Buying a Gun in District of Columbia
The age to buy a gun in District of Columbia, background checks for dealer and private sales, any waiting period, and rules on ghost guns.
Short answer: 21. Every firearm possessed in the District must be registered, and a registration certificate generally requires the applicant to be 21 or older. D.C. Code §§ 7-2502.01(a), 7-2502.03(a)(1), 7-2505.02(a)
| Age to buy a gun | 21. Every firearm possessed in the District must be registered, and a registration certificate generally requires the applicant to be 21 or older. The Chief may register a firearm to an otherwise qualified applicant aged 18 to 20 if a parent or guardian files a notarized statement agreeing to the ownership and accepting civil liability; that certificate expires on the applicant's 21st birthday (MPD describes this as applying to long guns). Purchases must go through a federally licensed dealer. |
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| Background checks and private sales | Yes, effectively. All firearms must be registered with MPD before possession, which involves qualification checks, training and a knowledge test. Persons eligible to register a firearm may sell or transfer it, but transfers are directed through a licensed dealer; MPD states that residents 'must purchase a firearm through a federal firearms licensee (FFL).' MPD FAQ (https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/frequently-asked-questions-firearms-registration-and-ccl) confirms the FFL requirement. |
| Waiting period | 10 days for all firearms: a seller may not deliver a firearm until 10 days have passed from the date of purchase. Sales to marshals, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens and their deputies, and police or other law enforcement officers are exempt, and the section does not apply to wholesale sales to licensed dealers. Source: D.C. Code § 22-4508 |
| Ghost guns and homemade firearms | No person may possess a ghost gun (punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine), except listed officials, entities and licensed dealers; a ghost gun cannot be registered. A self-manufactured firearm can be registered only if it bears a unique serial number meeting federal marking requirements, engraved before the frame or receiver is finished. |
More District of Columbia gun laws
- Concealed Carry in District of Columbia
- Open Carry in District of Columbia
- Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in District of Columbia
- All District of Columbia gun laws rules
FAQ
How old do you have to be to buy a gun in District of Columbia?
21. Every firearm possessed in the District must be registered, and a registration certificate generally requires the applicant to be 21 or older. The Chief may register a firearm to an otherwise qualified applicant aged 18 to 20 if a parent or guardian files a notarized statement agreeing to the ownership and accepting civil liability; that certificate expires on the applicant's 21st birthday (MPD describes this as applying to long guns). Purchases must go through a federally licensed dealer.
Do private gun sales need a background check in District of Columbia?
Yes, effectively. All firearms must be registered with MPD before possession, which involves qualification checks, training and a knowledge test. Persons eligible to register a firearm may sell or transfer it, but transfers are directed through a licensed dealer; MPD states that residents 'must purchase a firearm through a federal firearms licensee (FFL).'
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun in District of Columbia?
10 days for all firearms: a seller may not deliver a firearm until 10 days have passed from the date of purchase. Sales to marshals, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens and their deputies, and police or other law enforcement officers are exempt, and the section does not apply to wholesale sales to licensed dealers.
Are ghost guns legal in District of Columbia?
No person may possess a ghost gun (punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine), except listed officials, entities and licensed dealers; a ghost gun cannot be registered. A self-manufactured firearm can be registered only if it bears a unique serial number meeting federal marking requirements, engraved before the frame or receiver is finished.
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.