Chapter 5 - Procedure For a Private Party Firearms Transaction

California Penal Code — §§ 28050-28070

Sections (5)

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 250, Sec. 13. (SB 715) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)A person shall complete any sale, loan, or transfer of a firearm through a person licensed pursuant to Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, in accordance with this chapter in order to comply with Section 27545.
(b)The seller or transferor or the person loaning the firearm shall deliver the firearm to the dealer who shall retain possession of that firearm.
(c)The dealer shall then deliver the firearm to the purchaser or transferee or the person being loaned the firearm, if it is not prohibited, in accordance with Section 27540.
(d)If the dealer cannot

legally deliver the firearm to the purchaser or transferee or the person being loaned the firearm, the dealer shall forthwith, without waiting for the conclusion of the waiting period described in Sections 26815 and 27540, return the firearm to the transferor or seller or the person loaning the firearm. The dealer shall not return the firearm to the seller or transferor or the person loaning the firearm when to do so would constitute a violation of Section 27500, 27505, 27515, 27520, 27525, 27530, or 27535.

(e)Until July 1, 2024, if the dealer cannot legally return the firearm to the transferor or seller or the person loaning the firearm, then 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, who shall then

dispose of the firearm in the manner provided by Sections 18005 and 34000.

(f)If Commencing July 1, 2024, if the dealer cannot legally return the firearm to the seller, transferor, or person loaning the firearm, then the following procedure shall apply:
(1)The seller, transferor, or person loaning 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 transferor or seller or the person loaning the firearm 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 Sections 26815 and 27540, and any time necessary to process a transaction.

(2)If, before the end of the 45-day period, the seller, transferor, or person loaning the firearm 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 seller, transferor, or person loaning the firearm, does not request that the firearm be held by the dealer pursuant to

this subdivision, or the firearm cannot be delivered to the designated person, 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 Sections 18000, 18005, and 34000.

(g)(1) If a dealer retains possession of a firearm pursuant to subdivision (f), the dealer shall within 72 hours after retaining possession of the firearm, notify the Department of Justice in a manner and format prescribed by the department.
(2)If a dealer delivers possession a firearm to a law enforcement agency pursuant to subdivision (e) or (f), the dealer shall notify the

Department of Justice within 72 hours after the delivery of the firearm in a manner and format prescribed by the department.

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 250, Sec. 14. (SB 715) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)For a sale, loan, or transfer conducted pursuant to this chapter, the purchaser or transferee or person being loaned the firearm may be required by the dealer to pay a fee not to exceed ten dollars ($10) per firearm.
(b)For temporary storage of a firearm pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 28050, the seller, transferor, or person loaning a firearm may be required by the dealer to pay a fee not to exceed ten dollars ($10) per firearm.
(c)No other fee may be charged by the dealer for a sale, loan, or transfer of a firearm conducted pursuant to this chapter, except for the applicable fees that may be charged pursuant to

Sections 23690 and 28300 and Article 3 (commencing with Section 28200) of Chapter 6 and forwarded to the Department of Justice, and the fees set forth in Section 31650.

(d)The dealer may not charge any additional fees.
(e)Nothing in these provisions shall prevent a dealer from charging a smaller fee.

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 745, Sec. 47. (AB 809) Effective January 1, 2012.

The Attorney General shall adopt regulations under this chapter to do all of the following:

(a)Allow the seller or transferor or the person loaning the firearm, and the purchaser or transferee or the person being loaned the firearm, to complete a sale, loan, or transfer through a dealer, and to allow those persons and the dealer to preserve the confidentiality of those records and to comply with the requirements of this chapter and all of the following:
(1)Article 1 (commencing with Section 26700) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 26800) of Chapter 2.
(2)Article 1 (commencing with Section 27500) of Chapter

4.

(3)Article 2 (commencing with Section 28150) of Chapter 6.
(4)Article 3 (commencing with Section 28200) of Chapter 6.
(b)Record sufficient information for purposes of Section 11106 in the instance where a firearm is returned to a personal firearm importer because a sale or transfer of that firearm by the personal firearm importer could not be completed.
(c)Ensure that the register or record of electronic transfer shall state all of the following:
(1)The name and address of the seller or transferor of the firearm or the person loaning the firearm.
(2)Whether or not the person is a personal firearm importer.
(3)Any other information required by Article 2 (commencing with Section 28150) of Chapter 6.

Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. (SB 1080) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a dealer who does not sell, transfer, or keep an inventory of handguns is not required to process private party transfers of handguns.

Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. (SB 1080) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.

A violation of this chapter by a dealer is a misdemeanor.