California Penal Code Section 30400[1], as enacted by AB 879 (2019, operative July 1, 2024) and substantially amended by AB 1621 (2022), governs the regulation of firearm precursor parts — components such as unfinished frames and receivers that are not yet classified as firearms but can readily be converted into one. Prior to SB 883, PC 30400 addressed ammunition vendor licensing requirements; those provisions were moved to Penal Code Sections 30312 and 30385. PC 30400 now requires any person or business engaged in the sale of firearm precursor parts to obtain a license from the California Department of Justice and to conduct point-of-sale eligibility checks on purchasers.
Licensing Requirements
To obtain an ammunition vendor license, an applicant must:
- Submit an application to the California DOJ Bureau of Firearms
- Pay the applicable licensing fee
- Maintain a fixed place of business (with exceptions for gun show vendors who hold temporary event permits)
- Not be prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under state or federal law
- Comply with all applicable local zoning and business licensing requirements
Automatic Authorization for FFLs
Licensed firearms dealers who hold a valid federal firearms license (FFL) and a California state dealer license are automatically deemed to be licensed ammunition vendors under Penal Code Section 30385[3]. They do not need to obtain a separate ammunition vendor license but must still comply with all ammunition-specific record-keeping and point-of-sale eligibility check requirements.
Record-Keeping Requirements
Licensed ammunition vendors must maintain detailed records of all ammunition transactions, including:
- Date of the transaction
- Name, address, and date of birth of the purchaser
- Driver's license or California ID number
- The brand, type, and quantity of ammunition sold
- The results of the DOJ eligibility check
These records must be made available to the DOJ upon request and must be retained for a minimum period as specified by regulation under Penal Code Section 30352[4].
Online and Out-of-State Vendors
Out-of-state ammunition vendors may not sell directly to California residents. All out-of-state ammunition purchases must be shipped to a licensed ammunition vendor in California, who then processes the sale and conducts the eligibility check. Online retailers based in California must hold an ammunition vendor license and comply with the same point-of-sale requirements as brick-and-mortar vendors.
Penalties for Unlicensed Sales
Selling ammunition without a valid vendor license is a misdemeanor under Section 30400. A first offense is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The DOJ may also seek injunctive relief to prevent continued unlicensed sales.