OR · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in Oregon

What Oregon 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 short-barreled shotgun is a Class B felony, but having it registered as federal law requires is an affirmative defense, and officers may not arrest someone carrying proof of registration.[1]

ORS 166.272(3)-(4); ORS 166.210
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Unclear — see notes

ATF treats these as non-NFA 'firearms' (per its 2017 letter quoted by American Rifleman), but ORS 166.210 defines 'short-barreled shotgun' without defining 'shotgun', and the defense requires federal registration, so its application to 14-inch 'firearms' isn't spelled out. No state agency guidance was found.[1]

Semi-auto / feature rulesNo state feature ban

Oregon is not among the states Giffords lists as banning or regulating assault weapons, so no state feature rules for shotguns were found.[2]

Magazine limitsNo limit for shotguns

No magazine limit is currently in effect. Measure 114's 10-round limit remains blocked by state court order, and HB 4145 (2026) pushed its operative date to Jan. 1, 2028.[3]

Permit to buyNo state permit

No permit is currently required. Measure 114's permit-to-purchase is blocked in state court, and HB 4145 (2026, ch. 120) says permits are not required for transfers until Jan. 1, 2028.[3]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

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

Also know

Measure 114 (Arnold v. Kotek): Court of Appeals upheld it in March 2025; the Oregon Supreme Court heard argument in Nov. 2025 and no decision was found as of the sources checked (Mar. 2026); HB 4145 delays it to Jan. 1, 2028.

Not legal advice

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

Sources

  1. Oregon — Short-barreled shotguns
  2. Oregon — Semi-auto / feature rules (secondary source)
  3. Oregon — Magazine limits
  4. Oregon — Waiting period (secondary source)

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 Spotted something out of date?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

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