South Carolina Gun Laws

Permitless carry is established in subsection (O)(2): a SC CWP is not required to carry a firearm in a manner not prohibited by law. As amended by 2024 Act 111, anyone 18 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry openly or concealed without a permit. SLED's own guidance describes this as 'in effect immediately' upon the Governor's March 7, 2024 signing.

"The availability of a permit to carry a concealable weapon under this section must not be construed to prohibit the permitless transport or carrying of a firearm in a vehicle or on or about one's person, whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, in a manner not prohibited by law."

S.C. Code § 23-31-215(O)(2) statute

The 2024 Constitutional Carry Act was ratified March 7, 2024 (R.121, H.3594), signed by Governor McMaster the same day, and 'takes effect upon approval by the Governor.' It amended §§ 16-23-20, 16-23-50, 16-23-420, 16-23-465, 23-31-215, 23-31-220, and others, and repealed §§ 16-23-460, 23-31-225, and 23-31-230. It permits open or concealed carry without a permit by anyone 18 or older who is not otherwise prohibited.

"AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE 'SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY/SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT OF 2024'... This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor."

2024 Act No. 111 (H.3594) — South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2024 statute

SLED's official guidance to law enforcement confirms the 2024 act 'allows individuals 18 years old and older to carry firearms openly or concealed without a permit,' with no firearms-storage restrictions in vehicles, and that possession of a firearm alone does not justify a stop. The CWP program continues as optional for those seeking reciprocity and easier FFL transactions.

"H. 3594 as signed by the Governor on March 7, 2024, authorizes individuals who are not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm, to legally possess a firearm openly or concealed without training and without a concealed weapons permit issued by SLED."

SLED — H.3594 Constitutional Carry Guidance ag

SLED must issue a CWP to a SC resident or qualified nonresident who is at least 18 years of age, not prohibited by state law from possessing the weapon, and who submits a completed application, photo ID, proof of residence (or real-property ownership for nonresidents), vision proof, proof of training, and fingerprints. As of 2024 Act 111, SLED may not charge a fee for a CWP. Permits are valid for five years.

"SLED must issue a permit, which is no larger than three and one-half inches by three inches in size, to carry a concealable weapon to a resident or qualified nonresident who is at least eighteen years of age and who is not prohibited by state law from possessing the weapon."

S.C. Code § 23-31-215(A) statute

'Proof of training' for a CWP requires completion within the prior three years of a basic or advanced handgun education course covering SC handgun law and use of deadly force, handgun safety and storage, live fire of at least 25 rounds, holster securing, cocked-and-locked carry, weapon retention, and deescalation techniques. SLED's lesson plan implements this as an 8-hour course. Military, law-enforcement, and NRA-certified instructor exemptions are listed in § 23-31-210(4)(b)–(g).

"the actual firing of the handgun in the presence of the instructor, provided that a minimum of twenty-five rounds must be fired"

S.C. Code § 23-31-210(4) statute

SLED administers the CWP, accepts applications online through IdentoGo (electronic fingerprinting) or by mail, processes within 90 days, and publishes an approved-instructor list. Disabled veterans and retired law enforcement may be fee-exempt on renewals. New permits are free per 2024 Act 111.

"The South Carolina Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) authorizes citizens of South Carolina to carry a weapon on their person openly or concealed within the state of South Carolina where permissible."

SLED — Concealed Weapons Permit ag

Open carry of a handgun is permitted on the same terms as concealed carry — without a permit by anyone 18 or older who is not otherwise prohibited. The 2024 act amended § 16-23-20 to remove the per-se 'carrying a handgun' offense outside the eleven enumerated prohibited locations.

"the permitless transport or carrying of a firearm in a vehicle or on or about one's person, whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, in a manner not prohibited by law."

S.C. Code § 23-31-215(O)(2); § 16-23-20 (as amended by 2024 Act 111) statute

South Carolina first allowed open carry only with a Concealed Weapons Permit under the Open Carry With Training Act, signed May 17, 2021 and effective August 15, 2021. That intermediate regime was superseded by permitless open carry under 2024 Act 111. SC was the most-recently restrictive state on open carry — until 2021 it was prohibited entirely without a permit.

"This act may be cited as the 'Open Carry With Training Act'."

