California Senate Bill 53, effective January 1, 2026, will introduce stricter requirements for firearm storage. Under this new law, all firearms in a residence must be securely stored when not being carried or under the immediate control of a lawful user. Secure storage is defined as being in a secure gun safe, or contained within, locked by, or disabled using a California DOJ-certified firearm safety device.
Under current California law, a locked home is not sufficient legal storage of your weapon. Failing to securely store firearms according to these regulations can lead to fines, with repeated violations potentially being charged as a misdemeanor.
So, when your home is being invaded by a criminal, legal California gun owners will need to access their home-defense firearm after unlocking a safe or lock box in the home, wasting precious seconds in response to the threat. However, the criminal in your home is not required to have a secured firearm.
