Are Suppressors Legal in Colorado? 2026 Suppressor Laws Buyer’s Guide
Yes. Suppressors are legal to own in Colorado for residents who comply with federal law, and they are legal to hunt with in the state.
In This Article
Last updated: October 5, 2026 · Originally published September 16, 2026
Updated September 20, 2026: added what the August 2026 federal court ruling means in Colorado (it does not change the Form 4 path here) and current wait times.
Yes — suppressors are legal to own in Colorado for residents who comply with federal law, and they are legal for hunting. You register the suppressor with the ATF on a Form 4 and pass a background check — and that is still true for everyone in Colorado after the August 2026 federal court ruling, because Colorado law itself requires federal compliance. As of January 1, 2026 there is no $200 tax stamp. One Colorado wrinkle: the state has no firearm preemption, so some local governments set their own rules — check your city or county.
The parts that matter
- Suppressor ownership is legal in Colorado when the device is registered and possessed in compliance with federal law.
- Colorado allows hunting with a suppressor for game and non-game animals — Colorado Parks & Wildlife adds no extra suppressor rules.
- Colorado has no statewide firearm preemption, so local ordinances (for example, in Denver) can be stricter — confirm your local rules.
- Minimum age is 21 from a dealer, or 18 through an NFA gun trust or individual transfer; the $200 tax stamp ended January 1, 2026.
- An unregistered suppressor is a felony under C.R.S. § 18-12-102.
01Are suppressors legal to own in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado is one of 42 states where civilian suppressor ownership is legal. The terms “suppressor” and “silencer” describe the same device — federal paperwork says “silencer,” the industry says “suppressor.”
Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-12-102, a suppressor is classified as a “dangerous weapon,” and knowingly possessing one is a felony — except when it is registered and possessed in compliance with federal law. In plain terms: a suppressor you have lawfully transferred through the ATF is legal to own in Colorado. An unregistered suppressor that never went through the ATF is a felony. Legal ownership starts with federal registration, covered below.
02How to buy a suppressor in Colorado
Buying a suppressor in Colorado follows the standard federal NFA path; there is no separate Colorado suppressor permit.
- Choose your suppressor and a licensed dealer. Work with a licensed FFL/SOT dealer that can transfer NFA items to Colorado residents.
- Decide: individual or NFA gun trust. A trust lets more than one person legally possess the suppressor and simplifies inheritance.
- File the ATF Form 4 — no tax stamp. Your dealer submits the Form 4 (eForm is fastest). As of 2026 the $200 transfer tax no longer applies.
- Submit fingerprints, photo, and pass the background check. Colorado background checks run through the CBI InstaCheck unit in coordination with the federal process.
- Take delivery. Complete the transfer at your dealer, or have a mail-order FFL ship it to your door once approved.
03The ATF process & 2026 wait times
Every suppressor is registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record before you take it home. That wait is now short: as of September 15, 2026, individual eForm 4 approvals were running about three days, trusts roughly six to ten days, and paper filings about a month. Our NFA wait-time tracker shows where your filing sits.
04What does a suppressor cost in Colorado in 2026?
Your cost is the price of the suppressor plus your dealer’s transfer fee. Quality rimfire cans start a little under $400; most centerfire rifle and pistol suppressors run roughly $700 to $1,300 depending on brand, materials, and mount.
The big change: the $200 federal tax stamp that applied for nearly a century was eliminated on January 1, 2026. A new suppressor is effectively $200 cheaper than in 2025. You still file the Form 4 and register the suppressor — you just no longer pay the tax.
05Can you hunt with a suppressor in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado allows suppressors for hunting both game and non-game animals, and Colorado Parks & Wildlife adds no special suppressor permit or fee — a suppressor is treated as a legal firearm accessory. You still follow every normal hunting rule: a valid license, the correct season, minimum-caliber requirements, and legal methods of take. Suppressed hunting is also allowed on public, state, BLM, and National Forest land.
At Colorado’s elevations, a suppressor protects your hearing without bulky muffs, tames recoil, and reduces the echoing report that spooks game on quiet, high-country hunts. Confirm current rules with Colorado Parks & Wildlife before each season.
06City & county rules in Colorado
This is where Colorado differs from many states. In 2021 Colorado repealed statewide firearm preemption, so local governments may pass their own firearm rules that are stricter than state law. Most local ordinances target items like “assault weapons” and magazines rather than suppressors specifically — Denver, for example, maintains stricter firearm rules than the state. Suppressor ownership itself remains governed by state and federal law, but because local rules can vary, confirm the ordinances in your city or county before you buy or carry.
The $200 federal tax stamp on suppressors was eliminated on January 1, 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Form 4, background check, and ATF registration all still apply — suppressors remain NFA items. Then on August 5, 2026, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the registration requirement cannot stand now that the tax is gone, and since August 13 covered buyers in 27 states have bought suppressors on a Form 4473 alone. Colorado is not one of them. Colorado law makes suppressor possession a felony unless the owner holds a valid federal permit and license, and the federal ruling does not rewrite state law — so the Form 4 path continues for everyone here. See which column every state falls in. Broader federal deregulation (the Hearing Protection Act) has been proposed but is not yet law.
Verify Before You Buy — Colorado
Laws change, and Colorado local rules vary. Confirm with the source before you rely on it.
More Questions
Do I need a permit to own a suppressor in Colorado?
How much does a suppressor cost in Colorado in 2026?
Is it a felony to own a suppressor in Colorado?
Can you hunt elk and big game with a suppressor in Colorado?
Are suppressors legal in Denver?
Are homemade or 3D-printed suppressors legal in Colorado?
This guide is for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. We are not attorneys. Firearm and suppressor laws change frequently and can vary by city and county, which matters especially in Colorado. Before purchasing, transferring, or hunting with a suppressor, confirm the current rules with the official Colorado and federal sources listed above, or consult a licensed attorney.