2021 Act No. 66 (H.3094) — Open Carry With Training Act statute

A person not otherwise prohibited by law from carrying a firearm may store a firearm anywhere in a vehicle, whether occupied or unoccupied. Loaded carry in the glove box, console, or trunk is permitted without a permit. SLED's guidance confirms 'no restrictions of guns inside vehicles. Guns can be stored anywhere inside the vehicle openly or concealed.'

"Notwithstanding any provision in this section, a person who is not otherwise prohibited by law from carrying a firearm may lawfully store a firearm anywhere in a vehicle whether occupied or unoccupied."

S.C. Code § 23-31-215(D) (as amended by 2024 Act 111) statute

SLED's official guidance to all SC law enforcement confirms there are no restrictions on firearms inside vehicles after 2024 Act 111 — open or concealed, loaded or unloaded, anywhere inside the vehicle.

"There are no restrictions of guns inside vehicles. Guns can be stored anywhere inside the vehicle openly or concealed."

SLED — Constitutional Carry Guidance (vehicle storage) ag

South Carolina has no statutory employer-parking-lot protection for employees who store firearms in personal vehicles. Title 41 (Labor and Employment) contains no provision shielding employees from adverse action for vehicle firearm storage. Under § 23-31-220(A)(1), employers may prohibit firearms on company premises (including parking areas) and on machinery, vehicles, or equipment owned or operated by the business.

"the right of a public or private employer to prohibit a person who is otherwise not prohibited by law from possessing a handgun from carrying a concealable weapon, whether concealed or openly carried, upon the premises of the business or workplace or while using any machinery, vehicle, or equipment owned or operated by the business"

S.C. Title 41 (no guns-in-trunks employer statute) statute

Section 23-31-220(A)(1) expressly preserves the right of a public or private employer to prohibit a person not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a handgun from carrying on the employer's premises or while using machinery, vehicles, or equipment owned or operated by the business. This is the statutory hook that confirms SC has no guns-in-trunks employer-parking-lot protection.

"the right of a public or private employer to prohibit a person who is otherwise not prohibited by law from possessing a handgun from carrying a concealable weapon"

S.C. Code § 23-31-220(A)(1) statute

South Carolina honors valid concealed-weapons permits from any reciprocal state, provided the issuing state requires a criminal background check and firearms training course. SC automatically recognizes Georgia and North Carolina permits regardless of those states' criteria. Out-of-state permits authorize only handgun carry — not other weapons.

"(1) Valid out-of-state permits to carry concealable weapons held by a resident of a reciprocal state must be honored by this State, provided, that the reciprocal state requires an applicant to successfully pass a criminal background check and a course in firearm training and safety. (2) Notwithstanding the reciprocity requirements of item (1), South Carolina shall automatically recognize concealed weapon permits issued by Georgia and North Carolina."

S.C. Code § 23-31-215(N) statute

SLED does not publish a current outbound reciprocity matrix on its public website. Per the handgunlaw.us SC summary (3/15/2026), the SC CWP is honored by approximately 36 states; the states that do NOT honor SC's CWP at all are CA, OR, WA, CO, IL, MI, NY, NJ, MA, CT, RI, MD, DC, and HI. Florida and North Dakota honor the SC CWP only for SC residents. Always verify current status against the destination state's DPS before traveling.

"SC CCW Links: Permitless Carry Guidance From SLED. SLED shall maintain and publish a list of those states as the states with which South Carolina has reciprocity."

handgunlaw.us SC Reciprocity PDF (updated 2026-03-15) secondary

South Carolina codifies a castle-doctrine presumption: a person using deadly force against another who is unlawfully and forcibly entering a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle is presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily injury. The intruder is presumed to be acting with intent to commit a violent crime. Enacted by the Protection of Persons and Property Act of 2006 (Act 379).

"A person is presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to himself or another person when using deadly force... if the person against whom the deadly force is used is in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or has unlawfully and forcibly entered a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle."

S.C. Code § 16-11-440(A)–(B), (D) statute

South Carolina's modern castle-doctrine and stand-your-ground statute was enacted as the Protection of Persons and Property Act of 2006, effective June 9, 2006, codified at §§ 16-11-410 through 16-11-450. The act establishes the presumption of reasonable fear in the home/vehicle, eliminates the duty to retreat outside the home, and grants criminal and civil immunity to justified users of force.

"HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 379, SECTION 1, eff June 9, 2006."

2006 Act No. 379 — Protection of Persons and Property Act statute

Section 16-11-410 is the citation/short-title provision of the Protection of Persons and Property Act, anchoring the article that codifies SC's castle-doctrine presumption and stand-your-ground rule at §§ 16-11-420 through 16-11-450.

"This article may be cited as the 'Protection of Persons and Property Act'."

S.C. Code § 16-11-410 statute

Section 16-11-450 grants both criminal and civil immunity to a person who uses deadly force as permitted by the Protection of Persons and Property Act. The immunity does not apply when the person against whom force was used is an identified, on-duty law enforcement officer.

"A person who uses deadly force as permitted by the provisions of this article or another applicable provision of law is justified in using deadly force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of deadly force, unless the person against whom deadly force was used is a law enforcement officer acting in the performance of his official duties and he identifies himself in accordance with applicable law or the person using deadly force knows or reasonably should have known that the person is a law enforcement officer."

S.C. Code § 16-11-450 statute

South Carolina is a stand-your-ground state: a person not engaged in unlawful activity who is attacked in a place where the person has a right to be, including a place of business, has no duty to retreat and may use force, including deadly force, if reasonably believed necessary to prevent death, great bodily injury, or a violent crime.

"A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in another place where he has a right to be, including, but not limited to, his place of business, has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force."

S.C. Code § 16-11-440(C) statute

South Carolina has no duty to disclose firearm possession to a law enforcement officer. Both permitless carriers and CWP holders are free not to volunteer the fact that they are carrying; the 2024 act repealed the prior obligation for CWP holders to identify themselves as such.

"A CWP holder or a person carrying a firearm without a permit pursuant to this law DOES NOT have a duty to notify a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a firearm. Insofar as there is no longer a CWP requirement, a CWP holder is not required to carry his/her CWP or disclose his/her status as a CWP holder to a law enforcement officer."

SLED — Constitutional Carry Guidance (no duty to inform) ag

Added by 2024 Act 111, § 23-31-245 expressly states that openly carrying a weapon in accordance with the article does not give a law enforcement officer reasonable suspicion or probable cause to search, detain, or arrest the person. A particularized basis for suspecting other criminal activity is still required for any stop.

"A person openly carrying a weapon in accordance with this article does not give a law enforcement officer reasonable suspicion or probable cause to search, detain, or arrest the person."

S.C. Code § 23-31-245 statute

Carrying a handgun — concealed or openly — is unlawful in eleven enumerated locations regardless of permit status: (1) law enforcement, correctional, or detention facilities; (2) courthouses or publicly owned buildings during court sessions; (3) polling places on election days; (4) offices or business meetings of county/school/municipal/special-district governing bodies; (5) school or college athletic events not related to firearms; (6) daycare or preschool facilities; (7) places where carry is prohibited by federal law; (8) churches without express permission; (9) hospitals, medical clinics, doctor's offices, or facilities performing medical procedures unless authorized; (10) private residences without owner permission; and (11) places posted in compliance with § 23-31-235.

"It is unlawful, whether or not the person has a concealed weapon permit, for anyone to carry about the person any handgun, whether concealed or not, unless otherwise specifically authorized by law into a: (1) law enforcement, correctional, or detention facility; (2) courthouse, courtroom, or other publicly owned building... where court is held and during the time that court is in session; (3) polling place on election days..."

S.C. Code § 16-23-20(A) (as amended by 2024 Act 111) statute

Possessing a firearm on premises or property owned, operated, or controlled by any private or public school, college, university, technical college, or other post-secondary institution — or in any publicly owned building — without express permission from the authorities in charge is a felony punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and five years' imprisonment. A motor vehicle exception applies when the firearm remains inside an attended or locked vehicle in a closed glove compartment, closed console, closed trunk, or closed container with an integral fastener transported in the luggage compartment.

"It is unlawful for a person to possess a firearm of any kind on any premises or property owned, operated, or controlled by a private or public school, college, university, technical college, other post-secondary institution, or in any publicly owned building, without the express permission of the authorities in charge."

