North Carolina permit requirements

Official-source summary. Values we could not confirm are labelled, never filled with assumptions.

At a glance

Permit required to carry

Yes

Permit currently issued

Yes

Issuance structure

Shall Issue

Issuing level

County

Minimum age

Training

8 hours

Live fire

Required Confirm with the issuing agency

Application fee

Reported: $90.00 total statutory fee ($80 application/license fee + $10 fingerprint processing fee) plus minor online processing fee if using local scheduling portal. Confirm at the source

Permit term

5 years

Residency required

Yes. North Carolina resident for 30 days before you apply. No non-resident permits. Confirm with the issuing agency

Processing time

45 days from when the sheriff receives your mental health records Confirm with the issuing agency

Some current details are not fully confirmed. Verify dates, fees, and requirements on the official page before relying on them.

Issuing agency: County Sheriff of applicant's county of residence

Source: North Carolina Department of Justice — last checked 2026-10-04

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What to know in North Carolina

North Carolina is listed as a shall-issue state, and its permit is the Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP): county offices handle permits, so the office you use depends on where you live. The issuing agency is County Sheriff of applicant's county of residence.

The minimum age to apply is 21. The required training course in North Carolina is 8 hours. A new permit lasts 5 years.

North Carolina is reported to let you keep carrying while a renewal is pending, if you filed it before the permit expired. To replace a lost or stolen North Carolina permit, expect to provide a sworn statement. After a move or name change, tell the issuing agency within 30 days. Confirm with the issuing agency

Official page: North Carolina Department of Justice · Reciprocity: where a North Carolina permit is honored

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