Florida Knife Laws: What You Need to Know in Pinellas County

Florida knife laws depend on the type of knife, blade length, how you carry it, and where you take it. That's a lot to keep track of for anyone who keeps a pocketknife on their keys, a fixed blade in the truck, or a butterfly knife in a backpack. The rules also changed in 2023, and many of the guides people rely on still describe the old ones.

Even a knife carried for practical reasons can become an issue during a police encounter in Pinellas County. If officers find one during a traffic stop, the person carrying it could face weapons charges, depending on the knife and how it was carried. No one has to be injured for the situation to become a criminal matter.

This article explains what Florida law allows today, from pocketknives and switchblades to concealed carry and restricted places, and what to do if a knife leads to a charge in Pinellas County.

What Changed With Permitless Concealed Carry in 2023?

Before 2023, a fixed-blade knife tucked under your shirt was a crime unless you had a concealed weapons license. House Bill 543 changed that.

Since July 1, 2023, you can carry it without a license, as long as you could get one if you applied. Most people over 21 without a felony or other disqualifying conviction meet that requirement.

Before the change, you usually needed a license to carry a concealed knife unless the knife qualified as a common pocketknife. Under Florida Statutes § 790.01, eligible individuals can carry concealed weapons, including knives, without obtaining that license.

To qualify, you must

• Be 21 or older, or 18 or older if you're a service member or honorably discharged veteran.
• Have no felony conviction and no disqualifying misdemeanor or domestic violence history.
• Not be subject to an injunction against domestic violence or repeat violence.
• Not have been committed to a mental institution or found legally incapacitated.
• Carry valid identification and show it to law enforcement on request.

Not everyone can carry a concealed knife without a license. If you aren't eligible under Florida law and carry a concealed knife that doesn't qualify as a common pocketknife, you could face a first-degree misdemeanor charge.

Section 790.01(4) also changes what prosecutors must establish in these cases. They must show the person had no license and didn't qualify to carry one without a license. That distinction can give the defense another way to challenge the charge.

What Is a Common Pocketknife Under Florida Law?

A common pocketknife is a folding knife with a blade that tucks into the handle and fits in a pocket. Courts generally treat a blade about four inches or less as a guideline. Florida law doesn't count a common pocketknife as a weapon, so anyone can carry one concealed without a license.

That rule comes from § 790.001, which defines "weapon" to exclude a common pocketknife, a plastic knife, and a blunt-bladed table knife. The statute never specifies a blade length, so the courts filled in the gap.

In L.B. v. State, 700 So. 2d 370 (Fla. 1997), the Florida Supreme Court found that a folding knife with a blade under four inches was a common pocketknife. The court relied on a 1951 Attorney General opinion that used four inches as the line, but it also said four inches isn't a bright-line cutoff, a point the court revisited in Bunkley v. State in 2002. Judges look at the whole knife, including how common it is in the community and how it opens.

A Swiss Army Knife, a multi-tool with a folding blade, or a standard folding pocketknife will usually qualify. A knife built for fighting or one that opens automatically may not qualify, even with a short blade.

What Size Knife Is Legal to Carry in Florida?

Florida has no statewide blade length limit. You can own and openly carry a knife of any length, from a small folder to a hunting knife, a K-bar, or a sword. Blade length matters only for concealed carry, because it helps decide whether a folding knife counts as a common pocketknife.

In practice, that means:

• A folding knife with a blade of about four inches or less can go in a pocket, bag, or purse without a license.
• A longer folding knife, or a fixed blade of any length, needs a concealed weapons license or permitless carry eligibility when it's concealed.
• Any legal knife can be carried openly, as long as you aren't in a restricted location and don't display it in a threatening way.

Which Knives Are Illegal in Florida?

Only one knife is illegal in Florida: the ballistic self-propelled knife. Every other type, from switchblades to butterfly knives to swords, is legal to own and openly carry. What changes from knife to knife is whether you can carry it concealed without a license.

Knife type	Legal to own	Open carry	Concealed carry
Common pocketknife (folding, about 4 inches or less)	Yes	Yes	Yes, no license needed
Larger folding knife	Yes	Yes	With a license or permitless carry eligibility
Fixed-blade knife or dagger	Yes	Yes	With a license or permitless carry eligibility
Switchblade or OTF knife	Yes	Yes	With a license or permitless carry eligibility
Butterfly knife (balisong)	Yes	Yes	With a license or permitless carry eligibility
Sword	Yes	Yes	With a license or permitless carry eligibility
Brass knuckles	Yes	Not barred by statute	With a license or permitless carry eligibility
Ballistic self-propelled knife	No	No	No

Are Switchblades and OTF Knives Legal in Florida?

Yes. Switchblades, automatic knives, and OTF (out-the-front) knives are legal to own and openly carry in Florida. No state statute bans them. You can carry one concealed if you have a concealed weapons license or meet the permitless carry requirements.

