New Hampshire is a permitless carry state. Since February 22, 2017, adults who can legally possess a gun may carry a handgun openly or concealed without a license. No New Hampshire carry statute sets a minimum age, but federal law generally bars anyone under 18 from possessing a handgun.
A New Hampshire concealed carry permit, officially a License to Carry a Pistol or Revolver, is still available and costs $10 for residents. This guide covers who can carry, how to get the NH pistol permit, training, reciprocity, vehicles, where you can’t carry, and the state’s stand your ground law.
New Hampshire Concealed Carry At A Glance
| Permitless carry | Yes, since February 22, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Minimum age to carry | 18 (federal handgun age; no NH carry age) |
| Permit name | Pistol/Revolver License |
| Issued by | local town or city officials (State Police for non-residents) |
| Permit fee | $10 resident / $100 non-resident |
| Permit length | 5 years |
| Training required | No |
| Online course counts? | Not applicable (no training required) |
| Non-resident permit | Yes ($100, issued by NH State Police) |
| Lifetime permit | No |
| States that honor it | 28 (resident license, per NH State Police) |
| Last verified | November 2, 2026 |
Do You Need A Permit To Carry In New Hampshire?
No. A 2017 law repealed the license requirement in RSA 159:4. The New Hampshire State Police now describe the concealed carry license as “voluntary.”
RSA 159:6, III says having a license does not prohibit unlicensed carry by a resident, nonresident or alien who is not otherwise barred from possessing a firearm. So visitors can carry without a permit too.
New Hampshire’s carry laws don’t name a minimum age. Federal law, 18 U.S.C. 922(x), makes it illegal for anyone under 18 to possess a handgun, with narrow exceptions such as written parent consent for certain activities.
Federal law also bars licensed dealers from selling a handgun to anyone under 21. If you are under 21, confirm your situation with your local police before you carry.
You may not carry if you are barred by state or federal law. That includes:
- People convicted of a felony against a person or property, or a felony drug offense, in any state or federal court (RSA 159:3)
- People subject to a qualifying domestic violence protective order
- People convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence (federal law)
- Unlawful users of controlled substances (federal law)
- People who have been involuntarily committed or found mentally incompetent (federal law)
- Fugitives, people dishonorably discharged and people in the country unlawfully (federal law)
Possessing a gun as a prohibited person under RSA 159:3 is a class B felony.
Why Get A New Hampshire Pistol Permit Anyway?
If you can carry without one, the permit still has real uses:
- Carrying in other states. The State Police list 28 states that recognize a New Hampshire resident license. Without it, you can only carry in states that allow permitless carry for visitors.
- School zones. Federal law, 18 U.S.C. 922(q), generally bans guns within 1,000 feet of a school. It exempts people licensed to carry by the state where the school zone is located. A New Hampshire license covers you in New Hampshire school zones. Without it, carrying a loaded handgun past a school, even in your car, can be a federal crime.
- Low cost. The resident fee is $10 for at least five years.
How To Get A New Hampshire Concealed Carry Permit
Residents apply locally, not to the State Police. The steps:
- Find your issuing authority. In a town, that is the selectmen. In a city, it is the mayor or chief of police, or a full-time officer they designate. In unincorporated places, or in towns that designate the sheriff, the county sheriff issues the license.
- Get the application. Ask your local police department or town office for the resident Pistol/Revolver License application. Nonresidents download the nonresident form from the New Hampshire State Police Pistol and Revolver Licensing page.
- Complete and submit it with the fee. Residents pay $10 to the town or city. Nonresidents pay $100 to the state.
- Wait for a decision. RSA 159:6 says the license must be issued within 14 days of application. If it is denied, the reason must be given in writing.
Who qualifies: Anyone with “good reason to fear injury” or any “proper purpose” may get a license. The statute says hunting, target shooting and self-defense all count. You must not be barred from possessing a firearm.
Photos and fingerprints: These are not required unless you ask for them (RSA 159:6, II).
Term: The license lasts about five years and renews in the month of your fifth birthday anniversary after issuance.
2026 change: A 2026 law (HB 1365) bars the application form from asking for your occupation, employer or personal references. It also bars broad medical and records-release consents.
The statute text shows these changes in effect January 1, 2027. Until then, your town may still use the older form.
Do You Need A Class For A New Hampshire Carry Permit?
No. RSA 159:6 has no training or class requirement for a resident or nonresident license. You don’t need a class to carry without a license either.
No training is required, but that doesn’t mean none is needed. Most carry problems come from not knowing the rules: where you can’t carry, how to store a gun in a car, and when deadly force is legal.
A short online safety course is an easy first step before you carry or apply. It does not replace hands-on practice at a range with a qualified instructor.
Get Started On Your Permit Online
Watch a short instructional video on firearm safety and responsible carry, take a 10-question quiz, and download your certificate of completion.
Start The Free Online Safety Video →
The certificate is a training record, not a license or permit. In New Hampshire, you apply for the Pistol/Revolver License through the local town or city officials (State Police for non-residents).
Can Non-Residents Get A New Hampshire Carry Permit?
Yes. The New Hampshire State Police issue nonresident Pistol/Revolver Licenses. Residents go to their town or city instead.
The nonresident fee is $100 and the license lasts five years. Mail the completed application to the Department of Safety, Division of State Police, Permits and Licensing Unit, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305.
The State Police FAQ says applications are processed within 30 days of receipt. Renewals must be completed in full each time.
A nonresident license is valid in New Hampshire and only in states that recognize a New Hampshire nonresident license. The State Police reciprocity list covers resident licenses. Nonresidents don’t need any license to carry in New Hampshire itself.
Which States Honor The New Hampshire Pistol Permit?
