Ammunition Shipping Restrictions by State
Most of the United States can take a direct ammunition delivery. A small number of states and cities regulate it separately, and we will not ship into them.
Short answer Ammunition ships to most of the United States. We do not ship ammunition to Alaska, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, or into certain cities that regulate it independently of their state.
- States we ship ammunition to
- 42
- States and districts we do not
- 9
- States with extra conditions
- 1
- Carrier
- Ground only — never air or mail
- Signature
- Adult signature required
Where we cannot ship
- Alaska
- California
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
If you order to a restricted destination we cancel the ammunition portion and refund it in full. We would rather lose the sale than put you on the wrong side of your own state law.
States we ship to with extra conditions
These states take a delivery, but something applies on top of the federal rules — sometimes to you, sometimes to us as the seller. We confirm we can meet the condition before the order ships, and cancel and refund it if we cannot.
- Colorado — Ships, but Colorado binds the SELLER. C.R.S. 18-12-117 (in force 1 July 2026) applies to any vendor selling at retail for delivery into Colorado: no ammunition sale to anyone under 21 (narrow grandfather for buyers born on or before 28 January 2007, running to 28 January 2028), and delivery must be made by a service that verifies the recipient’s age against government photo ID and takes written acknowledgment of receipt. Rimfire is exempt from the sales rules but not the delivery rules. Colorado has no firearm preemption, so a city may be stricter – Denver prohibits assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
Restricted destinations
| Destination | Why | We ship? |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | No state-law bar, but ammunition is ground-only freight and cannot travel by air, so reliable delivery is not available. | No |
| California | Ammunition must be transferred through a licensed ammunition vendor inside the state, with an eligibility check at handover. Direct-to-consumer delivery is not permitted. | No |
| Connecticut | An eligibility certificate or permit is required to purchase ammunition. | No |
| District of Columbia | Ammunition possession is tied to firearm registration and is tightly restricted. | No |
| Hawaii | Permit-based acquisition, and ground-only carriage makes lawful delivery impractical. | No |
| Illinois | A valid FOID card is required to acquire ammunition. Chicago and Cook County impose further rules. | No |
| Massachusetts | The purchaser must hold a valid FID card or Licence to Carry; shipments are directed to licensed parties. | No |
| New Jersey | Handgun ammunition requires a Firearms Purchaser Identification card, and hollow-point ammunition is separately restricted. | No |
| New York | Ammunition sales must be completed through a licensed dealer or registered seller of ammunition, with a state background check. | No |
| Colorado | Ships, but Colorado binds the SELLER. C.R.S. 18-12-117 (in force 1 July 2026) applies to any vendor selling at retail for delivery into Colorado: no ammunition sale to anyone under 21 (narrow grandfather for buyers born on or before 28 January 2007, running to 28 January 2028), and delivery must be made by a service that verifies the recipient’s age against government photo ID and takes written acknowledgment of receipt. Rimfire is exempt from the sales rules but not the delivery rules. Colorado has no firearm preemption, so a city may be stricter – Denver prohibits assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. | Yes, with conditions |
City and county restrictions
Some local governments regulate ammunition more tightly than the state around them. We do not ship ammunition into:
- New York City, NY — Ammunition sales are separately regulated by the city; we do not ship there.
- Chicago and Cook County, IL — Local ordinances add requirements beyond the state FOID rule.
- City and County of Los Angeles, CA — Local ordinance in addition to California state law.
Other localities may impose rules we are not aware of. The obligation to know your own local law rests with you.
Why ammunition cannot go by post
Ammunition is a hazardous material for carriage. Three things follow:
- It cannot travel by mail. Ammunition is non-mailable matter under Postal Service rules except between narrowly defined authorised parties. Retail orders do not qualify.
- It cannot travel by air. Small arms ammunition ships as a limited quantity by ground service only.
- It must be marked and packed correctly, and not combined with primers or powder in one carton.
We keep this list under review, but law moves faster than any retail page. Parts of it are being litigated and at least one entry may change during the life of this page. If your state is listed and the position has changed, email support@hilltoparmoryllc.com and we will check it.
Which states have ammunition shipping restrictions?
We do not ship ammunition to Alaska, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, nor into New York City, Chicago and Cook County, or Los Angeles. Every other state takes a direct delivery.
Can I have ammunition mailed to my house?
Not by mail, but yes by carrier. Ammunition is non-mailable through the Postal Service for retail orders, so it travels by ground carrier and is delivered to your home with an adult signature required.
Can I get ammunition shipped to my home in California?
No. California requires ammunition to be transferred through a licensed ammunition vendor inside the state with an eligibility check at handover, so direct delivery to a California address is not lawful for us. This is an area of active litigation, so check the current rule before relying on anything you read online, including this page.
What happens if I order to a restricted state?
We cancel the ammunition portion and refund it in full, and contact you to explain. Unrestricted items in the same order ship as normal. There is no restocking fee for an order we cannot lawfully fill.
Can I ship ammunition to a different address?
You may ship to any address in a state we serve, provided somebody over 21 is there to sign. What you must not do is route an order through an unrestricted state to move ammunition into a restricted one.
About this page
Each restricted entry cites the state provision it rests on in the table above. This page was last reviewed on 23 September 2026. Verify against current law before relying on it.
This is not legal advice. Firearms and ammunition law changes often, differs by state, county and city, and parts of it are the subject of active litigation. What follows explains how we operate. It is not a substitute for the law that applies where you live, and you are responsible for knowing that law before you order.