Handguns, rifles, shotguns, most knives, pepper spray, stun guns, Tasers, and archery equipment are all legal to own in California, but each category carries conditions that can turn a lawful purchase into a criminal charge if you get them wrong. The weapons that are legal in California are legal only in specific configurations, bought through specific channels, and carried in specific ways. The short version is below; the details decide whether you stay on the right side of the law.
Who Cannot Possess Weapons at All
Before anything else, confirm you’re eligible. Anyone convicted of a felony under federal, California, or any other state’s law is prohibited from owning, buying, or possessing any firearm. The same prohibition applies to anyone addicted to a narcotic drug, anyone with two or more convictions for brandishing a weapon, and anyone with an outstanding warrant for certain offenses.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 29800
The ban reaches beyond firearms. Felony convictions and assault-related convictions also bar you from buying or possessing pepper spray and stun guns. Minors and people addicted to narcotics are prohibited from those tools as well. Violating any of these bars is itself a felony.
Handguns
Handguns are legal, but not every model on the national market can be sold here. Any handgun manufactured in or imported into California for sale must appear on the state’s Roster of Certified Handguns, maintained by the Department of Justice.2State of California Department of Justice. Handguns Certified for Sale Manufacturers must pay annual renewal fees and keep models in compliance; when they don’t, listings expire and models drop off.3New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 11 CA ADC 4071 – Roster of Certified Handgun Listing Renewal Procedures Centerfire semiautomatic pistols not already on the roster before July 2022 must include a loaded chamber indicator and a magazine disconnect mechanism to qualify.4California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 31910 All handguns must pass drop-safety testing.
Private-party transfers of off-roster handguns between existing California owners are allowed, but every transfer still runs through a licensed dealer with a background check. Every purchase also triggers California’s 10-day waiting period, with no exception for existing owners or permit holders. The Department of Justice can extend the wait to 30 days if eligibility is unclear.
Buyers need a Firearm Safety Certificate before they can take possession of any firearm, obtained by passing a written test at a licensed dealer. Active and honorably retired military, CCW holders, and certain law enforcement personnel are exempt.5State of California Department of Justice. Firearms Safety Certificate Study Guide
Magazines holding more than 10 rounds cannot be manufactured, imported, sold, or given away in the state. Possession of large-capacity magazines has also been restricted, though enforcement of the possession ban has been affected by ongoing federal litigation.
Rifles
Bolt-action and lever-action rifles are the simplest category to own. The complications start with semiautomatic centerfire rifles, which California tests against a list of restricted features. A semiautomatic centerfire rifle without a fixed magazine is classified as an assault weapon if it has any one of these features:6California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 30515
- A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action
- A thumbhole stock
- A folding or telescoping stock
- A grenade or flare launcher
- A flash suppressor
- A forward pistol grip
This is why California-modified AR-15s look the way they do. Owners either go “featureless” by removing all restricted features while keeping a detachable magazine, or they install a fixed magazine that can only be removed by partially disassembling the rifle. The wrong combination of restricted features with a detachable magazine creates an unregistered assault weapon, which is a felony.
Short-barreled rifles, meaning those with a barrel under 16 inches or an overall length under 26 inches, are prohibited.7California Alcoholic Beverage Control. California Penal Code 12020 California does not honor federal NFA registration for SBRs the way some states do. The 10-round magazine limit applies to rifles as well.
Shotguns
Pump-action and break-action shotguns are widely legal. The barrel must be at least 18 inches and the overall length at least 26 inches; anything shorter is a prohibited short-barreled shotgun.7California Alcoholic Beverage Control. California Penal Code 12020
A semiautomatic shotgun that accepts a detachable magazine is classified as an assault weapon regardless of any other features. Shotguns with revolving cylinders also fall into the assault weapon category.6California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 30515 The 10-round capacity limit applies to shotguns with fixed tubular magazines.
Hunters have an added federal rule to track: shotguns used for migratory bird hunting are limited to a total capacity of three shells, and the gun must be plugged with a one-piece filler that can’t be removed without disassembly. Shotguns larger than 10 gauge are illegal for migratory bird hunting.8eCFR. Title 50 Part 20 – Migratory Bird Hunting
Knives
California allows most common knives but draws sharp lines based on design and how you carry them. Fixed-blade knives, including hunting and utility knives, are legal to carry openly in a sheath worn visibly on your waist. A knife carried that way is not considered concealed. Carrying a fixed-blade knife hidden on your person, in a jacket or a bag, makes it a concealed dirk or dagger, which is a crime.9California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 16590
Folding pocket knives are generally legal to carry openly or concealed as long as the blade stays folded. A pocket knife with an exposed, locked blade is treated as a dirk or dagger, so concealing it on your person is illegal.
