North Carolina issues concealed handgun permits through county sheriffs under NCGS 14-415.10 and recognizes reciprocity with many states; permitless carry is not authorized statewide.
NCGS 14-415.10 through 14-415.24 establish the concealed handgun permit system. Applicants must be 21 or older, complete an approved firearms safety course, pass background and mental-health checks, and apply through the sheriff of their county of residence. Permits are valid for five years. Concealed carry is prohibited in schools, courthouses, government buildings, law-enforcement facilities, and any private property posted against carry. Open carry is generally legal without a permit, but concealment of a handgun without a permit remains a crime under NCGS 14-269.
Carrying a concealed handgun without a permit is a Class 2 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class H felony for subsequent offenses.
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem driveways require permits for new curb cuts and must meet UDO standards for width and paving material. Residential driveways limited to 24 feet...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem street parking is free in residential areas with 72-hour maximum stays. Downtown has metered parking with enforcement 8 AM to 6 PM Monday throu...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem defines abandoned vehicles as those parked on public streets over 72 hours or inoperative vehicles on private property. Police tag suspicious v...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem prohibits parking of commercial vehicles over 1 ton in residential zoning districts. Semi-trucks, dump trucks, and large delivery vehicles cann...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem is not in a designated high-severity wildfire zone, but wooded neighborhoods along Salem Creek, Muddy Creek, and the western edge near Pilot Mo...
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem permits recreational fire pits under the NC Fire Code (Section 307) when fires are contained, attended, and set back at least 25 feet from stru...
See how Winston-Salem's concealed carry rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.