State Legality Matrix / Suppressors / Delaware

Are Suppressors Legal in Delaware?

Statute-cited, last verified 2026-07-10

Banned

No. Possessing a firearm silencer as a destructive weapon is a class E felony, even with a federal NFA stamp.

Controlling law: 11 Del. C. § 1444

Litigation Status and Details

Exempts military members, authorized Delaware police, and certified state or federal wildlife biologists for wildlife disease or population control. No 2025-2026 repeal has passed; the ban remains in force.

Federal baseline

Suppressors are federally legal to own under the NFA. As of January 1, 2026 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 2025) zeroed the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors, formerly $200. Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, the NICS background check, and NFA registration are all still required; ATF eForm approvals currently run days to a couple of weeks.

Scope: Firearm suppressors (silencers) as defined by the NFA. Federal NFA compliance (Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, NICS, registration) is required everywhere they are legal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are suppressors legal in Delaware?

No. Possessing a firearm silencer as a destructive weapon is a class E felony, even with a federal NFA stamp. Controlling law: 11 Del. C. § 1444.

What law covers suppressors in Delaware?

The controlling law is 11 Del. C. § 1444. Possessing a firearm silencer as a destructive weapon is a class E felony, even with a federal NFA stamp.

Are suppressors legal under federal law?

Suppressors are federally legal to own under the NFA. As of January 1, 2026 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 2025) zeroed the federal making and transfer tax on suppressors, formerly $200. Form 4 or Form 1, fingerprints, the NICS background check, and NFA registration are all still required; ATF eForm approvals currently run days to a couple of weeks.

Related coverage

Full 50-State Map

See the full 50-state Suppressors map

More Delaware Gun Laws

Suppressors Laws by State