Buying a Gun in Delaware
The age to buy a gun in Delaware, background checks for dealer and private sales, any waiting period, and rules on ghost guns.
Short answer: Under 21 for all firearms, with exceptions. It is a crime to sell, give or otherwise transfer a firearm or ammunition to a person under 21 unless permitted by § 1448. 11 Del. C. §§ 1445(a)(4), 1448(a)(5), 1448D(f)(1); 24 Del. C. § 903
| Age to buy a gun | Under 21 for all firearms, with exceptions. It is a crime to sell, give or otherwise transfer a firearm or ammunition to a person under 21 unless permitted by § 1448. Persons under 21 are prohibited from possessing firearms except a shotgun or shotgun ammunition, a muzzle-loading rifle, and firearms used under the direct supervision of a person 21 or older for hunting, instruction, sporting or recreation; a person 18 or older who holds a CCDW license is also excepted. Licensed deadly weapons dealers may not sell to a person under 21. A handgun qualified purchaser permit may not be issued to a person under 21. |
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| Background checks and private sales | Yes. An unlicensed person may not sell or transfer any firearm to another unlicensed person except through a licensed dealer, who runs the background check (exemptions include transfers between close family members). Since November 16, 2025, a Delaware resident must also hold a handgun qualified purchaser permit (permit to purchase), issued by the State Bureau of Identification within the Delaware State Police, to buy or receive a handgun. The permit requires a firearms training course with a live-fire component (100 rounds) completed within the prior 5 years, is to be granted within 30 days unless grounds for denial exist, and is valid for 2 years. Current CCDW holders and active or retired law enforcement officers do not need the permit. DSP announcement gives the Nov. 16, 2025 effective date. Permit fee not stated on either page. |
| Waiting period | No fixed waiting period. A dealer (and, through § 1448B, a private transfer) may not complete the transfer until the State Bureau of Identification says it may proceed or 25 days have passed since the background check request without a denial. The 25-day rule applies only when the check is not completed; it is a maximum delay, not a set waiting period. |
| Ghost guns and homemade firearms | Possessing an untraceable firearm is a class E felony, and manufacturing one or making or distributing a firearm with a 3-D printer is a class D felony. Possessing an unfinished firearm frame or receiver without a serial number is a class D felony, and transporting, shipping, transferring or selling one is restricted. Possessing a covert or undetectable firearm is a class E felony (manufacturing it is a class D felony). Source: 11 Del. C. §§ 1459A, 1462, 1463 |
More Delaware gun laws
- Concealed Carry in Delaware
- Open Carry in Delaware
- Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in Delaware
- All Delaware gun laws rules
FAQ
How old do you have to be to buy a gun in Delaware?
Under 21 for all firearms, with exceptions. It is a crime to sell, give or otherwise transfer a firearm or ammunition to a person under 21 unless permitted by § 1448. Persons under 21 are prohibited from possessing firearms except a shotgun or shotgun ammunition, a muzzle-loading rifle, and firearms used under the direct supervision of a person 21 or older for hunting, instruction, sporting or recreation; a person 18 or older who holds a CCDW license is also excepted. Licensed deadly weapons dealers may not sell to a person under 21. A handgun qualified purchaser permit may not be issued to a person under 21.
Do private gun sales need a background check in Delaware?
Yes. An unlicensed person may not sell or transfer any firearm to another unlicensed person except through a licensed dealer, who runs the background check (exemptions include transfers between close family members). Since November 16, 2025, a Delaware resident must also hold a handgun qualified purchaser permit (permit to purchase), issued by the State Bureau of Identification within the Delaware State Police, to buy or receive a handgun. The permit requires a firearms training course with a live-fire component (100 rounds) completed within the prior 5 years, is to be granted within 30 days unless grounds for denial exist, and is valid for 2 years. Current CCDW holders and active or retired law enforcement officers do not need the permit.
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun in Delaware?
No fixed waiting period. A dealer (and, through § 1448B, a private transfer) may not complete the transfer until the State Bureau of Identification says it may proceed or 25 days have passed since the background check request without a denial.
Are ghost guns legal in Delaware?
Possessing an untraceable firearm is a class E felony, and manufacturing one or making or distributing a firearm with a 3-D printer is a class D felony. Possessing an unfinished firearm frame or receiver without a serial number is a class D felony, and transporting, shipping, transferring or selling one is restricted. Possessing a covert or undetectable firearm is a class E felony (manufacturing it is a class D felony).
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.