Ghost Gun Laws by State (2026)
State rules on unserialized, homemade firearms and kits.
| State | Ghost guns and homemade firearms |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama has no state law that specifically regulates unserialized or homemade firearms or firearm kits. Changing, removing or obliterating a firearm's maker, model or manufacturer's number, or possessing, receiving or selling a firearm whose identification has been altered, is a Class C felony. Ala. Code 1975 Title 13A, ch. 11, §§ 13A-11-50 to 13A-11-98 (reviewed); § 13A-11-64 |
| Alaska | Alaska has no state law that requires serial numbers on homemade firearms or regulates unfinished frames, receivers or gun kits. It is a class C felony to remove, cover, alter or destroy a manufacturer's serial number on a firearm to make it untraceable, or to knowingly possess a firearm whose serial number was altered with that intent. AS 11.61 Article 2 (AS 11.61.190-11.61.250); AS 11.61.200(a)(5), (a)(6), (i) |
| Arizona | Arizona has no state law that specifically regulates unserialized or homemade firearms or firearm kits. Defacing a deadly weapon (which includes removing, altering or destroying the manufacturer's serial number), or knowingly possessing a defaced deadly weapon, is a class 6 felony. A.R.S. Title 13, ch. 31 (reviewed); A.R.S. §§ 13-3101(A)(2), 13-3102(A)(6)-(7), (M) |
| California | Since January 1, 2024, knowingly possessing a firearm or firearm precursor part (unfinished frame or receiver) without a valid state or federal serial number is generally a misdemeanor; AB 1621 (2022) halted the sale of unserialized precursor parts. Anyone who owns such a firearm or part, or intends to build or assemble a firearm, must apply to DOJ for a unique serial number before building it; new residents must apply within 60 days of arrival. Cal. Pen. Code §§ 23920, 23925, 29180-29185; AB 1621 (Stats. 2022, ch. 76); CA DOJ Unique Serial Number Application page |
| Colorado | A person may not knowingly possess or transport, or sell, offer to sell, transfer or purchase, an unfinished frame or receiver, or knowingly possess, purchase, transport or receive a firearm, frame or receiver that is not imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee, with exceptions for licensed importers and manufacturers and for taking a firearm to a licensee to be serialized. Colorado also makes unlawful three-dimensional printing of a firearm or firearm component a separate offense. C.R.S. §§ 18-12-111.5, 18-12-118 |
| Connecticut | A person who completes the manufacture of a firearm must obtain a unique serial number from DESPP (notifying DESPP within 30 days) and engrave it on the firearm; since January 1, 2024, no one may possess an unserialized firearm unless they declared it or have applied for a number. People moving into the state with one have 90 days to serialize it, make it permanently inoperable, sell it to a dealer or remove it. Unfinished frames or lower receivers may only be sold or transferred through the same procedure as a handgun sale and must carry a serial number. Making a firearm from polymer plastic without a detectable security exemplar is also prohibited. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-36a, 53-206i, 53-206j |
| 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). 11 Del. C. §§ 1459A, 1462, 1463 |
| 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. D.C. Code §§ 22-4514(a), (c)(1), 7-2502.02(a)(8), (c) |
| Florida | Florida has no state law that specifically regulates unserialized, homemade or kit firearms. State law prohibits knowingly altering or removing a manufacturer's or importer's serial number, and selling, delivering or possessing a firearm with an unlawfully altered or removed serial number. Fla. Stat. ch. 790 (reviewed); Fla. Stat. s. 790.27 |
| Hawaii | Unless licensed as a firearms manufacturer or federal dealer, no person may, in order to assemble a firearm, possess, buy, make (including with a three-dimensional printer) or obtain separately or in a kit a firearm receiver without a serial number registered with a federally licensed manufacturer or assigned under § 134-3(c), or a combination of parts from which an unserialized firearm can be readily assembled. Violation is a class C felony. HRS § 134-10.2 |
| Idaho | Idaho has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms or firearm kits. State law bars Idaho entities from enforcing new federal rules on firearm components (defined to include parts, design plans, software and tools for making firearms) that conflict with article I, section 11 of the Idaho constitution. Idaho Code Title 18, ch. 33 (reviewed); Idaho Code § 18-3315B(4), (7)(b) |
