Types of Concealed Pistol Permits
South Dakota offers regular, gold card, and enhanced concealed pistol permits. Each permit is valid for five years, but requirements and renewal periods differ.
Applications and renewals go through county sheriffs
The Secretary of State does not accept or approve applications. Contact the sheriff's office in your South Dakota county of residence to discuss eligibility, required documents, background checks, fees, and processing.
This page summarizes the legacy permit information and links to the controlling statutes. Refer to South Dakota law and your county sheriff for complete, current requirements.
Five-Year Permit
Regular permit
A regular permit is valid for five years from its issue date. See SDCL 23-7-8.2.
Eligibility requirements
Under SDCL 23-7-7.1, the applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Never have pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, or been convicted of, a felony or crime of violence as defined in SDCL 22-1-2(9).
- Not habitually be in an intoxicated or drugged condition.
- Have no history of violence.
- Not have been found within the previous 10 years to be a danger to self or others, and not currently be adjudged mentally incompetent.
- Have physically resided in the county of application for at least 30 days immediately before applying.
- Have no disqualifying pending charges or previous violations under SDCL chapter 23-7, chapter 22-14, or chapter 22-42 during the preceding five years.
- Be a citizen or legal resident of the United States.
- Not be a fugitive from justice.
- Complete the required background investigation.
Renewal
Renewal through the county sheriff may begin 90 days before expiration. The holder must pass the required background investigation and National Instant Criminal Background Check. See SDCL 23-7-8.11.
Training and Fingerprints
Enhanced permit
An enhanced permit is valid for five years and is valid only when carried with government-issued photo identification. See SDCL 23-7-55.
Additional requirements
In addition to the regular-permit requirements, SDCL 23-7-53 requires:
- Fingerprints for state, national, and international criminal-history background checks.
- Authorization to conduct the fingerprint background check.
- Proof that the applicant completed a qualifying South Dakota handgun course during the preceding 12 months, or qualifies as a current or former South Dakota law-enforcement officer under the statute.
Qualifying handgun course
The course must be taught by an NRA-certified instructor who also holds a current South Dakota DCI use-of-force certificate. It covers South Dakota firearms and use-of-force law, safe and responsible handgun use, self-defense principles, and live-fire training of at least 98 rounds. See SDCL 23-7-58.
View the current instructor roster (PDF)
Renewal
The renewal period begins 365 days before expiration and ends 30 days after expiration. The holder must pass a computer check of available online records and a National Instant Criminal Background Check and present proof of renewal-period live-fire and legal instruction, or applicable law-enforcement qualification. Missing the statutory renewal period makes the permit invalid and requires a new application. See SDCL 23-7-56.
Ages 18 Through 20
Restricted enhanced permit
The general age requirement for an enhanced permit is 21. An applicant age 18 through 20 who satisfies enhanced-permit requirements may receive a temporary restricted enhanced permit after approval by the sheriff. See SDCL 23-7-54.2.
A holder of an unexpired restricted enhanced permit who turns 21 may submit a written request to the Secretary of State for an unrestricted enhanced permit at no additional cost. See SDCL 23-7-54.4.
Request an unrestricted enhanced permit
Email [email protected] or mail the request to Secretary of State, Attn: Permits, 500 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501.
Fingerprint Background Check
Gold card permit
A gold card permit is valid for five years. See SDCL 23-7-63.
Additional requirements
In addition to the regular-permit requirements, the applicant must contact the county sheriff to have fingerprints taken. See SDCL 23-7-60.
Renewal
The renewal period begins 180 days before expiration and ends 30 days after expiration. The holder must pass a computer check of available online records and a National Instant Criminal Background Check.