No, owning a flamethrower in Switzerland is prohibited under the Ordinance on Explosives, Pyrotechnic Articles, and Related Objects (OEPRA) and the Weapons Act. Federal authorities classify flamethrowers as “dangerous objects,” requiring special permits that are rarely granted. Cantonal police enforce these rules, with no exemptions for recreational use.
Key Regulations for Owning a Flamethrower in Switzerland
- Federal Prohibition: Flamethrowers are explicitly banned under OEPRA (Art. 2, para. 1), which designates them as “objects likely to cause severe harm.” The Weapons Act (Art. 4) reinforces this by requiring permits for “objects with high destructive potential,” a category that includes flamethrowers.
- Cantonal Enforcement: Police in cantons such as Zurich and Geneva conduct periodic inspections of private weapons holdings. Unauthorized possession may result in confiscation and criminal charges under the Criminal Code (Art. 226), with penalties up to three years imprisonment.
- 2026 Compliance Shifts: The Federal Office of Police (fedpol) is drafting amendments to OEPRA to expand restrictions on “high-risk pyrotechnic devices,” potentially tightening controls on flamethrower components. Stakeholders must monitor Verordnung über Sprengstoff und Pyrotechnik updates for transitional provisions.