Safety & Legal
State-by-state restriction overview
This is a factual reference page, not legal advice. The status labels are intentionally conservative, and every summary points back to a source link.
Federal law does not treat most commercial flamethrowers as firearms, but state and local rules still matter. California regulates long-range nonstationary flamethrowers, Maryland source material treats them as destructive devices, and manufacturers also flag certain local ordinances such as Warren, Michigan.
| State | Status | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Alaska | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Arizona | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Arkansas | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| California | Restricted statewide | California regulates nonstationary devices designed to project a burning stream at least 10 feet. Manufacturer sources also document short-range California-specific variants for limited compliance scenarios. |
| Colorado | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Connecticut | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Delaware | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Florida | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Georgia | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Hawaii | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Idaho | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Illinois | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Indiana | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Iowa | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Kansas | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Kentucky | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Louisiana | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Maine | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Maryland | Restricted statewide | Maryland source material explicitly treats flamethrowers as destructive devices, and the State Fire Marshal has publicly warned that possession and use are illegal. |
| Massachusetts | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Michigan | Local restrictions reported | No Michigan statewide restriction was surfaced in this v1 review, but manufacturer FAQ material flags the City of Warren as a local example requiring extra caution. |
| Minnesota | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Mississippi | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Missouri | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Montana | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Nebraska | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Nevada | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| New Hampshire | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| New Jersey | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| New Mexico | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| New York | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| North Carolina | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| North Dakota | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Ohio | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Oklahoma | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Oregon | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Pennsylvania | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Rhode Island | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| South Carolina | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| South Dakota | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Tennessee | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Texas | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Utah | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Vermont | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Virginia | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Washington | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| West Virginia | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Wisconsin | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
| Wyoming | Review local law | No device-specific statewide restriction was specifically called out in the March 2026 source review used for this site. Verify state and local restrictions before purchase, transport, or use. |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are flamethrowers legal in the US?
In most states, yes. Flamethrowers are federally unregulated tools. They are not considered firearms by the ATF, meaning no NFA tax stamps, background checks, or FFL dealers are required. However, California and Maryland are the clearest statewide restriction cases, and local rules can still matter in other places.
Why does the table use 'Review local law' so often?
Because legal risk is not the place to fake certainty. If the source review did not surface a clear statewide rule, the table says 'Review local law' so you know to check state and local rules before you buy or use one.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It is a practical starting point with source links, not a substitute for checking the rules that apply where you live.
Legal and safety sources
- Exothermic legality FAQ Used for the general March 2026 review baseline.
- California Health & Safety Code 12750
- Exothermic California explainer
- Maryland State Fire Marshal bulletin
- Maryland Criminal Law 4-501 reference
- Warren, MI fire pit/open burning note Local ordinance example, not statewide law.