Penal Code section 27920
(a)
Section 27545 does not apply to a person who takes title or possession of a firearm by operation of law if the person is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm and all of the following conditions are met:(1)
If the person taking title or possession is neither a levying officer as defined in Section 481.140, 511.060, or 680.260 of the Code of Civil Procedure, nor a person who is receiving that firearm pursuant to subdivision (g), (h), (i), (j), (l), or (q) of Section 16990, the person shall, within 30 days of taking possession, submit a report to the Department of Justice, in a manner prescribed by the department, that includes information concerning the individual taking possession of the firearm, how title or possession was obtained and from whom, and a description of the firearm in question.(2)
If the person taking title or possession is receiving the firearm pursuant to subdivision (g), (h), (l), or (q) of Section 16990, the person shall do both of the following:(A)
Within 30 days of taking possession, submit a report to the Department of Justice, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, that includes information concerning the individual taking possession of the firearm, how title or possession was obtained and from whom, and a description of the firearm in question.(B)
Prior to taking title or possession of the firearm, the person shall obtain a valid firearm safety certificate, except that in the case of a handgun, a valid unexpired handgun safety certificate may be presented.(3)
Where the person receiving title or possession of the firearm is a person described in subdivision (i) of Section 16990, on the date that the person is delivered the firearm, the name and other information concerning the person taking possession of the firearm, how title or possession of the firearm was obtained and from whom, and a description of the firearm by make, model, serial number, and other identifying characteristics shall be entered into the Automated Firearms System (AFS) via the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) by the law enforcement or state agency that transferred or delivered the firearm, provided, however, that if the firearm is not a handgun and does not have a serial number, identification number, or identification mark assigned to it, that fact shall be noted in AFS. An agency without access to AFS shall arrange with the sheriff of the county in which the agency is located to input this information via this system.(4)
Where the person receiving title or possession of the firearm is a person described in subdivision (j) of Section 16990, on the date that the person is delivered the firearm, the name and other information concerning the person taking possession of the firearm, how title or possession of the firearm was obtained and from whom, and a description of the firearm by make, model, serial number, and other identifying characteristics shall be entered into the AFS via the CLETS by the law enforcement or state agency that transferred or delivered the firearm, provided, however, that if the firearm is not a handgun and does not have a serial number, identification number, or identification mark assigned to it, that fact shall be noted in AFS. An agency without access to AFS shall arrange with the sheriff of the county in which the agency is located to input this information via this system. In addition, that law enforcement agency shall not deliver the firearm to the person referred to in this subdivision unless, prior to the delivery of the firearm, the person presents proof to the agency that the person is the holder of a valid firearm safety certificate, except that in the case of a handgun, a valid unexpired handgun safety certificate may be presented.(b)
Subdivision (a) of Section 27585 does not apply to a person who imports a firearm into this state, brings a firearm into this state, or transports a firearm into this state if all of the following requirements are met:(1)
The person acquires ownership of the firearm as an executor, personal representative, or administrator of an estate, or as the trustee of a trust that includes a firearm and that was part of a will that created the trust.(2)
If acquisition of the firearm had occurred within this state, the receipt of the firearm by the executor, personal representative, trustee, or administrator would be exempt from the provisions of Section 27545 pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).(3)
Within 30 days of taking possession of the firearm and importing, bringing, or transporting it into this state, the person shall submit a report to the Department of Justice, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, that includes information concerning the individual taking possession of the firearm, how title was obtained and from whom, and a description of the firearm in question.(4)
If the executor, personal representative, trustee, or administrator subsequently acquires ownership of that firearm in an individual capacity, prior to transferring ownership to themselves, they shall obtain a valid firearm safety certificate, except that in the case of a handgun, a valid unexpired handgun safety certificate may be used.(5)
The executor, personal representative, trustee, or administrator is 18 years of age or older.(c)
Subdivision (a) of Section 27585 does not apply to a person who imports a firearm into this state, brings a firearm into this state, or transports a firearm into this state if all of the following requirements are met:(1)
The person acquires ownership of the firearm by bequest or intestate succession as a surviving spouse or as the surviving registered domestic partner of the decedent who owned that firearm.(2)
If acquisition of the firearm had occurred within this state, the receipt of the firearm by the surviving spouse or registered domestic partner would be exempt from the provisions of Section 27545 pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) by virtue of subdivision (h) of Section 16990.(3)
Within 30 days of taking possession of the firearm and importing, bringing, or transporting it into this state, the person shall submit a report to the Department of Justice, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, that includes information concerning the individual taking possession of the firearm, how title was obtained and from whom, and a description of the firearm in question.(4)
The person has obtained a valid firearm safety certificate, except that in the case of a handgun, a valid unexpired handgun safety certificate may be used.(d)
Subdivision (a) of Section 27585 does not apply to a person who imports a firearm into this state, brings a firearm into this state, or transports a firearm into this state if all of the following requirements are met:(1)
The firearm is imported into this country pursuant to provisions of Section 925(a)(4) of Title 18 of the United States Code.(2)
The person is not subject to the requirements of Section 27560.(3)
The firearm is not a firearm that is prohibited by any provision listed in Section 16590.(4)
The firearm is not an assault weapon.(5)
The firearm is not a machinegun.(6)
The firearm is not a .50 BMG rifle.(7)
The firearm is not a destructive device.(8)
The person is 18 years of age or older.(9)
Within 30 days of that person taking possession of the firearm and importing, bringing, or transporting it into this state, the person shall submit a report to the Department of Justice, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, that includes information concerning the individual taking possession of the firearm, how title was obtained and from whom, and a description of the firearm in question.(e)
The reports that individuals complete pursuant to this section shall be made available to them in a format prescribed by the Department of Justice.(f)
Furnishing a fictitious name or address, knowingly furnishing any incorrect information, or knowingly omitting any information required to be provided for the form described in this section is punishable as a misdemeanor.(g)
The department shall establish a fee for submission of the report described in this section and an additional fee for each additional firearm. This fee shall not exceed the reasonable and actual costs of processing the report submitted pursuant to this section. The department may annually review and adjust this fee to fully fund, but not exceed, these costs.(h)
The department may request photographs of the firearm to determine if the firearm is a generally prohibited weapon, assault weapon, or machinegun, or is otherwise prohibited.(i)
Upon receipt of a report submitted pursuant to this section and any required fee, the department shall examine its records, as well as those records that it is authorized to request from the State Department of State Hospitals pursuant to Section 8104 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and records available to the department in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, to determine if the purchaser is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm.
Source:
Section 27920, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=27920. (accessed May 26, 2025).