Utah Knife Laws & Legal Carry Options

Utah law does not restrict which knives you may own. This approach offers knife owners more flexibility than most states and has remained consistent for years.

The state does not ban switchblades, butterfly knives, automatics, or gravity knives. Law-abiding adults in Utah may buy, carry, and own any knife, openly or concealed. The legal framework concerns the intended use of a knife rather than its design.

Because Utah adopted statewide preemption in 2011, local governments cannot pass knife restrictions that exceed state law. So, the rules you follow in Salt Lake City are the same ones that apply in Provo, Moab, or any small town along the I-15 corridor.

Utah’s laws outline what is permitted, where exceptions exist, and the consequences of violations.

Utah Knife Carry and Use-Based Restrictions

• Utah has no restrictions on knife types. All knives are legal to own and carry, including switchblades, butterfly knives, automatics, daggers, and disguised knives.

• Open and concealed carry are both legal for anyone who is not a restricted person.

• Utah’s statewide preemption law, signed in 2011, prevents local governments from enacting knife laws stricter than state law.

• A knife becomes a “dangerous weapon” under Utah law based on how it is used or intended to be used, not based on its design.

• Carrying a knife on school grounds, brandishing one in a threatening manner, or possessing one with criminal intent all carry penalties.

• Federal legislation called the Knife Owners Protection Act, reintroduced by Senator Mike Lee, could protect knife owners who travel between states.

Which Knives Are Legal in Utah?

Every type of knife is legal to own and carry in Utah. The state’s criminal code, found under Title 76, Part 5 of the Utah Criminal Code, does not classify any knife as forbidden or restricted. This includes:

• Switchblades and automatic knives

• Butterfly knives (balisongs)

• Bowie knives

• Dirks and daggers

• Stilettos

• Gravity knives

• Disguised knives (such as belt buckle knives or pen knives)

Utah never adopted the switchblade bans that swept through many other states during the mid-20th century. Federal switchblade and ballistic knife laws apply to interstate commerce and federal property, but they do not govern possession or sale within a state’s own borders.

Open and Concealed Carry

Both open carry and concealed carry of knives are permitted in Utah. You do not need a permit to carry a knife concealed on your person, regardless of the blade type or length. The one condition is that you are not a restricted person under Utah law. Restricted persons include convicted felons and certain other categories of people prohibited from possessing dangerous weapons.

For everyone else, there is no blade length limit, no requirement to carry a knife in a particular position, and no distinction between folding knives and fixed blades when it comes to legality.

How Utah Defines a “Dangerous Weapon”

Utah Code § 76-10-501 defines a dangerous weapon as a firearm or an object that, in the manner of its use or intended use, is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. This means a pocket knife sitting in your pocket is not automatically a dangerous weapon. The same knife held against someone’s throat during a robbery would be.

The Salt Lake City v. Miles Decision

The 2014 Utah Supreme Court case Salt Lake City v. Miles (342 P.3d 212) addressed this definition directly. The court reversed Mr. Miles’s conviction for possession of a dangerous weapon, ruling that a knife is not inherently a dangerous weapon under Utah law.

Courts must look at how the knife was being used or how the person intended to use it before applying the dangerous weapon label. After this ruling, the Utah legislature amended the dangerous weapon definition, with changes taking effect in May 2015, to bring the statute in line with the court’s reasoning.

Statewide Preemption

In 2011, Governor Gary R. Herbert signed HB 271, a preemption bill backed by Knife Rights. This made Utah the second state in the country to enact knife law preemption. New Hampshire passed similar legislation that same year, according to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.

No city, county, or local government in Utah can pass knife ordinances that are more restrictive than state law. Before HB 271 took effect on July 1, 2011, different municipalities maintained their own varying rules. Now, the same rules apply throughout the state.

Where Knives Are Restricted

While Utah’s laws are permissive, there are places and situations where carrying a knife can get you into trouble.

Schools and Educational Institutions

Under Utah Code § 76-10-505.5, carrying a dangerous weapon on school premises is a Class B misdemeanor when the weapon is not a firearm. The penalties for a Class B misdemeanor in Utah are outlined below.

Keep in mind that a knife only falls under this statute if it meets the dangerous weapon definition based on its intended use. A small pocket knife carried without any threatening intent may not meet that threshold, but this is a gray area that depends heavily on the circumstances.

Federal Buildings and Secure Facilities

Federal property, courthouses, and secured government facilities typically prohibit all weapons, including knives. These restrictions come from federal law and facility-specific regulations, not Utah state law.

Penalties for Misuse

Utah does not penalize you for owning or carrying a knife. The penalties apply when the knife is used or intended to be used in a harmful or threatening way.

Brandishing or Using a Knife in a Fight

Under Utah Code § 76-10-506, drawing or exhibiting a dangerous weapon in an angry and threatening manner, or using one unlawfully during a fight or quarrel, is a Class A misdemeanor.

Carrying with Criminal Intent

Utah Code § 76-10-507 states that anyone who carries a dangerous weapon on their person with intent to use it in a criminal offense is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Restricted Persons

The penalties for restricted persons depend on their classification.

A Class A misdemeanor in Utah carries a maximum jail term of 364 days and a fine of up to $2,500.

Federal Legislation Worth Watching

Senator Mike Lee of Utah has reintroduced the Knife Owners Protection Act, a bill that would protect knife owners traveling across state lines. If the knife is legal in both the state where your trip starts and the state where it ends, and you secure the knife according to the bill’s requirements, you would be protected from arrest in states with stricter laws along the way.

This bill was first introduced in 2013 and represents the first proactive federal legislation to protect knife owners. The House Judiciary Committee has marked it up in a 13-10 vote and is ready for consideration by the full House of Representatives. For anyone who regularly travels with knives, this bill is worth following.

Practical Advice for Carrying a Knife in Utah

A few points to keep in mind if you carry a knife regularly in Utah:

• No type restrictions. You can carry any knife you want, from a small folding blade to a large fixed-blade bowie knife.

• No permit needed. Concealed carry of knives does not require any license or permit.

• Context matters. A knife may be considered a legal issue if used or displayed in a threatening manner. Carrying a knife for utility, preparedness, or as part of everyday gear is permitted by law.

• Stay away from restricted zones. Schools, courthouses, and federal buildings have their own rules. When in doubt, leave the knife in your vehicle.

• Know your status. If you have a felony conviction or fall under any restricted person category, possessing a dangerous weapon carries real criminal penalties.

Utah’s Use-Based Approach to Knife Law

Utah’s approach to knife law is about behavior, not hardware. The state does not care what kind of knife you own or how you carry it. It cares about what you do with it and what you plan to do with it.

The combination of no type restrictions, legal open and concealed carry, and statewide preemption makes Utah one of the most permissive states in the country for knife owners. The dangerous weapon statute is intended to address misuse, and the 2014 Miles ruling reinforced that having a knife in your pocket is not a crime.

Responsible carry and compliance with Utah law allow for broad knife ownership and carry options.