Penal Code section 29830
(a)
A person who is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm, ammunition feeding device, or ammunition pursuant to any law, may transfer or cause to be transferred, any firearm, ammunition feeding device, or ammunition in their possession, or of which they are the owner, to a firearms dealer licensed pursuant to Section 26700 to 26915, inclusive, or may transfer ammunition to an ammunition vendor, licensed pursuant to Section 30385 to 30395, inclusive, for storage during the duration of the prohibition, if the prohibition on owning or possessing the firearm, ammunition feeding device, or ammunition will expire on a specific ascertainable date, whether or not specified in the court order, or pursuant to Section 29800, 29805, or 29810.(b)
A firearms dealer or ammunition vendor who stores a firearm, ammunition feeding device, or ammunition pursuant to subdivision (a), may charge the owner a reasonable fee for the storage of the firearm, ammunition feeding device, or ammunition.(c)
A firearms dealer or ammunition vendor who stores a firearm, ammunition feeding device, or ammunition pursuant to subdivision (a) shall notify the Department of Justice of the date that the firearms dealer or ammunition vendor has taken possession of the firearm, ammunition feeding device, or ammunition.(d)
Any firearm that is returned by a dealer to the owner of the firearm pursuant to this section shall be returned in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 27540 and Article 1 (commencing with Section 26700) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 26800) of Chapter 2 of Division 6.(e)
Any ammunition that is returned by a firearms dealer or ammunition vendor to the owner of the ammunition pursuant to this section shall be returned in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article 4 (commencing with Section 30370) of Chapter 1 of Division 10.(f)
If the dealer cannot legally return the firearm to the owner, then the following procedure shall apply:(1)
The owner of the firearm may request, and the dealer shall grant, that the dealer retain possession of the firearm for a period of up to 45 days so that the owner may designate a person to take possession of that firearm in accordance with Section 27540. This 45-day period shall be in addition to the waiting period described in Section 26815 and 27540, and any time necessary to process a transaction.(2)
If, before the end of the 45-day period, the owner designates a person to receive the firearm and that person completes an application to purchase, the dealer shall process the transaction in accordance with the provisions of Section 27540.(3)
If the owner of the firearm does not request that the firearm be held by the dealer pursuant to this subdivision, the firearm cannot be delivered to the designated person, or if the 45-day period expires without action by the person loaning the firearm, the dealer shall forthwith deliver the firearm to the sheriff of the county or the chief of police or other head of a municipal police department of any city or city and county where the dealership is located, who shall then dispose of the firearm in the manner provided by Section 18000, 18005, and 34000.(g)
If the dealer or ammunition vendor cannot legally return the ammunition or ammunition feeding device, then the following procedure shall apply:(1)
The owner of the ammunition may request, and the dealer or ammunition vendor shall grant, that the dealer or ammunition vendor retain possession of the ammunition for a period of up to 45 days so that the owner of the ammunition or ammunition feeding device may designate a person to take possession of that ammunition.(2)
If, before the end of the 45-day period, the owner of the ammunition or ammunition feeding device designates a person to receive the ammunition and ammunition feeding device the ammunition and ammunition feeding device shall be transferred by that firearms dealer or ammunition vendor to the new owner of the same in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article 4 (commencing with Section 30370) of Chapter 1 of Division 10.(3)
If, before the end of the 45-day period, the only property is an ammunition feeding device, the owner designates a person to receive the ammunition feeding device, it shall be transferred by that firearms dealer or ammunition vendor to the new owner of the same in accordance with any procedures, if any, set forth by the Department of Justice.(4)
If the owner of the ammunition or ammunition feeding device, or both, does not request that the ammunition or ammunition feeding device, or both, be held by the dealer or ammunition vendor pursuant to this subdivision or the ammunition or ammunition feeding device, or both, cannot be delivered to the designated person, or the 45-day period expires without action by the owner, the dealer or ammunition vendor shall forthwith deliver the ammunition or ammunition feeding device, or both, to the sheriff of the county or the chief of police or other head of a municipal police department of any city or city and county where the dealership is located, who shall then dispose of the ammunition or ammunition feeding device in the manner provided by Section 18000, 18005, and 34000.(h)
This section shall become operative on January 1, 2026.
Source:
Section 29830, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=29830. (updated Jan. 1, 2025; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