| Illinois | Yes. It is unlawful to sell, offer to sell or transfer an unserialized unfinished frame or receiver or unserialized firearm, including 3D-printed ones, except to a federal firearms importer, manufacturer or dealer. Beginning 180 days after May 18, 2022, it is unlawful to possess, purchase, transport or receive a firearm that lacks a serial number from a federal importer or manufacturer or from a federal licensee under the state serialization process, or to possess an unfinished frame or receiver that is not serialized (with limited exceptions). Serialization must be done by a federally licensed dealer or other authorized federal licensee using the licensee's abbreviated license number as a prefix; the licensee must confirm the owner's FOID card before returning the firearm. Exceptions include permanently inoperable and antique firearms, guns made before October 22, 1968, and inherited items for up to 30 days. Possession violations are a Class A misdemeanor (Class 3 felony for a repeat); sale or transfer violations are a Class 4 felony (Class 2 felony for a repeat). 720 ILCS 5/24-5.1 |
| Indiana | Indiana has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms or unfinished frame or receiver kits. State law does make it a Level 5 felony to remove, obliterate or alter an importer's or manufacturer's serial number on a firearm, or to possess a firearm whose serial number has been removed, obliterated or altered. IC 35-47 (whole article reviewed); IC 35-47-2-18 |
| Iowa | Iowa has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms or firearm kits. Iowa Code ch. 724 (reviewed) |
| Kansas | Kansas has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms or firearm kits, and cities and counties may not regulate firearms or their components. Intentionally changing, altering, removing or obliterating the maker, model, manufacturer's number or other identification mark of any firearm is a severity level 10, nonperson felony; possessing a firearm with such a mark altered is prima facie evidence that the possessor altered it. K.S.A. ch. 21, art. 63 and ch. 75, art. 7c (reviewed); K.S.A. 21-6306; 12-16,124(a) |
| Kentucky | Kentucky has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms or firearm kits. Intentionally defacing a firearm, and knowingly possessing a defaced firearm (unless reported to police or another appropriate agency before arrest or a warrant), are Class A misdemeanors. KRS chs. 237 and 527 (reviewed); KRS 527.010, 527.030, 527.050 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana has no state law that requires serial numbers on, or bans, homemade or unserialized firearms or firearm kits. It is a crime to possess, carry, buy, sell or transport a firearm whose serial number has been obliterated, but that rule does not apply to a firearm originally manufactured without a number. La. R.S. 14:94-95.10; R.S. 40:1751-1812 (Title 40, ch. 9); R.S. 40:1379.3-1379.4 (reviewed); R.S. 14:95.7; R.S. 40:1792 |
| Maine | Maine requires serial numbers. A person may not knowingly possess, import, transfer or offer to transfer an unfinished frame or receiver, or a firearm or frame or receiver, that has not been imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee, and may not buy a serialized frame or receiver without a background check. Exceptions include licensees, antiques, curios or relics, firearms made before 1968, permanently inoperable firearms, and a person who has had the item unserialized for no more than 48 hours and has an appointment with a licensee to have it serialized. Penalties apply beginning January 1, 2027: unlawful possession is a civil violation (fine up to $50) for a first offense, Class D for a second and Class C for a third; unlawful import, transfer or purchase is Class D (Class C for repeat); using an unserialized firearm in a Class A or B crime is Class C. Undetectable firearms are also prohibited. 25 M.R.S. §§2036-2039; 17-A M.R.S. §1060 |
| Maryland | Banned unless serialized. A person may not purchase, receive, sell, offer to sell or transfer an unfinished frame or receiver unless it has been imprinted with a serial number by a federally licensed manufacturer or importer, and may not sell or transfer a firearm without a serial number (felony, up to 5 years and/or $10,000). Since March 1, 2023, a person may not possess a firearm unless it has a federally required serial number or has been imprinted by a federal licensee with the owner's or maker's zip code, initials and a unique number and registered with the Secretary of State Police (misdemeanor, up to 2 years and/or $10,000). Firearms made before October 22, 1968 and antiques are exempt. Md. Code, Pub. Safety §§5-702, 5-703 |