S.C. Code § 16-23-420 (firearm on school property) statute

Knowingly carrying a firearm into a business that sells alcoholic liquor, beer, or wine for on-premises consumption is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $2,000 and two years. As amended by 2024 Act 111, a person otherwise lawfully carrying a firearm who does NOT consume alcohol is exempt; however, a property owner may post against carry, and refusing to leave when asked is itself a violation. CWP holders convicted under this section have their permit revoked for five years.

"a person convicted of knowingly carrying a firearm into a business which sells alcoholic liquor, beer, or wine for consumption on the premises is guilty of a misdemeanor... This section does not apply to a person otherwise lawfully carrying a firearm who does not consume alcoholic liquor, beer, or wine while carrying the concealable weapon on the business' premises."

S.C. Code § 16-23-465 (alcohol-serving premises while consuming) statute

Private property owners may prohibit carry by posting a 'NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED' sign meeting statutory specifications: eight inches wide by twelve inches tall, with black one-inch uppercase type and a 7-inch handgun-and-slash pictogram, posted at each entrance 40–60 inches above the ground. Non-conforming signs are not legally binding, though refusal to leave when asked remains an offense.

"All signs must be posted at each entrance into a building where carrying of a concealable weapon is prohibited and must be: (1) clearly visible from outside the building; (2) eight inches wide by twelve inches tall in size; (3) contain the words 'NO CONCEALABLE WEAPONS ALLOWED' in black one-inch tall uppercase type at the bottom of the sign."

S.C. Code § 23-31-235 (sign requirements) statute

Section 16-23-50 sets the penalty structure for violations of Chapter 23 Article 1. General article violations (other than § 16-23-20) are a felony punishable by up to $2,000 and five years. Section 16-23-20 violations are graduated: first offense misdemeanor up to $1,000 and one year; second offense misdemeanor up to three years; third or subsequent offense felony up to five years. Handguns involved in violations are confiscated under subsection (B). The graduated penalty structure was added by 2024 Act 111.

"A person, including a dealer, who violates the provisions of this article, except Section 16-23-20, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."

S.C. Code § 16-23-50 (penalties) statute

Section 23-31-232 creates a narrow exception to the school-premises firearm prohibition: when a church leases space at an elementary or secondary school for services or official church activities, a person may carry a concealable weapon (openly or concealed) on the leased premises during that use, subject to the church official's permission framework in § 16-23-20(A)(8).

"any person may carry a concealable weapon, whether concealed or openly carried, on the leased premises of an elementary or secondary school if a church leases the school premises or areas within the school for church services or official church activities"

S.C. Code § 23-31-232 (church on leased school premises) statute

South Carolina is not a NICS point-of-contact state — federally licensed firearm dealers run the federally required background check directly through the FBI NICS system. SLED operates the CATCH criminal-records portal for general public records but does not interpose itself between FFLs and NICS for firearm purchases. SC has no state universal background check requirement for private-party transfers between unlicensed individuals.

"South Carolina Law Enforcement Division"

SLED — Background Checks (CATCH portal) ag

Federal law requires buyers to be at least 21 to purchase a handgun from a federally licensed dealer and at least 18 to purchase a long gun. Private in-state transfers between unlicensed individuals are not bound by these federal FFL minimums. South Carolina imposes no additional state purchase-age requirement beyond federal law.

"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."

18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal); no SC state purchase-age beyond federal atf

South Carolina has no firearm registration requirement and maintains no firearm registry. State preemption under § 23-31-510 expressly prohibits localities from regulating firearm ownership or possession, which would foreclose local registries.

"No governing body of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision in the State may enact or promulgate any regulation or ordinance that regulates or attempts to regulate: (1) the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, or any combination of these things."

S.C. Code Title 23 Chapter 31 (no firearm registry statute) statute

South Carolina has not enacted an extreme risk protection order (red flag) law. No SC statute authorizes courts to issue firearm removal orders based on dangerousness petitions by family or law enforcement.

"Title 16 - Crimes and Offenses"

S.C. Code Title 16 (no ERPO statute) statute

South Carolina has no assault-weapon ban. State preemption under § 23-31-510 bars counties and municipalities from regulating the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms or components, foreclosing local assault-weapon bans.

"No governing body of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision in the State may enact or promulgate any regulation or ordinance that regulates or attempts to regulate: (1) the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, or any combination of these things."

S.C. Code § 23-31-510 (preemption) statute

South Carolina imposes no magazine-capacity limit, and § 23-31-510 preempts local capacity restrictions on firearms or components.

