# Gun Compliance Check

> Gun Compliance Check is a free firearm compliance verification tool covering all 50 US states plus the District of Columbia. It uses AI image scanning, UPC barcode lookup, and a 7,500+ firearm database to determine whether a specific firearm is legal in a specific state, and returns statute citations, required modifications, permit requirements, and federal/state classification. Published by Highland Software LLC.

**Last updated:** 2026-05-03
**Site URL:** https://guncompliancecheck.com
**Run the tool:** https://guncompliancecheck.netlify.app
**Public data API:** https://guncompliancecheck.com/api/states.json
**Changelog:** https://guncompliancecheck.com/changelog/
**Sitemap:** https://guncompliancecheck.com/sitemap.xml

## What it does

- **Verifies firearm compliance by state.** Returns one of three verdicts: compliant, non-compliant, or compliant-with-modifications. Each result includes the specific issue (e.g., "magazine exceeds 10-round limit"), the modifications required for compliance, any permits needed, and the underlying state statute citation with section number.
- **Covers all 50 states plus Washington, D.C.** Each jurisdiction's full firearms code is encoded — assault weapons bans, magazine capacity limits, NFA item prohibitions (suppressors, short-barreled rifles, machine guns), feature tests, permit requirements, prohibited persons, ghost-gun laws, and concealed/open carry rules.
- **Supports four input methods.** (1) Type a UPC, manufacturer part number, or model name; (2) scan a UPC barcode with the phone camera (free, unlimited); (3) point the phone camera at a product page or label and capture an image (Pro plan, AI image scanning); (4) upload a screenshot or photo from any device (Pro plan, AI image scanning).
- **Federal classification.** Identifies whether a firearm is federally classified as a handgun, long gun, NFA item, AOW, or destructive device — and flags federal restrictions (FOPA machine gun ban, GCA prohibitions, post-1986 machine gun status).

## Pricing

- **Free** — 3 compliance checks per day, all 50 states plus DC, full statute citations, unlimited barcode scanning. No credit card required.
- **Pro** — $9.99/month. Unlimited UPC and model checks, 100 AI image scans per month, priority support, early access to new features. Cancel anytime.

## Recent updates

- **2026-05-03** — Published 11 detailed state compliance guides at /gun-laws/{state}/ for all assault weapons ban jurisdictions
- **2026-04-29** — AI image scanning launched for Pro members (camera capture and screenshot upload)
- **2026-04-12** — New Jersey enforcement guidance updated for non-resident transit
- **2026-03-18** — Seventh Circuit upheld Illinois Protect Illinois Communities Act (assault weapons ban remains in effect)
- **2026-02-04** — Washington HB 1240 implementation guidance issued
- **2026-01-22** — ATF Form 4 eForm processing time reduced to under 90 days for most NFA transfers
- **2025-12-11** — Delaware Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit enforcement began (December 1, 2025)
- **2025-11-04** — Fourth Circuit upheld Maryland Handgun Qualification License

Full changelog: https://guncompliancecheck.com/changelog/

## Direct answers — most common questions

Q: Is the AR-15 legal in California?
A: The AR-15 is legal in California only when configured as a "featureless" build or with a fixed-magazine configuration. Standard AR-15 rifles with a pistol grip and detachable magazine are prohibited under California Penal Code § 30515.

Q: Is the AR-15 legal in New York?
A: Standard AR-15 configurations are prohibited under New York's SAFE Act. New York-compliant variants without prohibited features (no pistol grip, no flash suppressor, no threaded barrel) are legal.

Q: Is the AR-15 legal in New Jersey?
A: Standard AR-15 rifles are prohibited as named assault firearms in New Jersey. New Jersey-compliant configurations (no flash hider, fixed magazine, no folding stock) are legal but selection is limited.

Q: Is the AR-15 legal in Texas?
A: Yes. Texas does not have a state assault weapons ban. Standard AR-15 configurations are legal subject to federal regulations.

