California Penal Code 626.10 makes it a crime to bring certain non-firearm weapons — knives, stun guns, air-powered projectile devices, and similar items — onto school grounds. The prohibited list and the penalties differ depending on whether the campus is K-12 or a college or university. Firearms are handled by a separate statute, Penal Code 626.9.
What’s Banned on K-12 Grounds
On the grounds of any public or private school serving kindergarten through 12th grade, Section 626.10 divides prohibited items into two tiers.
The first tier, under subdivision (a)(1), covers the more dangerous category:1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 626.10
- Dirks, daggers, and ice picks
- Knives with a blade longer than 2½ inches, fixed or folding
- Any folding knife with a locking blade, regardless of blade length
- Razors with unguarded blades
- Stun guns and tasers
- Air-powered projectile devices that fire BBs, pellets, or similar metallic projectiles using air pressure, CO2, or spring action
- Spot marker (paintball) guns
The locking-blade rule catches people off guard. A small folding knife with a 1½-inch blade is legal to carry in most public places in California, but if the blade locks open, it becomes illegal on K-12 grounds. The lock is what matters, not the length.
The second tier, under subdivision (a)(2), covers razor blades and box cutters on K-12 campuses. These items carry a lower ceiling on punishment than the first-tier items.2California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 626.10
What’s Banned on College and University Campuses
The list is much shorter for higher education. Section 626.10 applies to the University of California, California State University, the California Community Colleges, and private universities and colleges.
Under subdivision (b), the only prohibited items on college and university grounds are dirks, daggers, ice picks, and knives with a fixed blade longer than 2½ inches. Folding knives — even locking ones — are not banned under this subdivision. Neither are air-powered projectile devices or paintball guns.
Stun guns are addressed separately at colleges. Under subdivision (i), bringing a stun gun or less lethal weapon onto a public or private college or university campus without written permission from the president, chancellor, or their designee is a misdemeanor. So stun guns are banned at both K-12 and college campuses, but on a college campus the offense is always a misdemeanor and can be authorized in writing.
Penalties
Punishment depends on which subdivision was violated.
Violations of subdivision (a)(1) on K-12 grounds and subdivision (b) on college campuses are wobblers, meaning the prosecutor can charge either a misdemeanor or a felony based on the circumstances and the defendant’s record.
- As a misdemeanor: up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
- As a felony: 16 months, two years, or three years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Razor blades and box cutters on K-12 grounds under subdivision (a)(2) are misdemeanor-only, capped at one year in county jail. A stun gun or less lethal weapon on a college campus under subdivision (i) is also a straight misdemeanor. Neither of these lower-tier offenses can be charged as a felony.
Who Is Exempt
Several categories of people can carry otherwise-banned items on campus without criminal liability.
Law Enforcement and Military
The statute exempts California peace officers, full-time paid peace officers from other states or the federal government performing official duties in California, people summoned by an officer to help make an arrest, and active-duty members of the U.S. or California military forces.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code PEN 626.10
School-Directed Activities
Subdivision (c) allows a person to bring a knife with a blade over 2½ inches, an unguarded razor, a razor blade, or a box cutter onto campus when a faculty member or school employee has specifically directed them to do so for a school-sponsored activity or class. Art classes, culinary programs, and theater productions typically fall here.
Employment on Campus
Subdivision (d) exempts anyone who needs a knife, ice pick, razor, or box cutter for a lawful purpose within the scope of their job on campus. Custodians, maintenance workers, and cafeteria staff are covered. The item must be used for its work purpose, not simply carried around.
College Residential and Food Preparation Use
Subdivision (e) is specific to colleges and universities. Students or staff living in on-campus housing may possess an ice pick or a fixed-blade knife longer than 2½ inches for lawful use in or around their residence or for food preparation. A student keeping a chef’s knife in a dorm to cook is covered.
Written Permission on K-12 Grounds
Under subdivision (f), a school principal or a designee can grant written permission to bring BB guns, pellet guns, spot marker guns, razor blades, or box cutters onto K-12 grounds. Written permission cannot authorize knives, daggers, or stun guns.
Firearms Are Not Covered by 626.10
Section 626.10 does not reach firearms. Firearms on school grounds are governed by California Penal Code 626.9, which carries substantially steeper penalties. Possessing a firearm on or within K-12 school grounds is punishable by two, three, or five years in state prison. Bringing a loaded firearm onto a college or university campus without written permission from the president or chancellor carries two, three, or four years.3California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 626.9 Section 626.9 also reaches a 1,000-foot radius around K-12 school grounds, while 626.10 is limited to the school grounds themselves.
Immigration Consequences for Noncitizens
A weapons conviction can carry consequences beyond fines and jail time. Federal immigration law makes a permanent resident deportable for a conviction involving a firearm or destructive device.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1227 – Deportable Aliens That specific deportation ground is tied to firearms and destructive devices, so it does not automatically apply to knives, stun guns, or the other non-firearm items that make up most of Section 626.10.
A felony conviction under 626.10 can still create immigration exposure through other grounds, such as a crime involving moral turpitude, or as a crime of violence if a sentence of one year or more is imposed. Noncitizens facing any charge under this statute should consult an immigration attorney before accepting a plea, because a resolution that looks minor in criminal court can trigger consequences that are difficult or impossible to undo.