California Penal Code Section 30900[1] provides the legal framework for registering assault weapons that were lawfully possessed before the applicable ban took effect. Registration allows continued lawful possession but does not permit sale, transfer, or inheritance within California.
Registration Windows by Category
California has had three distinct registration periods corresponding to the three categories of assault weapons:
- Category 1 (Roberti-Roos named models): Owners of firearms listed in Section 30510 were required to register with the California Department of Justice by January 1, 1991. This was the original registration window under the 1989 Roberti-Roos Act.
- Category 2 (SB 23 characteristics-based): SB 23 (1999) created two distinct registration deadlines. Owners of firearms meeting the generic characteristics test in Section 30515 were required to register by January 1, 2001. Owners of AK and AR-15 series weapons identified under the Kasler list were required to register by January 23, 2001.
- Category 3 (AG-designated): Owners of firearms declared assault weapons by the Attorney General under Section 30520 were required to register within 90 days of the designation.
Bullet Button Assault Weapons
In 2016, the California Legislature passed SB 880 and AB 1135, which reclassified rifles equipped with bullet buttons as assault weapons by redefining "detachable magazine" to include magazines removable with a tool. Owners of these newly classified assault weapons were given until June 30, 2018, to register them with the DOJ through the online Assault Weapon Registration (AWR) system[2]. Those who did not register were required to modify their rifles to a compliant configuration (featureless or fixed magazine), remove them from the state, or surrender them.
Registration Requirements
Registration under Section 30900 requires submission of the owner's identifying information, a description of the firearm including make, model, serial number, and type, and the applicable registration fee. Registered assault weapons must be stored securely and may only be transported in compliance with Penal Code Section 30945, which requires the weapon to be unloaded, stored in a locked container, and transported directly between specified locations.
Restrictions on Registered Assault Weapons
A registered assault weapon may not be sold, transferred, given, or lent to any person within California. Upon the death of the registered owner, the firearm must be surrendered to law enforcement, removed from the state, or sold to a licensed dealer who will remove it from California. There is no inheritance exemption for registered assault weapons.