Pepper spray laws in District of Columbia

We follow 1 District of Columbia rule on pepper spray; 1 is a ban.

Check a specific item for District of Columbia

District of Columbia

BannedBlock self-defense sprays to D.C. unless aerosol-propelled, labeled with use instructions, dated with useful life, and made of a listed lacrimator or OC.

D.C. Code § 7-2502.13 · draft

Exact text

§ 7–2502.13. Possession of self-defense sprays.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 7-2501.01(7)(C), a person may possess and use a self-defense spray in the exercise of reasonable force in defense of the person or the person’s property only if it is propelled from an aerosol container, labeled with or accompanied by clearly written instructions as to its use, and dated to indicate its anticipated useful life.
(b) No person shall possess a self-defense spray which is of a type other than that specified in §§ 7-2502.12 to 7-2502.14.
(Sept. 24, 1976, D.C. Law 1-85, title II, § 213; as added Mar. 17, 1993, D.C. Law 9-244, § 2, 40 DCR 647; May 16, 1995, D.C. Law 10-255, § 10(b), 41 DCR 5193; May 19, 2017, D.C. Law 21-281, § 2(b), 64 DCR 1648.)

Federal

These apply in every state.

BannedDo not mail via USPS a spray or device containing more than 2 percent CN/CS tear gas by mass (or bulk tear gas substance); devices with 2 percent or less tear gas are classed as aerosols and are mailable by surface (flammable) or air/surface (nonflammable) under Pub 52 Appendix A.

USPS Publication 52 § 346.24 (Nonmailable Division 6.1 Toxic Substances: Irritating Materials) · draft

Exact text

346.24 Nonmailable Division 6.1 Toxic Substances
...
Irritating Materials: All irritating materials are nonmailable. Examples include the following:
Bromobenzyl cyanide (UN1694).
Chloroacetophenone (UN1697).
Diphenylamine chloroarsine (UN1698).
Diphenylchloroarsine (UN1699).
Tear gas (UN1700, NA1693, and UN1693), except for those containing oleoresin capsicum.