Several knife types are banned outright. Switchblades with a blade of two inches or longer cannot be carried on your person, possessed in a vehicle in a public area, or sold in California.10California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 21510 Butterfly knives fall under the same restriction. Ballistic knives, belt buckle knives, cane swords, lipstick case knives, and writing pen knives are all classified as generally prohibited weapons.9California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 16590 Some cities add their own restrictions on blade length and carry method beyond what state law requires.
Pepper Spray, Stun Guns, and Tasers
Any person not otherwise prohibited by law can buy and carry pepper spray in California for self-defense without a permit or background check. The canister cannot exceed 2.5 ounces. Convicted felons, anyone with an assault-related conviction, people addicted to narcotics, and minors are barred.11California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 22810 Using the spray for anything other than self-defense is a crime.
If you fly, pepper spray cannot go in a carry-on. One container up to 4 fluid ounces is allowed in checked luggage, provided it has a safety mechanism; sprays containing more than 2 percent tear gas are banned from checked bags.12Transportation Security Administration. Pepper Spray
Stun guns and Tasers follow the same eligibility rules as pepper spray: legal to buy and possess without a permit for people who aren’t in the prohibited categories.13California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 22610 Carrying one onto school grounds, into government buildings, or into secured airport areas is illegal, and offensive use rather than self-defense can result in criminal charges.
Bows and Crossbows
California treats bows and crossbows as archery equipment, not firearms. No registration, background check, or permit is required to buy or own them. Because they fall outside the legal definition of a firearm, the federal firearm prohibition for felons does not directly apply to crossbows. Using any weapon to commit a crime still carries its own penalties.
For hunting, archery equipment is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.14Fish and Game Commission. Final Statement of Reasons for Regulatory Action – Archery Equipment and Crossbow Regulations Hunters must use broadhead arrows for big game, and crossbows are generally prohibited during archery-only seasons unless the hunter has a disability exemption. Negligent or threatening discharge of a bow can bring criminal charges even though the weapon itself is legal.
Ammunition
California is one of the few states that requires a background check for every ammunition purchase. All sales must go through a licensed vendor, who submits the buyer’s information to the Department of Justice before completing the transaction. Buyers already in the state’s system as registered firearm owners get a quick check for a few dollars; everyone else pays more for a fuller eligibility check.15California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 30370
You cannot buy ammunition online and have it shipped to your home. Ammunition shipped into California must go to a licensed vendor for in-person pickup after the background check. Bringing ammunition in yourself from out-of-state purchases is also restricted. Anyone prohibited from possessing firearms is automatically prohibited from buying ammunition.
Carrying in Public
Owning a legal firearm and carrying it in public are two different things. To carry a concealed handgun, you need a CCW license issued by the sheriff of your county or the chief of police in your city.16State of California Department of Justice. Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-02 – New and Amended Firearms Laws
Applicants must be at least 21, complete a training course with live-fire exercises, pass a background check, and identify each firearm they want to carry by make, model, caliber, and serial number. As of 2026, non-California residents can apply through the licensing authority in the area where they primarily travel or spend time.16State of California Department of Justice. Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-02 – New and Amended Firearms Laws Fees and processing times vary by county. Even with a valid permit, concealed carry is prohibited in a long list of sensitive locations including schools and government buildings.
California does not recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states. A permit from elsewhere has no legal effect here.
Safe Storage
California holds gun owners criminally responsible for how they store firearms around children. If you keep a firearm in a home or premises you control, and a child under 18 gains access because you stored it negligently, you can be charged with criminal storage of a firearm.17California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 25100
The charge scales with the outcome. If the child causes death or great bodily injury with the unsecured firearm, the charge is more serious. If the child carries it to a public place or causes lesser injury, the charge is lower but still criminal.17California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 25100 The same framework applies when a prohibited person in your household gains access. A trigger lock, locked container, or gun safe eliminates this liability.
Weapons Banned Outright
California keeps a long list of weapons that are illegal to possess regardless of criminal history or intent. Beyond the restricted knives and firearm configurations already covered, the state prohibits metal knuckles, nunchucks, shurikens, clubbing instruments like blackjacks and slungshots, and firearms disguised as everyday objects. Ammunition containing flechette darts or explosive agents is also banned.9California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 16590
Camouflaging firearm containers that disguise a gun as something innocuous, and undetectable firearms that can pass through a metal detector, are also on the prohibited list. Possessing any of these items is itself a criminal offense, even if you never use or display the weapon. Several items surprise people moving in from states where they were legal, so review the list before relocating with any unusual weapons or collectibles.