There is no public California gun registration lookup. The state’s firearm database is confidential, and no website lets you enter a serial number or a name to see ownership. If you are the registered owner, though, you can pull your own records two ways: online through the California Firearms Application Reporting System (CFARS), or by mailing a notarized request to the Department of Justice.
Why the Registry Is Not Public
California tracks firearm ownership through the Automated Firearms System (AFS), maintained by the Attorney General under Penal Code 11106. The system logs every firearm linked to an individual through dealer sales, private transfers, law enforcement encounters, and voluntary recordings.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 11106 – Criminal Identification and Statistics
Access is limited to law enforcement officers, city attorneys pursuing civil actions, and the individuals actually listed in the registry as firearm owners.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 11106 – Criminal Identification and Statistics That last group is why a personal lookup is possible at all. You can see what the state has on you. You cannot look up anyone else.
Looking Up Your Records Online Through CFARS
The fastest route is the CFARS portal on the DOJ website. After creating an account, you can view and print your firearm account history directly online.2State of California – Department of Justice. Firearms Reporting and Law Enforcement Release Application For most people, this is the closest thing to a registration lookup available in California, and it is where you should start.
CFARS also lets you update your AFS personal information at no cost, including name, address, date of birth, and driver’s license number.3State of California – Department of Justice. Automated Firearms System Personal Information Update Outdated details on file can cause problems during future transactions or law enforcement contact, so it is worth fixing anything wrong while you are already in the portal.
Requesting a Formal Record by Mail
For an official, comprehensive listing of every firearm recorded under your name, submit Form BOF 053 (Automated Firearms System Request for Firearm Records) to the DOJ Bureau of Firearms. The document you receive back lists every firearm on which you appear as the purchaser, owner, or assault weapon registrant.4California Department of Justice. Automated Firearms System Request for Firearm Records
You will need three things:
- A completed BOF 053 form with your name, current address, driver’s license number, and other personal details.
- Notarization of the form to verify your identity. California notaries typically charge around $15 per signature, and mobile notaries may charge more.
- A photocopy of a valid ID: California driver’s license, state ID card, military ID, or out-of-state identification.
Mail everything to the DOJ Bureau of Firearms. There is no state processing fee for BOF 053, so the notarization is the only cost.4California Department of Justice. Automated Firearms System Request for Firearm Records The DOJ returns the results by mail, so expect some turnaround.
If Something Is Missing or Wrong
Most entries in AFS come from a specific event: a dealer sale processed through DROS, a private transfer routed through a licensed dealer, a new resident’s report of firearms brought into the state, an intra-familial transfer, or a voluntary recording. If you expect a firearm to appear and it does not, it usually means one of those reporting steps never happened.
New residents in particular have a narrow window. If you moved to California with firearms, state law treats you as a “personal firearm importer” and gives you 60 days to report them using the New Resident Report of Firearm Ownership form (BOF 4010A), which carries a $19 fee.5California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 27560 – Personal Firearm Importer Reporting Requirements6State of California – Department of Justice. Firearms Information for New California Residents Firearms passed between immediate family members follow a separate process, using the Report of Operation of Law or Intra-Familial Firearm Transaction form with a $19 fee; that form cannot be used for assault weapons.7State of California – Department of Justice. Report of Operation of Law or Intra-Familial Firearm Transaction
Reporting a Lost or Stolen Firearm
If your lookup surfaces a firearm you no longer have because it was lost or stolen, California law requires you to report it to local law enforcement in the jurisdiction where the loss or theft occurred within five days of discovering it. Recovering the firearm later triggers another five-day reporting window to the same agency. Antique firearms, generally those manufactured before 1899, are exempt.8California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 25250 – Lost or Stolen Firearms
Reporting matters for a practical reason. Once law enforcement flags a stolen firearm in the system, any later attempt to sell or transfer it through a dealer will trigger a DROS rejection, and the dealer will be directed to hold the firearm for recovery.9California Legislative Information. California Code PEN 28220 – Submission of Fees and Firearm Purchaser Information to the Department of Justice That flag is the strongest tool you have for getting a stolen gun caught before it disappears for good.