"the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, or any combination of these things."

S.C. Code § 23-31-510 (preemption); no capacity statute statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and machine guns are federally regulated under the National Firearms Act and require ATF registration and a tax stamp.

"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."

26 U.S.C. ch. 53 (National Firearms Act) / ATF atf

South Carolina still prohibits machine guns and 'sawed-off' rifles (under 16-inch barrel) and shotguns (under 18-inch barrel) at the state level under §§ 16-23-220 and 16-23-230 — but § 16-23-250 includes a defense for 'any person authorized to possess these weapons by the United States Department of the Treasury, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or any other federal agency.' NFA-tax-stamp holders of SBRs, SBSs, and lawfully transferable machine guns satisfy this exemption. Suppressors are not listed in SC's definitions and are not regulated by SC state law (federal NFA registration still required).

"The provisions of this article do not apply to... any person authorized to possess these weapons by the United States Department of the Treasury, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or any other federal agency empowered to grant this authorization."

S.C. Code §§ 16-23-220, 16-23-230, 16-23-250 (machine guns and sawed-off rifles/shotguns) statute

South Carolina preempts firearm regulation: no county, municipality, or political subdivision may regulate the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or components. A narrow exception lets local governments regulate temporary open carry on public property during permitted events under § 23-31-520, and another lets them regulate firearm discharge in some circumstances.

"No governing body of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision in the State may enact or promulgate any regulation or ordinance that regulates or attempts to regulate: (1) the transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, or transportation of firearms, ammunition, components of firearms, or any combination of these things."

S.C. Code § 23-31-510 statute

Section 23-31-520 carves out a narrow exception to SC's firearm preemption: a county, municipality, or political subdivision may temporarily restrict otherwise-lawful open carry on public property when the governing body issues a permit for a public protest, rally, fair, parade, festival, or other organized event.

"a governing body of a county, municipality, or political subdivision may temporarily restrict the otherwise lawful open carrying of a firearm on public property when a governing body issues a permit to allow a public protest, rally, fair, parade, festival, or other organized event"

S.C. Code § 23-31-520 statute

Effective August 15, 2021, the Open Carry With Training Act for the first time allowed open carry of a handgun by Concealed Weapons Permit holders. Until this act, South Carolina was among the most restrictive states in the country on open carry. The act amended § 23-31-220 and added open-carry provisions to the CWP scheme.

"This act may be cited as the 'Open Carry With Training Act'."

2021 Act No. 66 (H.3094) — Open Carry With Training Act statute

Effective March 7, 2024, the Constitutional Carry Act allowed anyone 18 or older not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm to carry openly or concealed without a CWP. The same act repealed the duty-to-inform-officer requirement, eliminated CWP application fees, repealed §§ 16-23-225 and 16-23-230 (the prior 'carrying between auto and accommodation' restrictions), added graduated penalties for unlawful carry under § 16-23-20, and created § 23-31-245 limiting law-enforcement stops based solely on observed open carry.

"AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE 'SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY/SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT OF 2024'."

2024 Act No. 111 (H.3594) — Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act of 2024 statute

Signed by Governor McMaster on March 7, 2024 and effective the same day, Act 111 (H.3594) allows anyone 18 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm to carry openly or concealed without a permit. It also eliminated the duty to inform an officer, removed CWP application fees, repealed §§ 16-23-225 and 16-23-230 (auto-to-accommodation rules), added graduated penalties for unlawful carry, and created § 23-31-245 protecting open carriers from stops based solely on visible firearms.

2024 Act No. 111 (H.3594)

Effective August 15, 2021, Act 66 (H.3094) allowed Concealed Weapons Permit holders to openly carry a handgun for the first time. Until this act, South Carolina was one of only a handful of states that completely prohibited open carry. The open-carry regime was superseded by full permitless carry three years later under 2024 Act 111.

2021 Act No. 66 (H.3094)

Enacted as 2006 Act 379, this is South Carolina's modern castle-doctrine and stand-your-ground statute, codified at §§ 16-11-410 through 16-11-450. It establishes a presumption of reasonable fear when an intruder unlawfully and forcibly enters a home, residence, or occupied vehicle, and eliminates any duty to retreat outside the home for a person lawfully present.

2006 Act No. 379