Courthouse Prohibited Items List: Knives, Pepper Spray, Vapes, Water Bottles & More (2026)
Updated 2026-11-04 · Tracked across 399 U.S. County Courthouses
Every courthouse runs visitors through a metal detector and x-ray belt. The list of banned items is similar across the country, but each county's Sheriff or court security office sets the details. Items that fail screening are usually confiscated and not returned, or you are sent back outside to get rid of them, which can make you late for your hearing.
| Item | Typical courthouse rule | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms and ammunition | Prohibited for the public, including concealed-carry permit holders, in nearly all state courthouses. Federal law bans them in federal court facilities (18 U.S.C. § 930). | Leave it locked at home. Few courthouses offer gun lockers. |
| Pocket knives, box cutters, multi-tools | Prohibited at any blade length in most courthouses. | Check your keyring for tiny keychain knives. |
| Pepper spray / mace | Prohibited. Treated as a chemical weapon. | Detach it from your keys before you leave home. |
| Scissors, nail files, knitting needles | Usually confiscated. | The most common items taken from purses. |
| Vapes, e-cigarettes, lighters | Banned in many courthouses. Some allow them but not their use. | Leave them in the car if you drove. |
| Glass bottles, metal utensils | Often refused at security. | Bring plastic. |
| Cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds | Varies by county: 109 of 399 tracked counties ban phones for the general public. | Look up your county phone policy. |
| Cameras and recording devices | Recording inside courtrooms is prohibited without a judge's permission nearly everywhere. | Even where phones are allowed, do not record. |
| Tools, chains, spiked jewelry | Prohibited or subject to officer discretion. | Remove heavy metal jewelry and belts to speed screening. |
What happens to confiscated items?
Court security officers are generally not allowed to hold personal property for visitors. Most courthouses either throw away small prohibited items or make you leave the building to store them. Neither option stops your hearing time, so plan ahead. If you arrive by Uber or bus, check the courthouses with no lockers before you go.
Courthouses with the strictest entrance rules
These large counties ban phones for the public and have no entrance lockers:
- Cook County, IL
- Marion County, IN
- Shelby County, TN
- DeKalb County, GA
- Davidson County, TN
- Jefferson County, AL
- Douglas County, NE
- Greenville County, SC
- Knox County, TN
- Lake County, IN
- East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
- Richland County, SC
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bring a pocket knife into a courthouse?
No. Almost every U.S. courthouse prohibits knives of any size, including keychain knives and multi-tools. Security will confiscate the knife or send you back outside.
Can you bring pepper spray into a courthouse?
No. Pepper spray and mace are treated as weapons at courthouse security checkpoints. Remove them from your keyring before you go.
Can you bring a vape into court?
Many courthouses prohibit vapes, e-cigarettes and lighters at security. Where they are allowed through, using them inside is still prohibited.
Can I carry a gun into a courthouse with a concealed carry permit?
Generally no. State courthouses prohibit firearms for the public even with a carry permit, and federal law bans firearms in federal court facilities under 18 U.S.C. § 930. Rules for storage lockers vary by county.
Skip the Security Line & Protect Your Record in your county
If you have a Traffic Ticket, Speeding/CDL Violation, DUI, Misdemeanor, or Family Court hearing in your county, a licensed local attorney can often appear in court on your behalf—saving you from missing work, risking a bench warrant, or taking points on your license.