South Dakota is a shall issue state. However, unlike other states, South Dakota has three levels of permits to carry a concealed pistol. The three levels are regular, gold, and enhanced. Applicants for a South Dakota concealed carry permit must be at least 18 years old. Although, applicants must be 21 years old if trying for a SD enhanced permit. Fees will vary between $10 and $100 depending on permit type. However, regardless of permit type all South Dakota concealed carry permits are valid for 5 years. Applicants can submit the required paperwork to the sheriff of their county of residence. Those trying to obtain a South Dakota enhanced permit, will need to provide proof of training as part of the application. This includes a live fire exercise, so online only training is not accepted. South Dakota does not issue nonresident permits, but accepts permits from any issuing authority including nonresident concealed permits. Those with a SD enhanced permit can carry in 38 other states. Any other level permit will diminish the number of states the permit holder can carry a concealed pistol in.
This information was last updated in February 2019.
Table of Contents
South Dakota Concealed Carry By The Numbers
Average Cost in Dollars*
# of States That Accept SD License
# of Years Valid
Minimum Age*
# of Days To Get A Permit*
Reciprocity Map for South Dakota
Use the tabs below to display states that will accept a South Dakota concealed carry permit or those states that South Dakota will honor. Click the sections below for a complete listing of states in each category, along with other relevant information.
States That Honor South Dakota Concealed Carry
- Alabama
- Alaska – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Arizona – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Arkansas
- Colorado – Resident Permit ONLY
- Delaware – Enhanced ONLY
- Florida – Resident Permit ONLY
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Michigan
- Minnesota – Enhanced ONLY
- Mississippi – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Missouri – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Montana
- Nebraska – Enhanced ONLY
- Nevada – Enhanced ONLY
- New Hampshire – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania – Resident Permit ONLY
- South Carolina – Enhanced ONLY
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington – Enhanced ONLY
- West Virginia – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Wisconsin – Enhanced and Gold ONLY
- Wyoming
South Dakota Will Honor The Following States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How To Apply for a South Dakota Concealed Carry License
Can I get a concealed carry permit in South Dakota?
South Dakota is a shall issue state. South Dakota has three different levels of permits. Applicants submit their paperwork for either a regular permit to carry a concealed pistol, a gold permit to concealed carry, or a South Dakota enhanced concealed permit.
Training requirements and background investigations are what differentiate the levels. A regular SD concealed permit requires passing the NICS background check. Gold card concealed permits require fingerprinting and passing an FBI background check. In addition to both of these, an enhanced concealed carry permit requires completion of a firearm training course.
The gold and enhanced levels offer greater state reciprocity with South Dakota concealed carry. Thus, the requirements are greater for these types of concealed carry licenses.
Relevant Code(s):
What is the minimum age to obtain a CCW license in SD?
The minimum age to obtain any concealed carry permit in South Dakota is 18, regardless of permit type. Applicants for a South Dakota enhanced permit must be 21 years old. If between the ages of 18-20, an applicant for a SD enhanced permit will be eligible for a temporary restricted version of the license.
Relevant Code(s):
Who issues a concealed carry permit in South Dakota?
Applicants should submit their packet for any level of concealed carry permit to the sheriff of the county in which they reside. This authority is responsible for issuing temporary versions of licenses, but the official version will come from the secretary of the state.
“[…]the original shall be delivered to the applicant as the temporary permit, the duplicate shall within seven days be sent by first class mail to the secretary of state who shall issue the official permit […]“
Relevant Code(s):
How long is a South Dakota concealed carry permit good for?
Regardless of type, a permit to carry a concealed pistol is valid for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance.
Relevant Code(s):
Does SD issue concealed permits to non-residents?
South Dakota does not provide provisions for nonresident permits. Furthermore, the Secretary of states website declares that the state does not issue nonresident permits.
Therefore, South Dakota does not issue nonresident concealed carry permits. However, South Dakota does accept nonresident permits issued by other states, so long as they follow the guidelines of concealed carry set forth by South Dakota.
Relevant Code(s):
How long does it take to process a concealed carry application?
Depending on the type of concealed permit being applied for, the time until issuance will vary. If an individual applies for a regular concealed permit, the temporary license will be issued, or denied within 5 days.
For individuals seeking a South Dakota Gold permit, a temporary license will be issued within 30 days.
Similarly, an applicant for a South Dakota enhanced permit will be issued or denied their concealed carry permit within 30 days.
“[regular permit to carry concealed pistol] A temporary permit to carry a concealed pistol shall be issued within five days of application“
“[enhanced permit to carry concealed pistol] within thirty days of application, issue the applicant a temporary enhanced permit to carry a concealed pistol“
“[gold card] the sheriff of the county of the application shall, within thirty days of application, issue the applicant a temporary gold card permit to carry a concealed pistol“
Relevant Code(s):
How much does a concealed carry permit cost?
