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State SBR law

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Washington? (2026)

By , EditorUpdated How we verifyEditorial standards

Washington makes it unlawful to own, possess, make or transfer a short-barreled rifle, but RCW 9.41.190(2) carves out anyone who is in compliance with applicable federal law. The statute doesn't say how that works while ATF isn't enforcing registration, and we haven't read any Washington official guidance on it. Here is the text and what it does and doesn't tell us.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes Washington statutes and federal guidance as of the date above. Local rules and your own circumstances can matter. Check with your dealer or a Washington attorney if you're unsure.

The short answer

The statute

The SBR rule is in RCW 9.41.190, titled Unlawful firearms — Exceptions. The key parts:

(1) "Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person to:"

(1)(a) "Manufacture, including by use of a three-dimensional printer, computer numerical control milling machine, or other means, or own, buy, sell, loan, furnish, transport, or have in possession or under control, any machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle"

(1)(c) "Assemble or repair any machine gun, bump-fire stock, undetectable firearm, short-barreled shotgun, or short-barreled rifle"

(2) "It is not unlawful for a person to manufacture, own, buy, sell, loan, furnish, transport, assemble, or repair, or have in possession or under control, a short-barreled rifle, or any part designed or intended solely and exclusively for use in a short-barreled rifle or in converting a weapon into a short-barreled rifle, if the person is in compliance with applicable federal law."

(5) "Any person violating this section is guilty of a class C felony."

Subsection (1)(b) covers parts designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in an SBR. The history note lists 2026 c 203 s 4, and the notes give March 24, 2026 as the immediate effective date for that act (except section 3).

How Washington defines an SBR

The definitions in chapter 9.41 RCW, subsection (45), define a short-barreled rifle as:

"a rifle having one or more barrels less than 16 inches in length and any weapon made from a rifle by any means of modification if such modified weapon has an overall length of less than 26 inches."

That matches the federal 16-inch and 26-inch lines in 26 U.S.C. 5845. The same chapter defines barrel length as "the distance from the bolt face of a closed action down the length of the axis of the bore to the crown of the muzzle," with a separate rule for barrels with attachments.

Penalty

A violation of RCW 9.41.190 is a class C felony (subsection (5)). We haven't verified sentencing ranges, so we don't state them here.

RCW 9.41.220 adds that unlawful items "illegally held or illegally possessed are hereby declared to be contraband." It makes seizure a duty of peace officers. We read only part of that section.

Is legality tied to federal registration?

Indirectly. Subsection (2) turns on being "in compliance with applicable federal law." It doesn't name the NFA, registration, Form 1 or Form 4. Whether an SBR made or acquired without an approved form counts as compliant is untested. Not yet verified.

ATF's October 9, 2026 open letter says it stopped enforcing Form 1 and Form 4 approval and registration for SBRs, SBSs, suppressors and AOWs. Voluntary forms are still processed. We haven't read any Washington Attorney General or State Patrol statement on SBRs.

Our Washington suppressor guide covers a similar question for suppressors. It reports that a Washington dealer, Sportco, published what the State Patrol told it on October 13: a SAFE background check "does not itself register a suppressor with the federal government." That is a dealer report, not an official publication, and it doesn't address SBRs. The guide also notes Firearms Policy Coalition listed Washington among 15 states it wrote to on October 9, and we found no public reply from Washington.

Hunting

SBR-specific hunting rules: Not yet verified. Per our suppressor guide, Washington's hunting firearms and equipment rules in WAC chapter 220-414 don't mention suppressors, silencers or mufflers, which is the absence of a ban and not written permission.

Other laws that interact

Braced pistols

The state statutes cited here don't mention pistol braces. See our pistol brace guide for the federal side.

Federal process in 2026

ATF says there is no automatic grandfathering if enforcement resumes. Full detail is on our SBR rules 2026 page, and you can compare states with the state NFA checker.

Checked against the official statute text on October 28, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Washington?
RCW 9.41.190(1) makes it unlawful to own, possess, make or transfer an SBR, but subsection (2) says it is not unlawful if the person is in compliance with applicable federal law. A violation is a class C felony.
What is the penalty for an SBR in Washington?
Subsection (5) of RCW 9.41.190 says a person violating the section is guilty of a class C felony. We have not verified sentencing ranges.
Does Washington require NFA registration for an SBR?
The statute says compliance with applicable federal law and doesn't name registration or any form. How that applies to an SBR not registered after ATF's October 9, 2026 change is not yet verified, and we found no official Washington guidance.
How does Washington define a short-barreled rifle?
A rifle with one or more barrels under 16 inches in length, or a weapon made from a rifle by any means of modification with an overall length under 26 inches. This matches the federal lines.
Do I need a Form 20 to bring an SBR into or out of Washington?
According to ATF's fact sheet, for now, transporting an SBR across state lines still requires an approved Form 20. Washington law at your destination also applies.

Sources

  1. RCW 9.41.190 (Unlawful firearms, exceptions), Washington State Legislature
  2. Chapter 9.41 RCW (Firearms and dangerous weapons), Washington State Legislature
  3. ATF Open Letter, Oct. 9, 2026 (PDF)
  4. ATF fact sheet: NFA Guidance: Liberty and Justice for All (PDF; undated)
  5. ATF: Update to NFA Transfer Guidance and FAQ (page last updated Oct. 16, 2026)
  6. 26 U.S.C. 5845: NFA definitions

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