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Open carry (handgun) laws by state

People search “Open carry (handgun) by state”, “Open carry (handgun) laws by state”, and “Open carry map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for open carry (handgun). Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

Open the Open carry difference map

How states differ

Open (visible) handgun carry for travelers.

  • Generally permitless open carry (holster/location rules still apply)
  • Open carry needs a state carry permit / license
  • State allows; cities can ban or heavily restrict
  • Open carry largely prohibited statewide

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

  • Open carry (handgun) by state
  • Open carry (handgun) laws by state
  • Open carry laws by state
  • Open carry (handgun) map
  • Open carry (handgun) traveling across state lines
  • does open carry (handgun) change by state
  • open carry states map
  • is open carry legal
  • open carry traveling
  • Open carry (handgun) in California / Texas / Florida / New York
  • is open carry (handgun) legal while traveling

All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL)
Alabama: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Alaska (AK)
Alaska: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Arizona (AZ)
Arizona: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Arkansas (AR)
Arkansas: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
California (CA)
California: open handgun carry prohibited (Pen. Code § 26350 / 25850).
Colorado (CO)
Colorado: state allows open carry; Denver and some home-rule cities ban it (C.R.S. § 18-12-105.6 / Denver Mun. Code).
Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut: open carry requires a pistol permit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-35).
Delaware (DE)
Delaware: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Florida (FL)
Florida: open handgun carry prohibited except narrow exceptions (Fla. Stat. § 790.053); permitless is concealed only.
Georgia (GA)
Georgia: open carry authorized under permitless (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-126) — holster and location rules still apply.
Hawaii (HI)
Hawaii: open carry requires a license that is almost never issued to visitors (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-9).
Idaho (ID)
Idaho: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Illinois (IL)
Illinois: open handgun carry prohibited; CCL is concealed only (430 ILCS 66; 720 ILCS 5/24-1).
Indiana (IN)
Indiana: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Iowa (IA)
Iowa: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Kansas (KS)
Kansas: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Kentucky (KY)
Kentucky: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Louisiana (LA)
Louisiana: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Maine (ME)
Maine: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Maryland (MD)
Maryland: open carry requires a wear-and-carry permit (Pub. Safety § 5-306 / Crim. Law § 4-203).
Massachusetts (MA)
Massachusetts: open carry requires an LTC; visitor LTC is not issued at the border (ch. 140, § 131).
Michigan (MI)
Michigan: open carry is lawful for a person who may possess; Detroit and some localities post or restrict (MCL 750.234e / 123.1102).
Minnesota (MN)
Minnesota: open carry requires a permit to carry (Minn. Stat. § 624.714).
Mississippi (MS)
Mississippi: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Missouri (MO)
Missouri: state allows open carry; some cities restrict (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 21.750 / 571.030).
Montana (MT)
Montana: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Nebraska (NE)
Nebraska: state allows open carry; Omaha and Lincoln have additional rules (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1202).
Nevada (NV)
Nevada: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
New Hampshire (NH)
New Hampshire: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
New Jersey (NJ)
New Jersey: open carry requires a carry permit that visitors do not have (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5).
New Mexico (NM)
New Mexico: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
New York (NY)
New York: open handgun carry prohibited; license is concealed (Penal Law § 400.00 / 265.01).
North Carolina (NC)
North Carolina: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
North Dakota (ND)
North Dakota: open carry: residents class 2; visitors need a recognized permit (N.D.C.C. § 62.1-03-01).
Ohio (OH)
Ohio: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Oklahoma (OK)
Oklahoma: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Oregon (OR)
Oregon: state allows open carry; Portland and some localities restrict (ORS 166.170 / 166.173).
Pennsylvania (PA)
Pennsylvania: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Rhode Island (RI)
Rhode Island: open carry requires a pistol permit (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8).
South Carolina (SC)
South Carolina: open carry authorized with a CWP / permitless statute (S.C. Code § 16-23-20).
South Dakota (SD)
South Dakota: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Tennessee (TN)
Tennessee: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Texas (TX)
Texas: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Utah (UT)
Utah: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Vermont (VT)
Vermont: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Virginia (VA)
Virginia: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Washington (WA)
Washington: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
West Virginia (WV)
West Virginia: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Wisconsin (WI)
Wisconsin: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.
Wyoming (WY)
Wyoming: permitless open handgun carry for eligible adults (see concealed_carry age). Holster and location bans still apply.

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Not legal advice. Confirm statutes before you travel. Disclaimer.