Open Carry in North Dakota
Whether open carry is legal in North Dakota, any permit or age rules, and where it is banned.
Short answer: 'Unless otherwise prohibited by law, an individual may carry a handgun if the handgun is unloaded and in plain view or secured.' The unloaded limit does not apply to concealed weapons licensees, to people eligible to carry under the permitless provision (not barred from a class 2 license… N.D.C.C. §§ 62.1-03-01, 62.1-04-01(1)
| Open carry | 'Unless otherwise prohibited by law, an individual may carry a handgun if the handgun is unloaded and in plain view or secured.' The unloaded limit does not apply to concealed weapons licensees, to people eligible to carry under the permitless provision (not barred from a class 2 license and holding a valid driver's license or ID), to people with reciprocity, or on one's own land, residence or fixed place of business, while target shooting or hunting, and other listed exceptions. A firearm in a belt holster that is 'wholly or substantially visible' is not considered concealed. So adults eligible for permitless carry may carry a loaded handgun openly; others must carry it unloaded. |
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| Guns in your car | 'An individual may not keep or carry a loaded firearm in or on any motor vehicle, including an off-highway vehicle or snowmobile' (an infraction), but this does not apply to: concealed weapons licensees or people with reciprocity (handguns, and rifles or shotguns when not hunting); any adult with a handgun who is 'not otherwise precluded from possessing a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license' and has a valid driver's license or ID; such a person with a rifle or shotgun when not in the field hunting or trapping; and other listed exceptions. A firearm under the person's control in a vehicle, such as 'beneath the seat or in a glove compartment', is concealed; one 'Locked in a closed trunk or luggage compartment' is not, and an unloaded handgun, rifle or shotgun carried in a motor vehicle is not considered concealed. A hunter in the field who violates § 62.1-02-10 commits a noncriminal offense instead (§ 62.1-02-10.1). |
| Where guns are banned | No one may possess a firearm or dangerous weapon at 'A school or school-sponsored event on school property', 'A church or other place of worship', or 'A publicly owned or operated building' (a noncriminal offense, $100 fee). Exceptions include a firearm 'carried in a temporary residence or motor vehicle', state or federal parks, public rest areas, licensees or reciprocity holders in a place of worship whose leader or governing body approves, and school armed first responders. Possessing a firearm in the part of an establishment set aside for the retail sale and consumption of alcohol, or a bingo gaming site, is an infraction (the restaurant part is exempt if people under 21 are allowed there). Political subdivisions and the state board of higher education may adopt less restrictive rules (§ 62.1-02-05(3)). Employers may not bar lawfully possessed firearms locked in private vehicles in parking lots (§ 62.1-02-13). |
More North Dakota gun laws
- Concealed Carry in North Dakota
- Buying a Gun in North Dakota
- Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in North Dakota
- All North Dakota gun laws rules
FAQ
Is open carry legal in North Dakota?
'Unless otherwise prohibited by law, an individual may carry a handgun if the handgun is unloaded and in plain view or secured.' The unloaded limit does not apply to concealed weapons licensees, to people eligible to carry under the permitless provision (not barred from a class 2 license and holding a valid driver's license or ID), to people with reciprocity, or on one's own land, residence or fixed place of business, while target shooting or hunting, and other listed exceptions. A firearm in a belt holster that is 'wholly or substantially visible' is not considered concealed.
Can you keep a gun in your car in North Dakota without a permit?
'An individual may not keep or carry a loaded firearm in or on any motor vehicle, including an off-highway vehicle or snowmobile' (an infraction), but this does not apply to: concealed weapons licensees or people with reciprocity (handguns, and rifles or shotguns when not hunting); any adult with a handgun who is 'not otherwise precluded from possessing a class 2 firearm and dangerous weapon license' and has a valid driver's license or ID; such a person with a rifle or shotgun when not in the field hunting or trapping; and other listed exceptions. A firearm under the person's control in a vehicle, such as 'beneath the seat or in a glove compartment', is concealed; one 'Locked in a closed trunk or luggage compartment' is not, and an unloaded handgun, rifle or shotgun carried in a motor vehicle is not considered concealed.
Where can't you carry a gun in North Dakota?
No one may possess a firearm or dangerous weapon at 'A school or school-sponsored event on school property', 'A church or other place of worship', or 'A publicly owned or operated building' (a noncriminal offense, $100 fee). Exceptions include a firearm 'carried in a temporary residence or motor vehicle', state or federal parks, public rest areas, licensees or reciprocity holders in a place of worship whose leader or governing body approves, and school armed first responders. Possessing a firearm in the part of an establishment set aside for the retail sale and consumption of alcohol, or a bingo gaming site, is an infraction (the restaurant part is exempt if people under 21 are allowed there).
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.