Can I Build an AR-15 in Michigan?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
Yes, you can legally build an AR-15 in Michigan for personal use without a license. Michigan law generally follows federal regulations for rifle builds, with no additional state restrictions on AR-15 construction.
What This Means for You
Michigan doesn't impose additional restrictions beyond federal law on building semi-automatic rifles like AR-15s. You can legally manufacture a rifle for personal use without an FFL as long as you follow federal guidelines. The state treats home-built rifles the same as commercially manufactured ones once completed.
The Detail
Michigan follows federal law when it comes to home firearm manufacturing. Under federal regulations, you can build a rifle for personal use without needing a Federal Firearms License. This includes AR-15 pattern rifles built from parts kits, 80% receivers, or individual components. You're not required to serialize a personally manufactured firearm under federal law, though some builders choose to do so for record keeping.
The key requirement is that you must be legally allowed to possess firearms in Michigan. This means you cannot be a prohibited person under federal or state law. You also cannot build firearms with the intent to sell them without proper licensing. If you later decide to sell a home-built rifle, federal law requires that it was originally built for personal use, not commercial purposes.
Michigan does have some specific firearm laws to consider. The state requires background checks for private sales of firearms in certain circumstances, and you need to be aware of local ordinances that might affect possession or storage. However, these don't specifically impact the building process itself.
When building an AR-15 in Michigan, you need to ensure the finished rifle complies with federal regulations regarding overall length and barrel length. The rifle must have a barrel of at least 16 inches and an overall length of at least 26 inches to avoid NFA classification. Michigan doesn't have additional restrictions on features like flash hiders, adjustable stocks, or magazine capacity for rifles.
Build Impact
You can proceed with an AR-15 build in Michigan without worrying about state-level restrictions on the construction process. Focus on federal compliance regarding barrel length and overall dimensions, and verify you're legally allowed to possess firearms before starting your build.