North Carolina Gun Laws 2026

North Carolina requires no state permit to buy a handgun or a long gun. The state repealed its pistol purchase permit in March 2023, and it sets no waiting period. A buyer still completes ATF Form 4473 and passes a federal NICS background check at a licensed dealer. Carrying works differently: open carry of a lawfully owned handgun needs no permit, while concealed carry requires a concealed handgun permit issued by the county sheriff.

Buying a gun

At a licensed dealer you show photo ID and fill out ATF Form 4473. The dealer then runs a federal NICS background check, and a valid North Carolina concealed handgun permit can stand in for that check. Federal law sets the dealer minimum at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns.

When the check returns a proceed, the firearm can go home the same day. Private sales between North Carolina residents need no state permit, and the state keeps no firearm registry.

Buying online and shipping to a North Carolina dealer

An online firearm order ships to a licensed dealer in North Carolina that the buyer selects at checkout. The dealer runs the background check and hands over the firearm. Ammunition, optics and most parts ship directly to the buyer's address.

Carrying a gun and permits

Open carry of a lawfully owned handgun is allowed without a permit. Concealed carry needs a concealed handgun permit from the county sheriff of the county where the applicant lives, not from a state agency. An applicant must be 21, have lived in the county for at least 30 days, pass a background and mental health check, and finish an approved course that includes live fire and state law instruction. The permit runs five years.

Some places stay off-limits even to permit holders: schools, courthouses, law enforcement buildings, state and federal offices, and posted private property. Cities may bar firearms from their own buildings and parks.

Permitless concealed carry has not become law. The 2025 permitless carry bill was vetoed, and the Senate overrode the veto in July 2025. As of September 2026 the House override vote is still pending, so concealed carry still requires a permit.

Hunting rules

The Wildlife Resources Commission divides the state into deer zones. For the 2026-27 season, archery opens statewide on September 12, 2026. Gun season dates depend on the zone:

Northeastern and Southeastern zones: October 17, 2026 to January 1, 2027
Central zone and the Northwestern chronic wasting disease area: November 14, 2026 to January 1, 2027
Northwestern zone: November 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027
Western zone: November 28, 2026 to January 1, 2027

Bows, crossbows, blackpowder guns, shotguns, rifles and handguns are all legal in gun season. Hunter orange is required, and the season limit is six deer, two of them antlered. Check the listing for your county before you hunt.

For waterfowl, a 12- or 20-gauge pump or semi-auto shotgun plugged to three shells, loaded with steel or another approved non-toxic shot, is the usual setup. Hunters need a state hunting license, the migratory game bird privilege, HIP certification and a federal duck stamp.

Feral hogs require a North Carolina hunting license. The rules for feral swine on private land differ from the rules for wild boar in the western mountain counties, so read the current regulations digest before you go.

Buying and carrying requirements at a glance

Requirement	Buying	Carrying
State permit	None. The pistol purchase permit was repealed in March 2023	None for open carry of a lawfully owned handgun. Concealed carry needs a concealed handgun permit
Background check	Federal NICS check at a licensed dealer. A valid NC concealed handgun permit can stand in for it	Background and mental health check as part of the permit application
Minimum age	18 for rifles and shotguns, 21 for handguns	21 for a concealed handgun permit
Paperwork	ATF Form 4473	Approved course with live fire and state law instruction
Issuing agency	Licensed dealer runs the check	County sheriff in the applicant's county of residence
Permit length	No permit issued	Five years

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to buy a gun in North Carolina?

Not a state permit. The pistol purchase permit was repealed in March 2023. The buyer still completes Form 4473 and passes a NICS check at the licensed dealer that receives the order.

Is there a waiting period?

North Carolina sets no waiting period. Once the dealer's background check returns a proceed, the buyer can take the firearm home the same day.

Who issues concealed handgun permits?

The county sheriff in the county where the applicant lives. The applicant submits fingerprints, a mental health release and a certificate from an approved course, and the sheriff has 45 days to issue or deny the permit.