| Massachusetts | All firearms must carry a serial number. No person may knowingly possess, manufacture, assemble, buy, sell, transfer or import an untraceable firearm. A person who builds a privately made firearm must first obtain a unique serial number from the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, engrave it during manufacture, and register the firearm within 7 days. All firearms possessed, made or assembled in the state must be registered in the electronic firearms registration system. Firearms made before October 22, 1968 are exempt from serialization; new residents and heirs have 60 days to serialize. M.G.L. c. 140, §§121B(a), 121C(a)-(c), (g) |
| Michigan | Michigan has no state law that requires serial numbers on, or bans, homemade or unserialized firearms or firearm kits. It is a felony (up to 2 years or $1,000) to willfully alter, remove or obliterate the maker's name, model, manufacturer's number or other mark of identity on a pistol or other firearm. MCL 750.222-750.239a; MCL 28.421-28.435 (reviewed); MCL 750.230 |
| Minnesota | Receiving or possessing a firearm that is not identified by a serial number, or one whose serial number has been removed or altered, is a crime punishable by up to five years and/or a $10,000 fine. The statute defines 'serial number or other identification' by reference to the federal National Firearms Act marking rules (26 U.S.C. 5842). No separate Minnesota law on unfinished frames, receivers or kits was found. Minn. Stat. §609.667 |
| Mississippi | Mississippi has no state law that requires serial numbers on, or bans, homemade or unserialized firearms or firearm kits. Miss. Code Ann. §§97-37-1 to 97-37-105; §§45-9-31 to 45-9-209 (reviewed) |
| Missouri | Missouri has no state law that requires serial numbers on, or bans, homemade or unserialized firearms or firearm kits. Defacing a firearm and knowingly possessing a defaced firearm are crimes (possession is a class B misdemeanor). RSMo ch. 571 (reviewed); RSMo §§571.045, 571.050 |
| Montana | Montana has no state law that requires serial numbers on, or bans, homemade or unserialized firearms or firearm kits. MCA 45-8-301 to 45-8-377; MCA 30-20-101 to 30-20-106 (reviewed) |
| Nebraska | Nebraska has no state law that requires serial numbers on, or bans, homemade or unserialized firearms or firearm kits. Knowingly possessing, receiving, selling or leasing a firearm whose manufacturer's identification mark or serial number has been removed, defaced, altered or destroyed is a Class III felony, and defacing a firearm is also a crime. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§28-1201 to 28-1256; §§69-2401 to 69-2449 (reviewed); §§28-1207, 28-1208 |
| Nevada | Nevada bans unserialized firearms and unfinished frames or receivers. A person may not sell, offer to sell or transfer, or 'possess, purchase, transport or receive', an unfinished frame or receiver unless the person is a licensed importer or manufacturer or the item bears a federally required serial number. A person may not manufacture or assemble a firearm that lacks a federally issued serial number, or possess, sell, transfer, purchase, transport or receive such a firearm, with exceptions for firearms rendered permanently inoperable, antiques, curios or relics, and (for possession) firearms 'manufactured before 1969.' Penalty for each: gross misdemeanor for a first offense, category D felony for a second or later offense. NRS 202.3625, 202.363, 202.3635, 202.364, 202.3645 |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire has no state law that requires serial numbers on, or bans, homemade or unserialized firearms or firearm kits. It is a misdemeanor to change, alter, remove or obliterate the maker's name, model, manufacturer's number or other identification mark on a pistol or revolver. RSA chs. 159, 159-D, 159-E, 159-F (reviewed); RSA 159:13 |
| New Jersey | Banned. Buying or obtaining, separately or as part of a kit, an unserialized firearm frame or receiver, or parts from which a firearm without a serial number may be readily made, in order to make a firearm without a manufacturer registration or license is a crime of the second degree (2C:39-9(k)). Using a three-dimensional printer to make a firearm, receiver, magazine or firearm component without being a registered or licensed manufacturer, or distributing digital printing files for them to unlicensed people in New Jersey, is a second-degree crime (2C:39-9(l)). Manufacturing or assembling a firearm from an unserialized frame or receiver is a second-degree crime (2C:39-9(n)). Covert or undetectable firearms are banned (2C:39-9(m)). N.J.S. 2C:39-9(k)-(n) |
| New Mexico | New Mexico has no state law that specifically regulates unserialized or homemade firearms or kits (no serial-number, registration or ban provision). The background-check law (§ 30-7-7.1) and the seven-day waiting-period law (§ 30-7-7.3) define 'firearm' to include 'the frame or receiver of any such weapon', so a sale of a frame or receiver is covered by those rules. NMSA 1978, Ch. 30, Art. 7 (reviewed); NMSA 1978, §§ 30-7-7.1(C)(3), 30-7-7.3(I)(1) |
