Do I need a permit to carry in West Virginia?

No. West Virginia allows concealed carry without a permit for eligible adults 18 and older. Some places stay off limits under state and federal law.

Does West Virginia honor out-of-state permits?

West Virginia does not require a permit, so there is nothing for it to recognize. You do not need a permit to carry there.

Where can I check West Virginia's official rules?

Check West Virginia Attorney General. The controlling law is W. Va. Code §§ 61-7-6a, 61-7-7.

Carry laws · 2026

West Virginia concealed carry laws, backed by the statute

At a glance

Carry rule: Permitless at 18
Minimum age: 18
Non-resident permit valid here?: No permit needed there
Statute: W. Va. Code §§ 61-7-6a, 61-7-7

Carrying in West Virginia

West Virginia lets adults 18 and older carry concealed without a permit.

That rule stops at the West Virginia line. If you travel, the law of the next state applies.

Age lowered from 21 to 18 effective April 1, 2026.

Source: W. Va. Code §§ 61-7-6a, 61-7-7. West Virginia Attorney General. Reviewed Q3 2026.

Does a non-resident permit work in West Virginia?

A non-resident permit is a carry permit issued by a state you do not live in.

You do not need any permit there. West Virginia lets eligible adults carry without one, so there is nothing for the state to recognize.

Getting West Virginia's own permit

West Virginia does not require a permit at home. An optional permit is still useful, because other states may honor it when you travel.

Common questions

Do I need a permit to carry in West Virginia?: No. West Virginia allows concealed carry without a permit for eligible adults 18 and older. Some places stay off limits under state and federal law.
Does West Virginia honor out-of-state permits?: West Virginia does not require a permit, so there is nothing for it to recognize. You do not need a permit to carry there.
Where can I check West Virginia's official rules?: Check West Virginia Attorney General. The controlling law is W. Va. Code §§ 61-7-6a, 61-7-7.

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Sources and verification

WV: W. Va. Code §§ 61-7-6a, 61-7-7. West Virginia Attorney General.

Recognition and carry-law data compiled from each state's statutes and official Attorney General, State Police, or Department of Public Safety reciprocity pages. Reviewed quarterly. Last reviewed: Q3 2026. We review and update this information about once a quarter. Laws change between reviews, so verify with the destination state before you travel or apply. Read how we verify our information, including our public corrections log.