Yes, you can carry mace in Massachusetts. If you are 18 or older and not in a prohibited category, you can buy and carry pepper spray or chemical mace without a permit, license, or Firearms Identification card. Minors between 12 and 17 can carry self-defense spray only with a permit issued by a local licensing authority, and some people are barred from possessing it at any age. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Sections 122C and 122D set the rules.
The Adult Rule
An adult resident or visitor 18 or older can walk into a licensed Massachusetts retailer and buy pepper spray off the shelf. No permit. No FID card. No registration.1General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 122C – Illegal Sale or Possession of Self-Defense Spray; Penalty for Violation A 2014 change to the law removed the old FID requirement for adults, putting self-defense spray in its own category, separate from firearms.
The one catch on the purchasing side: the seller must be licensed under Section 122 of Chapter 140. Buying from an unlicensed source puts the seller in legal trouble, not you, but it also means you may not know what you’re getting. An unlicensed sale can cost the seller up to $1,000 or up to two years in a house of correction.2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 122C – Illegal Sale or Possession of Self-Defense Spray; Penalty for Violation
The statute defines “self-defense spray” broadly, covering chemical mace, pepper spray, and any device that emits a substance designed to incapacitate.1General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 122C – Illegal Sale or Possession of Self-Defense Spray; Penalty for Violation That includes oleoresin capsicum (OC) formulations, which are what most commercial pepper sprays use. Massachusetts sets no specific canister size limit or OC concentration cap.
Rules for Minors
Since October 2, 2024, Massachusetts has issued a standalone self-defense spray permit for minors, replacing the old restricted FID system. The permit comes from the local licensing authority under Section 121F and is valid only for buying and possessing self-defense spray.3General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 122D – Persons Prohibited From Purchase or Possession of Self-Defense Spray; Permit; Change Of
How it works depends on age:
- Applicants 15 through 17 can receive the permit as long as they are not a prohibited person or found unsuitable under Section 121F.
- Applicants 12 through 14 can receive the permit under the same conditions, plus a certificate from a parent or guardian granting permission to apply.
A minor caught with self-defense spray and no valid permit faces a fine of up to $300. A licensed retailer who sells to a minor without verifying the permit faces the same $300 fine.1General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 122C – Illegal Sale or Possession of Self-Defense Spray; Penalty for Violation
Who Cannot Carry at All
Age is not the only gate. Section 122D bars several categories of people from buying or possessing self-defense spray regardless of how old they are. You are prohibited if you have been convicted of or adjudicated for:
- A felony
- A misdemeanor punishable by more than two years of imprisonment
- A violent crime as defined in Section 121 of Chapter 140
- A weapons or ammunition violation carrying possible imprisonment4General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 122D – Persons Prohibited From Purchase or Possession of Self-Defense Spray; Penalty for Violation
Section 122D also cross-references the “prohibited person” and “unsuitable” standards in Section 121F. Those broader criteria typically pick up outstanding warrants, certain mental health adjudications, substance abuse history, and protective orders. Immigration status matters too: Massachusetts law restricts self-defense spray possession for many non-citizens, with exemptions primarily for lawful permanent residents and victims of domestic violence.
A prohibited person caught with self-defense spray faces up to two years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000.
Places You Still Cannot Carry
Legal possession under Massachusetts law does not override federal restrictions or the rules of individual buildings. The one that trips people up most often is federal property.
Under 18 U.S.C. ยง 930, knowingly bringing a “dangerous weapon” into a federal facility is a crime, with penalties of up to a year in prison, or up to two years for a federal court facility.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 930 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities The statutory definition is broad enough to cover pepper spray, and the Interagency Security Committee’s federal standards explicitly list mace, pepper spray, and tear gas as prohibited items in federal facilities.6National Archives. Items Prohibited in Federal Facilities An Interagency Security Committee Standard 2022 Edition
State and local courthouses, schools, and other government buildings often have their own weapon policies that sweep in self-defense sprays. Look for posted signage or call ahead before you enter any government building while carrying.
Using It Legally
Carrying and using are separate questions under Massachusetts law. Lawful use is limited to genuine self-defense against an immediate threat of bodily harm, either to you or to someone else facing the same kind of threat.
Spraying someone during an argument, as retaliation, or as a prank is not self-defense. It can result in assault and battery charges, and the force must be proportionate to the threat. Emptying a canister into someone’s face during a shoving match is the kind of disproportionate response prosecutors scrutinize closely. On top of criminal exposure, an unjustified spray can bring a civil suit for battery or negligence, with damages for medical treatment, lost wages, and pain.
Traveling With Pepper Spray
Flying
Pepper spray is banned from carry-on bags outright. In checked luggage, the TSA allows one container of up to 4 fluid ounces (118 ml), and only if the canister has a safety mechanism that prevents accidental discharge. A recessed button alone is not enough; a flip-up cap or similar device is required.7Transportation Security Administration. Pepper Spray Any spray containing more than 2 percent tear gas (CS or CN) by mass is banned from checked bags entirely.8Federal Aviation Administration. PackSafe – Sprays and Repellents
International flights are stricter: ICAO and IATA rules ban self-defense sprays from both carry-on and checked luggage.8Federal Aviation Administration. PackSafe – Sprays and Repellents Some domestic airlines have their own restrictions too, so check your carrier before you pack.
Driving to Another State
There is no reciprocity for self-defense spray between states. A canister that is fully legal in Massachusetts may violate another state’s rules on size, formulation, or point of purchase. Look up the destination state’s rules before you cross the line; a Massachusetts purchase does not automatically comply anywhere else.
Penalties Summary
- Selling without a license: fine up to $1,000 or up to two years in a house of correction.2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 122C – Illegal Sale or Possession of Self-Defense Spray; Penalty for Violation
- Licensed seller selling to a minor without a valid permit: fine up to $300.
- Minor possessing without a permit: fine up to $300.
- Prohibited person in possession: up to two years of imprisonment and a fine up to $1,000.
- Offensive use: charged under general assault and battery statutes, with penalties scaling to the harm caused.
- Federal building possession: up to one year, or up to two years in a federal courthouse.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 930 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities