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California
21
Hawaii
21
Illinois
21
Iowa
21
Maryland
21
Massachusetts
21
Nevada
21
New Jersey
21
New York
21
Ohio
21
Rhode Island
21
Virginia
21
Alabama
18
Alaska
18
Arizona
18
Arkansas
18
Colorado
18
Connecticut
18
Delaware
18
Florida
18
Georgia
18
Indiana
18
Kansas
18
Kentucky
18
Louisiana
18
Michigan
18
Minnesota
18
Mississippi
18
Missouri
18
Montana
18
Nebraska
18
New Mexico
18
North Carolina
18
North Dakota
18
Oklahoma
18
Oregon
18
Pennsylvania
18
South Carolina
18
South Dakota
18
Tennessee
18
Texas
18
Utah
18
Washington
18
West Virginia
18
Wisconsin
18
Wyoming
18
Idaho
16
Maine
16
New Hampshire
16
Vermont
16

Ammunition Limits by State 2024

Ammunition Limits by State 2024

In the United States, firearm sales are subject to federal regulations and restrictions. However, ammunition sales are not. Without ammunition, firearms are merely as dangerous as other blunt objects. While gun laws vary by state, ammunition laws vary by state as well.

Federal Laws for Firearm Ammunition

Many federal firearm laws do not apply to ammunition. This includes the law that states purchasers buying from licensed dealers must present ID and pass a background check, or that high volume handgun sales are regulated. A 2013 Fox News survey found that about 80% of Americans support laws requiring background checks for ammunition purchasers. Currently, the only federal laws regulating ammunition are limited to prohibiting sales to certain categories of people and prohibiting the manufacture, importation, and sale of armor-piercing ammunition. While federal law prevents prohibited purchaser categories from purchasing ammunition, it does not require sellers to conduct background checks on purchasers to ensure they are not in said categories.

States Laws for Firearm Ammunition

Six states have laws regulating ammunition sales and require background checks: New York, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Other states restrict ammunition access through age limits or restricting certain categories of dangerous people. The table below outlines the restrictions for each state.

New York

In 2013, New York enacted a law requiring every purchaser of a “commercial transfer” of ammunition goes through a background check before completing their purchase. The background check is conducted through a statewide license and record database.

California

California is the only other state with New York to require a point-of-sale background check. Proposition 63 was approved by California voters in November 2016. The law generally requires all ammunition sales to be processed by or conducted through a licensed vendor who will conduct the background check. This includes mail-order sales and sales between unlicensed parties.

Connecticut

In 2013, Connecticut enacted a law authorizing state agencies to issue “ammunition certificates.” Ammunitions are issued by the state and must be renewed every five years. The law also prohibited the sale or transfer of ammunition unless the purchaser or transferee presents a firearm permit or ammunition certificate.

Illinois

Illinois residents must obtain a canid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card to lawfully purchase or possess firearms or ammunition. FOID cards are valid for10 years.

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, residents are required to obtain a firearm permit or license to purchase ammunition. Different types of licenses permit holders to purchase and possess different types of ammunition. The three types of licenses are the Firearms Identification Card (FID), the License to Carry Firearms (LTCA), and a Class 3 or “Green Card” permit for fully automatic firearms.

New Jersey

New Jersey residents are typically prohibited from acquiring any handgun ammunition unless a valid firearm purchaser identification card or a permit to purchase a handgun is presented. A firearm identification card to buy ammunition does not expire after 90 days; however permits to purcahse handguns expire after 90 days and can be renewed for an additional 90 days.

Ammunition Limits by State 2024

50 Rows

State
Minimum Age to Purchase
Types Impacted
AP Ban
License Required
California21Handguns
Hawaii21
Illinois21All firearms
Iowa21Handguns
Maryland21Handguns or assault weapons
Massachusetts21Handguns or large capacity weapons
Nevada21
New Jersey21Handguns
New York21Handguns
Ohio21
Rhode Island21All firearms
Virginia21
Alabama18
Alaska18
Arizona18All firearms
Arkansas18
Colorado18
Connecticut18All firearms
Delaware18All firearms
Florida18
Georgia18
Indiana18
Kansas18
Kentucky18
Louisiana18
Michigan18
Minnesota18All firearms
Mississippi18
Missouri18
Montana18
Nebraska18
New Mexico18
North Carolina18
North Dakota18
Oklahoma18
Oregon18
Pennsylvania18
South Carolina18
South Dakota18
Tennessee18
Texas18
Utah18
Washington18
West Virginia18
Wisconsin18
Wyoming18
Idaho16All firearms
Maine16All firearms
New Hampshire16All firearms
Vermont16All firearms

Sources