Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in North Carolina

Whether North Carolina has a red flag (extreme risk) law and any limits on assault weapons or magazine capacity.

Short answer: North Carolina has no state law that sets up extreme risk protection orders (red flag orders). Domestic violence protective orders (Chapter 50B) require a personal relationship and an act of domestic violence and may order firearms surrendered; N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 14, arts. 35, 52A, 53A, 53B, 53C, 54A, 54B; N.C. Gen. Stat. chs. 50B, 50C (reviewed); G.S. 50B-3.1, 14-269.8

Red flag law	North Carolina has no state law that sets up extreme risk protection orders (red flag orders). Domestic violence protective orders (Chapter 50B) require a personal relationship and an act of domestic violence and may order firearms surrendered; a person subject to such an order may be barred from buying or possessing firearms while it is in effect. Civil no-contact orders (Chapter 50C) require nonconsensual sexual conduct or stalking. Reviewed N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 14, Articles 35 (Offenses Against the Public Peace, 14-269 to 14-277.8), 52A (Sale of Weapons in Certain Counties, 14-402 to 14-409), 53A (Other Firearms), 53B (Firearm Regulation, 14-409.39 to 14-409.44), 53C, 54A (Felony Firearms Act) and 54B (Concealed Handgun Permit, 14-415.10 to 14-415.27), and Chapters 50B (Domestic Violence) and 50C (Civil No-Contact Orders) on 2026-10-27; no extreme risk protection order provision found. This replaces the earlier entry that relied on a 2025 bill (S 406). Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 14, arts. 35, 52A, 53A, 53B, 53C, 54A, 54B; N.C. Gen. Stat. chs. 50B, 50C (reviewed); G.S. 50B-3.1, 14-269.8
Assault weapons and magazine limits	North Carolina has no state law that bans assault weapons or limits magazine capacity. State law does restrict machine guns and similar weapons. Reviewed N.C. Gen. Stat. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 14, arts. 35, 52A, 53A, 53B, 53C, 54A, 54B (reviewed); G.S. 14-409

Red flag law

North Carolina has no state law that sets up extreme risk protection orders (red flag orders). Domestic violence protective orders (Chapter 50B) require a personal relationship and an act of domestic violence and may order firearms surrendered; a person subject to such an order may be barred from buying or possessing firearms while it is in effect. Civil no-contact orders (Chapter 50C) require nonconsensual sexual conduct or stalking.

Reviewed N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 14, Articles 35 (Offenses Against the Public Peace, 14-269 to 14-277.8), 52A (Sale of Weapons in Certain Counties, 14-402 to 14-409), 53A (Other Firearms), 53B (Firearm Regulation, 14-409.39 to 14-409.44), 53C, 54A (Felony Firearms Act) and 54B (Concealed Handgun Permit, 14-415.10 to 14-415.27), and Chapters 50B (Domestic Violence) and 50C (Civil No-Contact Orders) on 2026-10-27; no extreme risk protection order provision found. This replaces the earlier entry that relied on a 2025 bill (S 406).

Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 14, arts. 35, 52A, 53A, 53B, 53C, 54A, 54B; N.C. Gen. Stat. chs. 50B, 50C (reviewed); G.S. 50B-3.1, 14-269.8

Assault weapons and magazine limits

North Carolina has no state law that bans assault weapons or limits magazine capacity. State law does restrict machine guns and similar weapons.

Reviewed N.C. Gen. Stat.

Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 14, arts. 35, 52A, 53A, 53B, 53C, 54A, 54B (reviewed); G.S. 14-409

More North Carolina gun laws

FAQ

Does North Carolina have a red flag law?

Does North Carolina ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines?

North Carolina has no state law that bans assault weapons or limits magazine capacity. State law does restrict machine guns and similar weapons.

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.