PA · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in Pennsylvania

What Pennsylvania 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

A sawed-off shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches is a prohibited 'offensive weapon', but proving compliance with the National Firearms Act is a defense.[1]

18 Pa.C.S. § 908(b)(1), (c)
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Unclear — see notes

ATF treats these as non-NFA 'firearms' (per its 2017 letter quoted by American Rifleman), but § 908 doesn't define 'shotgun', and PA's Uniform Firearms Act 'firearm' definition (18 Pa.C.S. § 6102) sweeps in any shotgun with a barrel under 18 in. or overall under 26 in., so how a 14-inch 'firearm' is treated for carry/transfer rules isn't confirmed. No state agency guidance was found.[2]

Semi-auto / feature rulesNo state feature ban

Pennsylvania is not among the states Giffords lists as banning or regulating assault weapons, so no state feature rules for shotguns were found.[3]

Magazine limitsNo limit for shotguns

Pennsylvania is not among the 15 states (plus DC) Giffords lists as limiting magazine capacity.[4]

Permit to buyNo state permit

Pennsylvania is not among the states Giffords lists as requiring a license or permit to buy long guns; a federal background check applies at dealers.[5]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

Pennsylvania is not among the 13 states Giffords lists as having a firearm waiting period.[6]

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

PA's § 6102 'firearm' definition (used in its Uniform Firearms Act) includes shotguns with barrels under 18 in. or overall length under 26 in.

Not legal advice

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

Sources

  1. Pennsylvania — Short-barreled shotguns
  2. Pennsylvania — 14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)
  3. Pennsylvania — Semi-auto / feature rules (secondary source)
  4. Pennsylvania — Magazine limits (secondary source)
  5. Pennsylvania — Permit to buy (secondary source)
  6. Pennsylvania — Waiting period (secondary source)

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 Spotted something out of date?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

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