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District of Columbia Suppressors & Silencers Laws (2026)
Restricted: Firearm silencers are banned in the District of Columbia: D.C. Code 22-4514 prohibits any person in the District from possessing one, regardless of registration under the federal National Firearms Act (NFA).
Firearm silencers are banned in the District of Columbia: D.C. Code 22-4514 prohibits any person in the District from possessing one, regardless of registration under the federal National Firearms Act (NFA). The only exceptions are for law enforcement and the military.
Official source: code.dccouncil.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Suppressors & Silencers in states bordering District of Columbia
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- MarylandConditional
Suppressors are legal in Maryland, which has no state ownership ban — they are lawful through the federal National Firearms Act (NFA) process on ATF Form 4. Maryland's DNR names suppressors as authorized deer-hunting equipment, so hunting with one is allowed.
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: dnr.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
- VirginiaConditional
Suppressors are legal in Virginia, which has no ban on possessing a lawfully-registered suppressor, as long as you comply with the federal National Firearms Act (NFA). Hunting with a suppressor is permitted; Virginia's DWR regulations bar only fully-automatic firearms.
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
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