← District of Columbia knife laws›Local Knife-Law Preemption

District of Columbia Local Knife-Law Preemption (2026)

Permitted: Uniform district-wide: DC is a single jurisdiction with no county/city subdivisions, so its knife laws (Title 22, Ch. 45) apply throughout the District.

PermittedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: code.dccouncil.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Local Knife-Law Preemption in states bordering District of Columbia

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

MarylandConditional
No statewide knife preemption: Md. Crim. Law 4-209 preempts local regulation only for handguns/rifles/shotguns and ammunition, so counties and cities may set their own knife rules.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: mgaleg.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
VirginiaConditional
No knife preemption: Va. Code 15.2-915 bars localities from regulating firearms and ammunition only, so localities may regulate knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →

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