AR-15 Laws in Washington
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 ban effective 2023. Magazine capacity limited to 10 rounds.
Buying in Washington
| Background Check | State POC (WSP) |
| Waiting Period | 10-day for semi-automatic rifles, none for other long guns |
| Purchase Age | 21+ for semi-automatic rifles, 18+ for other long guns |
| Permit to Purchase | No permit needed (training required for semi-auto rifles) |
| Private Sale Background Check | Required (universal background check) |
Carry Laws
| Constitutional Carry | No |
| Concealed Carry Permit | Shall-issue |
| Open Carry | Legal (prohibited in some cities) |
AR pistols generally follow the same carry laws as handguns in Washington. Verify with local law enforcement.
Local Preemption
Neighboring States
How Washington compares to its border states for AR-15 owners.
Laws last reviewed: April 2026. Always verify current laws before purchasing.
AR-15 Ownership in Washington
AR-15 style rifles are heavily restricted in Washington. Featureless builds or fixed-magazine configurations may be legal. Consult a local firearms attorney before purchasing.
Building an AR-15 in Washington
Washington 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 Washington-licensed firearms attorney before starting any build.
Ready to build?
Start configuring your Washington-compliant AR-15 build.
Product Recommendation Disclaimer: These recommendations are based on our understanding of Washington 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.