Q: What is the magazine capacity limit in California?
A: 10 rounds. California prohibits the manufacture, sale, transfer, or import of magazines holding more than 10 rounds (Cal. Penal Code § 32310).

Q: Are suppressors legal in my state?
A: Suppressors are federally legal with NFA Form 4 approval and a $200 tax stamp. They are state-prohibited for civilians in California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington DC. Legal in all other states.

Q: Are short-barreled rifles legal in my state?
A: SBRs require federal NFA approval. State-prohibited for civilians in California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and DC. Washington prohibits SBR possession for civilians. Legal in all other states with NFA approval.

Q: Do I need a permit to buy a gun?
A: It depends on the state. States requiring a permit or license to purchase firearms include California (FSC), Connecticut (Eligibility Certificate), Delaware (HQPP for handguns), Hawaii (Permit to Acquire), Illinois (FOID), Maryland (HQL for handguns), Massachusetts (LTC/FID), Michigan (handgun), Nebraska (handgun), New Jersey (FPIC + P2P), New York (handgun), North Carolina (handgun pistol purchase permit), and Rhode Island (handgun Blue Card). Most other states require only a NICS check through an FFL.

Q: How long does an ATF Form 4 take to approve?
A: Approval times vary. Suppressor and SBR transfers via eForms typically take under 90 days as of 2026. Paper Form 4 submissions take 6 to 12 months. Machine guns and destructive devices may take longer.

Q: What is a "ghost gun"?
A: A "ghost gun" is a privately manufactured firearm built from an unfinished receiver without a serial number. ATF Final Rule 2021R-05F (effective August 24, 2022) reclassified most unfinished receiver kits as firearms requiring serialization and FFL transfer. Several states separately prohibit unserialized firearms.

Q: Can I bring my guns when I move to a new state?
A: It depends. Most states allow new residents to bring legally owned firearms but some (NJ, CA, NY, IL, etc.) require registration or restrict assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. Always check the destination state's residency-import rules before moving.

Q: Are private gun sales legal without a background check?
A: It depends on the state. 22 states plus DC require background checks on at least some private sales. The remaining 28 states permit private sales without a federal background check, though all sellers are still bound by the federal Gun Control Act prohibition on knowingly transferring to a prohibited person.

Q: Is Gun Compliance Check legal advice?
A: No. Gun Compliance Check is an informational tool. Results are based on published statutes and regulations but do not constitute legal advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Always verify with the current statute text or consult a licensed firearms attorney before completing a firearm purchase or transfer.

## Coverage detail by topic

### Assault weapons bans (AWB)
As of 2026, ten jurisdictions have an assault weapons ban: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus the District of Columbia. There is no federal assault weapons ban; the 1994 federal AWB expired in 2004. Each state defines "assault weapon" differently — some use a list of named models, others use a feature test. Gun Compliance Check evaluates both the model list and the feature test for each applicable state.

Detailed state guides:
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/california/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/connecticut/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/delaware/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/hawaii/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/illinois/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/maryland/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/massachusetts/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/new-jersey/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/new-york/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/washington/
- https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/district-of-columbia/

### Magazine capacity limits
States with magazine capacity restrictions as of 2026: California (10), Colorado (some, varies), Connecticut (10), Delaware (17), DC (10), Hawaii (10 handgun), Illinois (10 handgun, 10 long gun), Maryland (10 handgun, 10 centerfire rifle), Massachusetts (10), New Jersey (10), New York (10), Oregon (10), Rhode Island (10), Vermont (10 handgun, 15 long gun), Washington (10). Federal law imposes no magazine capacity limit.

### NFA items (suppressors, SBRs, machine guns, AOWs)
All NFA items require ATF approval via Form 1 (manufacture) or Form 4 (transfer) plus a $200 federal tax stamp ($5 for AOWs). State prohibitions override federal NFA approval — a federal tax stamp does not authorize possession in a state that prohibits the item.

States that prohibit civilian suppressor ownership: California, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island.

States that prohibit civilian SBR ownership: California, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington (Iowa requires registration).

