North Carolina generally permits open carry of handguns and long guns without a permit, but local discharge ordinances and posted-property restrictions may apply under state law.
North Carolina has no statute prohibiting the open carry of firearms by adults who can lawfully possess them, and case law confirms open carry as a recognized practice. NCGS 14-269 only criminalizes carrying a concealed weapon, not open carry. However, NCGS 14-277.2 prohibits carrying firearms at parades, funerals, demonstrations, and similar public assemblies. Private property owners may post against open carry, and federal facilities, schools, and state-restricted areas remain off-limits regardless of how the firearm is carried.
Open carry at a prohibited assembly under NCGS 14-277.2 is a Class 1 misdemeanor; trespass on posted property may add additional charges.
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 open carry rules stack up against other locations.
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