30 Days Gun Limit in California

Here’s a questions a FFL dealers often gets asked.  

Is there a limit on the number of handguns that I can own or purchase?

• There is no limit to the number of handguns that you may own but you are generally limited to purchasing no more than one handgun in any 30-day period. Handgun transactions related to law enforcement, private party transfers, returns to owners, and certain other specific circumstances are exempt from the one-handgun-per-30-day purchase limit.

Here is the penal code 27535 for your convenience.

(a) No person shall make an application to purchase more than one handgun within any 30-day period.

(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) Any law enforcement

(2) Any agency duly authorized to perform law enforcement duties.

(3) Any state or local correctional facility.

(4) Any private security company licensed to do business in California.

(5) Any person who is properly identified as a full-time paid peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, and who is authorized to, and does carry a firearm during the course and scope of employment as a peace officer.

(6) Any motion picture, television, or video production company or entertainment or theatrical company whose production by its nature involves the use of a firearm.

(7) Any person who may, pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 27600), Article 3 (commencing with Section 27650), or Article 4 (commencing with Section 27700), claim an exemption from the waiting period set forth in Section 27540.

• • Penal Code Section 27650
  • (a) The waiting period described in Section 27540 does not apply to the sale, delivery, or transfer of firearms made to any person who satisfies both of the following requirements:
  • (1) The person is properly identified as a full-time paid peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2.
  • (2) The officer’s employer has authorized the officer to carry firearms while in the performance of duties.
  • (b) (1) Proper identification is defined as verifiable written certification from the head of the agency by which the purchaser or transferee is employed, identifying the purchaser or transferee as a peace officer who is authorized to carry firearms while in the performance of duties, and authorizing the purchase or transfer.
  • (2) The certification shall be delivered to the dealer at the time of purchase or transfer and the purchaser or transferee shall identify himself or herself as the person authorized in the certification.
  • (3) The dealer shall keep the certification with the record of sale.
  • (4) On the date that the sale, delivery, or transfer is made, the dealer delivering the firearm shall transmit to the Department of Justice an electronic or telephonic report of the transaction as is indicated in Section 28160 or 28165.