| Alabama | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1949) — general ban in public space:
- This is part of a law against loitering; the law makes it illegal for someone to be “masked, loiter, remain, or congregate in a public place, with exemptions for masquerade parties, public parades, and theater characterizations.
- Sentence: Up to three months in jail or $500.
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| Arizona | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 2018) - in commission of a crime:
- This law enhances penalties if a “mask or other disguise” is worn “during or immediately following the commission” of a felony crime, amending previous guidelines from 2007.
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| California | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1873) - in commission of a crime:
- This law makes it illegal to wear a “mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise (whether complete or partial)” when “evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification in the commission of any public offense” or to conceal when charged, arrested, or convicted of a crime.
- Sentence (misdemeanor): Up to 180 days in jail.
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| Connecticut | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1949) - while depriving another of their rights:
- This law makes it illegal to wear a mask “with the intent” to deprive another of “any rights, privileges or immunities” on account of race, sex, gender identity, disability, etc.
- Sentence (class D felony): One to five years in prison and up to $5,000.
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| Delaware | Yes |
- Current law 1 (enacted in 1953) - while congregating in public and depriving another of rights:
- Part of a disorderly conduct law, this provision makes it illegal to wear masks or face coverings “while congregating with other persons in a public place” and depriving others of “any rights, privileges, or immunities.”
Sentence (unclassified misdemeanor): Up to 30 days in prison and $575.
- Current law 2 (amended in 1996) — while in commission of a felony:
This law makes it illegal to wear a mask “or other disguise during the commission of any felony.” Guilty even if lesser crime. Can be guilty even if the person is found guilty of a lower charge than the original felony.
- Sentence (class E felony): Up to one year in prison and $3,000.
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| District of Columbia | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 2024) – while in commission of a crime:
- As part of a sweeping anti-crime law called “Secure D.C.,” this provision makes it illegal for anyone over 16 years of age to wear a mask or face covering “to avoid identification” while committing a dangerous or violent crime, theft, or “threats to do bodily harm.”
- Note: D.C. had a pre-COVID law, enacted in 1983, which was similar. It was repealed in 2020.
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| Florida | Yes |
- Current laws A (enacted 1951, sections 13-15) — general mask bans:
- These laws make it illegal for anyone over 16 years of age to wear a mask or face covering in public outdoors, in public buildings, and on someone else’s private property
- Current law B — while intimidating others:
This law makes it illegal to wear masks while “placing exhibit to intimidate” — another ban on masking that seems to relate to KKK actions.
- Current law C — while in commission of a crime:
This law enhances sentencing, classifying a crime one degree higher if wearing a mask or face covering during commission of a crime.
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| Georgia | Yes |
- Current law (enacted 1953) — general mask ban:
- This law makes it illegal to wear a mask or face covering over 16 years of age in public settings or on the private property of another. With exemptions for holidays, trade, theater, gas masks.
- Sentence: Up to a year in jail and/or $1,000.
- Note: The KKK sued to overturn Georgia’s law in 1989. A lower court ruled in its favor, but the decision was overturned by the state Supreme Court. However, the court’s decision required that police prove an “intent” to hide one’s identity, which is a precedent that may play out when it comes to COVID-19.
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| Louisiana | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1924) — general ban with medical and other exemptions:
- This law bans masks, face coverings, or facial disguises in public places, with exceptions for Mardi Gras and similar, Halloween, performances, religious coverings, helmets, and “medical purposes or reasons.” (Exemptions don’t apply to sex offenders.)
- Sentence: From six months to three years in prison.
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| Massachusetts | Yes |
- Current law — while obstructing police:
- This law is often missed on lists of mask bans because it doesn’t mention masks. It does make it illegal to “disguise” with “intent to obstruct the due execution of the law, or to intimidate, hinder or interrupt an officer or other person in the lawful performance of his duty, or in the exercise of his rights under the constitution or laws of the commonwealth, whether such intent is effected or not.”
- Sentence: Up to $500 and one year in prison.
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| Michigan | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1931) — in commission of a crime:
- This law makes it illegal to wear a mask or face covering “for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a crime.”
- Sentence: Up to 93 days in prison and/or $500.
|
| Minnesota | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1963, with exemptions in 1995) — general ban with medical and other exemptions:
- This law makes it illegal to conceal identity with a mask or disguise in a public place, with exemptions for religious beliefs, entertainment, protection from weather, or “medical treatment.”
- Sentence: Up to 90 days and/or $1,000
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| New Mexico | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1953) — while obstructing police:
- This law makes it illegal to conceal identity or disguise oneself “with the intent to obstruct the due execution of the law or with intent to intimidate, hinder or interrupt any public officer or any other person in a legal performance of his duty or the exercise of his rights under the laws of the United States or of this state.”
- Sentence (petty misdemeanor): Up to six months in prison and/or $500.
