This is a reference list of authoritative sources for South Dakota concealed-carry law, permit applications, training, reciprocity, and federal-law...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
South Dakota Concealed Carry Resources
South Dakota Concealed Carry Resources
This is a reference list of authoritative sources for South Dakota concealed-carry law, permit applications, training, reciprocity, and federal-law interactions. Items are organized by issuing agency or category.
South Dakota State Government
South Dakota Secretary of State - Concealed Pistol Permits Office
The Secretary of State's office is the central state authority on permit issuance, reciprocity agreements, and statutory forms.
Website: sdsos.gov (search for "Concealed Pistol Permits")
Concealed Pistol Permits FAQ
Reciprocity agreement list and downloadable map
Application forms for Regular, Enhanced, and Gold Card permits
Permit-renewal forms
Address and name-change notification forms
Statutory citations: SDCL Sections 23-7-7 through 23-7-72
South Dakota Codified Laws
Official state statute online publication.
Website: sdlegislature.gov/statutes
Title 22, Chapter 14 (Weapons)
Title 22, Chapter 16 (Homicide)
Title 22, Chapter 18 (Assaults and Personal Injuries; Use of Force)
Title 23, Chapter 7 (Firearms Control; Concealed Pistol Permits)
Title 13, Chapter 32 (Firearms on School Premises)
Title 13, Chapter 53 (State University Concealed Carry)
Title 13, Chapter 39A (Technical College Concealed Carry)
South Dakota Attorney General
The Attorney General compares South Dakota's permit-issuance statutes with other states for reciprocity certification.
Website: atg.sd.gov
Office: Pierre, SD
Phone: (605) 773-3215
Functions: Reciprocity certification under SDCL Section 23-7-7.3; criminal-law guidance; opinions on firearm-law preemption disputes
Attorney-general opinions: Archived and searchable on the AG website
South Dakota Department of Public Safety - Highway Patrol
Responsible for State Capitol security and for receiving advance notice of concealed pistol permit holders intending to carry in the Capitol.
Website: dps.sd.gov
Office: Pierre, SD
Capitol notice procedure: 24-hour advance oral or written notice required under SDCL Section 22-14-24(5)
South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI)
Conducts criminal background investigations for Gold Card permit FBI fingerprint checks and certifies instructors for Enhanced Permit qualifying handgun courses.
Website: atg.sd.gov/criminal/dci.aspx
Office: Pierre, SD
Phone: (605) 773-3331
Functions: NICS check coordination; Enhanced Permit instructor certification on use of force
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Issues hunting licenses, regulates hunting carry, and operates state-land use rules.
Website: gfp.sd.gov
Hunting regulations: Published annually for big game, small game, and special seasons
Suppressor use: Authorized for legal take of game per Commission policy
Each of South Dakota's 66 counties has a sheriff who is the principal local concealed-pistol-permit-issuing authority. Application is made in the county of residence.
Find your county sheriff at sdsheriffs.org or via the South Dakota Sheriffs' Association.
Permit application is filed in person (or electronically where the sheriff accepts e-filing).
Background check is initiated by the sheriff under SDCL Section 23-7-7.
Contact your county sheriff for:
Regular Permit applications and fees
Enhanced Permit applications, fees, and approved instructor lists
Gold Card Permit applications, fees, and fingerprinting
Renewal applications and grace-period windows
Lost or stolen permit reports
Major South Dakota population centers and their county sheriffs:
Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls): minnehahacountysheriff.org; (605) 367-4300
Pennington County (Rapid City): pennco.org/sheriff; (605) 394-6116
Lincoln County (south of Sioux Falls): lincolncountysd.org; (605) 764-5651
Brown County (Aberdeen): brown.sd.us; (605) 626-7100
Codington County (Watertown): codington.org/sheriff; (605) 882-6280
Federal Government
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Federal regulator of firearms, including the National Firearms Act, the Federal Firearms License system, and the NICS-alternative Brady Permit Chart.
Website: atf.gov
Brady Permit Chart: atf.gov/firearms/identify-prohibited-persons (locate the current chart of state permits that ATF recognizes as NICS-alternatives)
South Dakota field offices: Sioux Falls (605-330-4366) and Rapid City (605-348-9520)
NFA Division: For Form 4, Form 1, Form 5 processing
Federal Bureau of Investigation - NICS
Conducts the National Instant Criminal Background Check System check used in South Dakota for all permit applications, all dealer firearm sales, and all NFA transfers.
Website: fbi.gov/services/cjis/nics
United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota
Prosecutes federal firearm offenses (18 U.S.C. Sections 922 and 924) in South Dakota.
Website: justice.gov/usao-sd
Offices: Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal scheduling authority for controlled substances; relevant to the 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(3) "unlawful user of controlled substance" disability.
Website: dea.gov
Training and Education
NRA Training
The qualifying-handgun-course requirement for the Enhanced Permit (SDCL Section 23-7-58) requires an NRA-certified instructor who also holds a current South Dakota DCI use-of-force certificate.
NRA instructor directory: nrainstructors.org
NRA Basic Pistol course (commonly used as the entry-level prerequisite)
NRA Personal Protection courses (advanced)
South Dakota Hunter Education
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks operates a hunter-education program that covers firearm safety. The course is required for many hunting-license categories and is a useful general introduction.
Website: gfp.sd.gov/hunter-education
Local Ranges and Schools
The South Dakota Shooting Sports Association maintains a roster of ranges and schools. Notable training providers:
Black Hills Shooters Supply (Rapid City)
Sioux Falls Ranges - various private ranges
South Dakota Firearms Academy (instructor location varies)
Advocacy and Legal Information
South Dakota Gun Owners
State-level Second Amendment advocacy organization. Tracks legislation, publishes voter guides, and maintains a member alert system.
Website: southdakotagunowners.org
NRA-ILA - South Dakota
National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action page for South Dakota gun-law tracking, court-case summaries, and federal-state interactions.
Website: nraila.org/states/south-dakota
Giffords Law Center
Gun-violence-prevention organization that publishes detailed state-by-state law summaries.
State and federal firearm laws change frequently. The 2025 legislative session (Session Laws 2025 Chapters 36 and 86) substantially altered South Dakota's framework. Before relying on any source above:
Verify against the current SDCL text at sdlegislature.gov.
Check the Secretary of State's permit FAQ for current fees and processing times.
Verify federal-law overlay against the current C.F.R. and U.S.C. text on govinfo.gov.
Consult a South Dakota-licensed attorney for case-specific questions.
The author of this guide is not a South Dakota-licensed attorney; this guide is informational and is not legal advice.
Browse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.