It is generally legal to own knives in Michigan. There are no state-wide restrictions on the ownership of knives, although local ordinances may apply.
The laws only mention the knives that are legal to possess. Therefore, the knives not mentioned are also considered legal as there is no legislation regarding them.
A butterfly knife, also known as a Bali Song, is legal to possess. Knives such as stilettos, dirks, or daggers are also allowed, not to mention knives and throwing stars.
Bowie knives may be illegal in some states, but not in Michigan. The same principle applies to other large knives. Concealed knives and undetectable knives are also allowed, as well as automatic knives including OTFs and gravity knives.
Knives Illegal to own in Michigan
Certain types of knives are illegal to own in Michigan, including switchblades and automatic knives. Possession of these types of knives can result in a misdemeanor charge.
Carry Limits
There are no specific carry limits for knives in Michigan, but it is illegal to carry a knife with the intent to use it as a weapon.
Concealed Carry
It is illegal to carry a concealed knife in Michigan without a valid concealed pistol license. Knives that are considered “dangerous weapons” may not be carried concealed, even with a license.
State-wide Preemption
Michigan has state-wide preemption on knife laws, meaning that local governments cannot enact their own knife regulations.
Restrictions on Specific Locations and Circumstances
It is illegal to carry a knife into a school, a court, a place of worship, or certain other locations. It is also illegal to carry a knife with the intent to commit a crime or to cause harm.
Major Cities With Knife Ordinances
Detroit has an ordinance that prohibits the possession of knives with a blade length of over 3 inches in certain areas of the city.
City, State
Law Title/ Chapter/ Section
Concealed Carry Legal
Max Size Restriction
Short description of the law
Allen Park, MI
Sec. 26-414
Yes
3″
It shall be unlawful for any person to be in possession of a knife with a blade more than three inches in length
Alpena, MI
Sec. 54-2
Yes
3″
The following acts shall constitute disorderly conduct, no person with shall: knife having a blade over three inches in length
Ann Arbor, MI
0.560416667
Yes
3″
Knife having a blade longer than 4″. Knife with a mechanism to lock the blade opened, longer than 3″.
Atlas TWP, MI
(Genesee Co.) 94.051
Yes
3″
It shall be unlawful for any person to be in possession of a knife with a blade more than three inches in length,
Auburn Hills, MI
46-170
Yes
3″
or another knife with a blade that exceeds three inches
Aurelius TWP, MI
Sec. 12-33
Conduct on park property. No person shall have in their possession or control any knife,
Bath Charter TWP
Sec. 46-33
Possess knife or another dangerous weapon in Parks and Recreation Areas
Birmingham, MI
74-214.
Yes
3″
carry or use in any manner any knife with a blade in excess of three inches
Buchanan, MI
Sec. 58-188
Yes
3″
any knife with a blade in excess of three inches,
Byron TWP, MI
(Kent Co.) Sec. 28-22
Yes
3″
On Park Property Dangerous weapon means any knife having a blade over three inches in length
Center Line, MI
46-266.
No
carry or use in any manner any knife,
Dearborn, MI
14-261
Yes
3″
or carry or use in any manner any knife having a blade over three inches
Dearborn Height, MI
20-333.
Yes
3″
any knife with a blade in excess of three (3) inches,
Delhi Charter TWP
(Ingham Co) Sec. 10-117
Yes
3″
Illegal: Pocket knives with blades over three (3) inches
Detroit, MI
38-10-39. thru 38-10-44.
Yes
3″
be in possession of a knife with a blade more than three (3) inches in length
DeWitt, MI
46-43.
Yes
3″
A person who carries a knife having a blade of three inches or more
DeWitt Charter TWP
(Clinton Co) Sec. 26-139
Yes
3″
It shall be unlawful for a person to carry a knife having a blade of three inches in length or more
East Lansing, MI
26-62. & 26-194.
Yes
4″
A knife, either folding or non-folding, in excess of 4″ / 3″ in City Parks Recreation Facilities.
Eastpointe, MI
Sec. 28-184
No person, in any school building/land owned/occupied/used by any school, shall use, possess, carry, or conceal knives,
Fenton, MI
20-94
Yes
3″
unlawful for any person to be in possession of a knife with a blade more than three inches in length
Ferndale, MI
12-85. & 12-136.
Yes
3″
possess a knife, whose blade is three inches or more in length
Flint Charter TWP
(Genesee Co.) Sec. 6.13-3
Yes
3″
No person shall be in possession of a knife with a blade more than three inches in length,
Fowlerville, MI
54-167
Yes
3″
carry or use in any manner any knife with a blade in excess of three inches
Fowlerville, MI
0
0
Fraser, MI
16-143.
No
non-folding stabbing instrument of any length;
Grand Blanc Charter TWP
(Genesee Co.) Sec. 12-54
Yes
3″
or knife having a blade over three inches in length,
Grosse Pt. Shores, MI
20-411. & 20-412.
Yes
3″
sharp-edged or sharp-pointed instrument or weapon in excess of three inches in length.
Grosse Pt. Woods MI
54-291 & 54-244 & 54-216.
Yes
3″
knife with a blade in excess of three inches in length
Harper Woods, MI
Sec. 14-58
Yes
3″
unlawful to carry or to have concealed or in any vehicle occupied by him other stationary blade knives exceeding (3?)
Hastings, MI
54-83.
Yes
3″
knife having a blade over three inches in length.
Highland Park, MI
692.07 & 1062.06
Yes
3″
possess a knife with a blade more than 3″ in length / No in City Park, Playground, School, or School Rec area.
Holland, MI
20-12.
