Full Lock Picking Laws By State (All 50 States + DC)
AL Alabama
Legal – must show intent
Code of Alabama § 13A-7-8 – Possession of burglar's tools.
(a) A person commits the crime if he:
(1) Possesses any tool adapted for forcible entry or theft; AND
(2) Intends to use it in the commission of an offense.
AK Alaska
Legal – must show intent
Alaska Statutes § 11.46.315 – Possession of burglary tools.
(a) A person is guilty if they possess a burglary tool with intent to use it in a crime.
(b) "Burglary tools" includes any tool designed for criminal use.
AR Arkansas
No specific lock pick laws
AZ Arizona
Legal – must show intent
A.R.S. § 13-1505 – Possession of burglary tools.
A person is guilty if they possess tools for burglary AND intend to use them in a burglary.
CA California
Legal – must show intent; sale requires recordkeeping
Cal. Penal Code §§ 466–469
§ 466: Possessing a picklock with felonious intent is a misdemeanor.
§ 466.1: Sellers must collect name, address, DOB, ID, and keep records for 1 year.
CO Colorado
Legal – must show intent
C.R.S. § 18-4-205(1) – Possession of burglary tools.
Requires possession AND intent to use in forcible entry or theft.
CT Connecticut
Legal – must show intent
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-106 – Manufacturing or possession of burglar's tools.
Requires intent to use in unlawful entry.
DC District of Columbia
Legal – must show intent
D.C. Code § 22-2501 – Possession of implements of crime.
Unlawful only if with intent to commit a crime.
DE Delaware
Legal – must show intent
Del. Code § 828 – Possession of burglar's tools.
Unlawful if intended for unlawful entry, disabling security devices, or breaking property containers.
FL Florida
Legal – must show intent
Fla. Stat. § 810.06 – Possession of burglary tools.
Whoever possesses tools with intent to commit burglary or trespass is guilty of a felony.
GA Georgia
Legal – must show intent
Ga. Code § 16-7-20(a) – Possession of tools for the commission of a crime.
Requires tools AND intent to use in burglary or theft.
HI Hawaii
Legal – must show intent
Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 708-812(1)(a) – Possession of burglar's tools.
Requires possession AND intent to use in forcible entry or theft.
IA Iowa
Legal – must show intent
Iowa Code § 713.7 – Possession of burglar's tools.
Possessing any tool with intent to commit burglary is an aggravated misdemeanor.
ID Idaho
Legal – must show intent
Idaho Code § 18-1406 – Possession of Burglarious Instruments.
Possessing picklocks with felonious intent is a misdemeanor.
IL Illinois
Legal – must show intent; bump keys specifically regulated
720 ILCS § 19-2, 19-2.5
§ 19-2: Possession with intent to commit a felony or theft.
§ 19-2.5: Defines lock bumping; sale of bump keys or lock picks for criminal use is unlawful.
IN Indiana
No specific lock pick laws
KS Kansas
Legal – must show intent; fingerprinting if arrested
Kan. Stat. § 21-2501(a)(4)
No ban on possession, but those arrested for burglary tools may be fingerprinted.
KY Kentucky
Legal – must show intent
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 511.050 – Possession of burglar's tools.
Requires possession AND intent or knowledge of use in a crime.
LA Louisiana
Legal – must show intent
La. Rev. Stat. § 14:95A
Possession of tools with intent to commit a crime is illegal. Exceptions apply to law enforcement.
MA Massachusetts
Legal – must show intent
Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 266 §49 – Burglarious instruments.
Unlawful only with intent to steal or commit a crime.
MD Maryland
Legal – must show intent
Md. Code Crim. Law § 6-205, 6-206
Possession of burglar's tools with intent to use in a crime is prohibited.
ME Maine
Legal – must show intent
Me. Rev. Stat. § 17-A-403 – Possession or transfer of burglar's tools.
Unlawful if intended for unlawful entry or theft.
MI Michigan
Legal – must show intent
Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.116 – Burglar's tools.
Possession with intent to steal or commit a crime is a felony.
