California Penal Code Section 30305[1] extends the firearms prohibition to ammunition, ensuring that persons who cannot legally possess firearms are also barred from possessing ammunition. This provision replaced former PC 12316(b)(1) during the 2012 code reorganization.
Prohibited Conduct
PC 30305(a)(1) provides that no person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under Chapter 2 (commencing with PC 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with PC 29900) of Division 9 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or under Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, shall own, possess, or have under their custody or control any ammunition or reloaded ammunition.
Who Is Covered
The following categories of persons are prohibited from possessing ammunition under PC 30305 or the other provisions identified below.
- Convicted felons (PC 29800)
- Persons convicted of specified misdemeanors (PC 29805[2])
- Persons convicted of violent offenses (PC 29900)
- Narcotic addicts (PC 29800(a)(1))
- Persons found mentally incompetent or adjudicated as a danger (WIC 8100, 8103)
- Persons subject to gun violence restraining orders under the separate prohibition in PC 18100 et seq.
- Persons subject to domestic violence restraining orders
Ammunition Background Checks
Since July 1, 2019, under Proposition 63[3] (codified at PC 30352 and related sections), ammunition purchases through vendors in California require a point-of-sale eligibility check through the California DOJ, except for exempt transactions. This system is designed to identify prohibited persons at the time of purchase and deny the transaction. However, PC 30305 remains independently enforceable for ammunition already in a prohibited person's possession.
Penalties
A violation of PC 30305(a) is a wobbler offense. A violation of subdivision (b) is a misdemeanor. As a misdemeanor, it is punishable by up to one year in county jail. Subdivision (a) also permits punishment by imprisonment in state prison. The charging decision typically depends on the circumstances of the violation, the defendant's criminal history, and whether the ammunition was found in conjunction with a firearm.
Verification
13 of 13 factual claims on this page were matched to their source text as of 2026-10-16.
Show the claims
| Claim | Type | Status | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC 30305Source text: # § 30305 ## (a) (1) No person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Se | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| Penal Code Section 30305Source text: # § 30305 ## (a) (1) No person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Se | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| PC 29800Source text: # § 29800 ## (a) (1) Any person who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States, the State of California, or any other state, governmen | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| California Penal Code Section 30305Source text: # § 30305 ## (a) (1) No person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Se | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| PC 12316(b)(1) | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| PC 30305(a)(1)Source text: # § 30305 ## (a) (1) No person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Se | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| PC 29900Source text: # § 29900 ## (a) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 29800, any person who has been previously convicted of any of the offenses listed in Section 2 | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| PC 29805Source text: # § 29805 ## (a) (1) Except as provided in Section 29855, subdivision (a) of Section 29800, or subdivision (b), any person who has been convicted of a misdeme | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| PC 29800(a)(1)Source text: # § 29800 ## (a) (1) Any person who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States, the State of California, or any other state, governmen | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| WIC 8100Source text: # § 8100 ## (a) A person shall not have in his or her possession or under his or her custody or control, or purchase or receive, or attempt to purchase or rec | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| PC 18100Source text: # § 18100 ## (a) A gun violence restraining order is an order, in writing, signed by the court, prohibiting and enjoining a named person from having in his or | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| PC 30352Source text: # § 30352 ## (a) Commencing July 1, 2019, an ammunition vendor shall not sell or otherwise transfer ownership of any ammunition without, at the time of delive | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
| PC 30305(a)Source text: # § 30305 ## (a) (1) No person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Se | STAT | verified against source | None | 2026-10-16 |
Sources
[1] California Legislature. Penal Code Section 30305
Part 6, Title 4, Section 30305
[2] California Legislature. Penal Code Section 29805
Part 6, Title 4, Section 29805
[3] California Legislature. Penal Code Section 30352 (Proposition 63)
Part 6, Title 4, Section 30352