← West Virginia knife laws›Local Knife-Law Preemption

West Virginia Local Knife-Law Preemption (2026)

Permitted: Municipalities may not restrict the purchase, possession, ownership or carrying of any 'deadly weapon' — defined by 61-7-2 to include knives — except in limited municipal buildings/rec facilities (8-12-5a).

PermittedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: code.wvlegislature.gov →

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

Local Knife-Law Preemption in states bordering West Virginia

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

KentuckyPermitted
KRS 237.104 bars any unit of government from impairing the right to carry or use 'any deadly weapon,' which includes non-ordinary knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · Full Kentucky rule →
MarylandConditional
No statewide knife preemption: Md. Crim. Law 4-209 preempts local regulation only for handguns/rifles/shotguns and ammunition, so counties and cities may set their own knife rules.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: mgaleg.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
OhioPermitted
ORC 9.68 (amended by SB 58, eff. 4/9/2025) mandates uniform statewide laws for 'arms' — expressly defined to include knives — voiding conflicting local knife ordinances.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: codes.ohio.gov · Full Ohio rule →
PennsylvaniaConditional
PA's only weapons preemption (18 Pa.C.S. 6120) bars local regulation of firearms and ammunition only; it never mentions knives, so cities like Philadelphia restrict knives locally.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legis.state.pa.us · Full Pennsylvania rule →
VirginiaConditional
No knife preemption: Va. Code 15.2-915 bars localities from regulating firearms and ammunition only, so localities may regulate knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →

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