Pepper spray laws

Pepper spray is a non-lethal self-defense weapon that is legal to carry in most states in the US. However, laws regulating the use and possession of pepper spray vary by state. In this article, we will provide an in-depth analysis of pepper spray laws in different states of the US, highlighting the states where pepper spray is legal, the types of pepper spray allowed, and the conditions for using pepper spray.

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Pepper Spray Laws by State: A Comprehensive Guide

Pepper spray is legal to carry for self-defense purposes in all 50 states in the US. However, the laws regulating its possession and use vary widely from state to state. In some states, pepper spray is subject to restrictions such as age limits, chemical composition, and spray volume. In this section, we will provide an overview of the pepper spray laws in each state, including the types of pepper spray allowed, the legal conditions for carrying and using it, and any other restrictions that apply.

Consequences of not following pepper spray laws and using pepper spray illegally
Pepper Spray Laws

Pepper Spray Laws in Alabama

Alabama Legal with restrictions

In Alabama, pepper spray is legal for self-defense purposes. However, it is illegal to carry pepper spray in a school unless authorized by the school board. Pepper spray must also contain less than 2 ounces of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Alaska

alaska

Pepper spray is legal to carry in Alaska. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Arizona

arizona

Pepper spray is legal in Arizona. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and contain less than 2 ounces of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Arkansas

arkansas

Pepper spray is legal in Arkansas. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 150,000 Scoville units.

Pepper Spray Laws in California

california

Pepper spray is legal in California for self-defense purposes. It cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18 and must be less than 2.5 ounces in size.

Pepper Spray Laws in Colorado

colorado

Pepper spray is legal in Colorado. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Connecticut

connecticut

Pepper spray is legal in Connecticut, but it must be purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 1 ounce of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Delaware

delaware

Pepper spray is legal in Delaware, but it must be purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 1 ounce of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Florida

Florida: Legal Florida Statutes

Pepper spray is legal in Florida, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 2 ounces of the active ingredient.

georgia pepper spray laws

georgia

Is pepper spray legal in georgia? Pepper spray is legal in Georgia, but it cannot be carried in certain public places such as government buildings, schools, and places of worship. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 2 ounces of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Hawaii

hawaii

Pepper spray is legal in Hawaii, but it must be purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 0.5 ounces of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Idaho

idaho

Pepper spray is legal in Idaho. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical

Pepper Spray Laws in Illinois

illinois

Pepper spray is legal in Illinois, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 10% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in Indiana

indiana

Pepper spray is legal in Indiana, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 2% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in Iowa

iowa

Pepper spray is legal in Iowa. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Kansas

Legal – Kansas Statutes

Pepper spray is legal in Kansas. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Kentucky

Kentucky Revised Statutes

Pepper spray is legal in Kentucky. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Louisiana

louisiana

Pepper spray is legal in Louisiana. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Maine

maine

Pepper spray is legal in Maine, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 35 grams of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Maryland

Maryland Criminal Law Code

Pepper spray is legal in Maryland, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 10% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in Massachusetts

Massachusetts General Laws, Part I

Pepper spray is legal in Massachusetts, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 10% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in Michigan

michigan.

Pepper spray is legal in Michigan, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 2% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in Minnesota

minnesota

Pepper spray is legal in Minnesota, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 10% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in Mississippi

mississippi

Pepper spray is legal in Mississippi. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

missouri pepper spray laws

missouri

Pepper spray is legal in Missouri. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Montana

montana

Pepper spray is legal in Montana. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Nebraska

nebraska

Pepper spray is legal in Nebraska. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Nevada

nevada

Pepper spray is legal in Nevada. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in New Hampshire

new hampshire

Pepper spray is legal in New Hampshire, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 10% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in New Jersey

new jersey

Pepper spray is legal in New Jersey, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 3/4 ounces of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in New Mexico

new mexico

Pepper spray is legal in New Mexico, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 2 ounces of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in New York

new york

Pepper spray is legal in New York, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be purchased from a New York dealer, it cannot be shipped to you. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 7% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in North Carolina

north carolina

Pepper spray is legal in North Carolina. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in North Dakota

north dakota

Pepper spray is legal in North Dakota. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Ohio

ohio

Pepper spray is legal in Ohio, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 10% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in Oklahoma

oklahoma

Pepper spray is legal in Oklahoma. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Oregon

oregon

Pepper spray is legal in Oregon. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Pennsylvania

pennsylvania

Pepper spray is legal in Pennsylvania, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 2 ounces of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Rhode Island

rhode island

Pepper spray is legal in Rhode Island, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 1 ounce of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in South Carolina

south-carolina

Pepper spray is legal in South Carolina, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 50 cubic centimeters of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in South Dakota

south-dakota

Pepper spray is legal in South Dakota. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

Pepper Spray Laws in Tennessee

tennessee

Pepper spray is legal in Tennessee, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 1.4 ounces of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Texas

texas

Pepper spray is legal in Texas, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 5% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in Utah

utah

Pepper spray is legal in Utah. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

pepper spray laws in vermont

vermont

Pepper spray is legal in Vermont, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 16. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 1.9 ounces of the active ingredient.

pepper spray laws in virginia

virginia

Pepper spray is legal in Virginia, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 10% oleoresin capsicum.

Pepper Spray Laws in Washington

washington

Pepper spray is legal in Washington, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18.

