MN · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in Minnesota

What Minnesota 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 shotgunsProhibited

Owning or possessing a short-barreled shotgun is a felony. The exceptions cover police, corrections, certain dealers and manufacturers, the National Guard, and items the BCA superintendent finds to be collector's items or relics; federal NFA registration alone is not an exception.[1]

Minn. Stat. § 609.67 subds. 1(c), 2(b), 3
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Unclear — see notes

Minnesota's ban covers 'a shotgun having one or more barrels less than 18 inches' and weapons made from a shotgun under 26 inches overall, but the sources reviewed do not say whether a factory 14-inch non-NFA firearm counts as a 'shotgun' under it.[1]

Semi-auto / feature rulesFeature rules apply

Minnesota has no feature test, but its 'semiautomatic military-style assault weapon' list includes Street Sweeper and Striker-12 revolving-cylinder shotguns and USAS-12 types. Transfers of these require a transferee/carry permit or a report with a waiting period; they are not banned.[2]

Minn. Stat. § 624.712 subd. 7; § 624.7132
Magazine limitsNo limit for shotguns

Minnesota has no large-capacity magazine ban. A Senate-passed 2026 bill with an assault-weapon and magazine ban had not passed the House as of mid-May 2026.[3]

Permit to buyNo state permit

No permit is needed for ordinary shotguns. A transferee permit (or carry permit) applies only to pistols and listed semiautomatic military-style assault weapons, including the listed shotgun types.[4]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

Ordinary shotguns have no waiting period. For pistols and listed assault weapons, delivery generally waits 30 days after the transfer report unless the buyer has a transferee or carry permit, and police may waive the wait.[4]

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.

Not legal advice

This is a plain-English summary. Cities and counties can add rules, and laws change. Confirm with Minnesota'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 Minnesota's rules on your matches — or compare every model.

Sources

  1. Minnesota — Short-barreled shotguns
  2. Minnesota — Semi-auto / feature rules
  3. Minnesota — Magazine limits (secondary source)
  4. Minnesota — Permit to buy

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 Spotted something out of date?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

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