What Are the Gun Laws in District of Columbia?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
DC has some of the strictest gun laws in the US, requiring registration for all firearms, mandatory training, and prohibiting most semi-automatic rifles and standard capacity magazines.
What This Means for You
If you're building firearms in DC, you need to understand that the district treats firearm construction very seriously. Any completed firearm must be registered within 48 hours of completion, and many common configurations that are legal in other states are prohibited outright in DC.
The Detail
The District of Columbia requires registration of all firearms, including those you build yourself. You must register any completed firearm within 48 hours and obtain a registration certificate. The process involves background checks, fingerprinting, and demonstrating knowledge of DC firearms laws through testing or training.
DC prohibits what it calls "assault weapons," which includes most semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines and certain features. The law also bans magazines holding more than 10 rounds. This means popular rifle builds like AR-15 platforms are generally prohibited unless they were lawfully possessed before the ban went into effect.
Handgun builds face fewer restrictions but still require registration. You can build pistols as long as they comply with general safety requirements and don't fall under the assault weapon definitions. However, any magazines must be 10 rounds or less.
Storage requirements are strict, with firearms needing to be unloaded and either locked, disassembled, or secured with a trigger lock when not in immediate use. Transportation rules are equally restrictive, generally requiring firearms to be unloaded and securely wrapped when moving them.
I strongly recommend verifying all current requirements with DC's official resources before starting any build, as these laws change and violations carry serious penalties including felony charges.
Build Impact
Most rifle builds popular in other states simply aren't legal in DC due to the assault weapon and magazine restrictions. If you're determined to build in DC, focus on compliant handgun configurations and ensure you understand the registration timeline requirements.