South Carolina Concealed Carry Laws
Last reviewed: May 3, 2026
Reciprocity shown is for a standard resident permit. Non-resident and enhanced permit holders may have different reciprocity. Always verify before carrying. Use our full permit reciprocity map for all permit types →
Your South Carolina resident permit is honored in 33 states South Carolina honors resident permits from 29 statesSouth Carolina Gun Laws
Reciprocity of South Carolina's Basic Resident Permit
Open Carry
Duty to Notify Law Enforcement
State Parks
Restaurants Serving Alcohol
Firearms at Colleges
Firearms at K-12 Schools
Church Carry
on a church by church basis
Hotels
Secure Storage Requirements
Magazine Capacity Limitations
Suppressor Ownership
Vehicle Possession Without Recognized Permit
Firearm Law Uniformity
Permit Training Requirements
(i) information on the statutory and case law of this State relating to handguns and to the use of deadly force;
(ii) information on handgun use and safety;
(iii) information on the proper storage practice for handguns with an emphasis on storage practices that reduces the possibility of accidental injury to a child; and
(iv) the actual firing of the handgun in the presence of the instructor;
Non-Resident Permits
Constitutional Carry
Duty to Retreat
Places Off Limits
State Contact / Source
PO Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221
803-896-7015
www.sled.sc.gov
Permit Issuing Authority
Length of Permit Validity
Permit Application Process
Applicants must submit a good quality photocopy of their state issued driver’s license or officially issued identification card.
Resident aliens must provide a copy of their alien card from the Department of Homeland Security.
Qualified nonresident applicants must submit a completed Real Property Tax Form (SLED Form R- 168).
The following only apply to NEW permit applications:
Applicants must submit an original completed, signed, and dated application. The CWP instructor must also sign the application.
Applicants must submit two (2) complete, legible sets of fingerprint cards.
Active duty military applicants must submit military orders. Retired or former military applicants must submit a copy of their DD214.
Retired law enforcement officers exempt from paying the fee must submit proof of retirement benefits/pension documentation.
Active/retired South Carolina law enforcement officers exempt from training must submit current legal and firearm training documentation. Out-of-state retired law enforcement officers (or those www.handgunlaw.us 3 whose certification has expired) must submit proof of graduation from a federal or state academy that included firearms training as a graduation requirement.
Disabled veterans exempt from paying the fee must submit documentation from the VA indicating disability percentage.
CWP training courses must have been completed within three years of filing the application.
Training date, instructor certification number, and student number must be entered onto the application.
You must submit a signed copy of the SLED CWP Instructor/Student Checklist with your application. Permit issued after February 11, 2014 will be valid for 5 years.
Please mail all of this information to:
CWP Application, SLED Data Center, P.O. Box 21398, Columbia, S.C. 29221-1398)
Please Note: It will take approximately ninety (90) days to process your new application.South Carolina Permit Reciprocity
While Concealed Carry Inc strives to maintain legal reference information updated on this website from publicly available sources; you as the reader and gun owner are responsible to do any and all necessary research and consult with a local attorney before making any decisions. Concealed Carry Inc is not a government agency is not affiliated with a government agency and is not liable for any misinformation, inaccuracies, or actions taken based on this information. We are not attorneys and this information is not legal advice. If you see any information you feel is outdated or incorrect please contact us.
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