South Dakota is a permitless carry state. As of July 1, 2019, individuals who are at least 18 years old and legally eligible to possess a firearm may carry...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
South Dakota is a permitless carry state. As of July 1, 2019, individuals who are at least 18 years old and legally eligible to possess a firearm may carry a concealed pistol without a permit. The issuance of a concealed carry permit "does not impose a general prohibition on the carrying of a pistol without a permit" (SDCL Section 23-7-7).
Persons under 18 may not carry a concealed pistol except in the presence of a parent or legal guardian (SDCL Section 23-7-71).
South Dakota offers three tiers of concealed pistol permits, each providing additional recognition or privileges:
| Permit Type | Issuing Authority | Duration | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | County Sheriff / Secretary of State | 5 years | Background check (NICS) |
| Enhanced | County Sheriff / Secretary of State | 5 years | Background check + qualifying handgun course |
| Gold Card | County Sheriff / Secretary of State | 5 years | Background check + FBI fingerprint check |
All permits are valid throughout the state and are issued to a specific person only - they may not be transferred (SDCL Section 23-7-8.3).
Issuing authority: The sheriff of the county in which the applicant resides (SDCL Section 23-7-7).
Application process: Applications are filed either electronically or in triplicate on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State. Required information includes complete name, address, occupation, place and date of birth, country of citizenship, physical description, and a sworn statement (SDCL Section 23-7-8).
Background check: The sheriff must conduct a background investigation including a computer check of available online records and a check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). If an INTERPOL check is required, the sheriff has three business days after receiving the response to issue the permit (SDCL Section 23-7-7, 23-7-7.6).
Temporary permit: Must be issued within five days of application if all requirements are met (SDCL Section 23-7-7.1).
Duration: Valid for five years from the date of issuance (SDCL Section 23-7-8.2).
Under SDCL Section 23-7-7.1, an applicant must:
Non-U.S. citizens must provide any alien or admission number from the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (SDCL Section 23-7-8).
Active duty military personnel (or their spouses) with a home of record in South Dakota are exempt from the 30-day county residency requirement (SDCL Section 23-7-7.5).
The enhanced permit requires, in addition to the regular permit requirements, completion of a qualifying handgun course (SDCL Section 23-7-53).
Qualifying handgun course requirements (SDCL Section 23-7-58):
Age provisions: Enhanced permits are available to applicants 18 and older. Applicants aged 18 to 20 receive a temporary restricted enhanced permit; upon reaching age 21, they may request an unrestricted enhanced permit (SDCL Section 23-7-54.2, 23-7-54.4).
Duration: Valid for five years (SDCL Section 23-7-55).
Significance: Enhanced permit holders (and reciprocal permit holders) are authorized to carry concealed pistols on public university and technical college campuses under legislation signed March 24, 2025 (SL 2025, ch 86; SDCL Section 13-53-56, 13-39A-43).
The gold card permit requires the most extensive background check (SDCL Section 23-7-60):
Issuance timeline: The sheriff issues a temporary gold card permit within 30 days of application, provided the applicant passes all required checks (SDCL Section 23-7-61).
Duration: Valid for five years (SDCL Section 23-7-63).
Renewal: Requires passing a NICS check. The renewal window opens 180 days before expiration and closes 30 days after expiration (SDCL Section 23-7-62).
Under SDCL Section 23-7-72, the Secretary of State reimburses counties per permit issued:
| Permit Type | Initial | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | $3 | $3 |
| Enhanced | $50 | $25 |
| Gold Card | $30 | $30 |
Reimbursement applies to permits issued on or after July 1, 2022.
The attorney general compares South Dakota's permit issuance statutes with those of other states seeking reciprocity. The secretary of state may enter into reciprocity agreements after the attorney general confirms the other state's laws meet or exceed South Dakota's requirements (SDCL Section 23-7-7.3).
No state agency, political subdivision, or their employees may keep any list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms, firearm owners, or concealed pistol permit holders (SDCL Section 23-7-8.6). Limited exceptions exist for law enforcement, the secretary of state for permit issuance, and records of firearms used in crimes (SDCL Section 23-7-8.7).
Permit holders must notify the Secretary of State in writing of any change in name (due to marriage or court order) or physical address. If the new address is within South Dakota, the Secretary of State must provide a new permit (SDCL Section 23-7-69).
A person denied a permit may appeal to the circuit court pursuant to SDCL chapter 1-26 (SDCL Section 23-7-7.1).
An authority that issues a concealed pistol permit in accordance with chapter 23-7 is not liable for any injury, wrongful death, or damages resulting from the issuance (SDCL Section 23-7-7.2). Similarly, certified instructors are not liable for a student's conduct unless the instructor engaged in gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct during instruction (SDCL Section 23-7-59.1).
On March 24, 2025, Governor Larry Rhoden signed several firearms-related bills:
Campus carry (SL 2025, ch 86): Enhanced permit holders, restricted enhanced permit holders, and reciprocal permit holders may carry concealed pistols on state university and technical college campuses. Pistols must be stored in a locked case or safe when not carried. Institutions may restrict carry in areas with hazardous materials, security-cleared facilities, and special events with metal detectors and armed security (SDCL Section 13-53-56, 13-53-57, 13-39A-43, 13-39A-44).
Bar carry and local government preemption (SL 2025, ch 36): Repealed SDCL Section 23-7-70, which had prohibited concealed carry in establishments serving alcohol. Also prevents local governments from restricting concealed carry by their employees, officers, and volunteers in government buildings, facilities, and vehicles.
School property vehicle storage: Concealed carry permit holders may keep pistols inside a motor vehicle while on school property.
This page covers one part of our South Dakota concealed carry guide.
Read the complete South Dakota guideBrowse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.