DependsSelf Defence Weapons

Is it legal to carry a pepper spray in Colombia?

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Short answer: DependsRow state: verifiedSelf Defence Weapons

Quick answer

Depends
Depends
Last verified: 2026-04-12Sources verified

Legal position

Current starter summary

Colombia does not treat pepper spray as freely carryable in every setting. The Police Code expressly treats carrying pepper sprays and similar items in specified public-risk situations as conduct contrary to coexistence, and the Constitutional Court has explained that the rule is not a blanket ban in every place.

Conditions

What would need to be true

Do not carry it in the public situations covered by article 27 of the Police Code, including the settings and circumstances identified in the statute and its amendments.

Exceptions

Known carve-outs or edge cases

The Constitutional Court said the rule is not a total nationwide ban in all places and contexts.

Penalties

Penalty snapshot

Police measures can include seizure and other coexistence sanctions when the statutory conditions are met.

Enforcement

How this may be enforced

The National Police enforce Law 1801 of 2016 and its later amendments.

More rules in Colombia

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gamble online

Online gambling is allowed in Colombia only through platforms authorized by Coljuegos. Coljuegos publishes the list of authorized operators and the concession details for internet games.

DependsDigital Laws

buy a brass knuckles

Colombia classifies brass knuckles (manoplas metálicas) as less-lethal kinetic items under Decreto 1563 de 2022. Their commercialization and importation are regulated, and the decree links civilian possession of less-lethal items to marking/registration procedures even though kinetic items do not require a carry permit.

DependsSelf Defence Weapons

buy a stun gun

Colombia authorizes electric less-lethal devices only within the framework of Decreto 1563 de 2022. Electric devices are only authorized if they meet the decree’s technical specifications, and the civilian possession and carry framework requires marking and a permit process for less-lethal items.

DependsSelf Defence Weapons

buy a taser

Colombia authorizes electric less-lethal devices only within the framework of Decreto 1563 de 2022. Electric devices are only authorized if they meet the decree’s technical specifications, and the civilian possession and carry framework requires marking and a permit process for less-lethal items.

DependsSelf Defence Weapons

Compare this activity in other countries

This makes the rule page useful for comparison without creating a second data source.

Australia

Australia does not have one uniform civilian pepper-spray rule. Victoria Police says capsicum spray is illegal to purchase, possess, carry or use without a Governor in Council exemption or Chief Commissioner approval, while WA regulations expressly allow carrying or possessing a capsicum spray weapon for lawful defence where the person has reasonable grounds to apprehend circumstances may arise.

DependsSelf Defence Weapons

Austria

Austria’s official pepper spray page allows civilian pepper spray but says it may only be used exclusively in self-defence. Carrying it therefore depends on lawful adult possession and self-defence use.

DependsSelf Defence Weapons

Belgium

Belgian Justice lists self-defence aerosols and sprays as prohibited weapons. Prohibited weapons cannot lawfully be possessed, bought, transported or carried by civilians.

NoSelf Defence Weapons

Canada

Sprays designed for use against people are prohibited weapons in Canada but animal repellent sprays are treated differently if they are genuinely for animal control.

DependsSelf Defence Weapons

About this row

Canonical dataset status

Country hubColombia
Row stateverified

Reset rule

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