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AR-15 Laws in Pennsylvania

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

Legal

Assault Weapon Ban

No Ban

Magazine Capacity Limit

No limit

Short Barreled Rifles (SBR)

Legal (with NFA)

Suppressors

Legal (with NFA)

Permit Required

No

Registration Required

No

Details

No state-level restrictions on AR-15 platform.

Buying in Pennsylvania

Background CheckState POC (PICS)
Waiting PeriodNone (instant)
Purchase Age18+ for long guns, 21+ for handguns
Permit to PurchaseNo permit needed
Private Sale Background CheckRequired (universal background check)

Carry Laws

Constitutional CarryNo
Concealed Carry PermitShall-issue
Open CarryLegal (except Philadelphia, requires LTCF)

AR pistols generally follow the same carry laws as handguns in Pennsylvania. Verify with local law enforcement.

Local Preemption

State preempts local firearms laws

Neighboring States

How Pennsylvania compares to its border states for AR-15 owners.

StateRestriction LevelMag LimitAWB
DelawareMinimal restrictionsNone
MarylandHeavy restrictions10 rds
New JerseyHeavy restrictions10 rds
New YorkHeavy restrictions10 rds
OhioMinimal restrictionsNone
West VirginiaMinimal restrictionsNone

Laws last reviewed: April 2026. Always verify current laws before purchasing.

Shop AR-15 Rifles: All configurations legal in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has no state-level restrictions on standard AR-15 configurations. All rifles in our shop are available to Pennsylvania residents, subject to federal law.

Build Your Own AR-15: No restrictions in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania imposes no state-level feature restrictions on AR-15 builds. Configure any combination of parts that complies with federal law.

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Start configuring your Pennsylvania-compliant AR-15 build.

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Product Recommendation Disclaimer: These recommendations are based on our understanding of Pennsylvania 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.