Delaware Concealed Carry Reciprocity: States That Honor It

Delaware Concealed Carry Reciprocity

Delaware recognizes concealed carry licenses and permits from some other states, but not by any blanket rule. Recognition runs through one subsection of the licensing statute, 11 Del. C. § 1441(j), which tells the Attorney General to determine which states qualify and to publish the answer as a list once a year. If your state is on the current list and your permit is of a level the list names, you may carry concealed in Delaware. If not, Delaware treats you like anyone carrying without a license.

The statute that creates recognition: 11 Del. C. § 1441(j)

Section 1441(j) says the State of Delaware "shall give full faith and credit and shall otherwise honor and give full force and effect to all licenses/permits issued to the citizens of other states" when a set of conditions is met. The qualifying conditions are cumulative, and they describe the issuing state's system rather than your training or background. One threshold element is personal, though: the subsection reaches only permits issued to the citizens of other states.

The issuing state must honor Delaware licenses. Recognition under § 1441(j) is written as a two-way arrangement. The other state has to give full faith and credit to, and otherwise honor, licenses Delaware issues under § 1441.

The permit must be issued under state law and afford reasonably similar protection. The out-of-state license or permit has to be issued by authority pursuant to that state's law and "afford a reasonably similar degree of protection as is provided by licensure in Delaware." The statute then defines the standard down rather than up: for purposes of that subsection, "reasonably similar" does not preclude alternative or differing provisions, nor a different source and process by which eligibility is determined.

No pattern of issuing permits to convicted felons. This bar overrides the rest. Section 1441(j) provides that if there is evidence of a pattern of issuing licenses or permits to convicted felons in another state, the Attorney General shall not include that state, even if that state's law is determined to be reasonably similar.

The same subsection assigns the administrative work. The Attorney General communicates the provisions of the section to the Attorneys General of the several states, determines which states' systems qualify, and publishes on January 15 of each year a list of all states that have qualified. Section 1441(j) states that the list is valid for one year, that removal of a state cannot occur without one year's notice of the impending removal, and that the list is to be made readily available to Delaware state and local law enforcement agencies and to all then-current holders of Delaware licenses issued under § 1441.

The list the Attorney General publishes (posted period: January 15, 2025 to January 15, 2026)

The recognition list lives on the Delaware Department of Justice page for Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons (CCDW) at attorneygeneral.delaware.gov. As posted, that page says that for the period from January 15, 2025 to January 15, 2026, Delaware recognizes the concealed deadly weapon licenses or permits issued by the following states.

The permit-level qualifiers matter as much as the state names. The page explains that some states issue multiple levels of permits or licenses, that only those meeting the statutory requirements are recognized in Delaware, and that a notation of the recognized permits appears with the state. Three states on the list carry such a notation: Idaho (enhanced permits only), North Dakota (Class 1 permits only), and South Dakota (enhanced permits only). For those three states, only the permit level the page names is recognized. A permit from one of them that is not of the named level does not qualify, so confirm your level with your issuing authority.

On removals, the page repeats the statutory rules and adds timing: removal comes no sooner than January 15 of the calendar year following the one-year notice period, notice of impending removal goes to the state in question and is posted to the site, and there are currently no notices of pending removal that would take effect January 15, 2026.

Since § 1441(j) requires a new list each January 15, check the CCDW page for the edition in force on the day you carry, including any removal notices posted there.

Resident and non-resident permits

For states on the list, the Attorney General's page states that Delaware will recognize both resident and non-resident licenses. A non-resident permit from a listed state is not disqualified for being a non-resident permit.

That does not create a path for Delaware residents. Section 1441(j) extends recognition to licenses and permits issued to the citizens of other states, and the Attorney General's page states that Delaware residents who wish to carry a concealed deadly weapon in this state must have a current Delaware CCDW license. The page defines a Delaware resident as someone who carries or is required to have a Delaware driver's license, is registered to vote in Delaware, or both.

Delaware does have a narrow non-resident option outside the recognition list. Under 11 Del. C. § 1441(k), the Attorney General may issue, on a limited basis, a temporary license to a non-resident whom the Attorney General determines has a short-term need to carry here in conjunction with that individual's employment, for the protection of person or property. It expires automatically 30 days from issuance, cannot be renewed, and must be carried at all times while within the State. No individual may be issued more than three. Section 1441(l) requires the written application to bear notice that false statements are punishable by law.

What recognition actually gets you

Recognition is permission to carry in Delaware. It is not permission to carry the way your home state allows. The Attorney General's page puts it plainly: persons possessing a recognized license or permit may lawfully possess a concealed deadly weapon while in Delaware, and such persons are subject to and responsible for knowing and obeying all Delaware laws and regulations applicable to carrying or possessing deadly weapons. Two consequences follow.

