Raleigh cannot enact local firearm ordinances — North Carolina General Statute 14-409.40 reserves to the General Assembly the regulation of firearm possession, ownership, storage, transfer, sale, purchase, licensing, and registration. Carry, purchase, and possession rules are uniform statewide.
Under N.C.G.S. Sec. 14-409.40, no North Carolina county or municipality — Raleigh included — may enact ordinances 'concerning the regulation of the possession, ownership, storage, transfer, sale, purchase, licensing, or registration of firearms, firearms ammunition, components of firearms, dealers in firearms, or dealers in handgun components or parts.' Raleigh retains a narrow set of remaining powers: regulating firearm possession by its own employees during work, prohibiting firearms in public buildings and on their grounds (vehicles excepted), and applying generally applicable zoning to firearm dealers as long as the rules are no stricter than for similar businesses. SB 41 (2023) repealed North Carolina's pistol-purchase-permit law effective March 29, 2023; the federal NICS check at licensed dealers and the state Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) for concealed carry still apply.
Any Raleigh ordinance conflicting with N.C.G.S. Sec. 14-409.40 is void. A person affected may seek declaratory and injunctive relief.
See how Raleigh's local firearms preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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