Proof of Residency for Handgun or Firearm Purchases

Here are the following information for proof of residency in the State of California. This specific regulations are in Penal Code, 26845 and Cal. Code Reg., tit. 11, 4045.  For your FFL dealer in San Jose to delivery the handgun or rifle to you, you must prove you live here.  More information about ID requirement when purchasing firearm click here.

What documentation is acceptable proof of residency for handgun purchasers?

1. 1. Utility bill from within the past three months that bears on its face the individual’s name and either of the following:
      
      1. The individual’s current residential address as declared on the DROS form; or
      2. The individual’s residential address as it appears on his or her California Driver License or California Identification Card, or change of address attachment thereto.

      “Utility bill” means a statement of charges for providing service to the individual’s residence by either a physical connection (i.e., hard wired Internet, telephone connection or cable connection, or a water or gas pipeline connection) or a telemetric connection (i.e., satellite television or radio broadcast service) to a non-mobile, fixed antenna reception device.

   2. Residential lease that bears the individual’s name and either of the following:
      
      1. The individual’s current residential address as declared on the DROS form; or
      2. The individual’s address as it appears on his or her California Driver License or California Identification Card, or change of address attachment thereto.

         “Residential lease” means either of the following:

         1. A signed and dated contract by which the individual (tenant) agrees to pay a specified monetary sum or provide other consideration for the right to occupy an abode for a specified period of time; or
         2. A signed and dated rental agreement by which the individual (tenant) agrees to pay a specified monetary sum or provide other consideration at fixed intervals for the right to occupy an abode.
   3. Property deed that bears the individual’s name and either of the following:
      
      1. The individual’s current residential address as declared on the DROS form; or
      2. The individual’s address as it appears on his or her California Driver License or California Identification Card, or change of address attachment thereto.

         “Property deed” means either or the following:

         1. A valid deed of trust for the individual’s property of current residence that identifies the individual as a grantee of the trust; or
         2. A valid Certificate of Title issued by a licensed title insurance company that identifies the individual as a title holder to his or her property of current residence.
   4. Current, government-issued license, permit, or registration, other than a California Driver License or California Identification Card, that has a specified expiration date or period of validity. The license, permit, or registration must bear the individual’s name and either of the following:
      
      1. The individual’s current residential address as declared on the DROS form; or
      2. The individual’s address as it appears on his or her California Driver License, California Identification Card, or change of address attachment thereto.

      Examples of acceptable proof of residency:

      • Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) Permit.
      • Certificate of Eligibility (COE.)
      • Curio and Relic (C &R) Federal Firearms License (03 FFL) with name and address.
      • Current DMV Disabled Placard.
      • Current DMV Registrations.
      • Electricity, gas, cable bill with purchaser’s name on it from within the last 3 months.
      • Resident Hunting License issued by Department of Fish and Wildlife
      • Fishing License: Commercial, Resident Sport, Lifetime, 1, 2, and 10 day licenses issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
      • Signed, dated and notarized rental agreement/contract.

Examples of documents that are NOT acceptable proof of residency:

• • • Active Duty Military Spouse ID.
    • Bank Statement.
    • Brown Card.
    • Cellular Phone bill.
    • Fishing Validations and Report Cards.
    • Hunting license- Standard, Self-Filled.
    • Pay Stub.
    • Voter Registration.

What proof of residency are peace officers required to provide?

• Peace officers, including reserve and retired peace officers, may present valid credentials issued by a California law enforcement agency in lieu of the other required residency documentation. This consideration is given to peace officers who do not want to provide documentation of their residential address for security reasons and who otherwise do not object to having their credentials copied by the firearms dealer for inclusion with the DROS record. Peace officers may have the dealer associate remove his/her residential address from the DROS transaction and include his/her agency address.

You can read more about this regulation by searching for Penal Code, 26845 and Cal. Code Reg., tit 11. Div 5. Ch 4., 4045. 

It is your responsibility to be up to date with the laws and do not merely rely on this page.  The article above is up to date as of Dec. 2020.  I will up date this (as time allows) if the regulations change.

Thank You,

FFL Transfer San Jose

San Jose, CA