Yes
3″
knife having a blade over three (3) inches in length,
Independence Charter TWP
(Oakland Co) Sec. 30-122
Yes
3″
Loitering with a knife with a blade that exceeds three inches,
Jackson, MI
18-185.
No
dangerous weapon except hunting knives adapted and carried as such.
Kalamazoo, MI
22-55.
No
any knife in Schools
Lake Odessa, MI
18-328.
Yes
3″
any knife with a blade in excess of three inches,
Lansing, MI
696.04. & 696.05
Yes
3″
any knife having a blade over 3″ / student, guest, or another person shall not have A knife on any College Campus
Lathrup, MI
46-76.
Yes
3″
a knife, whose blade is three inches or more in length,
Livonia, MI
9.94.020 & 9.94.060 & 9.94.070
Yes
3″
knife with a blade over three (3) inches in length,
Lyon Charter TWP
Sec. 26-301
Yes
3″
unlawful to possess a knife with Blade 3″ Long or Longer, concealed or unconcealed on his person/passenger area of a vehicle
Melvindale, MI
Sec. 15-184
Yes
3″
unlawful for any person to possess or control, any knife with a blade in excess of three inches,
Menominee, MI
Sec. 14-90
Yes
3″
to carry or conceal any knife except otherwise permitted by law
Milan, MI
Sec. 13-33
Yes
3″
shall carry a knife having a blade over (3?) concealed on or about his person, or in any motor vehicle occupied by him
Mundy Charter TWP
(Genesee Co) Sec. 18-130
Yes
3″
A knife with a blade in excess of three inches,
Novi, MI
22-128. & 22-129.
Yes
3.5″
The blade is by length greater than three and one-half (3 1/2) inches.
Oak Park, MI
50-294.
Yes
3″
knife having a blade over three inches in length
Orchard Lake VLGS
9.06.166
Yes
3″
Unlawful to have in his possession or control, except within his own domicile, any knife with a blade in excess of 3?
Owosso, MI
19-128.
Yes
3″
blades that exceed three (3) inches in length
Plainfield Charter TWP
(Kent Co) Sec. 26-43
knives and clubs shall be brought into the township park
Plymouth, MI
54-201.
Yes
3″
knife having a blade over three inches in length,
Pontiac, MI
86-266.
Yes
3″
knife with a blade that exceeds three inches
Richmond, MI
54-223.
Yes
3″
knife with a blade in excess of three inches,
Rogers City, MI
Sec. 19-357
Yes
3″
unlawful to carry on in the passenger compartment of a vehicle dangerous weapon, including jackknife with blade/s exceeding 3?
Romeo, MI
26-279.
No
Knife or any form of weapon potentially dangerous to human safety on Schools, Grounds, Buildings, Activity
Rogers City, MI
Sec. 19-357
Yes
3″
unlawful to carry on in the passenger compartment of a vehicle dangerous weapon, including jackknife with blade/s exceeding 3?
Romeo, MI
26-279.
No
Knife or any form of weapon potentially dangerous to human safety on Schools, Grounds, Buildings, Activity
Royal Oak Charter TWP
(Oakland Co) Sec. 16-145
Yes
3″
Possession in public, etc. Knives having a three-inch or longer blade are prohibited;
Saline, MI
58-186.
Yes
3″
knife having a blade over three inches in length,
South Lyon, MI
Sec. 58-84
Yes
3″
unlawful for any person to possess any knife with a blade more than (3?) in length in any street or public place.
South Rockwood, MI
Sec. 16-259
Yes
3″
No person shall possess/control, except in his own domicile, or carry/use in any manner, any knife with a blade exceeding 3?
Spring Lake TWP
(Ottawa Co) Sec. 26-19
Yes
In Parks Any knife with a blade longer than 3« inches;
St. Clair Co. MI
38-229.
No
any knife, dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto, or any other sharp-edged or pointed instrument or weapon,
Sumpter Township
(Wayne Co) Sec. 14-261
Yes
3″
Dangerous weapon means any firearm, dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto, or knife having a blade over three (3) inches in length
Swartz Creek, MI
Sec. 10-219
Yes
3″
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess a knife having a blade over three inches in length.
Taylor, MI
19-226.
No
All weapons, knives, and other sharp-edged or pointed instruments carried are hereby declared forfeited to the city
Warren, MI
22-168.
Yes
3″
knife having a blade over three (3) inches in length
Westland, MI
62-283.
Yes
3″
Any knife with a blade that exceeds three inches in length;
Woodhaven, MI
66-447 & 66-452 & 66-453
Yes
3″
knife with a blade in excess of three inches,
Wyandotte, MI
25-98.
Yes
3″
knife with a blade more than three (3) inches in length
Wyoming, MI
50-266.
Yes
3″
A knife shall be defined as an instrument having a handle and at least one sharp-edged blade over 3″ long.
Ypsilanti, MI
74-126 & 74-54
Yes
3″
knife having a blade three inches in length or longer, / Give a good reason to have a Knife.
Restriction on sale and transfer
There are no state-wide restrictions on the sale or transfer of knives in Michigan, but local ordinances may apply.
Exemptions
Certain individuals, such as law enforcement officers, are exempt from some of Michigan’s knife laws.
Relevant statutes
Michigan’s knife laws are primarily found in the Michigan Penal Code, specifically in sections 750.226-750.233.
Summary of knife laws in Michigan
In summary, it is generally legal to own knives in Michigan, but certain types of knives are illegal to possess. There are no specific carry limits, but it is illegal to carry a knife with the intent to use it as a weapon.
Concealed carry of knives is only legal with a valid concealed pistol license. Michigan has state-wide preemption on knife laws, but local ordinances may apply.
Certain locations and circumstances are off-limits for knives, and there are exemptions for some individuals.
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