Last checked Nov 13, 2026: Nunchucks are not banned nationwide, but the rules change at the state and city line. A few states still name them in weapons laws, others restrict them only at schools or in public places, and some cities add their own bans.
Last updated: · By Mason Martinez
| State | Status | Short answer |
|---|---|---|
| California | State ban ended 2022 | California's statewide nunchaku ban ended Jan 1, 2022, when SB 827 took effect. Possession is no longer a state crime, but city and county rules were not checked. |
| Texas | Restricted places | No Texas statute names nunchucks. They may count as a "club," and since Sept 1, 2019 clubs are banned only in specific places listed in Penal Code § 46.03. |
| New York | Still listed in Penal Law | Unsettled. A federal court struck down New York's nunchaku ban in 2018, but "chuka stick" is still listed in Penal Law § 265.01(1). |
| Florida | Concealed carry risk | No statewide ban on owning nunchucks was found in Florida, but a Florida appeals court has held they are a "deadly weapon" for concealed-carry purposes (R.V. v. State, Fla. 3d DCA 1986). |
| Arizona | State ban repealed 2019 | Yes. Arizona took nunchucks off its prohibited-weapons list in 2019, so owning them is no longer a state prohibited-weapon crime. |
| Washington | Banned at K-12 schools | Washington names nunchucks ("nun-chu-ka sticks") in one state law: a ban on K-12 school grounds, with an exception for authorized martial-arts classes. |
| Illinois | Local rules vary | No Illinois statute specifically bans owning nunchucks. Some Illinois cities have their own weapons rules, so check your local code. |
Several states restricted nunchaku in the 1970s. New York's ban dates to 1974, and secondary sources date California's to 1974 too. Since then the trend has run the other way: a federal court struck down New York's ban in Maloney v. Singas (2018), Arizona repealed its ban in 2019, and California's repeal took effect on January 1, 2022.
Owning nunchucks at home and carrying them in public are different questions. A state can have no ownership ban and still restrict concealed carry, ban them at schools, or treat them as a deadly weapon. And when no statute naming nunchaku is found, that isn't the same as "legal." General concealed-weapon and dangerous-weapon laws can still apply.
It depends on the state and city. Some states name nunchaku in their weapons laws, some restrict them only in places like schools, and some have no statute naming them at all. Check your state page and your local code.
Several states restricted nunchaku in the 1970s. New York's ban dates to 1974, and secondary sources date California's ban to 1974 as well.
Arizona repealed its ban in 2019 (SB 1291), and California's repeal (SB 827) took effect January 1, 2022. In New York, a federal court struck down the ban in 2018, but the statute still lists "chuka stick."
No. Some states allow owning nunchucks at home but restrict carrying them, especially concealed, or ban them in places like schools.
No. When no statute naming nunchaku was found, general concealed-weapon and dangerous-weapon laws can still apply.
Not legal advice. This page is general educational information, not legal advice. I'm not an attorney. City, county, tribal, federal, and private-property rules can be stricter than state law, and laws change. Check the current statute and talk to a licensed attorney in your area if you have questions.
Book 2 in the Nunchaku Mastery series
One plain-English handbook covering nunchaku rules in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories: self-defense law, carry basics, whether each state's statutes name nunchaku, and the history of bans and repeals.
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A short PDF with the 7 most-searched states at a glance and a checklist for looking up your own state and city rules. One email when it's ready, then occasional updates when laws change.