<Tr> <Td> State permit to purchase? </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> § 26500 (3) </Td> <Td> All firearm sales must be completed through a dealer . Firearm purchases require a Firearm Safety Certificate and proof of residency unless the individual purchasing the firearm is active duty military or a peace officer under Penal Code Section 830 . Military reservists must provide proof of residency in order to purchase a firearm . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Firearm registration? </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> § 28150 </Td> <Td> The California Department of Justice ("DOJ") retains information about the purchaser and seller of all in - state firearm sales and transfers, and requires that any firearms imported into the state be reported to the DOJ . Furthermore, the Attorney General is required by law to maintain a registry containing the fingerprints and identifying information of the transferee, and the unique identifying information of every firearm transferred in the state, pursuant to § 11106 . All handgun serial numbers and sales are recorded by the state in the Department of Justice's Automated Firearms System, along with those of many long guns . While there is no requirement for California residents to register handguns owned prior to 1991 with law enforcement, § 12025 and § 12031 enhance several misdemeanor offenses to felonies if the handgun is not on file in the Department of Justice's Automated Firearms System . New residents must register handguns (purchased outside of California) with DOJ within 60 days . As of January 1, 2014, long gun serial numbers are also recorded, where as previously only the sale was recorded . However, it is not required that owners of long guns purchased prior to 2014 register their firearms and it is not a crime to be in possession of an un-registered firearm . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Owner license required? </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> No </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> While a state permit is required to purchase a firearm in California, firearms may be acquired by other means - for example, before moving to California, or through a gift </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Assault weapon law? </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> Yes </Td> <Td> § 30500, § 30515 </Td> <Td> Illegal to possess, import, or purchase assault weapons and . 50 BMG rifles, unless such weapons were acquired by the owner prior to June 1, 1989 . While California's Assault Weapons Ban does allow individuals to obtain, transport or possess banned weapons with permission from the DOJ, the DOJ generally does not grant such permission to ordinary citizens . Legally defined assault weapons and . 50 BMG rifles listed by make and model by the DOJ must be registered . Their sale and transfer is prohibited . Military look - alike rifles that are not chambered for . 50 BMG and are not on the DOJ roster are legal to purchase or possess, with some restrictions in configuration--known as "banned features". Active - duty military members residing out of state and assigned to duty in California may bring personally - owned assault weapons into the state . The military member's residence must be in a state that permits private citizens to own and possess assault weapons, and the firearms must be registered with the California Department of Justice prior to the servicemember's arrival in California by submitting the registration form with a copy of the member's Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders and an authorization letter from the installation commander . <P> With the passage of Senate Bill 880 and Assembly Bill 1135 in June 2016, the state's assault weapon ban has been expanded to include all semi-automatic center - fire rifles and shotguns that have a "bullet button" detachable magazine; effectively repealing a prior law that made "bullet button" magazines required on all newly manufactured weapons with detachable magazines . The sale or transfer of such weapons will be prohibited, effective January 1, 2017 . Those purchased prior to January 1, 2017 must be registered with the DOJ by the start of 2018 . The definition of types of weapons that are banned has been expanded, the exact definitions should be reviewed at the California DOJ website . </P> </Td> </Tr>

Can you own a gun in california without a permit