What is the new gun law in California in 2024?

Asked by: Brenda Parisian  |  Last update: June 29, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (7 votes)

In 2024, California passed several bills strengthening and refining existing laws to facilitate better implementation, including improvements to the state's gun violence restraining order law, secure storage laws, and reporting on firearm dealer inspections.

What are the gun restrictions in California 2024?

Effective January 1, 2024:

Requires a licensed firearms dealer to accept the storage of a firearm transferred by an individual to prevent it from being accessed or used during periods of crisis or heightened risk to the owner of the firearm or members of their household.

What is the new gun law in California?

New Firearm Storage Requirements

This rule is intended to enhance safety by ensuring that firearms are securely stored when not in use. “If you're not in control of the firearm, your gun has to be stored in a safe or other approved lockbox,” Dyke explained.

Can you now carry a gun in California without a permit?

A U.S. citizen or legal resident at least 18 years old may carry a handgun anywhere within his or her place of residence, place of business or on private property owned or lawfully possessed by the citizen or legal resident. A permit or license is not required for a person to carry within these locations.

Are AR-15 bans in California?

Category Two: California law bans firearm models that are variations of the AK or AR-15, with only minor differences from those two models. (Pen. Code, § 30510 subds. (a)(1), (f); see Cal.

New gun laws take effect in 2024 in California | Here's what you need to know

32 related questions found

Are glocks banned in California?

You cannot purchase one in California because it is not on the DOJ Handgun Roster, but if you move from out of state you can bring it with you. You are only supposed to utilize the reduced capacity 10 round magazine. Criminal Lawyer: Ashley R., Esq.

Can I carry my AR-15 in my car in California?

Pursuant to California Penal Code section 25610, a United States citizen over 18 years of age who is not prohibited from firearm possession, and who resides or is temporarily in California, may transport by motor vehicle any handgun provided it is unloaded and locked in the vehicle's trunk or in a locked container.

Can I own a 15 round magazine in California?

Penal Code 32310(c) goes on to make it a crime to possess a large capacity magazine, regardless of the date it was acquired. A “large-capacity magazine” means any ammunition-feeding device with the capacity to hold more than 10 rounds.

What guns can I buy without a license in California?

The State of California does not require a permit to purchase rifles, shotguns and handguns.

Is it legal to have a loaded gun in your house in California?

You may be guilty of a misdemeanor or a felony if you keep a loaded firearm within any premises that are under your custody or control and a child under 18 years of age obtains and uses it, resulting in injury or death, or carries it to a public place, unless you stored the firearm in a locked container or locked the ...

Do you have to register every gun in California?

There is no firearm registration requirement in California except for assault weapon owners and personal handgun importers.

What is the new law passed in California in 2025?

New 2025 California laws: Artificial intelligence, octopuses, cannabis cafes and more. New California laws in 2025 allow new entertainment zones, cannabis cafes and offer more protection against deepfakes and artificial intelligence. SACRAMENTO, Calif.

Which state has the strictest gun laws?

California is ranked as the #1 state in the nation for the strength of its gun safety laws — along with some of the lowest rates of gun deaths and gun ownership — by Giffords Law Center and Everytown for Gun Safety.

What are the new laws in California in 2024?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several laws in 2024 addressing a variety of topics including reforms to the California Private Attorneys General Act, discrimination, victims of domestic violence and paid family leave.

What happens if you get caught with a gun in California?

Penalties

Without additional factors, carrying a loaded firearm is a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. This offense is a felony that is punishable by up to three years in prison if any of the following aggravating factors exist: The defendant has felony or a firearm conviction.

What is the strictest gun law in the world?

Singapore is probably the strictest country in the world when it comes to gun laws. It's still possible to own a gun but it takes a lot of work. To own a gun you need to belong to a gun club. You will also be required to leave your gun at the club for storage.

Can I carry a gun in my front yard in California?

A U.S. citizen or legal resident over age 18 may generally carry a handgun anywhere within his or her place of residence, place of business, or on private property owned or lawfully possessed by the citizen or legal resident. A permit or license is not required for a person to carry within these locations.

What do I need to buy a handgun in California in 2024?

To purchase a firearm, you will need both:
  • Valid California Driver's License/valid California ID*
  • Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC)

Can I legally carry a gun in California now?

Can You Carry a Gun in California? Openly carrying loaded or unloaded firearms in public is generally prohibited in California. Concealed carry is only legal with a California Concealed Carry Weapons License (CCWL). California does not honor concealed carry permits from any other states.

Can I buy a 30 round magazine in California in 2024?

The Current Law on California Gun Magazines

Possessing, selling, purchasing, giving away, importing, transporting, or manufacturing magazines holding more than ten rounds of ammunition is prohibited.

Can I have a loaded magazine in my car in California?

There's nothing prohibiting you from carrying ammunition in the same locked container as the firearm, but the gun must not be loaded or attached to the ammunition in any manner.

What's the biggest magazine you can have in California?

The following states have implemented capacity-based magazine bans: California – 10 rounds, Colorado – 15 rounds, Connecticut – 10 rounds, Hawaii – 10 rounds, Maryland – 10 rounds, Massachusetts – 10 rounds, New York – 10 rounds; New Jersey – 10 rounds (previously restricted to 15 rounds); Vermont – 10 rounds for ...

What happens if you get pulled over with a gun in the car in California?

Misdemeanor for Driving with a Loaded and Concealed Weapon

If convicted, you could face 12 months in county jail and a $1,000 fine. To convict you of driving with a loaded firearm and not locked away, a prosecutor must show: You had a gun in your motor vehicle that could be concealed on you or carried by you.

Can I take my gun from California to Texas?

Per federal law 18 USC § 926A, every U.S. citizen may legally transport firearms across state lines as long as he or she is legally allowed to possess the weapons in both the state of origin as well as the destination.

Is having a gun in your car considered concealed?

One of the most common questions people have is whether they need to inform the police if they have a gun in their vehicle. In California, carrying a concealed firearm in a car is generally considered a crime, unless specific conditions are met.