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North Dakota Suppressor Laws

Suppressors are legal in North Dakota. Hunting with suppressors is permitted.

Reviewed by Diego Lopez, Head of Enforcement · Last reviewed August 21, 2026

Legal
Ownership Status
Allowed
Hunting Status
Federal
Requirements
$0
Tax (2026)

August 5 NFA Ruling

Updated August 21, 2026

A federal court ruled that the government cannot enforce certain NFA registration requirements against the parties covered by that case. It is not a repeal of the NFA, it is not nationwide, and it does not change state law.

North Dakota: state law ties lawful possession to federal registration or compliance. You may not possess a silencer “unless that person has complied with the National Firearms Act” (N.D.C.C. § 62.1-05-01(1)).

Read how this may affect you →

Ownership Requirements

To own a suppressor in North Dakota, you must meet federal requirements:

  • Be 21 years or older to purchase from a dealer (a trustee on a trust can be 18 or older)
  • Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
  • Be legally allowed to possess firearms
  • Complete ATF Form 4 with fingerprints and photograph
  • Pass FBI background check

North Dakota does not add a state permit, but state law here depends on federal NFA registration or compliance.

Hunting Regulations

Hunting with a suppressor is legal in North Dakota, and state law or the state wildlife agency says so expressly.

N.D.C.C. § 20.1-01-36 permits an individual in lawful possession of a suppressor to “hunt any game for which the individual is licensed and for which a firearm is allowed” with that device attached.

Verify this yourself before you hunt

Hunting rules change by agency action as well as by legislature, and they can change between seasons. This reflects our reading of the sources cited above as of August 21, 2026. Before you take a suppressor into the field, read the current regulations guide from your state wildlife agency and confirm anything you are unsure about with them directly. Do not rely on this page, on a forum post, or on a dealer. The person holding the firearm is the person the warden talks to. This is general information, not legal advice.

State-Specific Notes

North Dakota is suppressor-friendly, but state law conditions lawful possession on federal registration. Suppressors are commonly used for hunting and predator control.

How to Buy in North Dakota

The process for buying a suppressor in North Dakota is straightforward:

  1. Choose a suppressor from Capitol Armory
  2. Submit fingerprints and photograph online
  3. Review and sign. Capitol Armory completes the paperwork, you sign digitally.
  4. Wait for ATF approval (currently days to weeks for eForm)
  5. After approval, we ship direct to your residence

Capitol Armory ships to North Dakota and offers direct-to-door delivery in all 42 suppressor-friendly states. See our complete buying guide for detailed steps.

What State Law Actually Says

N.D.C.C. § 62.1-05-01(1) writes the condition into the prohibition itself: a person “may not purchase, sell, have, or possess a machine gun, fully automatic rifle, silencer, or bomb … unless that person has complied with the National Firearms Act [26 U.S.C. 5801-5872].”

A class C felony under subsection (2). There is no separate exemption section to fall back on.

Local Rules and Preemption

N.D.C.C. § 62.1-01-03 voids any local ordinance more restrictive than state law, separately voids zoning ordinances on the same subjects, and closes the usual loophole: the absence of a state restriction “may not be construed to allow a political subdivision … to enact an ordinance restricting” those activities.

North Dakota has no standalone arms section. The right sits inside the general inalienable rights clause at N.D. Const. art. I, § 1, covering defense of person, family, property and state, and lawful hunting and recreation.

Worth Knowing

North Dakota’s 2021 anti-commandeering statute, § 62.1-01-03.1, only reaches federal firearm rules “enacted after January 1, 2021.” The National Firearms Act is from 1934, so nothing in the existing suppressor regime is touched by it.

Check our work

Every statute quoted above is linked to the official state source. Read it yourself before you rely on it.

Key Takeaway

Suppressors are legal in North Dakota, but state law ties lawful possession to federal NFA registration. Hunting with suppressors is permitted for all legal game.