Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in Washington
Whether Washington has a red flag (extreme risk) law and any limits on assault weapons or magazine capacity.
Short answer: Yes. An intimate partner or a family or household member of the respondent, or a law enforcement agency, may petition for an extreme risk protection order alleging that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having or obtaining a firearm. RCW 7.105.100(1)(e); 7.105.410
| Red flag law | Yes. An intimate partner or a family or household member of the respondent, or a law enforcement agency, may petition for an extreme risk protection order alleging that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having or obtaining a firearm. A temporary ex parte order lasts until the full hearing; a full order lasts one year and may be renewed (petitioners may move to renew within 90 days before it expires, and a renewal also lasts one year). Renewal and duration: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=7.105.410 Source: RCW 7.105.100(1)(e); 7.105.410 |
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| Assault weapons and magazine limits | Yes. Assault weapons: since April 25, 2023, no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell or offer for sale any assault weapon (gross misdemeanor), with exceptions such as sales to the military, law enforcement or out-of-state buyers, and inheritance; possession of weapons already owned is not banned by this section. Magazines: no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell or offer for sale a large capacity magazine, meaning a device that accepts more than 10 rounds (gross misdemeanor); possession is not banned by this section. Court status: the magazine law was challenged in State v. Gator's Custom Guns; the Washington Supreme Court decided the case on May 8, 2025 (No. 102940-3), and the challengers' petition to the U.S. Supreme Court (No. 25-153) was still pending on the docket read (last entry August 3, 2026). Magazines: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.370 ; U.S. Supreme Court docket: https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-153.html (the docket shows the Washington Supreme Court decision date; the Washington Supreme Court opinion itself was not read). |
More Washington gun laws
- Concealed Carry in Washington
- Open Carry in Washington
- Buying a Gun in Washington
- All Washington gun laws rules
FAQ
Does Washington have a red flag law?
Yes. An intimate partner or a family or household member of the respondent, or a law enforcement agency, may petition for an extreme risk protection order alleging that the respondent poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having or obtaining a firearm. A temporary ex parte order lasts until the full hearing; a full order lasts one year and may be renewed (petitioners may move to renew within 90 days before it expires, and a renewal also lasts one year).
Does Washington ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines?
Yes. Assault weapons: since April 25, 2023, no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell or offer for sale any assault weapon (gross misdemeanor), with exceptions such as sales to the military, law enforcement or out-of-state buyers, and inheritance; possession of weapons already owned is not banned by this section. Magazines: no person may manufacture, import, distribute, sell or offer for sale a large capacity magazine, meaning a device that accepts more than 10 rounds (gross misdemeanor); possession is not banned by this section. Court status: the magazine law was challenged in State v. Gator's Custom Guns; the Washington Supreme Court decided the case on May 8, 2025 (No. 102940-3), and the challengers' petition to the U.S. Supreme Court (No. 25-153) was still pending on the docket read (last entry August 3, 2026).
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.