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BISMARCK, ND – We recently received a question from a reader that prompted a deeper look into North Dakota’s reciprocity laws for concealed carry. Specifically, the question was whether North Dakota recognizes non-resident concealed carry permits from other states. The answer, as it turns out, is more complicated than it should be.
The Initial Concern
A reader reached out to point out a potential error in our concealed carry reciprocity maps, stating:
“North Dakota does not recognize a CCL license/permit from another state unless there is reciprocal reciprocity and the licensee actually resides in that other state.”
This sparked an immediate review of North Dakota’s laws, and I found conflicting information.
Conflicting Laws in North Dakota Code
On the North Dakota Attorney General’s official website, the reciprocity section clearly states:
“North Dakota will honor a valid concealed carry license/permit (resident and non-resident) issued by a state that has agreed to recognize a North Dakota license.”
However, House Bill 1293 passed by the 67th Legislative Assembly in 2021 includes this language:
“An individual may carry a firearm concealed under this chapter if the individual qualifies for reciprocity under section 62.1-04-03.1 and the individual has the equivalent of a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license from the state in which the individual is a resident.”
So which is it—resident permits only, or both resident and non-resident permits?
Direct Clarification from the ND Attorney General’s Office
To clear this up, I contacted the North Dakota Attorney General’s office directly. Here’s a portion of the response I received from the Concealed Weapon Licensing Unit:
“I believe there is some contradiction in our reciprocity between 62.1-04-02(3) and 62.1-04-03.1. 62.1-04-03.1 appears to allow individuals who possess non-resident concealed licenses from other states with reciprocity to carry in our state. However, 62.1-04-02(3) says they must be a resident of the other state. We may look at amending one of these statutes in an upcoming session…”
They went on to clarify that due to the rule of lenity—a legal principle requiring that unclear criminal statutes be interpreted in favor of the defendant—they do not believe someone could be prosecuted for carrying under a valid non-resident permit in North Dakota.
They also reminded us that anyone with a valid driver’s license or ID can legally carry under the state’s permitless (constitutional) carry law.
Why We Updated Our Reciprocity Maps
Given this explanation, we’ve updated our reciprocity maps to show that North Dakota accepts both resident and non-resident permits from states with reciprocity agreements. While the legal text is still in conflict, the Attorney General’s office has made it clear they do not consider carrying on a non-resident permit to be a criminal offense under current law.
We’ve also added a note below the map linking to this article to provide transparency about the change and ensure our readers understand the nuances behind North Dakota’s policy.
What to Know Before Carrying in North Dakota
- If you have a valid permit from a state with a reciprocity agreement with North Dakota, you are currently not at risk of prosecution, whether it’s a resident or non-resident permit.
- If you are a resident of North Dakota or possess a valid ND driver’s license or ID, you can carry under the state’s permitless carry law (with some restrictions).
- Expect updates in future legislative sessions that may formally clean up the contradictory language in the statutes.
I’ll continue to monitor this issue and update our content if any laws are amended or policies shift.
If you ever spot something that doesn’t look right on our reciprocity maps or in any of our guides, reach out to us—we investigate and verify every tip that comes in.
Stay safe and stay informed.
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