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The current California laws that regulate airsoft are covered in these places: 1) "2008 DANGEROUS WEAPONS CONTROL LAW" PC 12001 defines firearm and BB device; 2) 2008 DANGEROUS WEAPONS CONTROL LAW in "CHAPTER 6. MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLE 1. BB DEVICES AND IMITATION FIREARMS (PC 12550 - PC 12556)"; 3) "PENAL CODE SECTION 16100-17360; and 4) "PENAL CODE SECTION 20150-20180".
We have copied the exact laws below for your easy reference. But you should always double check the links above to ensure no new laws are in place. If there is a change, please let us know and/or update this web page accordingly.
Note
Governor Brown has signed and filed SB-199 on September 30, 2014, which changes the California airsoft laws. This page has not been updated with the SB-199 change. Please see this link for SB-199 changes: SB-199 BB devices.
12001.
(b)
As used in this title, "firearm" means any device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel a projectile by the force of any explosion or other form of combustion.
(g)
For purposes of Sections 12551 and 12552, the term "BB device" means any instrument that expels a projectile, such as a BB or a pellet, not exceeding 6 mm caliber, through the force of air pressure, gas pressure, or spring action, or any spot marker gun.
12550.
As used in this article, the following definitions apply:
(a)
"BB device" is defined in subdivision (g) of Section 12001.
(b)
"Firearm" is defined in subdivision (b) of Section 12001.
(c)
"Imitation firearm" means any BB device, toy gun, replica of a firearm, or other device that is so substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to perceive that the device is a firearm.
16700.
(a) As used in this part, "imitation firearm" means any BB device, toy gun, replica of a firearm, or other device that is so substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to perceive that the device is a firearm.
(b) As used in Section 20165, "imitation firearm" does not include any of the following:
(1) A nonfiring collector's replica that is historically significant, and is offered for sale in conjunction with a wall plaque or presentation case.
(2) A BB device.
(3) A device where the entire exterior surface of the device is white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink, or bright purple, either singly or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern, as provided by federal regulations governing imitation firearms, or where the entire device is constructed of transparent or translucent materials which permits unmistakable observation of the device's complete contents, as provided by federal regulations governing imitation firearms.
12551.
Every person who sells to a minor any BB device is guilty of a misdemeanor.
12552.
(a) Every person who furnishes any BB device to any minor, without the express or implied permission of the parent or legal guardian of the minor, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b)
As used in this section, "furnishes" means any of the following:
(1)
A loan.
(2)
A transfer that does not involve a sale.
12553.
Any person who changes, alters, removes, or obliterates any coloration or markings that are required for by any applicable state or federal law or regulation, for any imitation firearm, or device described in subdivision (c) of Section 12555, in any way that makes the imitation firearm or device look more like a firearm is guilty of a misdemeanor. This subdivision shall not apply to manufacturer, importer, or distributor of imitation firearms or to the lawful use in theatrical productions, including motion pictures, television, and stage productions.
(b)
Any manufacturer, importer, or distributor of imitation firearms that fails to comply with any applicable federal law or regulation governing the marking of a toy, look-alike or imitation firearm as defined by federal law or regulation is guilty of a misdemeanor.
12554.
a)
Any imitation firearm manufactured after July 1, 2005, shall, at the time of offer for sale in this state, be accompanied by a conspicuous advisory in
writing as part of the packaging, but not necessarily affixed to the imitation firearm, to the effect that the product may be mistaken for a firearm by law enforcement officers or others, that altering the coloration or markings required by state or federal law or regulations so as to make the product look more like a firearm is dangerous, and may be a crime, and that brandishing or displaying the product in public may cause confusion and may be a crime.
(b)
Any manufacturer, importer, or distributor that fails to comply with this advisory for any imitation firearm manufactured after July 1, 2005, shall be liable for a civil fine for each action brought by a city attorney or district attorney of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the first action, five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the second action, and ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the third action and each subsequent action.
12555.
