RenewPermit

Jurisdiction guide · last checked 2026-10-04

South Carolina permit requirements

Information only. Confirm with the issuing agency before you apply.

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

At a glance

Permit required to carry
No
Permit currently issued
Yes
Issuance structure
Constitutional
Issuing level
State
Minimum age
21 (18 if active military)
Training
8 hours
Live fire
Required
Application fee
Reported: $0.00 (FREE) SLED state application fee (statutory fee eliminated in 2024); IdentoGO fingerprint vendor processing fee (~$13.25) applies if fingerprinting via third-party vendor. Confirm at the source
Permit term
5 years
Residency required
Yes. South Carolina resident, or a non-resident who owns real property in the state or is active military. Confirm with the issuing agency
Processing time
90 days 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: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division

Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division — last checked 2026-10-04

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What to know in South Carolina

South Carolina is listed as a permitless carry state, so a permit is optional for eligible adults; the card is the Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP). For the optional permit, a single state agency handles permits, so the same office serves every county. The issuing agency is South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

The minimum age to apply is 21 (18 if active military). The required training course in South Carolina is 8 hours. Live-fire shooting is part of the course. A new permit lasts 5 years.

We found no South Carolina rule that lets you keep carrying on an expired permit while a renewal is pending, so renew before the date on your card. A lost or stolen South Carolina permit is replaced with a request form sent to the issuing agency. After a move or name change, tell the issuing agency within 30 days. Confirm with the issuing agency

Official page: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division · Reciprocity: where a South Carolina permit is honored

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