U.S. State Knife Laws!
Carry rules, blade limits, and restricted knife types for all 50 states and DC. Every fact cited to statute.
AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
Permissive
Moderate
Restrictive
- 🚀 AlabamaALModerateNo PreemptionAlabama does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🏔️ AlaskaAKModeratePreemptionAlaska has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🌵 ArizonaAZPermissivePreemptionArizona has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 💎 ArkansasARModeratePreemptionArkansas has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🐻 CaliforniaCARestrictiveNo PreemptionCalifornia does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Disguised knives and ballistic knives are prohibited; switchblades and balisongs / butterfly knives have restrictions.
- ⛷️ ColoradoCOModerateNo PreemptionColorado does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. Blade length limits apply at 3.5 inches in certain contexts. Ballistic knives are prohibited; disguised knives have restrictions.
- 🌳 ConnecticutCTModerateNo PreemptionConnecticut does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry face restrictions. Blade length limits apply at 4 inches in certain contexts. Switchblades and balisongs / butterfly knives have restrictions.
- 🌊 DelawareDEModerateNo PreemptionDelaware does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. Blade length limits apply at 3.75 inches in certain contexts. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🏛️ District of ColumbiaDCRestrictivePreemptionDistrict of Columbia has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry face restrictions. Blade length limits apply at 3 inches in certain contexts. Switchblades and ballistic knives are prohibited; balisongs / butterfly knives and disguised knives have restrictions.
- 🐊 FloridaFLModerateNo PreemptionFlorida does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Ballistic knives are prohibited.
- 🍑 GeorgiaGAPermissivePreemptionGeorgia has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. Blade length limits apply at 12 inches in certain contexts. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🌺 HawaiiHIModerateNo PreemptionHawaii does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry face restrictions. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades, balisongs / butterfly knives, and disguised knives have restrictions.
- 🥔 IdahoIDPermissivePreemptionIdaho has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🌆 IllinoisILModerateNo PreemptionIllinois does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. Ballistic knives are prohibited; switchblades have restrictions.
- 🏎️ IndianaINPermissivePreemptionIndiana has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. Ballistic knives are prohibited.
- 🌽 IowaIAModeratePreemptionIowa has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. Blade length limits apply at 5 inches in certain contexts. Ballistic knives are prohibited; switchblades, balisongs / butterfly knives, and disguised knives have restrictions.
- 🌻 KansasKSPermissivePreemptionKansas has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🐎 KentuckyKYModerateNo PreemptionKentucky does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- ⚜️ LouisianaLAModeratePreemptionLouisiana has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🦞 MaineMEModerateNo PreemptionMaine does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🦀 MarylandMDModerateNo PreemptionMaryland does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades and ballistic knives have restrictions.
- 🎓 MassachusettsMARestrictiveNo PreemptionMassachusetts does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry face restrictions. There is no general blade length restriction. Ballistic knives are prohibited; switchblades, disguised knives, and assisted-opening have restrictions.
- 🚗 MichiganMIModerateNo PreemptionMichigan does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- ❄️ MinnesotaMNModerateNo PreemptionMinnesota does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades are prohibited.
- 🎵 MississippiMSModeratePreemptionMississippi has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades have restrictions.
- 🎺 MissouriMOModerateNo PreemptionMissouri does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🦌 MontanaMTPermissivePreemptionMontana has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🌾 NebraskaNEModeratePreemptionNebraska has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. Blade length limits apply at 3.5 inches in certain contexts. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🎰 NevadaNVModerateNo PreemptionNevada does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🪨 New HampshireNHPermissivePreemptionNew Hampshire has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🏖️ New JerseyNJRestrictiveNo PreemptionNew Jersey does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry face restrictions. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades, disguised knives, and ballistic knives have restrictions.
- 🌶️ New MexicoNMModeratePreemptionNew Mexico has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades, balisongs / butterfly knives, and ballistic knives are prohibited; disguised knives have restrictions.
- 🗽 New YorkNYRestrictiveNo PreemptionNew York does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry face restrictions. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades and ballistic knives are prohibited; disguised knives have restrictions.
- ✈️ North CarolinaNCModerateNo PreemptionNorth Carolina does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Ballistic knives are prohibited; switchblades and disguised knives have restrictions.
- 🦬 North DakotaNDModerateNo PreemptionNorth Dakota does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. Blade length limits apply at 6 inches in certain contexts. Switchblades have restrictions.
- 🌰 OhioOHModeratePreemptionOhio has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. Ballistic knives are prohibited.
- 🤠 OklahomaOKPermissivePreemptionOklahoma has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🌲 OregonORModerateNo PreemptionOregon does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades, balisongs / butterfly knives, disguised knives, and assisted-opening have restrictions.
- 🔔 PennsylvaniaPAModerateNo PreemptionPennsylvania does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. Disguised knives and ballistic knives have restrictions.
- ⛵ Rhode IslandRIModerateNo PreemptionRhode Island does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. Blade length limits apply at 3 inches in certain contexts. Disguised knives have restrictions.
- 🌙 South CarolinaSCModeratePreemptionSouth Carolina has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🗿 South DakotaSDModerateNo PreemptionSouth Dakota does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🎸 TennesseeTNPermissivePreemptionTennessee has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- ⭐ TexasTXPermissivePreemptionTexas has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. Blade length limits apply at 5.5 inches in certain contexts. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🏜️ UtahUTPermissivePreemptionUtah has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🍁 VermontVTPermissivePreemptionVermont has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🏇 VirginiaVAModerateNo PreemptionVirginia does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Disguised knives and ballistic knives are prohibited.
- ☕ WashingtonWAModerateNo PreemptionWashington does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades are prohibited; disguised knives have restrictions.
- ⛰️ West VirginiaWVModeratePreemptionWest Virginia has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. Blade length limits apply at 3.5 inches in certain contexts. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🧀 WisconsinWIPermissivePreemptionWisconsin has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
- 🦅 WyomingWYPermissivePreemptionWyoming has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. All common knife types are legal to own and carry.
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About This Guide
U.S. knife laws vary significantly from state to state — what's perfectly legal to carry in one state can be a felony in another. There is no single federal knife carry law, so every state sets its own rules. This guide covers all 50 states and Washington D.C. so you can look up the law before you travel, buy, or carry.
Each state profile covers five key areas: open carry legality, concealed carry rules, blade length restrictions, prohibited knife types (including switchblades, balisongs, and ballistic knives), and whether statewide preemption prevents local governments from adding their own restrictions. Every fact is cited directly to the relevant statute with a link to the source text.
States are classified as Permissive, Moderate, or Restrictive based on the combined effect of their laws. Permissive states generally allow most knives to be carried openly and concealed with few restrictions. Moderate states permit most knives but impose conditions on carry method, blade length, or specific types. Restrictive states prohibit or heavily regulate common knife types or carry methods.
All information is sourced from official state statutes and reviewed periodically. If you notice an outdated or incorrect citation, please let us know. This guide is designed as a quick, reliable reference for everyday carriers, travelers, and collectors — not a substitute for reading the actual statute or consulting a licensed attorney.
