AK · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in Alaska

What Alaska 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 shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches is a 'prohibited weapon', but there is an affirmative defense when it is registered under the National Firearms Act.[1]

Alaska Stat. § 11.61.200(a)(3), (c), (h)(1)(D)
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Unclear — see notes

Alaska's prohibited-weapon list covers a 'shotgun' with a barrel under 18 inches but the text reviewed does not define 'shotgun', so whether a non-NFA 14-inch 'firearm' falls outside it was not confirmed.[1]

Semi-auto / feature rulesNo state feature ban

Alaska has no state 'assault weapon' or feature restrictions on shotguns; it is not on Giffords' list of states with assault weapon laws.[2]

Magazine limitsNo limit for shotguns

Alaska has no state magazine capacity limit.[3]

Permit to buyNo state permit

No state permit or license is needed to buy a shotgun in Alaska.[4]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

No state waiting period; Alaska is not on Giffords' list of states with waiting periods.[5]

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 Alaska'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 Alaska's rules on your matches — or compare every model.

Sources

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

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 Spotted something out of date?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

Other states