SB 704:
Firearm Barrel FFL Transfer Requirement

Senate Bill 704 (Chapter 591, Statutes of 2025), signed by Governor Newsom on October 10, 2025, took effect January 1, 2026 and generally requires firearm barrel transactions to be completed in person by a licensed firearms dealer, with specified exemptions. Before SB 704, the requirement to transfer through a licensed dealer covered firearms, including frames, receivers and firearm precursor parts, but not separate barrels. SB 704 establishes a separate barrel-transfer process, with dealer eligibility checks, transaction recording and electronic submission to DOJ beginning July 1, 2027 ^[1].

What SB 704 Requires

Under SB 704, firearm barrel sales and transfers generally must be completed in person by a licensed firearms dealer, subject to the exemptions in Section 33700(g).

• Dealer involvement Unless an exemption applies, private-party barrel transfers must be completed in person by a licensed dealer. Beginning July 1, 2027, the dealer must record the specified transaction information and electronically submit it to DOJ.
• Online barrel purchases Unless an exemption applies, consumers purchasing barrels from out-of-state retailers must have the transaction completed in person by a California licensed firearms dealer.
• Eligibility checks and recording begin July 1, 2027 Beginning on that date, dealers must conduct the barrel eligibility check, record the specified transaction information on a DOJ-prescribed form and submit it electronically to DOJ. The in-person dealer requirement took effect January 1, 2026.

Which Barrels Are Covered

SB 704 covers firearm barrels with rifled or smooth bores, including certain unfinished articles that can readily be completed as barrels or are marketed for that purpose. The statute covers barrels sold separately from a complete firearm. A barrel attached or affixed to a firearm is exempt from the barrel-transfer requirements. Other exemptions include transfers to federal firearms licensees, law enforcement agencies and the United States military, and qualifying transfers to licensed collectors with a current certificate of eligibility. The following are covered by SB 704:

• Pistol and handgun replacement barrels (including compensated and threaded barrels)
• Rifle barrels (AR-pattern, bolt-action replacement barrels, and similar)
• Shotgun barrels sold separately from the receiver

FFL Transfer Process

For a nonexempt online purchase, the following steps describe arranging an in-person barrel transaction through a California dealer.

1. The buyer identifies a California FFL willing to receive the barrel.
2. The buyer provides the FFL's name, address, and license number to the out-of-state retailer or private seller.
3. The seller ships the barrel to the receiving FFL (not directly to the buyer).
4. The FFL contacts the buyer when the barrel arrives.
5. The transaction is completed in person by the dealer. Beginning July 1, 2027, the dealer conducts the eligibility check, records the specified transaction information and electronically submits it to DOJ.
6. Beginning July 1, 2027, SB 704 requires DOJ to require dealers to charge an eligibility-check fee of up to $5, limited to actual processing costs. That fee may increase by no more than $1 each year as necessary to reimburse DOJ for eligibility-check costs.

Penalties for Violation

A first violation of Section 33700(a) is a misdemeanor. A second violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. A third or subsequent violation is punishable by up to one year in county jail or imprisonment under Section 1170(h), a fine of up to $2,000, or both the fine and imprisonment.

Effective Date and Current Status

SB 704 took effect on January 1, 2026. Unless an exemption applies, California residents purchasing barrels from out-of-state sources must have the transaction completed in person by an in-state licensed firearms dealer.

Practical Guidance

Gunsmiths and dealers handling barrel transfers should prepare for the eligibility-check, recording and electronic-submission requirements that begin July 1, 2027. Unless an exemption applies, Section 33700 prohibits selling or transferring a firearm barrel unless the transaction is completed in person by a licensed firearms dealer. It also prohibits possessing with intent to sell or offering to sell a firearm barrel in violation of that section. Buyers should confirm their intended FFL is willing to receive barrel transfers before placing an order, as some dealers decline non-firearm parts transfers.