CT · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in Connecticut

What Connecticut 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

Possessing a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches or overall length under 26 inches is a felony, but the law exempts anyone 'licensed or otherwise permitted by federal or state law' to have one.[1]

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-211
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Unclear — see notes

Connecticut's sawed-off shotgun law does not define 'shotgun', and no state guidance on non-NFA 14-inch 'firearms' was found.[1]

Semi-auto / feature rulesFeature rules apply

Semi-auto shotguns that accept a detachable magazine, or have a folding/telescoping stock plus a qualifying grip, count as assault weapons, as do revolving-cylinder shotguns and the Saiga 12.[2]

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a
Magazine limitsLimit: 10 rounds

Magazines holding more than 10 rounds are banned; the only tube exclusions are for .22 tube magazines and lever-action tube magazines.[3]

Permit to buyPermit / ID required

Buying any long gun requires a long gun eligibility certificate (or a handgun eligibility certificate or carry permit), which includes a safety course and background check.[4]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

No long-gun waiting period found; Connecticut 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 Connecticut'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 Connecticut's rules on your matches — or compare every model.

Sources

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

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 Spotted something out of date?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

Other states