Pepper spray laws in Virginia

We didn't find any Virginia law restricting the sale or shipping of pepper spray. Federal law still applies.

What we searched

Va. Code § 18.2-312 illegal use of tear gas (self-protection use permitted) https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter7/section18.2-312/
Va. Code § 18.2-309 sale of dirk/switchblade/bowie to minors (spray not listed), 18.2-311, 18.2-308 (existing captures)
Web search 2026-10-25 for 2024-2026 enacted pepper-spray bills in TN/PA/VA/UT/WV (none found)

Use-only tear gas statute with self-defense exception; minors-sale statute omits sprays.

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.