Pepper Spray Laws in West Virginia

west virginia

Pepper spray is legal in West Virginia, but it cannot be sold to minors under the age of 18. It must be used for self-defense purposes only and cannot contain more than 2 ounces of the active ingredient.

Pepper Spray Laws in Wisconsin

wisconsin

Pepper spray is legal in Wisconsin. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

pepper spray laws in wyoming

wyoming

Pepper spray is legal in Wyoming. There are no restrictions on the volume or chemical composition of pepper spray.

What do pepper spray laws say about how you can use it

references

State Pepper Spray Laws Reference URL
Alabama Legal with certain restrictions https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2018/title-13a/chapter-7a/
Alaska Legal https://codes.findlaw.com/ak/title-11-criminal-law/ak-st-sect-11-81-900.html
Arizona Legal https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03112.htm
Arkansas Legal https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/2017/title-5/subtitle-6/chapter-73/subchapter-1/section-5-73-119/
California Legal with certain restrictions https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=22810.&lawCode=PEN
Colorado Legal https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-18/
Connecticut Legal with certain restrictions https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_529.htm#sec_29-38c
Delaware Legal with certain restrictions https://delcode.delaware.gov/title11/c005/sc07/
Florida Legal with certain restrictions http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0790/Sections/0790.01.html
Georgia Legal with certain restrictions https://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/gacode/Default.asp
Hawaii Legal with certain restrictions https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0138K/HRS_0138K-0062.htm
Idaho Legal with certain restrictions https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title18/t18ch33/sect18-3302/
Illinois Legal with certain restrictions https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1876&ChapterID=53
Indiana Legal with certain restrictions https://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2021/ic/titles/035/articles/047/chapters/0006/
Iowa Legal with certain restrictions https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/724.4.pdf
Kansas Legal with certain restrictions https://www.kslegislature.org/li_2012/b2011_12/statute/021_000_0000_chapter/021_052_0000_article/021_052_0011_section/021_052_0011_k/
Kentucky Legal with certain restrictions https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=36222
Louisiana Legal with certain restrictions https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=81502
Maine Legal with certain restrictions https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17-a/title17-asec1004.html
Maryland Legal with certain restrictions https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcr&section=4-101
Massachusetts Legal with certain restrictions https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter140/Section121
Michigan Legal with certain restrictions https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(n4db4izozaw0g0s4s4f4s1yd))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-750-224d
Minnesota Legal with certain restrictions https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/624.731
Mississippi Legal with certain restrictions https://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/97/037/0001.htm
Missouri Legal with certain restrictions https://revisor.mo.gov/main/One
Montana Legal with certain restrictions https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0450/chapter_0050/part_0010/section_0050/0450-0050-0010-0050.html
Nebraska Legal with certain restrictions https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=28-1202
Nevada Legal with certain restrictions https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-202.html#NRS202Sec253
New Hampshire Legal with certain restrictions https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/nhtoc/nhtoc-xxi-159.htm
New Jersey Legal with certain restrictions https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/A3500/3392_I1.HTM
New Mexico Legal with certain restrictions https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/19%20Regular/final/HB0034.pdf
New York Legal with certain restrictions https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/265.20
North Carolina Legal with certain restrictions https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-401.6.html
North Dakota Legal with certain restrictions https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t62-1c12.pdf#nameddest=62-1c12-01
Ohio Legal with certain restrictions https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2923.17
Oklahoma Legal with certain restrictions https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB200&Session=2003
Oregon Legal with certain restrictions https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.220
Pennsylvania Legal with certain restrictions https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2019&sessInd=0&act=
Rhode Island Legal with certain restrictions https://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE11/11-47/11-47-57.HTM
South Carolina Legal with certain restrictions https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t16c023.php
South Dakota Legal with certain restrictions https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=22-18-25
Tennessee Legal with certain restrictions https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2017/title-39/chapter-17/part-4/section-39-17-1369/
Texas Legal with certain restrictions https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.46.htm#46.02
Utah Legal with certain restrictions https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter10/76-10-S502.html?v=C76-10-S502_1800010118000101
Vermont Legal with certain restrictions https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/13/085/04132
Virginia Legal with certain restrictions https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter7/section18.2-308.7/
Washington Legal with certain restrictions https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.91.160
West Virginia Legal with certain restrictions https://www.wvlegislature.gov/wvcode/code.cfm?chap=61&art=7A#07A
Wisconsin Legal with certain restrictions https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/939/III/50/1
Wyoming Legal with certain restrictions https://www.wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title06/chapter08.pdf

Pepper Spray Laws and Regulations

Restrictions on Pepper Spray:

  • Age restrictions: Some states require you to be at least 18 years old to purchase and possess pepper spray.
  • Formulation restrictions: Some states have restrictions on the concentration of the pepper spray.
  • Size restrictions: Some states have limitations on the size of the container.
  • Labeling requirements: Some states require the pepper spray to have specific labeling and instructions.
  • Purchase restrictions: Some states only allow pepper spray to be purchased from licensed firearms dealers.
  • Use restrictions: Some states only allow the use of pepper spray in self-defense situations.

It is important to note that pepper spray laws can change, and it is important to stay up-to-date on the regulations in your state. It is also important to use pepper spray responsibly and only in self-defense situations.

In conclusion, pepper spray can be a useful tool for self-defense, but it is important to be aware of the laws and regulations in your state. Always purchase pepper spray from a reputable source and use it responsibly. Remember, pepper spray is only effective if you have it with you when you need it, so make sure to keep it easily accessible. Stay safe!

UPDATED: 01/07/24