Laws by State

Castle Doctrine States 2025

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Self Defense Law

Castle Doctrine
Duty to Retreat
Stand Your Ground
State
Self Defense Law
Alabama Flag
AlabamaStand Your Ground
California Flag
CaliforniaStand Your Ground
Colorado Flag
ColoradoStand Your Ground
Florida Flag
FloridaStand Your Ground
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaStand Your Ground
Idaho Flag
IdahoStand Your Ground
Illinois Flag
IllinoisStand Your Ground
Kansas Flag
KansasStand Your Ground
Kentucky Flag
KentuckyStand Your Ground
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaStand Your Ground
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoStand Your Ground
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaStand Your Ground
Oregon Flag
OregonStand Your Ground
Pennsylvania Flag
PennsylvaniaStand Your Ground
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaStand Your Ground
Vermont Flag
VermontStand Your Ground
Virginia Flag
VirginiaStand Your Ground
Washington Flag
WashingtonStand Your Ground
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutDuty to Retreat
Delaware Flag
DelawareDuty to Retreat
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiDuty to Retreat
Maine Flag
MaineDuty to Retreat
Maryland Flag
MarylandDuty to Retreat
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsDuty to Retreat
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaDuty to Retreat
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaDuty to Retreat
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyDuty to Retreat
New York Flag
New YorkDuty to Retreat
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandDuty to Retreat
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinDuty to Retreat
Alaska Flag
AlaskaCastle Doctrine
Arizona Flag
ArizonaCastle Doctrine
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasCastle Doctrine
Indiana Flag
IndianaCastle Doctrine
Iowa Flag
IowaCastle Doctrine
Michigan Flag
MichiganCastle Doctrine
Mississippi Flag
MississippiCastle Doctrine
Missouri Flag
MissouriCastle Doctrine
Montana Flag
MontanaCastle Doctrine
Nevada Flag
NevadaCastle Doctrine
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireCastle Doctrine
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaCastle Doctrine
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaCastle Doctrine
Ohio Flag
OhioCastle Doctrine
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaCastle Doctrine
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeCastle Doctrine
Texas Flag
TexasCastle Doctrine
Utah Flag
UtahCastle Doctrine
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaCastle Doctrine
Wyoming Flag
WyomingCastle Doctrine
  • In California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, there is no explicit Stand Your Ground statute. However, courts in these states have ruled that individuals may use deadly force in self-defense without a duty to retreat, making them functionally Stand Your Ground states.
  • Gun laws may change at any time. As such, listed categories should not be considered legally authoritative.