Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 17700. Section 17700.
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to any antique firearm.
CHAPTER 1. Exemptions [17700. - 17745.]
Cal. Penal Code - PEN 1.
in effectCal. Penal Code - PEN § 17705. Section 17705.
(a)
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to any firearm or ammunition that is a curio or relic as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations and that is in the possession of a person permitted to possess the items under Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(b)
Any person prohibited by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 29610), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800), or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900) of Division 9 of Title 4 of this part, or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, from possessing firearms or ammunition who obtains
title to these items by bequest or intestate succession may retain title for not more than one year, but actual possession of these items at any time is punishable under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 29610), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800), or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900) of Division 9 of Title 4 of this part, or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. Within the year, the person shall transfer title to the firearms or ammunition by sale, gift, or other disposition. Any person who violates this section is in violation of the applicable provision listed in Section 16590.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 17710. Section 17710.
(a)
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to “any other weapon” as defined in subsection (e) of Section 5845 of Title 26 of the United States Code, which is in the possession of a person permitted to possess the weapons under the federal Gun Control Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-618), as amended, and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(b)
Any person prohibited by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 29610), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800), or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900) of Division 9 of Title 4 of this part, or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, from possessing these weapons who obtains title to these weapons by bequest or intestate
succession may retain title for not more than one year, but actual possession of these weapons at any time is punishable under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 29610), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800), or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900) of Division 9 of Title 4 of this part, or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. Within the year, the person shall transfer title to the weapons by sale, gift, or other disposition. Any person who violates this section is in violation of the applicable provision listed in Section 16590.
(c)
The exemption provided by this section does not apply to a pen gun.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 17715. Section 17715.
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to any instrument or device that is possessed by a federal, state, or local historical society, museum, or institutional collection that is open to the public if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a)
The instrument or device is properly housed.
(b)
The instrument or device is secured from unauthorized handling.
(c)
If the instrument or device is a firearm, it is unloaded.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 17720. Section 17720.
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to any instrument or device, other than a short-barreled rifle or a short-barreled shotgun, which is possessed or used during the course of a motion picture, television, or video production or entertainment event by an authorized participant therein in the course of making that production or event or by an authorized employee or agent of the entity producing that production or event.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 17725. Section 17725.
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to any instrument or device, other than a short-barreled rifle or a short-barreled shotgun, which is sold by, manufactured by, exposed or kept for sale by, possessed by, imported by, or lent by a person who is in the business of selling instruments or devices listed in Section 16590 solely to the entities referred to in Sections 17715 and 17720 when engaging in transactions with those entities.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 17730. Section 17730.
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to any of the following:
(a)
The sale to, possession of, or purchase of any weapon, device, or ammunition, other than a short-barreled rifle or a short-barreled shotgun, by any federal, state, county, city and county, or city agency that is charged with the enforcement of any law for use in the discharge of its official duties.
(b)
The possession of any weapon, device, or ammunition, other than a short-barreled rifle or short-barreled shotgun, by any peace officer of any federal, state, county, city and county, or city agency that is charged with the enforcement of any law, when the officer is on duty
and the use is authorized by the agency and is within the course and scope of the officer’s duties.
(c)
Any weapon, device, or ammunition, other than a short-barreled rifle or a short-barreled shotgun, that is sold by, manufactured by, exposed or kept for sale by, possessed by, imported by, or lent by, any person who is in the business of selling weapons, devices, and ammunition listed in Section 16590 solely to the entities referred to in subdivision (a) when engaging in transactions with those entities.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 17735. Section 17735.
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to any instrument, ammunition, weapon, or device that is not a firearm and is found and possessed by a person who meets all of the following:
(a)
The person is not prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under subdivision (a) of Section 30305 or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900) of Division 9 of Title 4 of this part, or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(b)
The person possessed the instrument, ammunition, weapon, or device no longer than was necessary to deliver or transport it to a law enforcement agency for that
agency’s disposition according to law.
(c)
If the person is transporting the item, the person is transporting it to a law enforcement agency for disposition according to law.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 17740. Section 17740.
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to any firearm, other than a short-barreled rifle or short-barreled shotgun, which is found and possessed by a person who meets all of the following:
(a)
The person is not prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under subdivision (a) of Section 30305 or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900) of Division 9 of Title 4 of this part, or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(b)
The person possessed the firearm no longer than was necessary to deliver or transport it to a law enforcement agency for that agency’s disposition
according to law.
(c)
If the person is transporting the firearm, the person is transporting it to a law enforcement agency for disposition according to law.
(d)
Before transporting the firearm to a law enforcement agency, the person has given prior notice to that law enforcement agency that the person is transporting the firearm to that law enforcement agency for disposition according to law.
(e)
The firearm is transported in a locked container as defined in Section 16850.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 17745. Section 17745.
The provisions listed in Section 16590 do not apply to the possession of any weapon, device, or ammunition by a forensic laboratory or by any authorized agent or employee thereof in the course and scope of the person’s authorized activities.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026