Any person who, for commercial purposes, purchases, sells, manufactures, ships, transports, distributes, or receives, by mail order or in any other manner, an imitation firearm except as authorized by this section shall be liable for a civil fine in an action brought by the city attorney or the district attorney of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
(b)
The manufacture, purchase, sale, shipping, transport, distribution, or receipt, by mail or in any other manner, of imitation firearms is authorized if the device is manufactured, purchased, sold, shipped, transported, distributed, or received for any of the following purposes:
(1)
Solely for export in interstate or foreign commerce.
(2)
Solely for lawful use in theatrical productions, including motion picture, television, and stage productions.
(3)
For use in a certified or regulated sporting event or competition.
(4)
For use in military or civil defense activities, or ceremonial activities.
(5)
For public displays authorized by public or private schools.
(c)
As used in this section, "imitation firearm" does not include any of the following:
(1)
A nonfiring collector's replica that is historically significant, and is offered for sale in conjunction with a wall plaque or presentation case.
(2)
A BB device, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 12001.
(3)
A device where the entire exterior surface of the device is white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink, or bright purple, either singly or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern, as provided by federal regulations governing imitation firearms, or where the entire device is constructed of transparent or translucent materials which permits unmistakable observation of the device's complete contents, as provided by federal regulations governing imitation firearms.
12556.
(a)
No person may openly display or expose any imitation firearm, as defined in Section 12550, in a public place.
(b)
Violation of this section, except as provided in subdivision (c), is an infraction punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense, and three hundred dollars ($300) for a second offense.
(c)
A third or subsequent violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor.
(d)
Subdivision (a) shall not apply to the following, when the imitation firearm is:
(1)
Packaged or concealed so that it is not subject to public viewing.
(2)
Displayed or exposed in the course of commerce, including commercial film or video productions, or for service, repair, or restoration of the imitation firearm.
(3)
Used in a theatrical production, a motion picture, video, television, or stage production.
(4)
Used in conjunction with a certified or regulated sporting event or competition.
(5)
Used in conjunction with lawful hunting, or lawful pest control activities.
(6)
Used or possessed at certified or regulated public or private shooting ranges.
(7)
Used at fairs, exhibitions, expositions, or other similar activities for which a permit has been obtained from a local or state government.
(8)
Used in military, civil defense, or civic activities, including flag ceremonies, color guards, parades, award presentations, historical reenactments, and memorials.
(9)
Used for public displays authorized by public or private schools or displays that are part of a museum collection.
(10)
Used in parades, ceremonies, or other similar activities for which a permit has been obtained from a local or state government.
(11)
Displayed on a wall plaque or in a presentation case.
(12)
Used in areas where the discharge of a firearm is lawful.
(13)
A device where the entire exterior surface of the device is white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink, or bright purple, either singly or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern, or where the entire device is constructed of transparent or translucent materials which permits unmistakable observation of the device's complete contents. Merely having an orange tip as provided in federal law and regulations does not satisfy this requirement. The entire surface must be colored or transparent or translucent.
(e)
For purposes of this section, the term "public place" means an area open to the public and includes streets, sidewalks, bridges, alleys, plazas, parks, driveways, front yards, parking lots, automobiles, whether moving or not, and buildings open to the general public, including those that serve food or drink, or provide entertainment, and the doorways and entrances to buildings or dwellings.
(f)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude prosecution for a violation of Section 171b, 171.5, or 626.10.
20150.
(a) Any person who changes, alters, removes, or obliterates any coloration or markings that are required by any applicable state or federal law or regulation, for any imitation firearm, or any device described in subdivision (b) of Section 16700, in a way that makes the imitation firearm or device look more like a firearm, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b) This section does not apply to a manufacturer, importer, or distributor of imitation firearms.
(c) This section does not apply to lawful use in theatrical productions, including motion pictures, television, and stage productions.
20155. Any manufacturer, importer, or distributor of imitation firearms that fails to comply with any applicable federal law or regulation governing the marking of a toy, look-alike, or imitation firearm, as defined by federal law or regulation, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
20160.
(a) Any imitation firearm manufactured after July 1, 2005, shall, at the time of offer for sale in this state, be accompanied by a conspicuous advisory in writing as part of the packaging, but not necessarily affixed to the imitation firearm, to the effect that the product may be mistaken for a firearm by law enforcement officers or others, that altering the coloration or markings required by state or federal law or regulations so as to make the product look more like a firearm is dangerous, and may be a crime, and that brandishing or displaying the product in public may cause confusion and may be a crime.
(b) Any manufacturer, importer, or distributor that fails to comply with this advisory for any imitation firearm manufactured after July 1, 2005, shall be liable for a civil fine for each action brought by a city attorney or district attorney of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the first action, five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the second action, and ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the third action and each subsequent action.
20165.
(a) Any person who, for commercial purposes, purchases, sells, manufactures, ships, transports, distributes, or receives, by mail order or in any other manner, an imitation firearm, except as authorized by this section, is liable for a civil fine in an action brought by the city attorney or the district attorney of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
(b) The manufacture, purchase, sale, shipping, transport, distribution, or receipt, by mail or in any other manner, of an imitation firearm is authorized if the device is manufactured, purchased, sold, shipped, transported, distributed, or received for any of the following purposes:
(1) Solely for export in interstate or foreign commerce.
(2) Solely for lawful use in theatrical productions, including motion picture, television, and stage productions.
(3) For use in a certified or regulated sporting event or competition.
(4) For use in military or civil defense activities, or ceremonial activities.
(5) For public displays authorized by public or private schools.
20170.
(a) No person may openly display or expose any imitation firearm in a public place.
(b) As used in this section, "public place" means an area open to the public and includes any of the following:
(1) A street.
(2) A sidewalk.
(3) A bridge.
(4) An alley.
(5) A plaza.
(6) A park.
(7) A driveway.
(8) A front yard.
(9) A parking lot.
(10) An automobile, whether moving or not.
(11) A building open to the general public, including one that serves food or drink, or provides entertainment.
(12) A doorway or entrance to a building or dwelling.
(13) A public school.
(14) A public or private college or university.
20175.
Section 20170 does not apply in any of the following circumstances:
(a) The imitation firearm is packaged or concealed so that it is not subject to public viewing.
(b) The imitation firearm is displayed or exposed in the course of commerce, including a commercial film or video production, or for service, repair, or restoration of the imitation firearm.
(c) The imitation firearm is used in a theatrical production, a motion picture, video, television, or stage production.
(d) The imitation firearm is used in conjunction with a certified or regulated sporting event or competition.
(e) The imitation firearm is used in conjunction with lawful hunting, or a lawful pest control activity.
(f) The imitation firearm is used or possessed at a certified or regulated public or private shooting range.
(g) The imitation firearm is used at a fair, exhibition, exposition, or other similar activity for which a permit has been obtained from a local or state government.
(h) The imitation firearm is used in a military, civil defense, or civic activity, including a flag ceremony, color guard, parade, award presentation, historical reenactment, or memorial.
(i) The imitation firearm is used for a public display authorized by a public or private school or a display that is part of a museum collection.
(j) The imitation firearm is used in a parade, ceremony, or other similar activity for which a permit has been obtained from a local or state government.
(k) The imitation firearm is displayed on a wall plaque or in a presentation case.
(l) The imitation firearm is used in an area where the discharge of a firearm is lawful.
(m) The entire exterior surface of the imitation firearm is white, bright red, bright orange, bright yellow, bright green, bright blue, bright pink, or bright purple, either singly or as the predominant color in combination with other colors in any pattern, or the entire device is constructed of transparent or translucent material that permits unmistakable observation of the device's complete contents. Merely having an orange tip as provided in federal law and regulations does not satisfy this requirement. The entire surface must be colored or transparent or translucent.
20180.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), violation of Section 20170 is an infraction punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense, and three hundred dollars ($300) for a second offense.
(b) A third or subsequent violation of Section 20170 is punishable as a misdemeanor.
(c) Nothing in Section 20170, 20175, or this section shall be construed to preclude prosecution for a violation of Section 171b, 171.5, or 626.10.
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