Legal Templates

North Carolina Firearm Bill of Sale Form

Create a firearm bill of sale form to document a gun’s sale and ownership transfer in North Carolina.

Updated March 28, 2023 | Legally reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

Validate and protect your private gun sale with a North Carolina Firearm Bill of Sale form.

You can customize this document according to your transaction’s details since North Carolina doesn’t require a specific form version.

Table of Contents

What Is a North Carolina Firearm Bill of Sale?

A North Carolina firearm bill of sale proves and validates the transfer of ownership of a firearm.

This document records information about the parties, the firearm, and the sale to protect buyers and sellers from legal issues.

What Are the Requirements for Selling a Firearm in North Carolina?

North Carolina residents can privately sell and trade most types of guns except for “machine guns” and “submachine guns” under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-409.

Private Parties Selling Firearms in North Carolina

In North Carolina, a “long gun” (rifle or shotgun) may be transferred from one party to another without a permit.

For weapons such as pistols and handguns, however, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-402 mandates that the purchaser has either a pistol purchase permit or a valid North Carolina concealed handgun permit. 

Exceptions to permit requirements include antique firearms and historic edged weapons.

Does the Law in North Carolina Require a Firearm Bill of Sale?

Like most states, North Carolina does not require the use of a firearm bill of sale.

However, a North Carolina firearm bill of sale form can protect the seller if the firearm is involved in illegal activity.

Gun Inheritance Laws in North Carolina

You don’t need a permit to possess or sell an inherited long gun in North Carolina. But you will need a North Carolina concealed weapons permit or a pistol purchase permit from your local sheriff’s office to inherit a handgun. 

After the death of a firearm owner, an individual or business with a Federal Firearms License (FFL) from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) can take possession of all firearms. At the same time, parties determine ownership and obtain permits.

Like all firearm sales to out-of-state buyers, sales of inherited firearms to buyers in other states must be conducted through an FFL licensee.

Online resources such as ATF listings and GunBroker can help locate an FFL licensee. 

Documents Needed to Complete a Firearm Bill of Sale in North Carolina

To formalize a firearm sale with a North Carolina firearm bill of sale form, you’ll need the following: 

  • Buyer and Seller Information — Record both parties’ names, addresses, and contact information and a driver’s license or state ID number for each. 
  • Firearm Specifications and Condition — List the caliber, make, model, and serial number of the firearm you’re selling its condition, and any additional details or markings. 
  • Details of Sale — Indicate the purchase date, price, whether or not tax is included, and the payment method.

If you’re selling a handgun, the buyer should also supply one of the following for photocopy:

  • North Carolina Concealed Handgun Permit — No additional permit is required if a buyer can carry a concealed handgun in North Carolina. 
  • Pistol Purchase Permit — Without a concealed handgun permit, the buyer will need a pistol purchase permit from the sheriff in their county of residence or yours.

Additional North Carolina Firearm Laws

Private sellers should be aware of all North Carolina laws that apply to the sale and transfer of firearms. 

Who Cannot Purchase a Firearm in North Carolina?

It is a Class I misdemeanor for a minor under 18 to purchase or own a firearm in North Carolina.

The state’s Felony Firearms Act also prohibits the purchase or possession of any firearm if the buyer has:

  • Been convicted of, acquitted because of insanity, or determined to lack mental capacity in a proceeding for felony charges except for antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, or restraints of trade.
  • Been convicted of a crime under federal or other state law punishable by more than one year of imprisonment or substantially similar to a North Carolina felony. 
  • Been acquitted because of insanity or deemed incompetent in proceedings for assault charges involving pointing a gun.
  • Been prohibited from owning firearms by a protective order issued in a domestic violence case. 

Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-404, a North Carolina sheriff may not issue a pistol purchase permit for a handgun if an applicant:

  • Has been convicted of a felony other than antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, or restraints of trade
  • Is a fugitive from justice
  • Unlawfully uses marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, or narcotic as defined by federal law
  • Has been adjudicated mentally incompetent or committed to a mental institution
  • Is in the United States illegally or unlawfully
  • Has been dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces
  • Has renounced their United States citizenship
  • Is subject to a court order, issued after a hearing they had the opportunity to attend, finding that they represent a credible threat to the safety of their intimate partner or their child and restrained them from harassing, stalking, or threatening their intimate partner or their child

Criminal background checks are part of the North Carolina pistol permitting process.

Still, you may also conduct background checks on potential buyers through private services or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.  

Does North Carolina Have a Waiting Period for Firearm Sales?

North Carolina law does not specify a waiting period for firearm sales, but the time it takes to obtain a permit may vary from county to county.

Can You Buy a Gun in North Carolina Without Registering It?

While county sheriffs maintain records of pistol permits, no North Carolina law requires the registration of firearms after purchase. 

Does a Firearm Bill of Sale Have to Be Notarized in North Carolina?

A North Carolina firearm bill of sale does not have to be notarized. 

Is a Record of Firearms sent to Police in North Carolina?

North Carolina doesn’t require firearm sales records to be submitted to the police.

Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-406, licensed dealers must maintain records of all sales, but the records are confidential and not public but must be provided to law enforcement agencies upon request. 

Concealed and Open Carry Laws in North Carolina

Generally, North Carolina residents eligible to own guns may carry them openly. 

However, even with a concealed handgun permit, it’s illegal to carry firearms in some locations and under certain circumstances, such as:

You may carry concealed firearms in state parks with a North Carolina concealed handgun permit. 

How to Apply to Carry a Firearm in North Carolina

North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.12) requires you to be 21 or older and take an approved firearms training course to obtain a concealed handgun permit.

Having no disqualifying marks on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) would be best.

Download and fill out an application or obtain one from your local sheriff’s office.

Present the application, a certificate of completion of firearms training, and your driver’s license or state identification to your county sheriff.

Active military members will also need Form 1380E, and discharged members must present a DD Form 214. Those not born in the United States must show documentation of lawful residence. 

You’ll pay a fee of about $90, including the cost of fingerprinting, and you’ll be asked to sign a disclosure authorizing the sheriff to access your mental health records.

The sheriff will issue or deny a permit within 45 days of your application. 

North Carolina Reciprocity

A valid concealed handgun permit or license issued by another state is honored in North Carolina (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.24). 

North Carolina concealed handgun permits are currently recognized in these other states. 

How to Write a Firearm Bill of Sale in North Carolina

When you’ve located a potential buyer, follow a few simple steps to legitimize the sale of your firearm with a North Carolina firearm bill of sale.

Step 1 — Research Your Local Gun Laws

Familiarize yourself with North Carolina firearms law to ensure the buyer is legally eligible to own a gun and follow all regulations for the sale of firearms in North Carolina. 

Step 2 — Ask for a Permit if Required

If you’re selling a handgun, ask the buyer for their concealed or pistol purchase permit and make a photocopy for your records.

Step 3 — Arrange an In-Person Exchange

Schedule a meeting time and place with the buyer where the North Carolina firearm bill of sale can be signed. 

Step 4 — Complete a North Carolina Firearm Bill of Sale

Besides buyer and purchaser information, your bill of sale should include the firearm’s specifications, condition, and additional identifiers.

Record the sale details, such as the date, purchase price, and payment arrangement. 

Summary

While not required by law, using a North Carolina firearm bill of sale form protects the seller and the purchaser from legal issues by providing a record of a legal transfer of ownership.

Ensure that your buyer meets firearm ownership requirements and that your transaction follows all state and local laws on the sale of firearms.

Once satisfied with your buyer’s qualifications, use our template to create a North Carolina firearm bill of sale.

Download your document in Word or PDF formats to finalize and validate your North Carolina firearm sale.

North Carolina Firearm Bill of Sale Sample

Below is an example of a North Carolina firearm bill of sale.

north carolina firearm bill of sale