The resident-only trap: states that only honor home-state permits
Most reciprocity lists answer one question: does this state honor a permit from that state? Six states add a second condition. They honor an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the state that issued it.
That condition changes the answer for anyone with a non-resident permit. A non-resident permit, like a New Hampshire non-resident license, is issued by a state you do not live in. So in a resident-only state, it does not work. The issuing state still shows up on the general list, which is why the trap is easy to miss.
The six resident-only states
Colorado
Colorado honors an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the issuing state. A non-resident permit does not work there.
Source: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-213. Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Colorado carry lawsFlorida
Florida honors an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the issuing state. A non-resident permit does not work there.
Source: Fla. Stat. § 790.015; permitless carry eff. July 1, 2023 (HB 543). Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing.
Florida carry lawsMichigan
Michigan honors an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the issuing state. A non-resident permit does not work there.
Source: Mich. Comp. Laws § 28.432a(h). Michigan State Police.
Michigan carry lawsPennsylvania
Pennsylvania honors an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the issuing state. A non-resident permit does not work there.
Source: 18 Pa. C.S. § 6109(k). Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Reciprocity Overview.
Pennsylvania carry lawsSouth Carolina
South Carolina honors an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the issuing state. A non-resident permit does not work there.
Source: S.C. Code Ann. § 23-31-215(N). South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
South Carolina carry lawsMaine
Maine honors an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the issuing state. A non-resident permit does not work there.
Source: 25 M.R.S. § 2001-A(2)(F). Maine State Police, Concealed Handgun Reciprocity.
Maine carry lawsWhy almost every reciprocity list gets this wrong
General lists are built around issuing states. They show that a state honors permits from another state, then stop. The residency condition sits in the statute or in the agency's own rules, so it never makes the chart.
We got one wrong too. Our data used to show Michigan as recognizing a non-resident permit. It does not. We fixed it and logged the change. Read the corrections log.
What to do about it
Before you travel, check the destination state's own list, not a summary written by someone selling permits. The state's Attorney General, State Police, or licensing agency publishes the rule that actually controls.
Our map and our state pages already account for this trap. A resident-only state shows as not recognized for a non-resident permit, because that is the real answer for the person reading it.
Common questions
- What is the resident-only trap?
- Some states honor an out-of-state carry permit only when the holder lives in the state that issued it. A non-resident permit fails there, even though the issuing state shows up on general reciprocity lists.
- Which states have a resident-only rule?
- Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Maine. Each one is backed by that state's own statute or licensing authority.
- Does a New Hampshire non-resident permit work in those states?
- No. A New Hampshire non-resident permit is issued by a state you do not live in, so a resident-only state will not honor it. It can still be honored in states without that rule.
Not sure where you stand?
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Check your state's rules →Sources and verification
- CO: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-213. Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
- FL: Fla. Stat. § 790.015; permitless carry eff. July 1, 2023 (HB 543). Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing.
- MI: Mich. Comp. Laws § 28.432a(h). Michigan State Police.
- PA: 18 Pa. C.S. § 6109(k). Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Reciprocity Overview.
- SC: S.C. Code Ann. § 23-31-215(N). South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
- ME: 25 M.R.S. § 2001-A(2)(F). Maine State Police, Concealed Handgun Reciprocity.
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.