Delaware's prohibited-person rules apply to you. The page warns that because of differences in state laws, a person lawfully permitted in another state may be prohibited in Delaware, and it lists the categories it says are prohibited from possessing deadly weapons or ammunition here: a previous conviction for any felony; a previous conviction for any misdemeanor involving physical injury to another or domestic violence, unless more than 5 years has elapsed from the date of the conviction; a previous conviction for any crime involving the unlawful use, possession or sale of any illegal drug; a previous juvenile conviction, until the person's 25th birthday, for a crime that would be a felony if committed by an adult; being subject to a Protection From Abuse Order issued by a competent court; and previous commitment to a hospital or mental institution for treatment for a mental disorder. That is the agency's summary. The controlling text is 11 Del. C. § 1448, which sets out the prohibited categories and their exceptions in full, including the mental-health provisions tied to § 1448A.

Age is the category that summary leaves out. Section 1448(a)(5) prohibits "any person under the age of 21" from purchasing, owning, possessing, or controlling a deadly weapon or ammunition for a firearm within the State. The exceptions are narrow. Paragraph (a)(5)a. lifts the bar only for shotguns and shotgun ammunition, muzzle-loading rifles, and, for a person 18 or older, deadly weapons including projectile weapons other than firearms. Paragraphs (a)(5)c. and d. cover a person under 21 in supervised or lawful hunting, instruction, sporting, or recreational activity, and justifiable use of force. Paragraph (a)(5)b. lifts the bar for persons 18 or older who are active members of the Armed Forces or National Guard, qualified law enforcement officers as defined in § 1441A, or a person "who has license to carry a concealed deadly weapon pursuant to § 1441 of this title." That last exception names the Delaware license, so an 18 to 20 year old carrying a handgun on a recognized out-of-state permit is not covered and remains barred.

Delaware's scope and place rules apply to you. Delaware licenses the carrying of concealed deadly weapons, and "deadly weapon" is defined in 11 Del. C. § 222(6) to include far more than firearms, among them a knife of any sort other than an ordinary pocketknife carried closed (a blade not more than 3.75 inches under § 222(6)b.), switchblades, billies, blackjacks, metal knuckles, slingshots, razors, ice picks, and projectile weapons. For where you may not carry, see the Restrictions section, which covers 11 Del. C. § 1457 and the other place-based offenses. For vehicles, see the Vehicle Carry, Transport, and Storage sections. Some items are off limits outright: the page states that Delaware law prohibits the possession of silencers, sawed-off shotguns and machine guns under all circumstances, so a suppressor that is lawful in your home state is not lawful to bring here on a recognized permit.

Carrying concealed without a license Delaware honors is an offense in its own right. Under 11 Del. C. § 1442, carrying a concealed deadly weapon without a license as provided by § 1441 is a class G felony, or a class D felony if the weapon is a firearm or a projectile weapon.

For Delaware-issued licenses, 11 Del. C. § 1441(m) makes a license void and automatically repealed by operation of law if the licensee is or becomes prohibited under § 1448 from owning, possessing, or controlling a deadly weapon.

Whether other states honor a Delaware CCDW

Delaware law cannot answer that question. Section 1441(j) and the Attorney General's list govern only what Delaware does with other states' permits. Whether another state honors a Delaware CCDW is that state's decision under that state's law, and it can change without any change in Delaware law.

The Attorney General's CCDW page does address the outbound direction and names some destinations, so read it there rather than working backward from the recognition list. What it stresses is the traveler's obligation: Delawareans who carry a deadly weapon in another state are responsible for knowing and obeying that state's laws and regulations, a person lawfully permitted under Delaware law may be prohibited elsewhere, and most states require a person carrying under a license or permit to have it in their possession. Confirm your status with the destination state's licensing authority before you travel.

The same page states that law enforcement officials from other jurisdictions may verify Delaware CCDW permits through Delaware State Police Headquarters via NLET.AM directed to DEDSP0000 or by calling 302-659-2341.

LEOSA is a federal carve-out, not state reciprocity

Qualified law enforcement officers carry under a separate authority that has nothing to do with the Attorney General's list. Delaware codifies both halves of the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act.

11 Del. C. § 1441A implements 18 U.S.C. § 926B and covers active qualified law enforcement officers. Under § 1441A(a), notwithstanding the law of any state or political subdivision, a qualified law enforcement officer carrying the identification required by § 1441A(d) may carry a concealed firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. Section 1441A(c) sets the qualifying conditions, among them agency authorization to carry, no disciplinary action that could result in suspension or loss of police powers, meeting agency qualification standards, not being under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug, and not being prohibited by federal law from receiving a firearm. The identification is agency-issued photographic identification naming the holder as a police or law enforcement officer.

11 Del. C. § 1441B implements 18 U.S.C. § 926C and covers qualified retired law enforcement officers. Section 1441B(c) defines the qualified retired officer: separation in good standing, an aggregate of 10 years or more of service or separation due to a service-connected disability, and firearms qualification at the individual's own expense within the most recent 12 months. Section 1441B(d) sets out two acceptable identification packages, both turning on a qualification test taken within the year before carry.

Both sections carry the same limits. Sections 1441A(b) and 1441B(b) each provide that they shall not be construed to supersede or limit state laws that permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict concealed firearms on their property, or that prohibit or restrict firearms on any state or local government property, installation, building, base, or park. Both exclude machineguns, silencers, and destructive devices from the definition of firearm.

Key statutes