Gun Laws Delaware

Overview: As of June 2025, Delaware has enacted several significant changes to its gun laws, enhancing public safety measures while facing ongoing legal challenges.

Delaware Gun Laws
Carry Information
Legal & Resources

Question	Answer
Does Delaware have an Assault Weapons Ban?	✅ Yes. Since June 30, 2022, Delaware bans the manufacture, sale, transfer, receipt, and possession of assault weapons.
Are background checks required for private gun sales?	✅ Yes. Universal background checks are required for all private and dealer transfers; both parties must complete the check at an FFL dealer.
Are background checks required through FFL dealers?	✅ Yes. Dealer sales require standard NICS checks and recordkeeping.
Is Delaware a Stand Your Ground state?	🚫 No. Delaware follows “duty to retreat” rules in public but provides a “Castle Doctrine” at home.
What kind of restrictions does Delaware have?	ℹ️ Assault weapons ban (2022) ℹ️ Large-capacity magazine ban] ℹ️ Bump-stock ban ℹ️ Universal background checks ℹ️ Child-access prevention & storage regulations
Does Delaware have any gun storage laws?	✅ Yes. Child-access prevention laws require safe storage; lost or stolen firearms must be reported.
Can you buy firearms in bulk in Delaware?	✅ Yes. No state limit on number of firearms purchased at once.
Does Delaware have a red flag law?	✅ Yes. Delaware has an Extreme Risk Protection Order (“red flag”) law.
Age to purchase firearms?	ℹ️ Minimum age is 21 for all firearms.
Do I have to register my guns in Delaware?	🚫 No. No general firearm registration required for private citizens.
Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun?	Yes. Permit-to-purchase law passed in 2023 requires fingerprinting, background check, training, and a two-year permit.
Does Delaware have a waiting period for firearms?	🚫 No separate waiting period, but permit-to-purchase process may introduce delays.

Does Delaware have an Assault Weapons Ban?

✅ Yes. Since June 30, 2022, Delaware bans the manufacture, sale, transfer, receipt, and possession of assault weapons.

Are background checks required for private gun sales?

✅ Yes. Universal background checks are required for all private and dealer transfers; both parties must complete the check at an FFL dealer.

Are background checks required through FFL dealers?

✅ Yes. Dealer sales require standard NICS checks and recordkeeping.

Is Delaware a Stand Your Ground state?

🚫 No. Delaware follows “duty to retreat” rules in public but provides a “Castle Doctrine” at home.

What kind of restrictions does Delaware have?

ℹ️ Assault weapons ban (2022)
ℹ️ Large-capacity magazine ban]
ℹ️ Bump-stock ban
ℹ️ Universal background checks
ℹ️ Child-access prevention & storage regulations

Does Delaware have any gun storage laws?

✅ Yes. Child-access prevention laws require safe storage; lost or stolen firearms must be reported.

Can you buy firearms in bulk in Delaware?

✅ Yes. No state limit on number of firearms purchased at once.

Does Delaware have a red flag law?

✅ Yes. Delaware has an Extreme Risk Protection Order (“red flag”) law.

Age to purchase firearms?

ℹ️ Minimum age is 21 for all firearms.

Do I have to register my guns in Delaware?

🚫 No. No general firearm registration required for private citizens.

Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun?

Yes. Permit-to-purchase law passed in 2023 requires fingerprinting, background check, training, and a two-year permit.

Does Delaware have a waiting period for firearms?

🚫 No separate waiting period, but permit-to-purchase process may introduce delays.

Question	Answer
Does Delaware allow Open Carry?	✅ Legal permitless for those 18+—firearms must be visible in public or vehicle; local pre‑85 ordinances repealed.
Does Delaware allow Concealed Carry?	✅ Legal only with a Delaware CCDW permit (may‑issue); applicants must publish intention in a newspaper and submit to fingerprinting and references.
Non‑Lethal Weapons?	✅ Pepper spray legal; stun guns considered manageable under permit law.
Places allowed to carry?	✅ CCDW holders may carry concealed almost anywhere except schools, federal buildings, polling places, etc.
Places not allowed to carry?	🚫 Permit does not override bans in specified sensitive areas (schools, courts, polling places).
States honored?	✅ Recognizes CCDW permits from several states.
States reciprocate?	✅ Delaware recognizes permits from these 28 states: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Colorado Florida Idaho Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maine Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana New Hampshire New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma South Dakota Tennessee Texas Virginia Utah Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming ⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.
Permit duration & renewal?	ℹ️ Delaware concealed carry permit is initially valid for three years. After the initial three-year period, the license can be renewed for an additional five years.
Can you conceal anything other than a handgun?	🚫 No. Only handguns.
Permit Licensure?	✅ Issued by Superior Court; requires age 18+, good moral character, publication, fingerprints, references, and training.

Does Delaware allow Open Carry?

✅ Legal permitless for those 18+—firearms must be visible in public or vehicle; local pre‑85 ordinances repealed.

Does Delaware allow Concealed Carry?

✅ Legal only with a Delaware CCDW permit (may‑issue); applicants must publish intention in a newspaper and submit to fingerprinting and references.

Non‑Lethal Weapons?

✅ Pepper spray legal; stun guns considered manageable under permit law.

Places allowed to carry?

✅ CCDW holders may carry concealed almost anywhere **except** schools, federal buildings, polling places, etc.

Places not allowed to carry?

🚫 Permit does not override bans in specified sensitive areas (schools, courts, polling places).

States honored?

✅ Recognizes CCDW permits from several states.

States reciprocate?

✅ Delaware recognizes permits from these **28 states**:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Florida
Idaho
Indiana

Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri

Montana
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Dakota

Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.

Permit duration & renewal?

ℹ️ Delaware concealed carry permit is initially valid for three years. After the initial three-year period, the license can be renewed for an additional five years.

Can you conceal anything other than a handgun?

🚫 No. Only handguns.

Permit Licensure?

✅ Issued by Superior Court; requires age 18+, good moral character, publication, fingerprints, references, and training.

Resources	Links
State Concealed Carry Info	Delaware AG – CCDW Program & Reciprocity Delaware Superior Court – CCDW Application Details
Federal & State Statutes	ATF – Delaware Firearms Statutes & Codes Overview – Delaware Gun Laws (Wikipedia)
Training & Firearm Courses	USCCA – How to Get CCDW in Delaware Local CCDW Training & Classes
Safety & Storage	DNREC – Regulations for Firearms in State Parks