SC · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in South Carolina

What South Carolina 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 sawed-off shotgun (barrel under 18 in. or overall length under 26 in.) is generally a felony. The ban does not apply to people 'authorized to possess these weapons by the United States Department of the Treasury', which is how federal NFA approval is understood.[1]

S.C. Code §§ 16-23-210(b), 16-23-230, 16-23-250
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Unclear — see notes

No state law specifically addresses them. South Carolina's sawed-off definition turns on a 'shotgun' with a barrel under 18 in., and the code doesn't define 'shotgun', so it's unclear whether a non-shoulder-fired 14 in. 'firearm' is covered.[1]

Semi-auto / feature rulesNo state feature ban

South Carolina has no laws prohibiting or regulating assault weapons.[2]

Magazine limitsNo limit for shotguns

South Carolina has no magazine capacity limit; it is not among the 15 states Giffords lists as restricting large-capacity magazines (page updated Sept. 2026).[3]

Permit to buyNo state permit

No state permit or license is needed to buy a shotgun in South Carolina.[2]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

No state waiting period; South Carolina is not among the states Giffords lists with waiting periods (page updated Aug. 2026). The federal background check still applies at dealers.[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

Certain people the state allows to hold sawed-off shotguns, such as officers and authorized organizations, must also register them with SLED each year (S.C. Code § 23-31-330).

Not legal advice

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

Sources

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

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 Spotted something out of date?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

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