Nevada carry status overview
Nevada requires a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Permit to carry a concealed handgun. The permit is issued by County sheriff of applicant's residence on a shall-issue basis — meaning the issuing authority must grant the permit if the applicant meets all statutory requirements.
| Concealed carry | Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Permit required |
| Governing law | Nevada Revised Statutes § 202.3657 |
| Minimum age | 21 years old |
| Vehicle carry | CCW permit required for concealed carry in a vehicle. |
| Issuing authority | County sheriff of applicant's residence |
| Process | Shall-issue — must be granted if requirements are met |
Nevada Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Permit — permit details
| Issuing authority | County sheriff of applicant's residence |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Training required | Yes — approved firearms safety course |
| Background check | Yes — state and FBI NICS |
| Application | https://www.leg.state.nv.us/ ↗ |
Key prohibited locations
- K–12 school buildings and grounds
- Courthouses and court facilities
- Law enforcement and correctional facilities
- Secure areas of airports
- Any location prohibited by federal law
- Private property with posted prohibition
Always verify the complete prohibited locations list at the official statute source.
The 60-day clock for new residents
Nevada gives a new resident a fixed window, and it is shorter than the time the state itself typically takes to issue a permit.
Under NRS 202.3688, someone holding a permit from a recognized state may not carry concealed in Nevada if they have not obtained a permit from the sheriff of their county of residence within 60 days of becoming a Nevada resident. After that, the out-of-state permit no longer works here regardless of whether it remains valid at home.
Carrying concealed without a valid permit in Nevada is a category C felony — this is not a technical infraction.
A reciprocity list that actually changes
Most states publish a reciprocity list and leave it alone for years. Nevada's, prepared by the Department of Public Safety under NRS 202.3689, moves often enough that treating it as static is a genuine risk.
Two recent examples make the point: Nevada stopped recognizing Michigan permits in October 2025, ending recognition that had stood for years. And Oklahoma was restored in January 2025 after being dropped in 2024. Neither change was widely publicised, and both were the difference between lawful carry and a felony for anyone who assumed nothing had moved.
Nevada does honor non-resident permits issued by states on its list, which is more generous than many states manage. Roughly 29 states honor a Nevada permit in return.
The practical rule: check the DPS list before each trip rather than once a year, and check it in both directions if you are travelling out of Nevada as well as in.
Training must be Nevada-taught
Nevada requires an 8-hour state-approved course including live-fire qualification for an initial permit, and a 4-hour course, also with live fire, at renewal.
The requirement that surprises applicants is the source: the course must be taught by a Nevada-certified instructor, and out-of-state training certificates are not accepted — not even from states with comparable or stricter standards. Non-residents applying for a Nevada permit must complete the course in Nevada. Some counties go further and require the course be taken within that county.
One simplification worth noting: Nevada has eliminated the old revolver / semi-automatic distinction. Permits no longer list weapon types, and a single permit covers all handguns. If you hold an older permit that specifies a category, that limitation no longer governs.
Permits run five years. Nevada also has broad firearm preemption, so counties and cities cannot impose their own carry rules — the Clark County handgun registration "blue card" regime was eliminated by that preemption.
Frequently asked questions — Nevada
How do I get a Nevada carry permit?
Apply through County sheriff of applicant's residence. You will need to complete the application, meet the minimum age of 21, complete required training (Yes — approved firearms safety course), pass a background check, and pay the applicable fee. Nevada is shall-issue, meaning the permit must be granted if you meet all requirements.
Can I carry in my car without a permit in Nevada?
CCW permit required for concealed carry in a vehicle. Without a permit, additional restrictions may apply — verify specific vehicle carry rules with the official statute.
Does Nevada honor out-of-state carry permits?
Only permits from states on the list the Department of Public Safety prepares under NRS 202.3689. Nevada's list changes more often than most states', so a permit that worked on a previous trip may not work now. Nevada dropped recognition of Michigan permits in October 2025, and restored Oklahoma in January 2025 after briefly removing it in 2024. Check the current DPS list before you travel — around 29 states currently honor a Nevada permit in return.
I just moved to Nevada. How long does my old permit work?
60 days. Under NRS 202.3688, a person holding a permit from a recognized state may not carry concealed in Nevada if they have not obtained a permit from the sheriff of their county of residence within 60 days of becoming a Nevada resident. That is a hard deadline, and given that Nevada processing commonly runs around 120 days, you should start the application well before the clock runs out rather than after.
What training does Nevada require?
A state-approved 8-hour course including live-fire qualification for an initial permit, and a 4-hour course, also with live fire, for renewal. The course must be taught by a Nevada-certified instructor — out-of-state training certificates are not accepted, even from states with comparable standards. Nevada also eliminated the old revolver / semi-automatic distinction: one permit now covers all handguns, and your permit no longer lists weapon types.
What happens if I carry concealed without a permit in Nevada?
It is a category C felony. Open carry, by contrast, requires no permit and no registration at all in Nevada — the state has broad firearm preemption, so counties and cities cannot add their own rules. Casinos are not prohibited by statute, but they are private property and almost all post against firearms, which you must obey.