South Carolina concealed carry laws and reciprocity

SLED states that neither CWP holders nor permitless carriers have a duty to notify a law enforcement officer that they are carrying, and CWP holders are not required to disclose their permit status.

A person not otherwise prohibited may lawfully store a firearm anywhere in a vehicle, occupied or unoccupied (S.C. Code 16-23-20(D)); SLED states there are no restrictions on guns inside vehicles, openly or concealed.

Under H. 3594 (2024 Act No. 111), individuals 18 and older who are not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry openly or concealed without a permit or training. SLED states the law took effect when signed on March 7, 2024.

SLED must issue a concealable weapon permit to a resident or qualified nonresident 18 or older who is not prohibited from possessing the weapon and submits the required documents, training proof, and fingerprints, if the background check is favorable (S.C. Code 23-31-215(A)-(B)).

Permits are available to a "qualified nonresident," defined as a person who resides in another state but owns real property in South Carolina (S.C. Code 23-31-210(2), 23-31-215(A)).

Since March 7, 2024, people 18 and older who are not prohibited may carry a handgun openly or concealed without a permit; openly carrying in accordance with the law alone is not grounds for a stop (S.C. Code 23-31-245).

Carrying into a place posted with a "NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED" sign meeting S.C. Code 23-31-235 can be charged as a violation of Section 16-11-620; signs must meet the statute's size, wording, symbol, and placement rules.

A person lawfully carrying may enter a business that serves alcohol for on-premises consumption only if they do not consume alcohol there, the business is not posted under 23-31-235, and they leave or remove the weapon when asked (S.C. Code 16-23-465).

Possessing firearms at parks under the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is generally unlawful, but the prohibition does not apply to a person carrying a concealable weapon (a firearm under 12 inches, i.e. a handgun); hunters' long guns must be unloaded and cased outside designated game management areas (S.C. Code 51-3-145(G)).

Carrying a handgun into a church or other established religious sanctuary is unlawful, with or without a permit, unless express permission is given by the appropriate church official or governing body (S.C. Code 16-23-20(A)(8)).

Possessing a firearm on property owned, operated, or controlled by a school, college, university, or other post-secondary institution without the authorities' express permission is a felony; a firearm may remain secured in a closed compartment or container in an attended or locked vehicle (S.C. Code 16-23-420).

S.C. Code 16-23-20(A) bars handguns, with or without a permit, from law enforcement, correctional, and detention facilities; courthouses while court is in session; polling places on election days; offices or business meetings of local governing bodies and school districts; school or college athletic events; daycares and preschools; places barred by federal law; churches without permission; medical facilities without authorization; another person's residence without permission; and properly posted premises. Sections 16-23-420 and 16-23-430 separately bar firearms on school and college property.

A person not engaged in unlawful activity who is attacked in a place where they have a right to be has no duty to retreat and may meet force with force, including deadly force, under the Protection of Persons and Property Act (S.C. Code 16-11-440(C)).

South Carolina's weapons statutes (Title 16, Chapter 23 and Title 23, Chapter 31) contain no magazine capacity limit.

South Carolina restricts machine guns and "military firearms," but the statutory definition of military firearm excludes any pistol, rifle, or shotgun that fires only one shot per trigger pull (S.C. Code 16-23-210(g)); there is no assault weapons ban.

S.C. Code Title 16, Chapter 23 (offenses involving weapons) contains no prohibition on possessing a firearm suppressor; Article 3 (16-23-210 through 16-23-260) regulates only machine guns, military firearms, and sawed-off shotguns and rifles, and the term 'firearm silencer' appears in Title 23, Chapter 31 only inside a definition of 'firearm'. The value rests on the absence of a state provision; federal NFA requirements apply separately.

Possessing a sawed-off rifle (barrel under 16 inches or overall length under 26 inches) is unlawful except for persons exempted by S.C. Code 16-23-250, including persons authorized by ATF or another federal agency; Section 23-31-330 also requires lawful possessors to register with SLED.

Possessing a sawed-off shotgun (barrel under 18 inches or overall length under 26 inches) is unlawful except for persons exempted by S.C. Code 16-23-250, including persons authorized by ATF or another federal agency; Section 23-31-330 also requires lawful possessors to register with SLED.