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| New York | Yes |
- Current law — Nassau County (enacted in August 2024) — general ban with medical and other exemptions:
- This law makes it illegal to wear masks or facial coverings with “intent” to conceal identity, with exemptions for “health and safety of the wearer,” religion, and celebrations. Specific illegal provisions include congregating with other maskers (or “aiding” them), intending to interfere with a person’s rights, intending to harass or intimidate, and being engaged in “conduct that could reasonably lead to the institution of a civil or criminal proceeding.”
- Sentence: Up to $1,000 and/or one year in prison.
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| North Carolina | Yes |
- Current laws (enacted in June 2024, to take effect in October) — general ban with exemptions:
- Five state laws make it illegal to mask in various public and private settings, with the current law offering exemptions for holidays, theater, trades, motorcycles, and “any person wearing a medical or surgical device for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease.” The law requires removal of a mask if ordered by law enforcement under any circumstances and by “owner or occupant” of a “public or private property.”
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| North Dakota | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 2017) — while in commission of a crime:
- This law makes it illegal to mask during a criminal offense with intent to intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass any other individual; to evade discovery or identification; or for the purpose of concealment after being arrested, charged, or convicted. Applies to minor crimes too.
- Sentence (class A misdemeanor): Up to one year in prison and $3,000.
|
| Ohio | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1953) — while in commission of a misdemeanor with others so masked:
- This law makes it illegal to “unite with two or more others to commit a misdemeanor while wearing white caps, masks, or other disguise.” The law is titled “Prohibition against conspiracy while wearing a disguise.”
- Sentence (fourth degree felony): From six to 18 months in prison and up to $5,000.
|
| Oklahoma | Yes |
- Current law A (enacted in 1923) — while in commission of a crime or to harass:
- This law makes it illegal to wear a mask or face covering “during the commission of a crime or for the purpose of coercion, intimidation or harassment” with exemptions for childhood pranks, masquerades, theater, and the like.
- Current law B — while demanding admission to another’s property to harass, injure, etc.
- Sentence (for laws A and B): From $50 to $500 and up to one year in prison.
- Current law C — while committing assault with a dangerous weapon
- Sentence (for law C, a felony): From $100 to $500 and 5 to 20 years in prison.
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| South Carolina | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1951) — general ban with exemptions:
- This law makes it illegal for anyone over 16 to wear a mask or face coverings in a public space or while demanding entrance to a private space, with exemptions for holiday, trade, theater, gas mask.
- Sentence: Up to $500 and one year in prison.
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| Tennessee | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1868) — while intimidating others from exercising rights:
- As part of a law against harassment, intimidation, and injury of people by groups based on race, religion, and background, this law makes it illegal to wear a mask while committing “the offense of intimidating others from exercising civil rights.”
- Sentence (class A misdemeanor): Up to a year in prison and/or $2,500.
- Knoxville city ordinance: This law makes it illegal to wear a mask or disguise in a public place or on someone else’s property either: to commit a public offense; intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass another person; where it is “probable” that a “reasonable” person will fear for their safety; to evade identification during or after committing a crime; to obstruct police.
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| Virginia | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1950) — general ban with medical exemption requiring documentation:
- This law makes it illegal for anyone over 16 years of age to wear a mask or face covering with exemptions for trades, theater, or “bona fide medical reasons upon the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device.”
- Sentence (class 6 felony): One to five years in prison or, if jury/judge prefers, up to one year and/or $2,500.
|
| West Virginia | Yes |
- Current law (enacted in 1988) — general ban with exemptions:
- This law makes it illegal for anyone over 16 years of age to wear masks or face coverings, with exemptions for holiday costumes, trade, theater, masquerades, “civil defense drills,” or “for the sole purpose of protection from the elements or while participating in a winter sport.”
- Sentence: Up to $500 and/or one year in prison.
|
| Alaska | No | |
| Arkansas | No | |
| Colorado | No | |
| Hawaii | No | |
| Idaho | No | |
| Illinois | No | |
| Indiana | No | |
| Iowa | No | |
| Kansas | No | |
| Kentucky | No |
- Current law — Louisville/Jefferson County (enacted in 1983, with discussion of “reinforcing” in October 2024):
- This law makes it illegal to wear a mask or face covering in a public place if 16 years and older, with exceptions for holidays, theater, trades, etc. but not health.
|
| Maine | No | |
| Maryland | No | |
| Mississippi | No | |
| Missouri | No | |
| Montana | No | |
| Nebraska | No | |
| Nevada | No | |
| New Hampshire | No | |
| New Jersey | No | |
| Oregon | No | |
| Pennsylvania | No | |
| Rhode Island | No | |
| South Dakota | No | |
| Texas | No | |
| Utah | No | |
| Vermont | No | |
| Washington | No | |
| Wisconsin | No | |
| Wyoming | No | |
