New Hampshire concealed carry laws and reciprocity
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Quick answers
- Does New Hampshire have permitless (constitutional) carry?
- Yes. New Hampshire allows permitless carry, also called constitutional carry. RSA 159:6, III provides that the availability of a license does not prohibit unlicensed carry on or about one's person or in a vehicle, openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, by a resident, nonresident or alien not otherwise prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm. RSA 159:6 states no minimum age. (Verified Oct 18, 2026.)
- Does New Hampshire honor out-of-state concealed carry permits?
- Yes. New Hampshire honors concealed carry permits from every state. RSA 159:6, III provides that the availability of a license to carry does not impose any requirement to obtain one, so any person, resident or not, who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a loaded pistol or revolver openly or concealed in New Hampshire with or without any permit. New Hampshire therefore does not restrict carry to holders of recognized out-of-state permits; RSA 159:6-d concerns only recognition of New Hampshire licenses by other jurisdictions. (Verified Oct 20, 2026.)
- Do I have to tell police I'm carrying a gun in New Hampshire?
- No. New Hampshire has no statutory duty to tell police you are carrying. RSA chapter 159 contains no requirement that a person carrying a firearm, licensed or not, notify an officer or display a license on contact. (Verified Oct 18, 2026.)
- Can I carry a loaded handgun in my car in New Hampshire?
- Yes. In New Hampshire a loaded handgun may be carried in a private vehicle without a permit. RSA 159:6, III recognizes unlicensed carry of a loaded firearm in a vehicle by persons not otherwise prohibited. Separately, RSA 207:7 bars having a loaded rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader or air rifle in or on a moving motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile or aircraft. (Verified Oct 18, 2026.)
Out-of-state permits
All statesNew Hampshire honors carry permits from every state. RSA 159:6, III provides that the availability of a license to carry does not impose any requirement to obtain one, so any person, resident or not, who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a loaded pistol or revolver openly or concealed in New Hampshire with or without any permit. New Hampshire therefore does not restrict carry to holders of recognized out-of-state permits; RSA 159:6-d concerns only recognition of New Hampshire licenses by other jurisdictions.
At a traffic stop
Duty to inform police
No statutory dutyRSA chapter 159 contains no requirement that a person carrying a firearm, licensed or not, notify an officer or display a license on contact.
Loaded handgun in a vehicle
AllowedRSA 159:6, III recognizes unlicensed carry of a loaded firearm in a vehicle by persons not otherwise prohibited. Separately, RSA 207:7 bars having a loaded rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader or air rifle in or on a moving motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile or aircraft.
Carrying
Permitless carry
YesRSA 159:6, III provides that the availability of a license does not prohibit unlicensed carry on or about one's person or in a vehicle, openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, by a resident, nonresident or alien not otherwise prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm. RSA 159:6 states no minimum age.
Permit issuance
Shall issueThe licensing authority shall issue a license, valid at least 5 years, within 14 days to an applicant with good reason to fear injury or any proper purpose (hunting, target shooting or self-defense) who is not prohibited by state or federal law (RSA 159:6).
Non-resident permits
YesThe Director of State Police, or a designee, issues licenses to nonresidents on application (RSA 159:6, I(a)).
Open carry
AllowedRSA 159:6, III recognizes unlicensed open or concealed carry by persons not otherwise prohibited, and RSA 159:26 preempts local firearm ordinances.
Vehicles
Places
No-gun signs carry force of law
NoRSA chapter 159 contains no provision giving legal effect to posted no-firearms signs, so the value rests on the absence of such a provision. A person who remains on premises after being personally told to leave by the owner or an authorized person commits criminal trespass under RSA 635:2 regardless of any sign.
Restaurants that serve alcohol
AllowedNeither RSA chapter 159 (pistols and revolvers) nor RSA chapter 179 (liquor enforcement) contains any restriction on carrying a firearm in a restaurant or bar that serves alcohol; the value rests on the absence of such a provision in those chapters.
State parks
AllowedRSA chapter 216-A (state parks) and RSA chapter 159 contain no prohibition on possessing a firearm in a state park, so the value rests on the absence of such a provision. Division of Parks and Recreation rules Res 7301.10 and 7301.11 only bar discharging a firearm within 300 feet of occupied developed recreation areas and regulate hunting and target shooting.
Places of worship
AllowedRSA chapter 159 does not list places of worship as off-limits; its only statutory location ban on carrying is for courtrooms and court-used areas (RSA 159:19).
College campuses
Not yet verifiedNot yet verified from an official source.
Prohibited places
See listKnowingly carrying a loaded or unloaded firearm or other deadly weapon in a courtroom or area used by a court is a class B felony, with an affirmative defense if notice was not posted at each public entrance (RSA 159:19). RSA chapter 159 lists no other off-limits locations; federal restrictions may also apply.
Self-defense
Stand your ground
Yes, no duty to retreatA person is not required to retreat before using deadly force if within their dwelling, its curtilage, or anywhere they have a right to be, and they were not the initial aggressor (RSA 627:4, III(a)).
Magazines, rifles & NFA items
Magazine capacity limit
No limitRSA chapter 159 contains no magazine capacity limit, and RSA 159:26 reserves firearms and ammunition regulation to the state and voids conflicting local rules.
Assault weapons ban
NoRSA chapter 159 contains no assault weapons ban, and RSA 159:26 reserves firearms regulation to the state and voids conflicting local rules.
Suppressors (state law)
LegalRSA chapter 159, New Hampshire's firearms chapter, contains no prohibition on silencers or suppressors; federal registration requirements still apply.
Short-barreled rifles (state law)
LegalRSA chapter 159, New Hampshire's firearms chapter, contains no prohibition on short-barreled rifles; federal registration requirements still apply.
Short-barreled shotguns (state law)
LegalRSA chapter 159, New Hampshire's firearms chapter, contains no prohibition on short-barreled shotguns; federal registration requirements still apply.
Getting a New Hampshire permit
- License to Carry a Loaded Pistol or Revolver (also issued to non-residents)