If you’re a California gun owner, 2026 didn’t just bring a new calendar. It brought new storage rules, too.
On a recent episode of California Gun Law, host Don Hammond walked through the state’s freshly updated firearm storage laws that officially took effect January 1, 2026.
And fair warning: this is one of those “sounds boring until it gets expensive or criminal” topics.
The changes come from Assembly Bill 53, passed back in 2024, and they dramatically tighten how firearms must be stored inside any “residence.” And California defines “residence” broadly. Houses, apartments, hotel rooms, RVs, even places where you’re temporarily living all count.
The heart of the update lives in Penal Code sections 25100 and 25145, which now spell out three flavors of “criminal storage of a firearm.”
- First-degree criminal storage is the big one. If a child or prohibited person accesses your firearm and causes death or great bodily injury, you’re looking at felony charges.
- Second-degree drops to a misdemeanor if someone gets hurt but not seriously injured.
- Third-degree still lands you in misdemeanor territory even if no one touches the gun. if you should have known access was possible.
Here’s the kicker: a lot of old exceptions are gone. Previously, if you reasonably believed no children would be present, you might have been in the clear.
Not anymore. As Hammond explains, the only real safe harbor now is compliance with Penal Code 25145. Meaning guns not under your immediate control must be locked up properly.
And “properly” now has a legal definition. Firearms must be secured using either a DOJ-approved firearm safety device (yes, those padlocks still count) or a gun safe that meets specific DOJ standards.
The state even regulates steel thickness and construction details. Miss the mark, and you’re looking at fines starting at $250, climbing to $500, and eventually misdemeanor charges with possible jail time.
Will cops be randomly checking gun safes? No. Thank you, Fourth Amendment. But as Hammond jokes, people always find creative ways to get caught.
Bottom line: California just raised the stakes. If you own guns, locking them up isn’t just smart. It’s legally mandatory. Stay informed, stay legal, and maybe double-check that safe while you’re at it.
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