The New Hampshire State Police list 28 states that recognize a New Hampshire resident license:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona*, Arkansas, Colorado*, Florida*, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia* and Wyoming.
*In these states you must be 21 or older for your New Hampshire license to be honored.
Notable states missing from the list include Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and California. The State Police say they make no warranty on the list. Confirm recognition with the state you are visiting before you go.
Which permits does New Hampshire honor? All of them, in effect. Any adult who isn’t prohibited may carry in New Hampshire without a license, whatever state they live in.
Going next door? See our Maine gun laws, Vermont gun laws and Massachusetts gun laws guides, or browse concealed carry laws by state.
Can You Open Carry In New Hampshire?
Yes. Open carry of a handgun is legal without a license for adults who may legally possess a gun. The same age rules apply as for concealed carry.
Under RSA 159:26, the state controls firearms law, and towns and cities can’t pass their own gun ordinances. Private property owners can still ban guns. If an owner tells you to leave, or the property is posted, staying can be criminal trespass under RSA 635:2.
Can You Keep A Gun In Your Car In New Hampshire?
Yes. No license is needed to keep a loaded handgun in your vehicle.
The loaded-gun rule in RSA 207:7 covers rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, air rifles and cocked crossbows in a moving vehicle. It does not list handguns.
- Employer parking lots: Since January 1, 2025, RSA 159:27 bars employers that receive any government funds from stopping employees from keeping a gun or ammunition in a locked vehicle, out of view. These employers can’t ask whether you have one or search your car. The state and towns are covered as employers too. The law does not allow carry where it is otherwise prohibited.
- School parking lots: New Hampshire has no separate state ban. Federal school zone law still applies. A New Hampshire license holder is exempt in New Hampshire school zones. Without a license, federal law requires the gun to be unloaded and in a locked container, or a locked rack on the vehicle, inside a school zone.
Where You Can’t Carry A Gun In New Hampshire
New Hampshire has few statutory gun-free places. The main ones:
- Courthouses (RSA 159:19). This covers courtrooms and court areas, or the whole building if it is used only for court. It applies to licensed and unlicensed carry. It is a class B felony. Notice must be posted at each public entrance.
- School zones without a license (18 U.S.C. 922(q)). Licensed holders are exempt in New Hampshire.
- Federal facilities, such as federal courthouses, federal office buildings and post offices (federal law).
- Private property where the owner says no. Staying after notice can be criminal trespass (RSA 635:2).
New Hampshire does not have a statewide ban on carry in bars, restaurants, churches, hospitals or state parks.
Duty to inform: We found no New Hampshire statute that requires you to tell police you are carrying. Being calm and upfront during a stop is still a good idea.
New Hampshire Castle Doctrine And Stand Your Ground Law
New Hampshire’s self-defense law is RSA 627:4. You may use deadly force when you reasonably believe another person is about to use unlawful deadly force against you or a third person. It also covers someone likely to use unlawful force during a burglary, or someone committing kidnapping or a forcible sex offense.
- Stand your ground: You have a duty to retreat if you can do so with complete safety. That duty does not apply in your home, its curtilage, or anywhere you have a right to be, as long as you were not the initial aggressor.
- Castle doctrine: Deadly force is allowed against someone you reasonably believe is likely to use unlawful force during a felony in your dwelling or its curtilage. A 2026 law (HB 1279) extends this to defending a third person, effective January 1, 2027.
- Civil immunity: RSA 627:1-a protects a person who uses justified force from lawsuits by the attacker. If the attacker sues, the court must award you attorney’s fees and costs.
- Limits: You can’t claim self-defense if you provoked the fight intending serious harm. An initial aggressor loses the no-retreat protection.
These laws are defenses. They don’t stop police from arresting you or a prosecutor from charging you. Even a justified shooting can lead to an investigation, a trial or a lawsuit, and a defense lawyer is expensive.
Protect Yourself After A Self-Defense Incident
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New Hampshire Gun Laws FAQ
Is New Hampshire A Constitutional Carry State?
Yes. Since February 22, 2017, adults who can legally have a gun may carry openly or concealed without a license. This applies to residents and visitors alike.
How Much Is An NH Concealed Carry Permit?
The resident license costs $10, paid to your town or city. A nonresident license costs $100, paid to the state. Both last about five years.
How Long Does It Take To Get A New Hampshire Pistol Permit?
RSA 159:6 says a license must be issued within 14 days of application. For nonresident applications, the State Police FAQ says to allow 30 days.
Do You Need A Permit To Buy A Gun In New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire has no permit-to-purchase law. Licensed dealers still run a federal background check, and federal law requires you to be 21 to buy a handgun from a dealer.
Can You Carry A Loaded Gun In Your Car In New Hampshire?
Yes, a loaded handgun is legal in your car without a license. Loaded rifles and shotguns are not allowed in a moving vehicle under RSA 207:7.
Can You Carry A Gun In Church In New Hampshire?
Yes, unless the church says no. No state law bans carry in places of worship. A church can ban guns on its property, and staying after being told to leave can be trespass.
Churches that use armed volunteers should look into legal protection for church security teams.
Sources
- RSA 159:6, License to Carry (New Hampshire General Court)
- RSA 159:4, repeal note (New Hampshire General Court)
- Pistol and Revolver Licensing (New Hampshire State Police)
- Permits and Licensing FAQs (New Hampshire State Police)
- RSA 159:3, Convicted Felons
- RSA 159:19, Courthouse Security
- RSA 159:26, Preemption
- RSA 159:27, Stored Firearms in Vehicles
- RSA 207:7, Loaded Firearms in Vehicles
- RSA 627:4, Physical Force in Defense of a Person
- RSA 627:1-a, Civil Immunity
- RSA 635:2, Criminal Trespass
- 18 U.S.C. 922 (school zones, juvenile handgun possession, dealer age limits)