‹ Back to the U.S. airgun law map
Airgun law · United States
Are Airguns Legal in Delaware?
Yes, but heavily regulated.
Legal in principle, but the compliance burden is high, often with firearm-grade steps for the airguns most people want.
Tier 2: Major Restrictions
Significant state-level compliance steps required before any sale.
DE
The picture at a glance
Each measure below scores how restrictive Delaware is on that part of owning or transferring an airgun, from permissive (green) to firearm-level (red).
ClassificationSpecial category
Age rule21+ required
PossessionVariable
Transfer / saleVariable
TransportNo state rule
PreemptionLocal rules govern
Before you buy or sell
- Do NOT ship airguns over .177 caliber to Delaware buyers. Possessing or selling them is unlawful for anyone but a qualified law-enforcement officer (11 Del. C. § 1445(a)(1)a), and since Feb. 1, 2025 they are deadly weapons (§ 222).
The rules in detail
Classification
Special category
Caliber-based: airguns ≤ .177 are BB-class; airguns > .177 are barred for non-police under 11 Del. C. § 1445(a)(1) and, since Feb. 1, 2025, are 'projectile weapons', and so 'deadly weapons', under § 222.
Age rule
21+ required
Selling or giving a BB gun or projectile weapon to a child under 16 requires a parent/guardian's permission. A child under 16 may possess one only under direct supervision of someone 21+. 16- and 17-year-olds with hunter education and parental permission are exempt for target practice and licensed hunting (11 Del. C. § 1445(a)(2)-(3)).
Possession
Variable
≤ .177: lawful. > .177: possessing, selling or controlling one is unlawful for anyone but a qualified law-enforcement officer (§ 1445(a)(1)a, unclassified misdemeanor), and it is also a deadly weapon under § 222.
Transfer / sale
Variable
Sales of > .177 caliber airguns are unlawful for anyone but a qualified law-enforcement officer (§ 1445(a)(1)a).
Transport
No state rule
No state-specific transport rules.
Preemption
Local rules govern
No explicit airgun preemption.
Hunting with an airgun
Very narrow airgun use
Deer
Not allowed / prohibited
Not allowed
Turkey
Not allowed / prohibited
Not allowed
Small game
Allowed with conditions
Only gray squirrel allowed, south of the C&D Canal only (shotguns only north of the canal)
Predators
Not allowed / prohibited
Not allowed
Other big game
Not allowed / prohibited
Not allowed
Keep exploring
Open the interactive mapSee how this compares across the map and switch between legal and hunting views.Find a place to shootAirgun-friendly ranges, flagged where confirmed.Ballistics toolkitCheck energy, velocity, and range for any airgun and load.Ammo databaseBrowse 600+ pellets and slugs by caliber and weight.
This is a plain-language summary compiled from primary statutes and official guidance. It isn't legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary, so verify the current rules with the relevant authority before buying, selling, or hunting.