MN Minnesota
Legal – must show intent
Minn. Stat. § 609.59 – Possession of Burglary or Theft Tools.
Unlawful with intent to commit burglary or theft.
MO Missouri
Legal – must show intent
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 569.180.1 – Possession of burglar's tools.
Requires possession AND intent for unlawful forcible entry.
MS Mississippi
Concealed picks = prima facie evidence of intent
Miss. Code § 97-17-35
Carrying concealed tools is prima facie evidence of intent. Trunk = concealed; back seat = not concealed.
MT Montana
Legal – must show intent
Mont. Code § 45-6-205 – Possession of burglary tools.
Requires intent to commit an offense.
NC North Carolina
No possession laws; locksmithing licensed
NC Gen. Stat. § 74F
Locksmith services require a license. Possession of picks is not criminal.
ND North Dakota
No specific lock pick laws
NE Nebraska
Legal – must show intent
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-508 – Possession of burglar's tools.
Requires possession AND intent to use in a crime.
NH New Hampshire
Legal – must show intent
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 635:1V
Possession with intent to steal or commit a crime is a misdemeanor.
NJ New Jersey
Legal – must show intent
N.J. Stat. § 2C:5-5 – Burglar's Tools.
Unlawful if possessed with intent to use in a crime.
NM New Mexico
Legal – must show intent
N.M. Stat. § 30-16-5 – Possession of burglary tools.
Requires possession AND intent to commit burglary.
NV Nevada
Prima facie evidence if not in open shop
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 205.080
Possession outside a public shop is prima facie evidence of criminal intent.
NY New York
Legal – must show intent
N.Y. Penal Law § 140.35 – Possession of burglar's tools.
Unlawful only under circumstances showing intent to use in a crime.
OH Ohio
Prima facie evidence of criminal purpose
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.24 – Possessing criminal tools.
Possession of specially adapted criminal tools is prima facie evidence of illegal purpose.
OK Oklahoma
Legal – must show intent; applies mainly to prior convicts
Okla. Stat. § 21-1442
Applies to people with prior burglary convictions possessing 3+ listed tools with intent.
OR Oregon
Legal – must show intent
Or. Rev. Stat. § 164.235 – Possession of a burglary tool or theft device.
Unlawful with intent to commit forcible entry or theft.
PA Pennsylvania
No specific lock pick laws
RI Rhode Island
Legal – must show intent
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-8-7 – Making, repairing, or possessing burglar tools.
Unlawful with intent to commit a crime.
SC South Carolina
Legal – must show intent
S.C. Code § 16-11-20, 16-11-30
Possession with intent to commit burglary, larceny, or other crime is prohibited.
SD South Dakota
Legal – must show intent
S.D. Codified Laws § 22-32-17
Possession with intent to commit burglary is a Class 6 felony.
TN Tennessee
Legal – must show intent; locksmith licensing repealed 2021
TX Texas
Legal – must show intent
Tex. Penal Code § 16.01 – Unlawful Use of a
Criminal Instrument.
Requires intent to use in an offense.
UT Utah
Legal – must show intent
Utah Code § 76-6-205
Possession with intent to use in burglary or theft is a class B misdemeanor.
VA Virginia
Prima facie evidence for non‑licensed persons
Va. Code § 18.2-94
Possession by non‑licensed persons is prima facie evidence of intent to commit burglary, robbery, or larceny.
VT Vermont
Legal – must show intent
Vt. Stat. Ann. § 1204 – Making or having burglar's tools.
Unlawful with intent to steal or commit a crime.
WA Washington
Legal – must show intent
Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.52.060 – Making or having burglar tools.
Unlawful with intent to commit burglary.
WI Wisconsin
Legal – must show intent
Wis. Stat. § 943.12 – Possession of burglarious tools.
Possession with intent to break and steal is a Class I felony.
WV West Virginia
No specific lock pick laws
WY Wyoming
Legal – must show intent
Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-304 – Possession of burglar's tools.
Requires intent to use in a crime involving forcible entry.