AR-15 Laws in District of Columbia
Last verified: April 8, 2026
This is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Consult a licensed attorney and verify current federal, state, and local regulations before purchasing or building any firearm.
AR-15 Ownership
Assault Weapon Ban
Magazine Capacity Limit
Short Barreled Rifles (SBR)
Suppressors
Permit Required
Registration Required
Details
Assault weapons banned. Registration required for all firearms. Suppressors prohibited.
Buying in District of Columbia
| Background Check | State POC (MPD) |
| Waiting Period | 10-day |
| Purchase Age | 21+ for all firearms |
| Permit to Purchase | Registration required for all firearms |
| Private Sale Background Check | Required (universal background check) |
Carry Laws
| Constitutional Carry | No |
| Concealed Carry Permit | Shall-issue (post-Bruen) |
| Open Carry | Prohibited |
AR pistols generally follow the same carry laws as handguns in District of Columbia. Verify with local law enforcement.
Local Preemption
D.C. functions as both state and local government. All firearms must be registered with the Metropolitan Police Department.
Check local ordinances in addition to state law before purchasing.
Neighboring States
How District of Columbia compares to its border states for AR-15 owners.
Laws last reviewed: April 2026. Always verify current laws before purchasing.
AR-15 Ownership in District of Columbia
AR-15 style rifles are heavily restricted in District of Columbia. Featureless builds or fixed-magazine configurations may be legal. Consult a local firearms attorney before purchasing.
Building an AR-15 in District of Columbia
District of Columbia has an assault weapon ban in effect. Featureless builds with a compliant grip (fin grip or similar), fixed stock, and no flash hider may be legal. Fixed-magazine configurations using devices like the CompMag or MagLatch are another option in some jurisdictions.
Consult a District of Columbia-licensed firearms attorney before starting any build.
Ready to build?
Start configuring your District of Columbia-compliant AR-15 build.
Product Recommendation Disclaimer: These recommendations are based on our understanding of District of Columbia law as of April 30, 2026. Laws change. Always verify compliance with your local FFL dealer before purchasing. AR15 Outfitters is not a legal authority.
Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. This information is provided for educational purposes only. Laws change frequently. Always verify current regulations with your state legislature or a licensed attorney before purchasing, building, or possessing any firearm or firearm accessory.