New York Gun Laws
2026 Compliance Guide
New York's SAFE Act (2013) prohibits assault weapons by feature test; magazines are limited to 10 rounds; suppressors and short-barreled rifles are banned for civilians; handgun ownership requires a permit issued by the county; and 2022's Concealed Carry Improvement Act layered additional requirements after Bruen.
📅 Last updatedNew York Firearm Laws at a Glance
The table below summarizes New York's key firearm regulations for 2026. Each item links to the relevant statute in the section below.
| Assault Weapons Ban | YES — restricted |
| Magazine Capacity Limit | 10 rounds |
| Suppressors (NFA) | Prohibited for civilians |
| Short-Barreled Rifles (SBR) | Prohibited for civilians |
| Permit Required to Purchase | Yes |
| Background Check on Private Sales | Required |
| Ghost Guns / Unserialized | Prohibited |
Verify a specific firearm in New York
Run a free compliance check on any firearm. Type the model, scan a barcode, or upload a photo — get the compliance verdict, required modifications, and statute citations in seconds.
Run a Free NY Compliance Check →Assault Weapons Ban in New York
New York's SAFE Act amended Penal Law § 265.00(22) to prohibit semi-automatic firearms with a detachable magazine and one or more enumerated prohibited features. Pre-ban assault weapons must be registered with the State Police. The compliance checker applies the full statutory feature test for your specific firearm.
Practical impact: Standard AR-15 and AK-pattern rifles sold in most states are typically prohibited in New York. Compliant configurations exist (featureless builds, fixed-magazine variants) but selection is limited. If you are buying a semi-automatic centerfire rifle, run it through the compliance checker before purchase.
Magazine Capacity Limits in New York
New York limits magazines to 10 rounds (NY Penal Law § 265.00(23)). Magazines holding more than 10 rounds cannot be sold or transferred. Pre-existing magazines may be possessed in some cases but cannot be loaded with more than 10 rounds outside of a shooting range or competition.
NFA Items: Suppressors, SBRs, and Machine Guns
Suppressors
Suppressors (silencers) are prohibited for civilian ownership in this state regardless of federal NFA approval. A federal tax stamp does not authorize possession in states where the item is prohibited by state law.
Short-Barreled Rifles (SBRs)
Short-barreled rifles are prohibited for civilian ownership in this state regardless of federal NFA approval.
Machine Guns and Other NFA Items
Pre-1986 transferable machine guns are restricted under the federal Firearm Owners Protection Act and require ATF Form 4 approval. New York separately prohibits civilian machine gun ownership.
Permits and Licensing Requirements
New York requires a handgun permit (issued at the county level) for any handgun purchase or possession. Long guns generally do not require a state permit but New York City has separate registration requirements. The 2022 Concealed Carry Improvement Act added 16 hours of training and 'good moral character' requirements for carry permits.
Carry Laws
Shall-issue concealed carry post-Bruen (2022). Permit requires 16 hours of classroom training, 2 hours of live-fire training, and 'good moral character' showing. Sensitive locations heavily restricted.
Private Sales and Background Checks
All firearm transfers in New York must be processed through a licensed FFL with a background check (New York State extension of NICS, NYSAFE).
Ghost Guns and Unserialized Firearms
New York's Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act (2022) prohibits the sale, manufacture, or possession of unfinished frames or receivers and unserialized firearms.
Federally, ATF Final Rule 2021R-05F (effective August 24, 2022) reclassified most unfinished receiver kits as firearms requiring serialization and FFL transfer. State law in New York adds additional requirements on top of the federal rule.
Key New York Firearm Statutes
The following statutes form the legal basis for New York's firearm regulations. Citations are kept current with the official state code.
- NY Penal Law § 265.00(22) — Assault weapon definition
- NY Penal Law § 265.00(23) — Large-capacity ammunition feeding device
- NY Penal Law § 400.00 — Handgun permit requirements
- NY Penal Law § 265.30 — Unfinished frame or receiver prohibition
Frequently Asked Questions: New York Gun Laws
Do I need a permit to buy a rifle in New York?
Generally, no — outside of New York City. NYC requires a separate Long Gun License for any rifle or shotgun. Outside NYC, long gun purchases require a NICS background check through an FFL but no state permit. Handguns require a permit statewide.
Are AR-15 rifles legal in New York?
Standard AR-15 configurations are prohibited under the SAFE Act. New York-compliant variants (without prohibited features such as a pistol grip, flash suppressor, or threaded barrel) are legal but the configuration is heavily restricted.
Are suppressors legal in New York?
No. Civilian ownership of suppressors is prohibited in New York regardless of federal NFA approval.
How does the SAFE Act define an assault weapon?
The SAFE Act uses a 'one-feature' test: any semi-automatic firearm with a detachable magazine that has one or more enumerated features (folding stock, pistol grip, flash suppressor, threaded barrel, etc.) is classified as an assault weapon. This is more restrictive than the federal 1994 AWB's two-feature test.
Check any firearm against New York law in seconds
Stop guessing whether your purchase is legal. Gun Compliance Check covers all 50 states + DC with statute citations and required modifications. Three free checks per day, no credit card required.
Run a Free Compliance Check →Compare New York to Other States
New York's firearm laws differ significantly from neighboring states. View laws for any U.S. state below.