California Firearm Storage Requirements

Overview

California regulates how firearms must be stored, with the strongest rules aimed at keeping firearms away from children and other people who are prohibited from possessing them. These rules apply to all firearm owners, including concealed carry license holders during the times when a firearm is not being lawfully carried. As of January 1, 2026, California requires firearms kept in a residence to be securely stored whenever they are not being carried or readily controlled (Penal Code 25145). On top of that affirmative duty, California imposes criminal liability for negligent storage that gives a child or a prohibited person access, sets specific storage rules for firearms left in vehicles, and requires a safety device at the point of sale.

This page summarizes the storage rules. It is general information, not legal advice. Firearm law in California changes frequently and several related statutes are the subject of ongoing litigation, so confirm the current text before relying on it.

Criminal Storage of a Firearm (Access by Children and Prohibited Persons)

California's core storage offense is "criminal storage of a firearm" under Penal Code 25100. It applies to keeping any firearm, loaded or unloaded, on premises under your custody or control when a child or a prohibited person gains access. The statute is graded in three degrees based on the harm that results.

• First degree (Penal Code 25100(a)): Keeping any firearm, loaded or unloaded, where you know or reasonably should know that a child (any person under 18) is likely to gain access without parental permission, or that a prohibited person is likely to gain access, and the child or the prohibited person gains access and causes death or great bodily injury to themselves or another person.
• Second degree (Penal Code 25100(b)): The same storage conduct where the child or the prohibited person gains access and causes injury other than great bodily injury, or carries the firearm to a public place or in violation of Penal Code 417 (brandishing).
• Third degree (Penal Code 25100(c)): Negligently storing or leaving a firearm where you know, or reasonably should know, that a child is likely to gain access without parental permission, unless you take reasonable action to secure the firearm against access by the child.

Note that California amended this law so it now reaches both loaded and unloaded firearms, and it covers access by a "prohibited person" as well as by a child. Older summaries that describe it as a loaded-firearm-only rule are out of date.

Penalties (Penal Code 25110)

• First degree is a "wobbler." It can be charged as a felony, punishable under Penal Code 1170(h) by 16 months or 2 or 3 years and a fine up to $10,000, or as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine up to $1,000.
• Second degree is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine up to $1,000.
• Third degree is a misdemeanor.

The Safe Harbor for Criminal Storage (Penal Code 25105)

Operative January 1, 2026, Penal Code 25105 lists the circumstances in which the criminal storage offenses in Penal Code 25100 do not apply. Section 25100 does not apply when any of the following occurs:

• The child obtains the firearm as a result of an illegal entry to any premises by any person.
• The firearm is securely stored, as defined in Penal Code 25145. A firearm is securely stored when it is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or a secure gun safe.
• The firearm is carried or readily controlled by the lawful owner or another lawful authorized user, as defined in Penal Code 25145.
• The person is a peace officer or a member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard and the child obtains the firearm during, or incidental to, the performance of the person's duties.
• The child obtains, or obtains and discharges, the firearm in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another person.

Securely storing the firearm under Penal Code 25145 is the clearest way to stay within this safe harbor.

Affirmative Duty to Securely Store Firearms in a Residence (Penal Code 25145)

Beginning January 1, 2026, California imposes an affirmative storage duty under Penal Code 25145. A person must ensure that any firearm the person possesses in a residence is securely stored whenever the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user. This is a separate, standalone requirement. It does not depend on whether a child or prohibited person actually gains access, which is what triggers the criminal storage offenses under Penal Code 25100.

A firearm is "securely stored" if it is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or a secure gun safe. A "certified firearm safety device" is any firearm safety device or gun safe listed on the California DOJ roster of tested and approved firearm safety devices certified for sale under Penal Code 23655. A "secure gun safe" is one that meets the standards adopted under Penal Code 23650. A firearm is "readily controlled" when the lawful authorized user is carrying it on their person or is within close enough proximity to readily prevent unauthorized users from gaining access.

Penalties (Penal Code 25145(d))

• A first violation is punishable by a fine of up to $250.
• A second violation is punishable by a fine of up to $500.
• A third or subsequent violation is a misdemeanor.

A person is not penalized for violating this section if they secured the firearm using a firearm safety device or gun safe they reasonably believed met the requirements, including a device that was certified, or a safe that met the adopted standards, at the time it was purchased. The requirement does not apply to unloaded antique firearms (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(16)) or to firearms that are permanently inoperable.

Storing a Handgun in an Unattended Vehicle (Penal Code 25140)

California sets specific rules for leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle. Under Penal Code 25140, when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle you must do one of the following:

• Lock the handgun in the vehicle's trunk;
• Lock the handgun in a locked container and place that container out of plain view;
• Lock the handgun in a locked container that is permanently affixed to the vehicle's interior and out of plain view; or
• Lock the handgun in a locked toolbox or utility box.

A "locked container" is a fully enclosed container locked by a padlock, keylock, combination lock, or similar device. The glove compartment and the utility (center console) compartment do not count as locked containers. The statute also defines "trunk" narrowly: it means the fully enclosed and locked main storage or luggage compartment of a vehicle that is not accessible from the passenger compartment, and it does not include the rear of a hatchback, station wagon, or SUV, or any compartment that has a window (Penal Code 25140(d)). If you drive an SUV, hatchback, or wagon, the rear cargo area is not a "trunk," so the handgun must go in a locked container out of plain view instead. A "locked toolbox or utility box" must be a fully enclosed, locked container permanently affixed to the bed of a pickup truck or to a vehicle that does not have a trunk (Penal Code 25140(d)); a loose toolbox sitting in the vehicle does not qualify under that option. A vehicle is "unattended" when the person who is lawfully carrying or transporting the handgun is not close enough to reasonably prevent unauthorized access. "Plain view" includes anything visible by looking through the windows, including tinted windows.

