What Are the Gun Laws in California?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
California has some of the strictest gun laws in the US, including assault weapon bans, magazine capacity limits, mandatory background checks for all sales, and registration requirements for many firearms.
What This Means for You
California's complex firearms regulations create significant restrictions for builders and owners. The state maintains an approved handgun roster, bans many rifle features, limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds, and requires registration for assault weapons. These laws directly impact what you can build, buy, or modify.
The Detail
California requires background checks for all firearm transfers, including private party sales, with limited exceptions for immediate family members. The state maintains a 10-day waiting period for all firearms purchases and requires a Firearm Safety Certificate to purchase firearms. All handgun sales must involve firearms on the California Department of Justice approved roster, with very few exceptions.
The state defines assault weapons through a combination of features and specific model designations. Rifles with detachable magazines cannot have features like pistol grips, telescoping stocks, flash hiders, or vertical foregrips. Fixed magazine rifles can have these features but must use tools to remove the magazine. Many specific firearm models are banned by name regardless of features.
Magazine capacity is limited to 10 rounds statewide. California requires registration of assault weapons owned before they were banned, though registration periods have closed for most categories. The state also regulates ammunition sales, requiring background checks for ammunition purchases and prohibiting online ammunition shipments directly to consumers.
Storage laws require firearms to be stored securely when minors could access them. California also has red flag laws allowing temporary firearm removal orders and requires reporting of lost or stolen firearms within specific timeframes. Concealed carry permits are issued on a may-issue basis by local authorities, though recent court decisions may affect this system.
Build Impact
These regulations significantly limit build options, particularly for rifles where feature combinations are restricted and magazine modifications are prohibited. You'll need to carefully research current compliance requirements and consider consulting with California-licensed dealers before starting any build project.