The California Firearms Application Reporting System (CFARS) is a web-based application that will allow an individual to report their firearms to the Department of Justice (DOJ) using California Reporting Information System (CRIS) reporting forms, as outlined in California firearms laws and regulations. For your protection, the DOJ does not process credit card payments nor does it retain record of the credit card data. All payments are conducted through a third party payment application processing company using secured transactions.
Please be advised, due to circumstances beyond the control of the DOJ, application processing times may deviate. Factors, such as recent arrests, incomplete criminal history records, or other circumstances may contribute to the processing timeframe.
Benefits of Using CFARS
- Convenience – Ability to report your firearms through an online application form using the internet which will eliminate the need to mail the application to DOJ and save time.
- Pay by credit card – The system accepts major credit cards such as Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover.
- Upload attachments – Firearm receipts, pictures of the firearm, police reports, or other documents that may be helpful for DOJ staff to process your application.
Benefits of Creating a CFARS Account
Creating a CFARS account is quick and free! Take advantage of the following benefits when you have a CFARS account:
- View and print your firearm account history – You can view your account history by logging on to your account and CFARS will retain your online applications for up to 5 years.
- E-mail notification – With an account, you will receive electronic complete, incomplete and reject notifications for your firearm submission.
- Submit an issue – With an account, you may submit an issue by accessing "Report an Issue".
- Save your cart – When you are logged into your account, any applications you have submitted to your cart will remain in the cart for up to forty-five days.
- Streamlined processing – Save time completing future applications as your personal information is encrypted and securely stored. Thus, there is no longer the requirement to re-type your personal information for future transactions.
Help Me Identify Which Report I Need
To help identify the correct DOJ report to submit, please select one of the following options for more information:
Accessing CFARS
Additional Bureau of Firearms Links
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Firearm Ownership Report
Pursuant to California Penal Code section 28000, any person who is not required by law to report the acquisition or ownership of a firearm, or any person who is otherwise exempt from the requirement of conducting a transfer through a licensed firearms dealer, may report ownership of a firearm to the DOJ by submitting a Firearm Ownership Report.
Use the Firearm Ownership Report if:
- You are at least 18 years of age or older
- You have either a California identification, driver license or military identification
- You have a California residential (street) address
- You are not prohibited from owning/possessing a firearm
- The firearm is not an assault weapon as defined in Penal Code sections 30210 through 30530
New Resident Firearm Ownership Report
As defined by California Penal Code sections 17000 and 27560, a personal firearm importer is any person who moves into California with a firearm that was acquired from outside of this state and who intends to own and possess the firearm in California. A personal firearm importer is required to report ownership of their firearms by submitting a New Resident Firearm Ownership Report within sixty (60) days of bringing the firearms into California.
Use the New Resident Firearm Ownership Report if:
- You are at least 18 years of age or older
- You have either a California identification, driver license or military identification
- You have a California residential (street) address
- You are not prohibited from owning/possessing a firearm
- You intend to own and possess the firearm in California
- The firearm being reported was acquired outside of California
- You are the owner of the firearm
- You are not a licensed firearms dealer, licensed manufacturer or licensed importer
- The firearm is not an assault weapon as defined in Penal Code sections 30210 through 30530
Collector In-State Acquisition of Curio or Relic Long Gun Report
Pursuant to California Penal Code section 27966, persons residing in California who possess a Collector of Curios and Relics Federal Firearms License and a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE) may lawfully acquire curio or relic long guns from non-licensees without completing the transfer through a licensed firearms dealer. The person obtaining or taking possession of the firearms is required to submit a Collector In-State Acquisition of Curio or Relic Long Gun Report within thirty (30) days of taking possession of the long gun.
Use the Collector In-State Acquisition of Curio or Relic Long Gun Report if:
- You are at least 21 years of age or older
- You have either a California identification, driver license or military identification
- You have a California residential (street) address
- You are not prohibited from owning/possessing firearms
- You possess a valid COE
- You possess a Collector of Curios and Relics Federal Firearms License pursuant to Chapter 44 of Title 18 of the United States Code
- The firearm being reported is a curio or relic (as defined by Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations)
- The firearm transfer was conducted within California
- The firearm is not a handgun
- The firearm is not an assault weapon as defined in Penal Code sections 30210 through 30530
Curio or Relic Firearm Report
Pursuant to California Penal Code section 27565, persons residing in California who possess a Collector of Curios and Relics Federal Firearms License may acquire a curio and relic firearm while outside of California and subsequently transport the firearm into California. The person is required to submit a Curio or Relic Firearm Report within five (5) days of transporting the firearm into California.
