Concealed Handgun Permit Requirements

Applicant must:

• be twenty-one (21) years of age;
• be a resident of Person County and a resident of North Carolina for thirty (30) days;
• be a citizen or naturalized citizen of the United States of America;
• not suffer from any mental or physical infirmity which would prevent safe handgun handling and operation;
• provide a valid N.C. driver's license or other picture ID with the current address provided by the state of North Carolina;
• successfully complete a firearms training and safety course that has been designed by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Standards Commission (See Yellow Pages or a firearms dealer for businesses that provide training).

A criminal background check that can take up to 90 days must be performed before granting of permit.

Applications are by appointment only. Complete the application: Online Concealed Handgun Permit Application

Forms needed for Original Issue: Concealed Carry Application, Driver License, and Original Certificate

Forms Needed for Renewal: Concealed Carry Application, Driver License, Current Concealed Handgun Permit

Visit the NC Attorney General website for additional information.

Concealed Handgun Reciprocity in North Carolina

For a current list of states that have concealed handgun permit agreements with North Carolina, click here.

Ineligibility for Concealed Handgun Permit

Persons not eligible include anyone:

• found guilty or received a prayer for judgement continued or suspended sentence for any crimes of violence or misdemeanor assaults as defined by General Statutes;
• under indictment or against whom a finding of probable cause exists for a felony;
• found guilty in any court for a felony;
• receiving a prayer for judgement continued for any criminal offense which disqualifies a person from receiving a Concealed Handgun Permit;
• who is a fugitive from justice;
• who is an unlawful user of or addicted to illegal drugs;
• discharged from the armed forces for other than honorable reasons;
• who has been ruled mentally ill;
• ineligible to own, possess or receive a firearm under the provisions of state or federal law;
• free on bond or personal recognizance pending trial, appeal or sentencing for a crime which disqualifies a person from receiving a Concealed Handgun Permit;
• convicted of an impaired driving offense within three years prior to application date.

Rules For Carrying a Concealed Handgun

• You must notify the sheriff issuing the permit of any change of address within thirty (30) days of the change. This must be done in person at the agency that is the holder or the record.
• You may not carry a concealed handgun while consuming or after having consumed alcohol or other controlled substance which alters judgment or physical control.
• Handgun may be concealed in purse or pocket.
• Permit and a valid North Carolina issued picture ID must be on your person when carrying a concealed handgun.
• You must tell any approaching law enforcement officer that you are carrying a concealed handgun.
• Failure to carry permit or to notify approaching law enforcement officer is an infraction for the first offense, a misdemeanor in subsequent instances.
• Permits can be revoked for lying on application, lending your permit to another person or being charged with a crime.

Renewing of Concealed Handgun Permits

If a permit expires, an individual may not carry his or her weapon concealed until a new application has been approved and issued.

The renewal process will be similar to the original application except the Sheriff has waived the necessity for existing permit holders to re-take the firearms safety course. However, if a permit holder allows a permit to expire, he or she will be treated as a new applicant and will be required to take the firearms safety class again.