An automatic knife keeps its blade in the handle and opens with a spring or button. That separates it from a ballistic knife, where the blade launches out of the handle. Florida law specifically protects knives whose blade stays attached when opened.

Don't count on the four-inch pocketknife guideline to cover a concealed switchblade. In K.H. v. State (2010), a Florida appeals court found that a double-edged switchblade wasn't an ordinary pocketknife because its features were more like a weapon's. That makes it risky to carry a switchblade concealed if you aren't eligible, even if the blade is short.

Are Butterfly Knives (Balisongs) Legal in Florida?

Yes. Butterfly knives, also called balisongs, are legal to own and openly carry in Florida. Concealed carry is safest with a concealed weapons license or if you're eligible for permitless carry.

A balisong has a handle split into two halves that rotate around the blade. No Florida statute defines butterfly knives, and no court has clearly said whether one counts as a common pocketknife. Because of that gray area, someone who is under 21 or otherwise ineligible should avoid carrying one out of sight.

Are Ballistic Knives Illegal in Florida?

Yes. Ballistic knives are the only knives Florida bans outright. Under Florida § 790.225, having one is a criminal offense. The law also prohibits making, selling, displaying, or using one. Violations are classified as a first-degree misdemeanor, and police can confiscate the knife.

Are Gravity Knives, Stilettos, Push Daggers and Karambits Legal?

Yes. Gravity knives, stilettos, push daggers, and karambits are legal to own and carry openly in Florida. None of them is banned by name.

Concealed carry depends on the type of knife. A regular folding knife may qualify as a common pocketknife under Florida law. Push daggers and fixed-blade karambits are a different question, since they may not fit that exception. If the knife falls outside the exception, the person carrying it needs a concealed weapon license or must qualify for permitless carry.

Are Fixed-Blade Knives and Swords Legal in Florida?

Yes. Fixed-blade knives like hunting knives, kitchen knives, daggers, and swords are legal to own and openly carry in Florida at any length. A knife in a sheath on your belt is open carry as long as people can see it.

The common pocketknife exception only covers folding knives. A concealed fixed blade is treated as a weapon at any length, so it requires a license or permitless carry eligibility.

Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Florida?

Yes. Brass knuckles are legal to own in Florida. Florida law lists "metallic knuckles" among concealed weapons, so you need a concealed weapons license or permitless carry eligibility to carry them out of sight.

No statute bans carrying brass knuckles openly, but using or showing them in a threatening way is a crime. They're also off-limits on school property, and convicted felons can't carry them concealed.

Can You Open Carry a Knife in Florida?

Yes. You can openly carry any legal knife in Florida, whatever the blade length, as long as you're not in a restricted location. A knife in a visible sheath on your belt, or clipped where people can plainly see it, counts as open carry.

The main limit is how you handle it. Under § 790.10, showing a knife "in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner" is improper exhibition, a first-degree misdemeanor, unless it's in lawful self-defense. Many knife arrests start with an argument, not with the knife itself.

The line between open and concealed isn't always clear. A knife is concealed if it's hidden from the ordinary sight of another person, so a pocket clip that shows, a sheath half covered by a shirt, or a knife on a car seat can all be argued either way.

Can You Carry a Knife in Your Car in Florida?

Yes. Under § 790.25, anyone 18 or older who lawfully owns a knife can keep it in a private vehicle without a license if it's securely encased or not readily accessible, such as in a closed glove box or console. Under this rule, the knife can't be on your person. If you meet the permitless carry requirements, you can also carry it on your person in the car.

Where You Can't Carry a Knife in Florida

Florida's knife laws depend partly on where you take the knife. A knife that's legal to carry on the street may not be allowed inside a school or courthouse. Some government buildings have similar restrictions, so check the rules for the specific location before bringing one inside.

Schools, School Buses and School Events

Under § 790.115, possessing a knife other than a common pocketknife on school property, on a school bus, at a bus stop, or at a school-sponsored event is a third-degree felony. It's punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The rule covers students, parents, employees, and visitors.

A common pocketknife doesn't get a pass if it's displayed. Exhibiting any knife, including a pocketknife or box cutter, in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening way at a school, a bus stop, or within 1,000 feet of a school during school hours is also a third-degree felony.

There is one important exception. A person who is licensed or eligible to carry concealed under § 790.01(1) faces a second-degree misdemeanor, not a felony, for a school-property possession violation.

Other Places Where Concealed Carry Isn't Allowed

Under § 790.06(12), a license or permitless carry eligibility doesn't let you carry a concealed knife into

• Police, sheriff, and highway patrol stations
• Jails, prisons, and detention facilities
• Courthouses and courtrooms
• Polling places
• Meetings of a county, city, school board, or special district governing body
• Meetings of the Florida Legislature or its committees
• School, college and professional athletic events not related to firearms
• Elementary or secondary school facilities and administration buildings
• Career centers
• The part of a bar or restaurant that is primarily devoted to serving alcohol
• College and university facilities, with narrow exceptions
• The passenger terminal and sterile area of an airport
• Any place where federal law prohibits weapons, like federal buildings

In Pinellas County, that includes the courthouses in Clearwater and St. Petersburg, the passenger terminals at St. Pete-Clearwater International and Tampa International airports, and the bar areas of restaurants in downtown St. Pete.