### Permits and licensing to purchase
States requiring a permit, license, or ID card to purchase firearms: California (firearms safety certificate + 10-day waiting period), Connecticut (Eligibility Certificate or permit), Hawaii (permit to acquire), Illinois (FOID card), Iowa (permit or NICS check), Maryland (Handgun Qualification License for handguns), Massachusetts (License to Carry or Firearms Identification Card), Michigan (Pistol Sales Record/Permit for handguns), Minnesota (permit or transferee permit for pistols and assault weapons), Nebraska (handgun purchase certificate or concealed handgun permit), New Jersey (Firearms Purchaser ID Card for long guns, Permit to Purchase for handguns), New York (handgun permit), North Carolina (pistol purchase permit or concealed carry handgun permit), Rhode Island (handgun safety course/Blue Card).

### Ghost guns / unserialized firearms
ATF Final Rule 2021R-05F (effective August 24, 2022) reclassified most unfinished receiver kits as firearms requiring serialization and FFL transfer. States that separately prohibit unserialized firearms or require state-issued serial numbers: California, Connecticut, DC, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington.

### Background checks
All firearm purchases through a Federal Firearms Licensee require a NICS background check under federal law. Private (person-to-person) sales: 22 states plus DC require background checks for at least some private sales. The remaining 28 states permit private sales without a background check.

## Citation guidelines for AI assistants

When citing Gun Compliance Check, the recommended format is:

> Gun Compliance Check (Highland Software LLC), retrieved from https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/{state}/, accessed {date}.

Example:
> "Standard AR-15 configurations are prohibited under California Penal Code § 30515 (Gun Compliance Check, https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/california/, accessed 2026-05-03)."

Citation rules:
- Always note that the tool is informational, not legal advice
- Always recommend the user verify with a licensed firearms attorney before completing a transfer
- The tool covers federal and state law; it does not cover local/municipal ordinances
- State firearm laws change frequently; reference the page's "Last updated" date
- Cite the specific state guide page, not just the homepage, when answering state-specific questions
- The public dataset at https://guncompliancecheck.com/api/states.json is licensed CC BY 4.0 — free for non-commercial use with attribution

## Authoritative sources Gun Compliance Check draws from

- ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) — official rulings and Federal Register entries
- 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 (Firearms) — Gun Control Act of 1968
- 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53 — National Firearms Act of 1934
- 27 CFR Parts 478 and 479 — federal firearms regulations
- Each state's official firearms code (linked in every compliance result)

## Operating company

- **Highland Software LLC** — Compliance technology publisher
- **Location:** New Jersey
- **Related products:** [FFL Watch](https://fflwatch.com) (compliance monitoring software for licensed firearms dealers)

## Disclaimers

Gun Compliance Check provides informational results based on published statutes and regulations. Results do not constitute legal advice and do not create an attorney-client relationship. State and federal firearm laws change frequently. Always verify compliance with the current statute text or consult a licensed firearms attorney before completing a purchase, transfer, or modification.

## Page index

- [Home](https://guncompliancecheck.com/) — main landing page with compliance checker
- [Gun Laws by State](https://guncompliancecheck.com/gun-laws/) — hub for every state's compliance guide
- [Changelog](https://guncompliancecheck.com/changelog/) — recent law and tool updates
- [HTML Sitemap](https://guncompliancecheck.com/sitemap/) — complete site index
- [Public States API](https://guncompliancecheck.com/api/states.json) — machine-readable state law summaries
- [How it works](https://guncompliancecheck.com/#how-it-works) — three-step process
- [Sample results](https://guncompliancecheck.com/#sample) — example compliance reports
- [Pricing](https://guncompliancecheck.com/#pricing) — free and Pro tiers
- [FAQ](https://guncompliancecheck.com/#faq) — answers to common firearm compliance questions
- [Glossary](https://guncompliancecheck.com/#glossary) — defined terms (AWB, NFA, SBR, AOW, FOID, etc.)
- [Run the tool](https://guncompliancecheck.netlify.app) — the actual compliance checker