North Dakota Firearm Bill of Sale

A North Dakota Firearm Bill of Sale is a document proving a state gun sale and ownership transfer.

It records details about the gun seller and buyer and contains both parties’ signatures to verify their willing participation in the sale.

If you plan to buy or sell a gun in North Dakota, consider creating a Firearm Bill of Sale to protect your rights in case any legal issues arise after the transaction. But North Dakota requires no official firearm bill of sale.

North Dakota does not have a waiting period for firearms purchases.

Download: PDF or MS Word.

State Laws for Selling a Gun in North Dakota

Minimum Age to Purchase

Minors under 18 may not possess handguns except for firearm safety training, target shooting, or hunting under the direct supervision of an adult. [1]

North Dakota has no minimum age restrictions for long guns (rifles and shotguns).

Permit for Purchase

None required.

Register a Gun

North Dakota does not mandate firearm registration.

The state does not require a record of firearm sales forwarded to police, nor does it require background checks.

Open Carry Permit

North Dakota generally allows open carry of loaded long guns in public.

Concealed Carry Permit

Open and concealed carry of loaded handguns in public is generally permitted with either a concealed carry permit or a North Dakota driver’s license and for those otherwise eligible for a concealed firearm permit.

Individuals without a permit or a North Dakota driver’s license may only carry a loaded handgun in a belt holster or an unloaded gun.

How to Apply

North Dakota is a “shall-issue” state.

This means that the state will issue a permit to anyone qualified, although law enforcement has some discretion if they believe an individual is a danger to themselves or others.

Any North Dakota resident may receive a permit for concealed carry if they meet the minimum eligibility requirements, including being at least 18, a resident of North Dakota, a US citizen or legal permanent resident, and able to possess a handgun under state and federal law, and completing the training requirements.

Applicants will be denied if they have been:

• Convicted of a felony, crime of violence, drug crime, or crime of moral turpitude
• Convicted of a domestic violence offense
• Adjudicated mentally incompetent

Step 1 – Complete Application

You can obtain the application on the State Attorney General’s website.

Step 2 – Pass Competency Test

Applicants must pass the required test. [2]

Step 3 – Mail Application

Mail your application, processing fee, copy of your driver’s license, two color photos, and a fingerprint card to:

BCI-CWL

PO Box 1054

Bismarck ND 58502 

Gun Reciprocity

Residents of states with reciprocity with North Dakota may apply for a concealed carry permit in North Dakota upon submission of their valid permit. [3]

Residents whose states do not have reciprocity may not obtain a permit in North Dakota, even if their states have concealed carry.

North Dakota currently has concealed carry reciprocity with 39 states. 

Restrictions on Firearm Ownership

North Dakota does not restrict private individuals’ sale or purchase of firearms.

The state does prohibit the sale or transfer of firearms or ammunition to any individual known or reasonably believed by the seller to be prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law. [4]

North Dakota has limited state restrictions on the purchase of firearms.

In general, the state prohibitions include the following:

• Those convicted of felonies per chapters 12.1-16 through 12.1-25 or violent misdemeanors pursuant to chapters 12.1-16 through 12.1-25
• Those diagnosed, confined, or committed to hospitals or institutions for  treatment as a mentally deficient individual within the past three years [5] [6] [7]
• Minors under the age of 18 (handguns only)

North Dakota has no state law prohibiting gun ownership by those with domestic violence convictions or subject to a restraining order.

However, the court may order the subject of an ex parte restraining order or other order to surrender their firearms if the court believes they may be used in further acts of violence. [8]