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Montana Local Knife-Law Preemption (2026)

Permitted: Montana preempts local knife regulation: local governments may not restrict any knife not specifically prohibited by state law, except on government property (MCA 45-8-352).

PermittedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: mca.legmt.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Local Knife-Law Preemption in states bordering Montana

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

IdahoPermitted
Yes — Idaho Code 18-3327 (eff. July 1, 2024) bars cities, counties and political subdivisions from enacting any ordinance, rule or tax on knives; conflicting local laws are void.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legislature.idaho.gov · Full Idaho rule →
North DakotaConditional
ND's local-preemption statute bars cities/counties from regulating only firearms and ammunition, not knives, so there is no statewide knife-law preemption (NDCC 62.1-01-03).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: ndlegis.gov · Full North Dakota rule →
South DakotaConditional
No SD statute preempts local knife ordinances; the municipal (9-19-20) and county (7-18A-36) preemption laws cover only firearms and ammunition.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: sdlegislature.gov · Full South Dakota rule →
WyomingPermitted
WY preempts local regulation of 'firearms, weapons and ammunition,' reserving it to the state; the broad 'weapons' term covers knives — effectively statewide knife preemption (W.S. 6-8-401).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: wyoleg.gov · Full Wyoming rule →

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