| New York | Regulated. A 'ghost gun' is 'a firearm, rifle or shotgun that does not comply with the provisions of section 265.07' and is not serialized; an 'unfinished frame or receiver' is 'any unserialized material' shaped so it 'may readily be made into a functional frame or receiver.' Gunsmiths and dealers must 'engrave, cast, stamp or otherwise conspicuously place both a unique serial number and his or her name' on unserialized firearms and frames or receivers they hold and register them with the Division of Criminal Justice Services (failure is a class E felony). Knowingly selling or transferring a ghost gun is 'Criminal sale of a ghost gun in the second degree,' a class E felony (§ 265.60), with a first-degree offense in § 265.61. N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.00(32), 265.07, 265.60, 265.61 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina has no state law that requires serial numbers on, or bans, homemade or unserialized firearms or firearm kits. It is a Class H felony to alter, deface, destroy or remove a firearm's permanent serial number to conceal or misrepresent its identity, or knowingly to sell, buy or possess a firearm whose serial number was removed for that purpose. N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 14, arts. 35, 52A, 53A, 53B, 53C, 54A, 54B (reviewed); G.S. 14-160.2 |
| North Dakota | North Dakota has no state law that requires serial numbers on, or bans, homemade or unserialized firearms or firearm kits. State law makes it an offense to 'change, alter, remove, or obliterate any mark of identification on a firearm', including the manufacturer's number, or 'knowingly possess a firearm on which these alterations have been made' (class A misdemeanor under the chapter's general penalty). N.D.C.C. chs. 62.1-01 to 62.1-05 (reviewed); N.D.C.C. §§ 62.1-03-05, 62.1-03-06 |
| Ohio | Ohio has no state law that requires serial numbers on homemade firearms or regulates unfinished frames, receivers or kits. It is a crime to change, alter, remove or obliterate a manufacturer's serial number or to possess a firearm knowing it has been defaced, but that law 'does not apply to any firearm on which no manufacturer's serial number was inscribed at the time of its manufacture.' R.C. 2923.201; R.C. ch. 2923 (reviewed) |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms or kits. The Self-Defense Act says none of its provisions 'shall be construed to require or authorize the registration, documentation or providing of serial numbers with regard to any firearm.' Cities and counties may not regulate firearms or firearm parts. 21 O.S. §§ 1290.12, 1289.24(A); 21 O.S. ch. 53 (reviewed) |
| Oregon | Oregon bans making, importing, selling or transferring undetectable firearms (a Class B felony); possessing one is a Class A misdemeanor. It is also unlawful to possess, sell or transfer a firearm that does not have a serial number imprinted by a federally licensed manufacturer, importer, dealer or gunsmith. This is a Class B violation for a first offense, rising to a misdemeanor or felony for repeat offenses. Antiques, guns made before October 22, 1968 and permanently inoperable guns are exempt. People barred from having firearms may not possess unfinished frames or receivers. ORS 166.265, 166.266, 166.250(1)(d) |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania has no state law that specifically regulates unserialized, homemade, 3D-printed or kit firearms or unfinished frames or receivers. Possessing a firearm whose manufacturer's number on the frame or receiver has been altered, changed, removed or obliterated is a crime, as is altering marks of identification. 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 6110.2(a), 6117; 18 Pa.C.S. ch. 61 (reviewed) |
| Rhode Island | Banned. No one (other than a federally licensed Type 07 manufacturer) may make, sell, offer to sell, transfer, buy, possess or control a ghost gun, an undetectable firearm, or any firearm made by 3D printing. The penalty is up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8(e) |
| South Carolina | South Carolina has no state law that specifically regulates unserialized, homemade or kit firearms or unfinished frames or receivers. A person may not knowingly buy, sell, transport, pawn, receive or possess a stolen handgun 'or one from which the original serial number has been removed or obliterated.' S.C. Code § 16-23-30(C); S.C. Code tit. 16, ch. 23; tit. 23, ch. 31 (reviewed) |
| South Dakota | South Dakota has no state law that specifically regulates unserialized, homemade or kit firearms. Possessing a firearm whose manufacturer's serial number has been changed, altered, removed or obliterated is a Class 6 felony, unless the owner has applied to the Division of Criminal Investigation for a new serial number. SDCL 22-14-5, 23-7-43; SDCL ch. 22-14, 23-7 (reviewed) |
