LA · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in Louisiana

What Louisiana adds on top of federal law: short-barreled shotguns, 14-inch "firearms," feature rules, magazine limits, permits and waiting periods.

Decorative editorial illustration for the state shotgun law referenceVerify the current state and federal rules with official sources
Federal update — Oct 9, 2026

ATF says it is no longer enforcing federal NFA approval or registration for short-barreled shotguns. That does not change state law: where a state only allows SBSs that are registered under the NFA, you still need that registration to be legal under state law. What changed.

Short-barreled shotgunsLegal with NFA registration

Act 398 of 2013 repealed Louisiana's separate state registration and approval sections. State law now bars possessing a covered firearm, including a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches, only if it was not registered or transferred in line with federal law, so a federally registered SBS is allowed.[1]

La. R.S. 40:1781, 40:1785 (as amended by Act 398 of 2013)
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Legal

Louisiana's rule on short shotguns ties to registration under federal law, so it adds no restriction beyond federal classification. No Louisiana statute specific to these firearms was found.[1]

Semi-auto / feature rulesNo state feature ban

Giffords lists assault weapon restrictions among the laws Louisiana does not have.[2]

Magazine limitsNo limit for shotguns

Giffords lists a large-capacity magazine ban among the laws Louisiana does not have.[2]

Permit to buyNo state permit

Giffords lists gun owner licensing among the laws Louisiana does not have, so no state permit is needed to buy a shotgun.[2]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

Giffords lists waiting periods among the laws Louisiana does not have.[2]

Where a state has no official guidance on a point, the summary says what the statute text appears to say, and marks it unclear when it can't be read either way.

Also know

Giffords' Louisiana registration page still describes state registration with the Department of Public Safety, but the 2013 Act shown on the legislature's site repealed those sections (R.S. 40:1783, 1784, 1786, 1787).

Not legal advice

This is a plain-English summary. Cities and counties can add rules, and laws change. Confirm with Louisiana's official sources or a licensed attorney before you buy, build or travel.

Federal rules that apply everywhere

  • Under the National Firearms Act, a 'shotgun' is a weapon designed and intended to be fired from the shoulder that uses a fixed shotgun shell to fire shot or a single projectile through a smooth bore with each pull of the trigger. source
  • The Gun Control Act uses nearly the same definition: a shotgun is designed and intended to be fired from the shoulder and fires shot or a single projectile through a smooth bore for each pull of the trigger. source
  • Federal law defines a short-barreled shotgun as a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches, or any weapon made from a shotgun with an overall length under 26 inches. source
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the law that cut the NFA tax, is Public Law 119-21 and was approved on July 4, 2025. source

Shotguns to consider

Use the 3-step quiz — it flags Louisiana's rules on your matches — or compare every model.

Sources

  1. Louisiana — Short-barreled shotguns
  2. Louisiana — Semi-auto / feature rules (secondary source)

Last checked October 18, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.

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