North Dakota Firearms Local Preemption Law

Under NDCC 62.1-01-03, the state legislature occupies the field of firearm and ammunition regulation. Cities, counties, townships, park districts, and school districts may not enact ordinances or rules that regulate the purchase, sale, ownership, possession, transfer, transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms, ammunition, or their components beyond what state law provides. Limited local authority remains for regulating the discharge of firearms within municipal limits and for restricting carry inside publicly owned or leased buildings under specific conditions. Any conflicting local ordinance is void.

Local ordinances exceeding the narrow exceptions in NDCC 62.1-01-03 are unenforceable. Officials enforcing void ordinances may face civil liability and injunctive relief. Affected gun owners may seek declaratory judgments invalidating preempted measures.