A violation of Penal Code 25140(a) is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000. This vehicle-storage requirement is important for concealed carry license holders, because it governs how you secure your handgun whenever you have to leave it in a parked car (for example, before entering a location where carry is not allowed).

Firearm Safety Device Required at Point of Sale (Penal Code 23635)

Separate from how you store a firearm at home, California requires that firearms be sold or transferred with a safety device. Under Penal Code 23635 and the related sections (Penal Code 23635 through 23690), all firearms, both long guns and handguns, sold or transferred in California must be accompanied by a firearm safety device (FSD) that has passed required testing and appears on the California Department of Justice (DOJ) roster of approved devices.

The FSD requirement can also be met if the purchaser signs an affidavit declaring ownership of a DOJ-approved lock box or a gun safe capable of holding the firearm and presents proof of purchase or ownership of that safe. Pawn returns and intra-familial transfers are not subject to the FSD requirement. The current DOJ roster of certified firearm safety devices is published at oag.ca.gov/firearms/fsdcertlist.

Federal Point-of-Sale Rule (18 U.S.C. 922(z))

Federal law adds a parallel rule for handguns. Under 18 U.S.C. 922(z), a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer may not sell, deliver, or transfer a handgun to a non-licensee unless the buyer is provided with a secure gun storage or safety device for that handgun. This is a dealer obligation at the time of sale; it is not a continuing federal mandate dictating how you must store the firearm afterward.

Recommended Storage Practices (California DOJ)

The California DOJ recommends the following practices. Beyond the DOJ's recommendations, secure storage of firearms in a residence is now legally required under Penal Code 25145, and following these practices keeps you inside that requirement and the Penal Code 25105 safe harbor while reducing the risk of theft or unauthorized access.

General Guidelines

1. Use a California-approved firearm safety device, such as a trigger lock or cable lock, so the firearm cannot be fired.
2. Store the firearm unloaded in a locked container, such as an approved lock box or a gun safe.
3. Store the firearm in a different location from the ammunition.
4. For maximum security, use both a locking device and a locked storage container.

When Children May Be Present

• Store all firearms unloaded.
• Lock each firearm with a firearm safety device.
• Store firearms in a locked container.
• Store ammunition separately in a locked container.

Child-access precautions matter even if you have no children of your own. Visitors such as nieces, nephews, neighbors' children, or grandchildren may be present, and the criminal storage rules in Penal Code 25100 turn on whether a child is likely to gain access, not on whether you are a parent.

Location Considerations

• Do not store a firearm where it is plainly visible.
• Avoid predictable spots such as a bedside table, under a mattress or pillow, or on a closet shelf.
• Do not store a firearm among valuables like jewelry unless it is locked in a secure container.
• Consider storing firearms not kept for immediate self-defense in a secure manner away from the home.

Types of Safety and Storage Devices

Locking Devices

• Trigger locks: Two-piece devices that fit around the trigger and trigger guard to block access to the trigger, secured by a key or combination.
• Cable locks: A steel cable threaded through the action of the firearm to keep it from operating and prevent accidental firing.

Neither trigger locks nor cable locks are designed to prevent physical access to or removal of the firearm itself.

Locking Storage Containers

• Lock boxes: Sturdy metal containers opened by key or combination, built to prevent unintended handling or removal of a firearm.
• Gun safes: Generally the most secure option, often weighing 50 pounds or more. More expensive, but more reliable and harder to defeat or carry off.

Any device is only as secure as the steps you take to protect the key or combination.

Key Points for License Holders

• Beginning January 1, 2026, Penal Code 25145 affirmatively requires firearms kept in a residence to be securely stored in a certified firearm safety device or a secure gun safe whenever they are not being carried or readily controlled. This duty stands on its own and does not depend on a child or prohibited person actually gaining access.
• When your firearm is not being lawfully carried, the criminal storage rules in Penal Code 25100 also apply. Securely storing the firearm under Penal Code 25145 is the cleanest way to stay within the Penal Code 25105 safe harbor and avoid criminal storage liability.
• Securing a handgun left in a parked car is governed by Penal Code 25140. Use the trunk or a locked container out of plain view; the glove box and center console do not satisfy the statute, and the rear cargo area of an SUV, hatchback, or wagon does not count as a trunk.
• These statutes are amended frequently, and several California firearm laws are in active litigation. Verify the current text of any cited Penal Code section before relying on it.

Sources

• California Penal Code 25100 (criminal storage of a firearm, degrees)
• California Penal Code 25105 (exceptions to criminal storage, operative January 1, 2026)
• California Penal Code 25110 (punishment for criminal storage)
• California Penal Code 25140 (storage of a handgun in an unattended vehicle)
• California Penal Code 25145 (affirmative duty to securely store firearms in a residence, operative January 1, 2026)
• California Penal Code 23635 through 23690 (firearm safety device required at point of sale)
• 18 U.S.C. 922(z) (federal secure gun storage or safety device requirement for handgun sales)
• California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Firearm Safety Tips: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/tips
• California DOJ roster of certified firearm safety devices: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/fsdcertlist