WV · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in West Virginia

What West Virginia 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

West Virginia's NFA-type law covers only fully automatic weapons (allowed with federal compliance), and its weapons definitions don't mention short-barreled shotguns. No state ban was found, so federal NFA rules govern ownership.[1]

W. Va. Code §§ 61-7-2, 61-7-9
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Legal

No West Virginia law restricts short-barreled shotguns or similar guns, so a non-NFA 14 in. 'firearm' is not restricted by the state.[2]

Semi-auto / feature rulesNo state feature ban

West Virginia has no assault weapon or semi-auto feature law; it is not on Giffords' list of states that ban or regulate assault weapons (page updated Sept. 2026).[3]

Magazine limitsNo limit for shotguns

West Virginia has no magazine capacity limit; it is not among the 15 states Giffords lists as restricting large-capacity magazines (page updated Sept. 2026).[4]

Permit to buyNo state permit

No state permit or license is needed to buy a shotgun in West Virginia.[5]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

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

Not legal advice

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

Sources

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

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 Spotted something out of date?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

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