Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 11, § 5520 - Procedures to Engrave or Permanently Place the Unique Serial Number on the Firearm or Firearm Precursor Part

Once the Department issues a unique serial number it shall be applied to the firearm or firearm precursor part as follows:

(a) Upon receiving a Department-issued unique serial number, the applicant may contact a Federal Firearms Licensed Manufacturer (type 07) or Importer (type 08) to have the unique serial number applied to the firearm or firearm precursor part in a manner consistent with this section and federal law. However, a Federal Firearms Licensee is under no obligation to perform this work. The applicant may also use an unlicensed party to apply the unique serial number and other required markings to the firearm or firearm precursor part; however, the unlicensed party must not be prohibited under either state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm and the owner of the firearm or firearm precursor part shall not leave it unattended with the unlicensed party. Finally, the applicant may personally apply the unique serial number to the firearm or firearm precursor part if the applicant complies with the requirements set out below in subdivision (b) of this section.

(b) The applicant shall legibly and uniquely mark and identify each firearm or firearm precursor part as follows:

(1) The unique serial number shall be engraved, cast, stamped (impressed), or otherwise permanently placed in a conspicuous location on the firearm precursor part or frame or receiver of the firearm. The unique serial number shall be placed in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed, and shall not duplicate any serial number placed by the unlicensed manufacturer on any other firearm or firearm precursor part. The engraving, casting, or stamping (impressing) of the serial number shall be to a minimum depth of .003 inch and in a print no smaller than ¹/₁₆ inch; and

(2) For completed frames or receivers, certain additional information shall be engraved, cast, stamped (impressed), or otherwise permanently placed on the frame or receiver. This information shall be placed in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed. The additional information shall include:

(A) The model of the firearm, if such designation has been made;

(B) The manufacturer's first and last name as provided to the Department for recording purposes, when applicable; and

(C) The city and state (or recognized abbreviation thereof) where the manufacturer made the firearm.

(3) For functional firearms, certain additional information shall be engraved, cast, stamped (impressed), or otherwise permanently placed on the frame or receiver of the firearm. The additional information shall include:

(A) The model of the firearm, if such designation has been made;

(B) The caliber or gauge of the firearm;

(C) The manufacturer's first and last name as provided to the Department for recording purposes, when applicable; and

(D) The city and state (or recognized abbreviation thereof) where the manufacturer made the firearm.

(c) The depth of all markings required by this section shall be measured from the flat surface of the metal and not the peaks or ridges. The height of serial numbers required by subdivision (b)(1) of this section will be measured as the distance between the latitudinal ends of the character impression bottoms (bases).

(d) The Department shall deny the applicant's unique serial number application if it determines the above described marking requirements have not been met.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 11, § 5520

1. New section filed 5-21-2018; operative 7-1-2018 (Register 2018, No. 21).
2. Amendment of section heading and section filed 5-31-2023; operative 5-31-2023. Exempt from APA pursuant to Statutes 2022, chapter 76 (AB 1621), section 39, and submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11343.8 (Register 2023, No. 22).

Note: Authority cited: Section 29182, Penal Code. Reference: Sections 11106, 29180 and 29182, Penal Code.

1. New section filed 5-21-2018; operative 7/1/2018 (Register 2018, No. 21).
2. Amendment of section heading and section filed 5-31-2023; operative 5/31/2023. Exempt from APA pursuant to Statutes 2022, chapter 76 (AB 1621), section 39, and submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11343.8 (Register 2023, No. 22).