Castle Doctrine Across the Nation

  • Castle Doctrine
  • No Castle Doctrine
  • Partial Castle Doctrine

Castle Laws are laws that address the use of force when defending one's self inside their home, or on their property. Some states expand this to vehicles, and the person's place of work. Castle Laws generally include: the places where this law applies, the requirements fro use of deadly force, if there is a duty to retreat, the amount of force that maybe used in defending one's self or others. These vary widely from state to state.

State Long-guns Handguns
Alabama Yes Yes
Alaska Yes Yes
Arizona Yes Yes
Arkansas Yes Yes
California Yes Yes
Colorado Yes Yes
Connecticut Yes Yes
Delaware Yes Yes
District of Columbia No No
Florida Yes Yes
Georgia Yes Yes
Hawaii Yes Yes
Idaho Yes yes
Illinois Yes Yes
Indiana Yes Yes
Iowa Yes Yes
Kansas Yes Yes
Kentucky Yes Yes
Louisiana Yes Yes
Maine Yes Yes
Maryland Yes Yes
Massachusetts Yes Yes
Michigan Yes Yes
Minnesota Yes Yes
Mississippi Yes Yes
Missouri Yes Yes
Montana Yes Yes
Nebraska Yes Yes
Nevada Yes Yes
New Hampshire Yes Yes
New Jersey Yes Yes
New Mexico Yes Yes
New York Yes Yes
North Carolina Yes Yes
North Dakota Yes Yes
Ohio Yes Yes
Oklahoma Yes Yes
Oregon Yes Yes
Pennsylvania Yes Yes
Rhode Island Yes Yes
South Carolina Yes Yes
South Dakota Yes Yes
Tennessee Yes Yes
Texas Yes Yes
Utah Yes Yes
Vermont Yes Yes
Virginia Yes Yes
Washington Yes Yes
West Virginia Yes Yes
Wisconsin Yes Yes
Wyoming Yes Yes

*Under certain conditions, see the law page for details.

Compare More Firearm Laws Nationwide