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Pepper spray / OC laws by state

People search “Pepper spray / OC by state”, “Pepper spray / OC laws by state”, and “Pepper spray map” when a road trip, boat, bike, or load is about to cross a line. This page is the 50-state index for pepper spray / oc. Colors and quotes are written for someone in that state today, not for what that state demands of its own registered vehicles.

Open the Pepper spray difference map

How states differ

Pepper spray carry limits.

  • Generally legal with common size/age limits
  • Strict size, strength, license, or sales limits

Searches this page is meant to answer

If you typed any of these — or a close variant with a state name — this is the Crosstatelaws topic that should show up:

  • Pepper spray / OC by state
  • Pepper spray / OC laws by state
  • Pepper spray laws by state
  • Pepper spray / OC map
  • Pepper spray / OC traveling across state lines
  • does pepper spray / oc change by state
  • is pepper spray legal to travel with
  • Pepper spray / OC in California / Texas / Florida / New York
  • is pepper spray / oc legal while traveling

All 50 states

One-line traveler summary for each state. Open the map for the quoted rule and footnotes.

Alabama (AL)
Alabama (Ala. Code weapons / self-defense rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Alaska (AK)
Alaska (Alaska Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Arizona (AZ)
Arizona (A.R.S. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Arkansas (AR)
Arkansas (Ark. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
California (CA)
California (Cal. Penal Code § 22810): 2.5 oz max; 16+ to possess (18+ to buy in many retail channels).
Colorado (CO)
Colorado (C.R.S. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-206): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Delaware (DE)
Delaware (11 Del. C. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Florida (FL)
Florida (Fla. Stat. ch. 790): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Georgia (GA)
Georgia (O.C.G.A. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Hawaii (HI)
Hawaii (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-16): no published statewide oz cap; permit required for tear-gas devices.
Idaho (ID)
Idaho (Idaho Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Illinois (IL)
Illinois (720 ILCS 5/24-1, 5/24-2): 2 oz max tear gas / OC blend; 18+.
Indiana (IN)
Indiana (Ind. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Iowa (IA)
Iowa (Iowa Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Kansas (KS)
Kansas (Kan. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Kentucky (KY)
Kentucky (KRS self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Louisiana (LA)
Louisiana (La. R.S. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Maine (ME)
Maine (Me. Rev. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Maryland (MD)
Maryland (Md. Code, Crim. Law tear-gas / OC rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Massachusetts (MA)
Massachusetts (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131J): no published statewide oz cap; FID / license required to buy and possess OC.
Michigan (MI)
Michigan (MCL 750.224a): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Minnesota (MN)
Minnesota (Minn. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Mississippi (MS)
Mississippi (Miss. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Missouri (MO)
Missouri (Mo. Rev. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Montana (MT)
Montana (Mont. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Nebraska (NE)
Nebraska (Neb. Rev. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Nevada (NV)
Nevada (NRS self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
New Hampshire (NH)
New Hampshire (N.H. Rev. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
New Jersey (NJ)
New Jersey (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6(i)): 0.75 oz max; 18+.
New Mexico (NM)
New Mexico (N.M. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
New York (NY)
New York (N.Y. Penal Law § 265.20): 0.75 oz max; 18+.
North Carolina (NC)
North Carolina (N.C. Gen. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
North Dakota (ND)
North Dakota (N.D. Cent. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Ohio (OH)
Ohio (Ohio Rev. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Oklahoma (OK)
Oklahoma (Okla. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Oregon (OR)
Oregon (Or. Rev. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Pennsylvania (PA)
Pennsylvania (18 Pa.C.S. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Rhode Island (RI)
Rhode Island (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-42): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
South Carolina (SC)
South Carolina (S.C. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
South Dakota (SD)
South Dakota (S.D. Codified Laws self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Tennessee (TN)
Tennessee (Tenn. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Texas (TX)
Texas (Tex. Penal Code ch. 46): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Utah (UT)
Utah (Utah Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Vermont (VT)
Vermont (Vt. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Virginia (VA)
Virginia (Va. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Washington (WA)
Washington (RCW self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
West Virginia (WV)
West Virginia (W. Va. Code self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Wisconsin (WI)
Wisconsin (Wis. Stat. § 941.26): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.
Wyoming (WY)
Wyoming (Wyo. Stat. self-defense product rules): no published statewide oz cap; 18+.

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Not legal advice. Confirm statutes before you travel. Disclaimer.