Nevada CCW Reciprocity

The Headline

Nevada recognizes the concealed carry permits of a defined list of states under NRS 202.3688. The reciprocity list is maintained by the Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS) and is updated periodically as other states' laws change. The current authoritative list is published at the Nevada DPS website (dps.nv.gov) and in periodic Attorney General opinions.

Reciprocity is permit-to-permit: a person carrying in Nevada under another state's permit must hold that permit lawfully and must comply with all Nevada laws regulating concealed carry, including the prohibited-places list, the duty-to-carry-permit-and-ID rule, and the under-the-influence prohibition.

Statutory framework

Under NRS 202.3688(1), a person who holds a permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by another state may carry a concealed firearm in Nevada if:

1. The other state's permit is included on the list maintained by the Nevada DPS under NRS 202.3688(2); and
2. The permit holder is at least 21 years of age; and
3. The permit holder carries the permit and government-issued photo identification on the holder's person at all times while carrying.

NRS 202.3688(2) requires the DPS to:

• Annually review the laws of each state to determine which states' CCW requirements substantially similar to or more stringent than Nevada's CFP requirements;
• Publish a list of those states;
• Provide the list to each sheriff in Nevada and post it on the DPS website.

A state's permit is automatically recognized in Nevada if the state's CCW law meets the statutory substantial-similarity test. The DPS does not have discretion to exclude a state whose law meets the test.

Resident vs. non-resident permits

Nevada distinguishes between resident and non-resident permits issued by other states. As a general rule:

• A resident permit from a recognized state is honored.
• A non-resident permit from a recognized state is honored only if Nevada DPS has separately determined that the other state's non-resident permit meets the substantial-similarity test.

Some states (e.g., Florida, Utah, Arizona) issue non-resident permits widely; Nevada's DPS may recognize one form (resident) without recognizing the other (non-resident). Always check the current DPS list for the specific permit type held.

Verification - check before you travel

The Nevada DPS list changes from time to time as other states amend their laws. Verify the current list at dps.nv.gov before relying on reciprocity. Common reasons a state drops off the Nevada list:

• The other state lowers its training requirement below Nevada's 8-hour standard;
• The other state eliminates a meaningful prohibited-persons check;
• The other state moves to constitutional carry without issuing permits (a state that has no permit cannot have its "permit" recognized);
• The other state's permit is judicially or administratively invalidated.

A state that moves to constitutional carry retains reciprocity only if the state continues to issue permits to those who want them and Nevada continues to recognize that permit.

Reciprocity is one-way

Reciprocity is not symmetric. Nevada may recognize State X's permit while State X does not recognize Nevada's CFP. A Nevada CFP holder traveling to State X must check State X's reciprocity rules directly with State X's issuing authority - not rely on Nevada's recognition of State X.

Common asymmetries:

• California does not recognize the Nevada CFP. A Nevada CFP holder traveling into California cannot carry concealed on the California permit basis; California's own permit framework applies. California is also a non-reciprocity state generally.
• Hawaii does not recognize the Nevada CFP. Hawaii's CCW framework requires a separate Hawaii permit.
• New York does not recognize the Nevada CFP.

Carrying in Nevada under another state's permit

A person carrying in Nevada under another state's recognized permit must comply with all Nevada concealed-carry rules, including:

• NRS 202.3667 - Carry the permit and government-issued photo identification at all times while carrying; produce on lawful peace-officer request.
• NRS 202.3673 - Comply with Nevada's prohibited-locations list (government buildings posted under the statute, school grounds, etc.).
• NRS 202.265 - Do not carry on school grounds (with the limited statutory exceptions).
• NRS 202.257 - Do not carry while under the influence above the statutory limit.

Failure to comply subjects the carrier to the same penalties Nevada applies to its own permittees.

States that Nevada has historically recognized

Nevada's reciprocity list is published by the Nevada DPS. As of the most recent DPS update (typically published annually), states recognized for resident permits have historically included a broad set of shall-issue and constitutional-carry states that continue to issue qualifying permits. Specific recognition for non-resident permits has been narrower.

Do not rely on this list for any travel. Check the current Nevada DPS reciprocity page at dps.nv.gov before traveling. The list is the controlling reference.

Nevada CFP holders traveling outside Nevada

A Nevada CFP holder planning to carry in another state must verify that the destination state recognizes the Nevada CFP. Useful starting points:

• USCCA, NRA-ILA, and Handgunlaw.us publish reciprocity maps, but the official source is the destination state's attorney general or state police website.
• Some states require additional rules even when honoring the permit (e.g., notification of officer on contact in Texas; specific prohibited locations in Florida that differ from Nevada's; a 30-day residency rule in some states for permanent change of residence).

Federal LEOSA overlay

Independent of state reciprocity, a qualified active or qualified retired law enforcement officer may carry concealed nationwide under 18 U.S.C. Section 926C (LEOSA). LEOSA preempts most state location restrictions but does not override:

• 18 U.S.C. Section 930 (federal facilities);
• 18 U.S.C. Section 922(q) for non-permit-equivalent carry; or
• State laws prohibiting carry on state-government property posted under the state's own authority.

A qualified retired LEO carrying under LEOSA in Nevada is exempt from the CFP requirement but must comply with Nevada's prohibited-locations list to the same extent as a Nevada CFP holder.

Key statutory references

• NRS 202.3688 - Out-of-state permit reciprocity.
• NRS 202.3667 - Duty to carry permit and ID.
• NRS 202.3673 - Prohibited locations.
• NRS 202.265 - School grounds.
• NRS 202.257 - Under the influence.
• 18 U.S.C. Section 926C - LEOSA.
• 18 U.S.C. Section 930 - Federal facilities.

For the current authoritative reciprocity list, consult the Nevada Department of Public Safety at dps.nv.gov.

See CONCEALED_CARRY for the operative rules that apply to all carriers in Nevada, including those carrying under reciprocity, and DUTY_TO_INFORM for the peace-officer disclosure rule that applies to all CFP holders and reciprocity carriers.