Section 27530.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 27530.
in effect(a)
No person shall sell or otherwise transfer ownership of a firearm that is not imprinted with a serial number imprinted by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.
(b)
This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1)
A firearm made or assembled prior to December 16, 1968, that is not a handgun.
(2)
A firearm that is a curio or relic, or an antique firearm, as those terms are defined in Section 479.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(3)
A firearm that has been
entered, before July 1, 2018, into the centralized registry set forth in Section 11106, as being owned by a specific individual or entity, if that firearm has assigned to it a distinguishing number or mark of identification because the department accepted entry of that firearm into the centralized registry.
(4)
The transfer, surrender, or sale of a firearm to a law enforcement agency.
(5)
The sale or transfer of ownership of a firearm to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or any other federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.
References
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 479.11.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 11106.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026