You do not need a permit to buy a handgun in North Carolina. The state repealed its longstanding pistol purchase permit on March 29, 2023, which means there is no state-level permit, registration, or waiting period for buying a handgun. Federal rules still apply when you buy from a licensed dealer, and the rules for carrying a handgun in public are a separate matter.
What Changed in 2023
For decades, anyone buying a handgun in North Carolina first had to obtain a Pistol Purchase Permit from the sheriff of their county. The process involved a fee, a background check, and sheriff approval before any sale could go through — covering both dealer sales and private transfers between residents.
The North Carolina General Assembly ended that system by passing Senate Bill 41, which repealed the statutes governing pistol purchase permits (G.S. 14-402 through 14-405 and related sections).1North Carolina General Assembly. Senate Bill 41 – Ratified Governor Cooper vetoed the bill, the legislature overrode the veto on March 29, 2023, and the repeal took effect immediately.2NCDOJ. Attorney General Josh Stein Statement on Pistol Purchase Permit Repeal If you’re legally eligible to own a handgun, you can now buy one without applying for anything at the state level.
Buying from a Licensed Dealer
Walk into any gun store or pawn shop with a federal firearms license, and the process is set by federal law rather than state law. The dealer will have you fill out ATF Form 4473, the Firearms Transaction Record.3Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) – Firearms Transaction Record Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The dealer submits your information to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which searches criminal records, mental health adjudications, and other disqualifying factors.4Federal Bureau of Investigation. About NICS
NICS returns one of three results. A proceed means the sale moves forward. A denied result means a disqualifying record exists and the dealer cannot complete the sale. A delayed result means the FBI needs more time; if the FBI hasn’t reached a final decision within three business days, the dealer may complete the transfer at their discretion, but is never required to do so.4Federal Bureau of Investigation. About NICS
Answer every question on Form 4473 truthfully. Lying on the form is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and it’s a separate offense from any underlying disqualification.5Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). ATF Form 4473 – Firearms Transaction Record Revisions The form asks specific questions about felony convictions, drug use, mental health history, and other disqualifiers.
Buying in a Private Sale
Private sales between two North Carolina residents are where the repeal makes the biggest practical difference. Under the old system, a private seller had to see the buyer’s valid pistol purchase permit before transferring a handgun, which served as proof the buyer had cleared a background check. With the permit gone, state law no longer requires a private seller to run a background check or verify anything beyond the buyer’s apparent eligibility.
That is not a license to sell to anyone. Federal law still makes it a crime to sell a firearm to someone you know, or have reasonable cause to believe, is prohibited from possessing one.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts If a buyer tells you they have a felony conviction, or there are clear signs they’re legally barred from owning a gun, completing the sale exposes you to federal criminal liability.
Use a Bill of Sale
North Carolina doesn’t require a written record for a private handgun sale, but creating one protects you. A bill of sale documents that you transferred the firearm to a specific person on a specific date, which matters if the gun later turns up at a crime scene. A solid bill of sale includes the full names and addresses of both parties, each person’s driver’s license or state ID number, the firearm’s make, model, caliber, and serial number, the sale price and payment method, the date, and both signatures. Keep a copy; give the buyer a copy.
Some sellers also ask to see the buyer’s concealed handgun permit if the buyer has one, since that at least confirms the buyer passed a background check within the preceding five years. Not required, but reasonable.
Age Requirements
The minimum age depends on where you’re buying. From a federally licensed dealer, you must be at least 21 to purchase a handgun. From a private seller, federal law prohibits transferring a handgun to anyone under 18.7Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Minimum Age for Gun Sales and Transfers
North Carolina adds its own layer: selling, giving, or transferring a handgun to a minor under 18 is a Class H felony, and the seller forfeits the proceeds of the sale.8North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 14 Criminal Law 14-315 Limited exceptions cover temporary supervised use and transfers to an adult custodian. The baseline rule is clear: no handguns to anyone under 18 in private sales, and no one under 21 at a gun store.
Who Still Cannot Buy a Handgun
The repeal did not change who can legally own a firearm. Federal and state prohibitions apply to every transaction, dealer or private.
Federal Prohibitions
Under federal law, you cannot buy, receive, or possess a firearm if you:6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts
- Have been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. This covers all felonies and some serious misdemeanors; the test is the maximum possible sentence, not the sentence actually imposed.
- Are a fugitive from justice.
- Use or are addicted to any controlled substance, including marijuana even in states where it’s legal under state law.
- Have been adjudicated as mentally unfit or involuntarily committed to a mental institution.
- Are in the United States unlawfully or are on a nonimmigrant visa, with narrow exceptions.
- Were dishonorably discharged from the military.
- Have renounced U.S. citizenship.
- Are subject to a qualifying domestic violence protective order, specifically one issued after a hearing where you had notice and an opportunity to participate.
- Have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
North Carolina Prohibitions
North Carolina’s felon-in-possession law is broader in one important respect: it bars any person convicted of a felony from purchasing, owning, or possessing any firearm, without the federal law’s “more than one year” sentencing threshold. A violation is a Class G felony, punishable by 8 to 31 months in prison.9North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes 14-415.1 – Possession of Firearms, etc., by Felon Prohibited If the felon possesses a firearm while committing another felony, the charge escalates, up to a Class C felony if the weapon is fired during the offense.
The state law applies to felony convictions from any state or federal court, not just North Carolina. A person whose firearm rights have been restored through a pardon or the state’s rights-restoration process is exempt.
Straw Purchases
Buying a handgun for someone else — typically a person who can’t pass a background check or wants no paper trail — is a straw purchase, and federal law treats it as a standalone crime.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 932 – Straw Purchasing of Firearms The penalties are up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If the firearm is used in a felony, a drug trafficking crime, or an act of terrorism, the maximum sentence rises to 25 years. The law reaches both the buyer filling out the form and anyone who conspires to make the purchase happen.
Carrying a Handgun Is a Separate Question
This is where confusion runs deepest after the 2023 repeal. SB 41 eliminated the permit you once needed to buy a handgun. It did not change the rules for carrying one in public.
North Carolina allows open carry of a handgun without any permit, subject to location restrictions and limits on carrying in a manner intended to terrorize others. Carrying a concealed handgun — hidden under clothing, in a bag, or otherwise out of sight — still requires a Concealed Handgun Permit issued by the sheriff of your home county.11North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 14 Criminal Law 14-415.11 The CHP has its own eligibility rules, including a minimum age of 21, a 30-day North Carolina residency requirement, and completion of an approved firearms safety and training course with live firing.12North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 14 Criminal Law 14-415.12 If you plan to carry concealed after buying your handgun, that’s a separate application through your sheriff.