence (G.S. § 14-415.13; many sheriff's offices offer online application portals).

1. Obtain and complete the application from the sheriff of your county (under oath, on the form the sheriff provides).
2. Pay the $80 application fee; the sheriff takes your fingerprints and may charge up to a $10 fingerprint fee (G.S. § 14-415.19).
3. The sheriff conducts a state (SBI) and national records check, including a NICS check, and requests your mental-health records within 10 days (G.S. § 14-415.15(a); NCSA guide, March 2026).
4. The sheriff must issue or deny the permit within 45 days after receiving the completed application items and mental-health records (G.S. § 14-415.15(a)). A written denial states the grounds and your right to appeal to district court.
5. When carrying concealed, keep the permit and a valid photo ID with you and present both on request (G.S. § 14-415.11; NCSA guide, March 2026).

Costs

Per G.S. § 14-415.19 (including the 2025 fee amendments, SL 2025-72) and the NCSA "Firearms Laws and Permits" guide (March 2026), as of 2026-10-13:

• New CHP: $80.00, plus up to $10.00 fingerprint fee (commonly $90 total — e.g., Orange County charges $90).
• Renewal: $75.00, plus new fingerprints (up to $10.00; not required if your fingerprints were submitted to the SBI after June 30, 2001 on AFIS, G.S. § 14-415.16(d)).
• Duplicate permit: $15.00.
• Reduced fees for honorably or generally discharged veterans (with DD-214 or VA veteran ID): $45.00 application / $40.00 renewal — retired sworn law enforcement officers qualify for the same reduction (G.S. § 14-415.19(a1)–(a2), added by SL 2025-72).
• Training: cost varies by provider (no state-set price).

Training requirement

Yes — North Carolina requires an approved firearms safety and training course (G.S. § 14-415.12(a)(4)) that involves the actual firing of handguns and instruction in North Carolina law governing concealed carry and the use of deadly force. A course is approved if it is:

• Certified or sponsored by the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, the National Rifle Association, or the U.S. Concealed Carry Association;
• Offered by a law enforcement agency, college, private or public institution or organization, or firearms training school, taught by instructors certified by the Commission, the USCCA, or the NRA; or
• Approved by the NC Private Protective Services Board and Secretary of Public Safety under G.S. 74C-13 (G.S. § 14-415.12(a)(4)a.–d.).

Exemptions: qualified sworn law enforcement officers (current and former), qualified correctional officers (current and retired), qualified State probation/parole officers (current and retired), qualified retired law enforcement officers meeting the 12-month qualification standard, and armed security guards registered under G.S. 74C-13 (G.S. § 14-415.12A).

Timeline & renewal

• Decision window: 45 days after the sheriff receives the completed application items and mental-health records (G.S. § 14-415.15(a)). A temporary permit valid up to 45 days is available in emergencies (§ 14-415.15(b)).
• Validity: 5 years.
• Renewal: apply within the 90 days before expiration with the sheriff's renewal form, an affidavit that you remain qualified, new fingerprints, and the $75 renewal fee; the sheriff updates your criminal history (including NICS) and may waive another firearms safety and training course (G.S. § 14-415.16(b)–(c); NCSA guide, March 2026). New fingerprints are not required if yours were submitted to the SBI after June 30, 2001 via AFIS (§ 14-415.16(d)). A renewal filed within 60 days after expiration may still be processed — the sheriff may waive retraining, but the expiration date is not extended (§ 14-415.16(e)). Your permit remains valid past expiration until the sheriff renews or denies it (§ 14-415.16(c)). The sheriff mails a renewal notice at least 45 days before expiration (§ 14-415.16(a)).

Where to apply

• The sheriff of your county of residence. The North Carolina Sheriffs' Association "Firearms Laws and Permits" guide (March 2026), hosted by the State Bureau of Investigation, lists requirements and sheriff contacts: https://www.ncsbi.gov/getattachment/DCIN/Omnixx-Links/Firearms-Laws-and-Permits-SA-March2026.pdf.aspx

Sources

• G.S. § 14-415.12 (eligibility and training): https://www.ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_14/gs_14-415.12.html — accessed 2026-10-13
• G.S. § 14-415.15 (45-day issuance deadline): https://www.ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_14/gs_14-415.15.html — accessed 2026-10-13
• G.S. § 14-415.19 (fees, incl. SL 2025-72 amendments): https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-415.19.pdf — accessed 2026-10-13
• NC Sheriffs' Association, "Firearms Laws and Permits" (March 2026), hosted by NC SBI: https://www.ncsbi.gov/getattachment/DCIN/Omnixx-Links/Firearms-Laws-and-Permits-SA-March2026.pdf.aspx — accessed 2026-10-13
• SB 50 ("Freedom to Carry NC") status — NC Legislative Reporting Service: https://lrs.sog.unc.edu/node/554180 — accessed 2026-10-13
• Governor's veto of SB 50 (NC Newsline, June 20, 2025): https://ncnewsline.com/2025/06/20/gov-josh-stein-issues-his-first-vetoes-on-concealed-carry-immigration-bills — accessed 2026-10-13
• SB 50 status explainer (Senate override 30–19 on July 29, 2025; House reconvenes November 2026): USA Carry — https://www.usacarry.com/north-carolina-constitutional-carry-senate-bill-50/ — accessed 2026-10-13
• CCW Workman Firearms reciprocity dataset (North Carolina): https://ccw.workmanfirearms.com/data/reciprocity.json — accessed 2026-10-13