Carrying a concealed knife into one of these places is a second-degree misdemeanor. Cities and counties can also set their own knife rules, since Florida doesn't override local knife ordinances, so check the rules in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, or your own city before carrying a knife into parks and public buildings.

How to Get a Concealed Weapons License for a Knife

Florida's permitless carry law means some people can carry a concealed knife without applying for a license. Getting a Concealed Weapon or Firearm License may still make sense if you travel out of state or prefer to have documentation of your eligibility.

Florida issues one Concealed Weapon or Firearm License that covers knives and firearms. You can apply through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) or a participating county tax collector's office. Under § 790.06, you'll need to

• Be at least 21, or 18 if you're a service member or honorably discharged veteran
• Show proof of firearm competency, such as a hunter safety or firearms training course, even if you only plan to carry a knife
• Submit fingerprints and a recent color photo
• Pay the application fee

Knife Laws for Minors and Convicted Felons

Florida's knife rules don't apply the same way to everyone. Age and criminal history both limit who can carry a concealed knife, and permitless carry isn't available to most people under 21 or to anyone with a felony conviction. Here's how the law treats minors and people with a felony record, and where a common pocketknife still fits in.

Can a Minor Carry a Knife in Florida?

A minor can carry a common pocketknife in Florida. Most minors can't carry any other knife concealed, because permitless carry and concealed weapons licenses generally require you to be 21.

Florida's law on minors mostly targets the adults around them. Under § 790.17, giving, selling, or lending a minor under 18 any weapon other than an ordinary pocketknife without a parent's or guardian's permission is a first-degree misdemeanor. The same statute bars furnishing a weapon to a person of unsound mind.

For students, the school rules are the bigger risk. Any knife other than a common pocketknife on school grounds can lead to a felony charge and school discipline, and the case may be handled as a juvenile offense.

Can a Felon Carry a Knife in Florida?

A convicted felon can carry a common pocketknife in Florida. Carrying any other knife concealed is a second-degree felony under § 790.23, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. A felony conviction also rules out permitless carry and a concealed weapons license.

Penalties for Florida Knife Charges

Most knife charges in Florida are misdemeanors, but a knife on school property or a concealed knife carried by a convicted felon is a felony. The table below covers the most common charges.

Offense	Florida statute	Charge	Maximum penalty
Carrying a concealed knife without being licensed or eligible	§ 790.01(2)	First-degree misdemeanor	1 year in jail, $1,000 fine
Concealed knife in a restricted place	§ 790.06(12)	Second-degree misdemeanor	60 days in jail, $500 fine
Improper exhibition of a knife	§ 790.10	First-degree misdemeanor	1 year in jail, $1,000 fine
Owning or possessing a ballistic knife	§ 790.225	First-degree misdemeanor	1 year in jail, $1,000 fine
Furnishing a weapon to a minor without parental permission	§ 790.17	First-degree misdemeanor	1 year in jail, $1,000 fine
Possessing a knife on school property	§ 790.115(2)	Third-degree felony	5 years in prison, $5,000 fine
Exhibiting a knife at or near a school	§ 790.115(1)	Third-degree felony	5 years in prison, $5,000 fine
Convicted felon carrying a concealed weapon	§ 790.23	Second-degree felony	15 years in prison, $10,000 fine

A conviction can also bring probation, a criminal record, and the loss of a future concealed weapons license. Many of these charges turn on one question: whether the state can prove you were ineligible to carry concealed, and that is where a defense often starts.

What to Do If You're Charged With a Knife Offense

A knife charge can come from an ordinary moment, like

• A knife found during a traffic stop or search
• A concealed carry allegation after a pocketknife dispute
• A knife discovered during a visit to a school, courthouse, airport, or bar
• A traffic stop where an officer brings up your criminal history or probation status

If you've been stopped, cited, or arrested, don't explain the knife to police or argue about whether it was legal. Write down where the knife was, how it was carried, and who saw it while the details are fresh.

The defenses in Florida knife cases are often technical.

• Was the knife actually concealed, or could people see it?
• Does it qualify as a common pocketknife?
• Can the state prove you weren't eligible for permitless carry under § 790.01(4)?
• Was the search that found it lawful?

A Pinellas criminal defense attorney can challenge each of these and work to reduce or dismiss the charge.

The State Attorney's Office for Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit prosecutes knife cases in Pinellas County, and local experience with those prosecutors and judges matters. The Denson Firm defends clients facing weapons charges throughout St. Petersburg and Pinellas County, from arrest and arraignment through trial or a negotiated plea.

If you're facing a knife charge, call 727-896-7000 any time, day or night, or request a confidential case evaluation to talk through your options before you make a decision that affects your case.