Storage & Child Access
Effective January 1, 2026, what does California law require of a firearm kept in a residence?
Answer
It must be securely stored with a DOJ-approved safety device or secure safe whenever it is not carried by a lawful authorized user or kept within close proximity
Effective January 1, 2026, California law requires any person who possesses a firearm in a residence to keep it securely stored using a DOJ-approved firearm safety device or secure firearm safe at all times the firearm is not being carried by a lawful authorized user or kept within close proximity. Violations can lead to fines or misdemeanor penalties.
Source: Chapter 4: Safety and Storage Devices
Not the answer
- It must be unloaded, but it may be left out in the open
- It must be kept in a different building than its ammunition
- It must be registered with DOJ every year
Practice this
The California Firearm Safety Certificate test is 30 questions and takes 23 correct — 75% — to pass. The app’s page carries a free ten-question test drawn from the same bank, marked as you go.
Take the free practice test