Gun Related
Ghost Gun Legality by State 2026
Legal Status
Illegal
Legal
Restricted
State | Legal Status↓ | Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | Legal | |
 | Alaska | Legal | |
 | Arizona | Legal | |
 | Arkansas | Legal | |
 | Florida | Legal | |
 | Georgia | Legal | |
 | Idaho | Legal | |
 | Indiana | Legal | |
 | Iowa | Legal | |
 | Kansas | Legal | |
 | Kentucky | Legal | |
 | Louisiana | Legal | |
 | Maine | Legal | |
 | Michigan | Legal | |
 | Minnesota | Legal | |
 | Mississippi | Legal | |
 | Missouri | Legal | |
 | Montana | Legal | |
 | Nebraska | Legal | |
 | New Hampshire | Legal | |
 | New Mexico | Legal | |
 | North Carolina | Legal | |
 | North Dakota | Legal | |
 | Ohio | Legal | |
 | Oklahoma | Legal | |
 | Pennsylvania | Legal | |
 | South Carolina | Legal | |
 | South Dakota | Legal | |
 | Tennessee | Legal | |
 | Texas | Legal | |
 | Utah | Legal | |
 | Virginia | Legal | |
 | West Virginia | Legal | |
 | Wisconsin | Legal | |
 | Wyoming | Legal | |
 | California | Restricted | Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials. |
 | Colorado | Restricted | Serial numbers are required for parts used to make ghost guns. |
 | Connecticut | Restricted | Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no plastic undetectable guns. |
 | Hawaii | Restricted | Serial numbers are required for parts used to make ghost guns. |
 | Massachusetts | Restricted | Serial numbers and background checks for all firearms and component parts. All ghost guns must be reported to officials. |
 | New Jersey | Restricted | Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no 3D printing of guns, no distribution of 3D printing instructions, no plastic undetectable guns. |
 | New York | Restricted | Serial numbers and background checks for component parts, all ghost guns must be reported to officials, no plastic undetectable guns. |
 | Delaware | Illegal | |
 | District of Columbia | Illegal | |
 | Illinois | Illegal | |
 | Maryland | Illegal | |
 | Nevada | Illegal | |
 | Oregon | Illegal | |
 | Rhode Island | Illegal | |
 | Vermont | Illegal | |
 | Washington | Illegal |
Ghost Gun A privately assembled firearm, often built from component parts or kits, that may lack a serial number and is not originally manufactured as a completed firearm.
Ghost Gun Laws in the United States
Laws regulating ghost guns vary widely across the United States. Some states allow individuals to assemble firearms from component parts under federal regulations, while others impose additional state-level requirements on how these firearms are manufactured, serialized, or reported.
In several states, laws require key firearm components to have serial numbers or mandate background checks for certain parts used to assemble firearms. A smaller number of jurisdictions prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of ghost guns altogether.
States Where Ghost Guns Are Legal
In many states, there are no specific state laws that directly regulate ghost guns beyond applicable federal firearm rules. In these jurisdictions, individuals may generally assemble firearms from component parts as long as they comply with federal requirements and are not otherwise prohibited from owning firearms.
States where ghost guns are generally legal include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
States Where Ghost Guns Are Restricted
Some states allow ghost guns but regulate their manufacture, possession, or transfer. These laws typically require certain firearm components—such as frames or receivers—to carry serial numbers or require background checks when purchasing parts used to assemble firearms.
States with restrictions on ghost guns include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.
States Where Ghost Guns Are Illegal
A number of states prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of ghost guns. In these jurisdictions, state law bans privately assembled firearms that lack serial numbers or prohibits the distribution of kits and parts intended to create untraceable firearms.
States where ghost guns are illegal include Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