| Texas | Texas has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms, unfinished frames or receivers, or kits. Tex. Penal Code ch. 46 (reviewed) |
| Utah | Utah has no state law that requires serial numbers on homemade firearms or regulates unfinished frames, receivers or kits. On request, the Department of Public Safety may assign a distinguishing number or mark to a handgun 'whenever it is without a manufacturer's number'; stamping any other identifying number on a handgun is a class A misdemeanor, and altering or removing a handgun's maker name, model or number without the department's written permission is a class A misdemeanor (antique firearms excepted). Firearms made and sold in Utah under the state-made firearms law must be stamped 'Made in Utah' or 'Made in UT'. Utah Code §§ 53-5a-105, 53-5a-106, 53-5a-404; Utah Code tit. 53 ch. 5a; tit. 76 ch. 11 (reviewed) |
| Vermont | Since February 28, 2025, a person may not knowingly possess or transfer an unfinished frame or receiver, or a firearm, frame or receiver, that has not been imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee; anyone who makes a firearm, frame or receiver (including by 3-D printer) must have it serialized by a licensee. Exceptions include licensees, taking the item to be serialized, law enforcement, antique firearms, permanently inoperable firearms and firearms made before 1968. Penalties: unlawful possession is a civil penalty of up to $50 for a first offense, then up to two years/$1,000 and up to three years/$2,000 for later offenses; unlawful transfer or failing to serialize a self-made gun is up to one year/$500 for a first offense, rising for later offenses; using an unserialized firearm in a violent crime or reckless endangerment is up to five years/$5,000. 13 V.S.A. §§ 4082-4084 (added 2023, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), eff. Feb. 28, 2025) |
| Virginia | Effective January 1, 2027: it is unlawful to knowingly import, buy, sell, offer for sale or transfer any completed or unfinished frame or receiver unless it is treated as a firearm under federal law and bears a valid serial number; and to make or assemble, import, buy, sell or transfer any firearm without a valid serial number. People without a federal manufacturing license may not sell or transfer a firearm they made or assembled. Effective July 1, 2027, knowingly possessing a firearm, frame or receiver without a valid serial number is also unlawful. Licensed dealers may serialize firearms and frames. Penalty: Class 1 misdemeanor; a second or later violation is a Class 4 felony. Exceptions include antique, permanently inoperable and certain older firearms. Separately (already in force), possessing a firearm whose serial number has been removed or altered is a Class 1 misdemeanor and selling or giving one is a Class 6 felony. Va. Code §§ 18.2-308.5:2 (eff. Jan. 1, 2027; subsection C eff. July 1, 2027); 18.2-311.1 |
| Washington | Banned. No one may manufacture or assemble an untraceable firearm (one made after July 1, 2019 with no licensee-applied serial number), including by 3-D printer or CNC mill; since March 10, 2023 no one may knowingly or recklessly possess, transport or receive an untraceable firearm or an unserialized unfinished frame or receiver, and no one may sell, transfer or buy them. Distributing digital firearm manufacturing code to non-licensees is also banned. Exceptions include licensees, law enforcement, antiques, firearms made before 1968, permanently inoperable guns, and guns serialized by a federal licensee. Penalty for untraceable-firearm violations: $500 civil infraction for a first violation, then a misdemeanor, then a gross misdemeanor; three or more at a time is a gross misdemeanor. RCW 9.41.010(54); 9.41.326; 9.41.327; 9.41.328 |
| West Virginia | West Virginia has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms, unfinished frames or receivers, or kits. Cities may not regulate firearms in a manner inconsistent with state law. W. Va. Code § 8-12-5a(a); W. Va. Code ch. 61, art. 7 (reviewed) |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms, unfinished frames or receivers, or kits. Local governments may not regulate firearms or firearm parts more strictly than state law. Wis. Stat. § 66.0409(2); Wis. Stat. chs. 941, 175 (reviewed) |
| Wyoming | Wyoming has no state law that regulates unserialized or homemade firearms, unfinished frames or receivers, or kits. Only the state may regulate the manufacture, sale or possession of firearms, components and accessories. Under the Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act, a firearm made and sold in Wyoming under that act must be marked 'made in Wyoming' on a central part such as the receiver or frame. W.S. 6-8-401(c), 6-8-404(b); W.S. tit. 6, ch. 8 (reviewed) |
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.