Virginia Magazine Capacity Laws: Limits, Exemptions, and Penalties

Virginia’s magazine capacity law does not limit what you can buy or own. Under Virginia Code § 18.2-287.4, the state instead makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to carry a loaded firearm with certain features, including a magazine over 20 rounds, in public places within 13 named cities and counties. A 30-round magazine is legal to purchase and possess anywhere in Virginia; carrying a loaded rifle equipped with one on a sidewalk in Arlington is not.¹

What Actually Triggers the Law

Section 18.2-287.4 splits into two categories of firearms, each with its own trigger.

For rifles and pistols, the firearm must be semi-automatic and center-fire. Rimfire firearms like a .22 LR are not covered. Once a rifle or pistol clears that threshold, carrying it loaded in a restricted area is illegal if any one of the following is true:

It is equipped with a magazine holding more than 20 rounds at the time of the offense.
It was designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer.
It is equipped with a folding stock.

The statute connects these with “or,” so a single feature is enough. A semi-automatic center-fire rifle with a folding stock is covered even if the magazine holds only 10 rounds. This is the part of the law most people miss when they read it as a straight capacity cap.

For shotguns, the rule is simpler. You cannot carry a loaded shotgun with a magazine holding more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition the shotgun is chambered for.¹

The statute does not define “loaded.” In practice, Virginia courts generally treat a firearm as loaded when ammunition is chambered or sitting in an attached magazine. If you have to move a firearm through a covered area, unload it and detach the magazine.

Where the Restrictions Apply

The carry rule applies only in public streets, roads, sidewalks, public rights-of-way, parks, and other places open to the public within specific jurisdictions. It is not statewide.

Covered cities: Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, and Virginia Beach.

Covered counties: Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, and Prince William.

That footprint covers most of Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the Richmond metro area. Outside these 13 jurisdictions, § 18.2-287.4 does not restrict you.¹

Who Is Exempt

The statute lists several groups who can carry firearms that would otherwise be prohibited in the covered areas:

Law enforcement officers
Licensed security guards
Military personnel performing lawful duties
Concealed handgun permit holders with a valid permit
People engaged in lawful hunting or shooting at an established range or organized contest

For most civilians, the concealed handgun permit exemption is the one that matters. A valid Virginia permit exempts you from § 18.2-287.4 entirely.¹

Out-of-State Permits

Under § 18.2-308.014, Virginia recognizes concealed handgun permits from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. You must be at least 21, carry a government-issued photo ID with your permit, display both on request by law enforcement, and not have had a Virginia permit previously revoked.²

The § 18.2-287.4 exemption for permit holders does not distinguish between Virginia and out-of-state permits, so a recognized out-of-state permit should provide the same exemption. Recognition can change, so confirm your permit’s status with the Virginia State Police before traveling.³

Penalties

A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor, the most serious misdemeanor classification in Virginia. Maximum penalties are up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A judge can impose jail time, a fine, or both.⁴

A conviction also creates a criminal record that can affect employment, professional licensing, and security clearances. In the Northern Virginia area covered by this law, that consequence hits particularly hard given the concentration of federal jobs and clearance holders.

Effect on Federal Firearm Rights

Federal law bars firearm possession by anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, but it explicitly excludes state misdemeanors punishable by two years or less. Because Virginia’s Class 1 misdemeanor carries a maximum of 12 months, a conviction under § 18.2-287.4 alone would not trigger the federal prohibition.⁵

Traveling Through Virginia With Magazines

If you are passing through Virginia on your way somewhere else, 18 U.S.C. § 926A protects transport. You can move a firearm through any state where local law would otherwise restrict it, as long as you can lawfully possess it at both your origin and destination. During transport, the firearm must be unloaded, and neither the firearm nor the ammunition can be readily accessible from the passenger compartment. In a vehicle without a separate trunk, both must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.⁶

Safe passage protects transit, not stops. Pull off in Norfolk to spend the night, and you are no longer in transit. Keep magazines and ammunition locked and separate from the firearm whenever you stop in a covered jurisdiction.

Pending Legislation

During the 2026 legislative session, Senate Bill 749 advanced through the Virginia Senate. The bill would prohibit the import, sale, and purchase of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices as a Class 1 misdemeanor, which would move Virginia toward the blanket restrictions used in other states. Unlike § 18.2-287.4, SB749 targets transactions rather than carry locations. Whether it becomes law depends on the rest of the legislative process; the Virginia Legislative Information System tracks its status.⁷

1
Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-287.4 – Carrying Loaded Firearms in Public Areas Prohibited; Penalty
2
Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.014 – Reciprocity
3
Virginia State Police. Reciprocity and Recognition
4
Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-11 – Punishment for Conviction of Misdemeanor
5
U.S. Department of Justice. Summary of Federal Firearms Laws
6
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 926A – Interstate Transportation of Firearms
7
Virginia Legislative Information System. SB749 – 2026 Regular Session