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Pepper spray laws in New Jersey

We list 3 New Jersey rules on pepper spray; 2 are bans.

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New Jersey

BannedBlock chemical sprays to New Jersey unless pocket-sized, for personal self-defense, and containing not more than three-quarters of an ounce of chemical substance.
Exact text
2C:39-9. Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, and Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances.
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Any person who manufactures, causes to be manufactured, transports, ships, sells, or disposes of any weapon or other device which projects, releases, or emits tear gas or other substances intended to produce temporary physical discomfort or permanent injury through being vaporized or otherwise dispensed in the air, which is intended to be used for any purpose other than for authorized military or law enforcement purposes by duly authorized military or law enforcement personnel or the device is for the purpose of personal self-defense, is pocket-sized and contains not more than three-quarters of an ounce of chemical substance not ordinarily capable of lethal use or of inflicting serious bodily injury, or other than to be used by any person permitted to possess such weapon or device under the provisions of subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:39-5, which is intended for use by financial and other business institutions as part of an integrated security system, placed at fixed locations, for the protection of money and property, by the duly authorized personnel of those institutions, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
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amended 1979, c.179, s.7; 1980, c.108; 1981, c.480, s.2; 1983, c.58, s.2; 1987, c.228, s.3; 1990, c.32, s.3; 1999, c.233, s.3; 2007, c.298; 2013, c.111, s.1; 2017, c.323, s.3; 2018, c.38, s.3; 2018, c.138, s.3; 2019, c.165, s.3; 2022, c.53; 2025, c.363, s.3.
BannedBlock chemical sprays to New Jersey unless pocket-sized, for personal self-defense, and containing not more than three-quarters of an ounce of chemical substance.
Exact text
2C:39-9. Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, and Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments and Appliances.
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Any person who manufactures, causes to be manufactured, transports, ships, sells, or disposes of any weapon or other device which projects, releases, or emits tear gas or other substances intended to produce temporary physical discomfort or permanent injury through being vaporized or otherwise dispensed in the air, which is intended to be used for any purpose other than for authorized military or law enforcement purposes by duly authorized military or law enforcement personnel or the device is for the purpose of personal self-defense, is pocket-sized and contains not more than three-quarters of an ounce of chemical substance not ordinarily capable of lethal use or of inflicting serious bodily injury, or other than to be used by any person permitted to possess such weapon or device under the provisions of subsection d. of N.J.S.2C:39-5, which is intended for use by financial and other business institutions as part of an integrated security system, placed at fixed locations, for the protection of money and property, by the duly authorized personnel of those institutions, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
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amended 1979, c.179, s.7; 1980, c.108; 1981, c.480, s.2; 1983, c.58, s.2; 1987, c.228, s.3; 1990, c.32, s.3; 1999, c.233, s.3; 2007, c.298; 2013, c.111, s.1; 2017, c.323, s.3; 2018, c.38, s.3; 2018, c.138, s.3; 2019, c.165, s.3; 2022, c.53; 2025, c.363, s.3.
18+Require buyer to be 18+ for pepper spray shipped to New Jersey, since the 2C:39-6(i) possession exemption covers only persons 18 or older who have not been convicted of a crime.
Exact text
i. (1) Nothing in N.J.S.2C:39-5 shall be construed to prevent any person who is 18 years of age or older and who has not been convicted of a crime, from possession for the purpose of personal self-defense of one pocket-sized device which contains and releases not more than three-quarters of an ounce of chemical substance not ordinarily capable of lethal use or of inflicting serious bodily injury, but rather, is intended to produce temporary physical discomfort or disability through being vaporized or otherwise dispensed in the air. Any person in possession of any device in violation of this subsection shall be deemed and adjudged to be a disorderly person, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100.
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amended 1979, c.179, s.5; 1979, c.332, s.8; 1981, c.108, s.1; 1981, c.219, s.1; 1981, c.294, s.1; 1981, c.409, s.2; 1981, c.480, s.1; 1981, c.511, s.4; 1982, c.154, s.1; 1982, c.173, s.1; 1983, c.479, s.3; 1983, c.552; 1985, c.76, s.8; 1985, c.150, s.1; 1985, c.324, s.1 (s.3 eff. date amended 1986, c.64); 1985, c.376, s.1; 1985, c.439, s.13,(s.15 eff. date amended 1986, c.2); 1986, c.150, ss.7,8; 1987, c.139; 1987, c.172; 1989, c.291, s.4; 1991, c.327, s.2; 1991, c.386, s.3; 1992, c.94, s.2; 1993, c.246, s.2; 1995, c.273, s.2; 1995, c.280, s.21; 1997, c.67, s.1; 1997, c.210, s.6; 1997, c.393; 2001, c.79, s.15; 2001, c.362, s.4; 2003, c.168, s.2; 2005, c.216, s.1; 2005, c.372, s.14; 2007, c.313; 2007, c.314; 2013, c.219; 2017, c.110. 2017, c.293, s.3; 2017, c.331, s.4; 2019, c.219, s.5; 2019, c.407, s.2; 2022, c.131, s.8; 2025, c.35, s.21.

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.
Exact text
346.24 Nonmailable Division 6.1 Toxic Substances
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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.