Use the Curio or Relic Report if:
- You are at least 21 years of age or older
- You have either a California identification, driver license or military identification
- You have a California residential (street) address
- You are not prohibited from owning/possessing firearms
- You possess a Collector of Curios and Relics Federal Firearms License pursuant to Chapter 44 of Title 18 of the United States Code
- The firearm being reported is a curio or relic (as defined by Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations)
- The firearm transfer was conducted out-of-state
- The firearm is not an assault weapon as defined in Penal Code sections 30210 through 30530
Report of Operation of Law
Pursuant to California Penal Code sections 16990 and 27920, a person that is at least 18 years of age and who has a valid Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) may take title or possession of a firearm by Operation of Law, in-lieu of completing the transfer through a licensed firearms dealer. Some examples of Operation of Law include an executor or administrator of an estate, spouses, trustee in bankruptcy, etc. The person obtaining or taking possession of the firearm is required to submit a Report of Operation of Law within thirty (30) days of taking possession of the firearm.
Use the Report of Operation of law if:
- You are at least 18 years of age or older
- You have either a California identification, driver license or military identification
- You have a California residential (street) address
- You are not prohibited from owning/possessing firearms
- You are receiving the firearm by Operation of Law, pursuant to Penal Code section 16960
- You currently possess a valid FSC, or in the case of a handgun, a valid unexpired Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC), or a FSC exemption, pursuant to Penal Code section 31700
- The firearm is not an assault weapon as defined in Penal Code sections 30210 through 30530
- You acquired the firearm as an executor or administrator of an estate and have submitted an Operation of Law Transaction Report, pursuant to Penal Code sections 16990 and 27920
Report of Intra-Familial Firearm Transaction
Pursuant to Penal Code sections 16720 and 27875, a person that is at least 18 years of age and who has a valid Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) may take title or possession of a firearm by gift, bequest, intestate succession or by other means from an immediate family member, in-lieu of completing the transfer through a licensed firearms dealer provided that the transfer is infrequent and that the Report of Intra-Familial Firearm Transaction is submitted within thirty (30) days of the transfer.
Pursuant to California Penal Code section 16720 an “immediate family member” means either of the following relationships: Parent and child, or grandparent and grandchild.
Use the Report of Intra-Familial Firearm Transaction if:
- You are at least 18 years of age or older
- You have either a California identification, driver license or military identification
- You have a California residential (street) address
- You are not prohibited from owning/possessing firearms
- The firearm being reported was acquired in-state as a gift from an immediate family member (as defined by Penal Code section 16720)
- You currently possess a valid FSC, or in the case of a handgun, a valid unexpired Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC), or a FSC exemption, pursuant to Penal Code section 31700
- The firearm is not an assault weapon as defined in Penal Code sections 30210 through 30530
- You acquired the firearm from an immediate family member and have submitted an Intra-Familial Firearm Transaction Report, pursuant to Penal Code sections 16720 and 27875
Law Enforcement Release Application
Pursuant to Penal Code section 33850, any person who claims title to a firearm, ammunition and/or ammunition feeding device, that is in the custody or control of a court or law enforcement agency, and who wishes to have these items returned, is required to submit a Law Enforcement Release Application.
Use the Law Enforcement Release Application if:
- You are at least 18 years of age or older
- You have either a California issued identification, driver license, military identification or out of state identification. (Please read instructions carefully regarding identification as additional documentation may be necessary in order to establish residency and/or citizenship. Failure to provide all documentation may result in a delay in processing your application.)
- You are not prohibited from owning/possessing firearms, ammunition and/or ammunition feeding devices
- You are requesting the return of a firearm(s), ammunition and/or ammunition feeding device in custody or control of a court or law enforcement agency
- [Please note that the application fee is $20 for the return of a single firearm and/or any amount of ammunition or ammunition feeding devices. However, if you are requesting the return of multiple firearms, you must list each firearm on your application and pay an additional fee of $3 for each additional firearm beyond the first one listed in the application. For each firearm listed, include the firearm type, category, serial number, make, model, caliber, firearm origin, color, and barrel length, as well as the name of the law enforcement agency or court in possession of the firearm.]
- You claim title to the firearm(s), ammunition and/or ammunition feeding device
- You acquired the firearm from a spouse or registered domestic partner and have submitted an Operation of Law Transaction Report, pursuant to Penal Code 27920
- The firearm is not an assault weapon as defined in Penal Code sections 30210 through 30530
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