Pepper Spray Laws by State 2025

Legal
Legal with Restrictions
State
Pepper Spray Legal Status
Additional Pepper Spray Legality Details
Arizona Flag
ArizonaLegal with Restrictions
  • Product container cannot exceed 150cc.
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasLegal with Restrictions
  • Product canisters cannot exceed 150 cc or 5.07 oz.
California Flag
CaliforniaLegal with Restrictions
  • Cannot be sold to minors. Product canisters cannot exceed 2.5 oz.
Delaware Flag
DelawareLegal with Restrictions
  • Cannot be sold to minors without permission of a legal guardian.
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiLegal with Restrictions
  • Pepper sprays and gel cannot be sold online and cannot contain more than 0.5 oz
Illinois Flag
IllinoisLegal with Restrictions
  • Cannot be sold to minors.
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsLegal with Restrictions
  • A license is required to sell or carry pepper sprays and gels.
  • Only licensed firearms dealers can sell pepper sprays and gels.
  • Those aged 15 to 18 must obtain a firearms ID card in order to purchase.
Michigan Flag
MichiganLegal with Restrictions
  • Only SABRE RED formula is permitted. The SABRE 3-in-1 formula is not currently legal.
Nevada Flag
NevadaLegal with Restrictions
  • Cannot be sold to minors. Product canisters cannot contain more than 2 oz.
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyLegal with Restrictions
  • Cannot be sold to minors. Product canisters cannot contain more than 0.75 oz.
New York Flag
New YorkLegal with Restrictions
  • Product canisters cannot contain more than 0.75 oz. and the strength cannot exceed 0.7% major capsaicinoids.
  • Can only be sold by licensed firearms dealers and licensed pharmacists.
  • It is illegal to ship to New York.
  • Purchases must be made in person, with a maximum of two sprays per purchase.
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaLegal with Restrictions
  • Product canisters cannot exceed 150 cc or 5.29 oz.
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandLegal with Restrictions
  • Cannot be sold to minors.
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaLegal with Restrictions
  • Product canisters cannot exceed 1.69 oz.
Washington Flag
WashingtonLegal with Restrictions
  • Purchase restriction to persons age 18 and older, or 14 with a parent or guardian's permission.
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinLegal with Restrictions
  • Cannot be sold to minors.
  • Propduct canisters cannot exceed 2.0 oz. and the oleoresin capsicum (OC) content must be between 15 to 50 grams.
  • Range of pepper sprays and gels must be within 6 to 20 feet, and all products must have a safety feature to prevent accidental deployment.
  • Product cannot be camouflaged or look like a non-pepper spray product.
Alabama Flag
AlabamaLegal
Alaska Flag
AlaskaLegal
  • Cannot be sold to minors.
  • To carry on school property, the user must have permission and be at least 21 years old.
Colorado Flag
ColoradoLegal
Connecticut Flag
ConnecticutLegal
District of Columbia Flag
District of ColumbiaLegal
  • Registration form must be completed at purchase and forwarded to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Florida Flag
FloridaLegal
  • Product canisters cannot exceed 2 oz.
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaLegal
Idaho Flag
IdahoLegal
Indiana Flag
IndianaLegal
Iowa Flag
IowaLegal
Kansas Flag
KansasLegal
Kentucky Flag
KentuckyLegal
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaLegal
Maine Flag
MaineLegal
Maryland Flag
MarylandLegal
  • Cannot be sold to minors.
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaLegal
  • Pepper sprays and gels cannot be possessed by anyone under the age of 16 without written permission of legal guardian.
Mississippi Flag
MississippiLegal
Missouri Flag
MissouriLegal
Montana Flag
MontanaLegal
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaLegal
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireLegal
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoLegal
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaLegal
Ohio Flag
OhioLegal
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaLegal
Oregon Flag
OregonLegal
Pennsylvania Flag
PennsylvaniaLegal
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaLegal
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeLegal
Texas Flag
TexasLegal
Utah Flag
UtahLegal
Vermont Flag
VermontLegal
Virginia Flag
VirginiaLegal
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaLegal
Wyoming Flag
WyomingLegal
  • Laws regarding the legality of pepper spray may change at any time. Data shown should not be considered legally authoritative. Interested parties are encouraged to confirm legal guidelines with local authorities.