A Regular permit to carry a concealed pistol in South Dakota will cost $10. However, individuals wishing to obtain a Gold or SD enhanced permit will incur additional cost. If the applicant seek a South Dakota gold concealed carry permit, the fee is $70. Furthermore, an applicant of a South Dakota enhanced permit can expect to pay $100.
“The fee for issuing the permit is ten dollars. The local authority shall collect the fee. Seven dollars of the fee shall be remitted to the secretary of state and three dollars shall be deposited in the general fund of the county or municipality issuing the permit.“
“an optional enhanced permit to carry a concealed pistol […] A separate application fee of one hundred dollars for the optional permit to carry a concealed pistol which shall be distributed fifty percent to the sheriff and fifty percent to the secretary of state“
“[Application for gold card permit to carry concealed pistol] A separate application fee of seventy dollars for the gold card permit to carry a concealed pistol. Thirty dollars of the fee shall be distributed to the sheriff, thirty-four dollars shall be distributed to the Department of Public Safety, and six dollars to the secretary of state“
Relevant Code(s):
What are the accepted forms of competency training?
There is no training component or proof of competency necessary to obtain a regular or gold South Dakota permit to carry a concealed pistol. However, applicants for a gold version must pass a more rigorous background check, which includes fingerprinting.
Furthermore, applicants for a South Dakota enhanced concealed carry permit must pass the same background check as applicants for a gold permit. Additionally, a SD enhanced concealed permit requires training by a certified NRA instructor. This instruction includes a live fire exercise where the applicant must shoot a minimum of 98 rounds. Also, training must be completed within the previous 12 months of application.
Because there is a live fire exercise, online only training is insufficient for obtaining a South Dakota enhanced permit.
“A qualifying handgun course is any handgun course that is taught by a National Rifle Association certified instructor who also holds a current certificate of completion from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation on the use of force […] Live fire training including the firing of at least ninety-eight rounds of ammunition by the student“
Relevant Code(s):
Restrictions on Carrying A Firearm in South Dakota
Is South Dakota an Open Carry State?
South Dakota is an open carry state. Individuals do not need any type of permit issued by the state to openly carry firearms. While I was unable to find a corresponding code, nothing in SD code expressly forbids openly carrying a firearm. Furthermore, the Secretary of States’ website shows South Dakota as a state where open carry is permitted, and no license is necessary to do so.
Relevant Code(s):
Can I Conceal Carry in a Vehicle?
South Dakota allows for concealed carry in vehicles by those with a valid permit. However, for those without a concealed carry permit, firearms must be unloaded and kept i a carrying case that encloses the entire firearm.
Relevant Code(s):
Can I Conceal Carry in State Parks?
South Dakota allows any person with a concealed permit to carry a pistol concealed into state parks.
“No state agency may adopt or promulgate any rule that restricts any right or privilege to carry or possess a pistol in contravention to authority being exercised in accordance with being licensed to carry a concealed pistol […]“
Relevant Code(s):
Am I Allowed To Conceal Carry In Restaurants?
Similar to other states, South Dakota has qualifying guidelines about with regard to establishments that serve alcohol. For all intents and purposes, a licensed individual can carry concealed into a restaurant. However, the below excerpt describes the type of location where an individual may not carry concealed.
“The holder of a permit may carry a concealed pistol anywhere in South Dakota except in any licensed on-sale malt beverage or alcoholic beverage establishment that derives over one-half of its total income from the sale of malt or alcoholic beverages”
Relevant Code(s):
Can I Conceal Carry in a Church?
South Dakota state law does not expressly prohibit the carrying of concealed pistols by licensed individuals into any place of worship. Therefore, it is legal for a person with a valid concealed permit to carry a concealed pistol into a church. It is always recommended that you abide by any posted signage to avoid complications.
Relevant Code(s):
N/A
Can I Conceal Carry in a Bank?
Financial institutions are not expressly listed in the SD state code. Therefore, it is legal for a licensed individual to carry concealed into a bank. While concealed carry is not prohibited in banks, it is prudent to obey any posted signage declaring an area gun free.
Relevant Code(s):
N/A
Can I Conceal Carry in a Hospital?
South Dakota does not expressly forbid someone from concealed carrying into a medical facility or doctors office. Therefore, it is legal for a licensed individual to carry a concealed pistol into a hospital. However it is recommended that you do not do this when there is posted signage prohibiting firearms.
Relevant Code(s):
N/A
The content of this page is for informational purposes. It is not intended as a substitute for legal council, or intended as legal advice. It is recommended that you inquire with the state about the validity of the information contained herein.
