CA · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in California

What California adds on top of federal law: short-barreled shotguns, 14-inch "firearms," feature rules, magazine limits, permits and waiting periods.

Decorative editorial illustration for the state shotgun law referenceVerify the current state and federal rules with official sources
Federal update — Oct 9, 2026

ATF says it is no longer enforcing federal NFA approval or registration for short-barreled shotguns. That does not change state law: where a state only allows SBSs that are registered under the NFA, you still need that registration to be legal under state law. What changed.

Short-barreled shotgunsProhibited

California bans making, importing, selling or possessing short-barreled shotguns, even if federally registered, apart from narrow DOJ-permit and official exceptions.[1]

Cal. Penal Code §§ 33215, 17180
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Prohibited

California defines a short-barreled shotgun as any firearm designed to fire a fixed shotgun shell with a barrel under 18 inches, which covers 14-inch 'firearms' like the Shockwave and TAC-14.[2]

Semi-auto / feature rulesFeature rules apply

Semi-auto shotguns that accept a detachable magazine, or that have a folding/telescoping stock plus a pistol grip, thumbhole stock or vertical handgrip, are 'assault weapons'; so is any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.[3]

Cal. Penal Code § 30515
Magazine limitsLimit: 10 rounds

Feeding devices holding more than 10 rounds are banned; the only tube exclusions are for .22 tube magazines and lever-action tube magazines, so shotgun magazines are covered.[4]

Permit to buyPermit / ID required

Buyers need a Firearm Safety Certificate for long guns, including shotguns (since 2015); holders of a valid hunting license are exempt for long guns.[5]

Waiting period10-day wait

A 10-day waiting period applies to all firearms, including shotguns.[6]

Where a state has no official guidance on a point, the summary says what the statute text appears to say, and marks it unclear when it can't be read either way.

Also know

The magazine ban was upheld by the en banc Ninth Circuit in March 2025 (Duncan v. Bonta); a cert petition (No. 25-198) was still pending at the U.S. Supreme Court as of the latest docket entry (Aug. 11, 2026).

Not legal advice

This is a plain-English summary. Cities and counties can add rules, and laws change. Confirm with California's official sources or a licensed attorney before you buy, build or travel.

Federal rules that apply everywhere

  • Under the National Firearms Act, a 'shotgun' is a weapon designed and intended to be fired from the shoulder that uses a fixed shotgun shell to fire shot or a single projectile through a smooth bore with each pull of the trigger. source
  • The Gun Control Act uses nearly the same definition: a shotgun is designed and intended to be fired from the shoulder and fires shot or a single projectile through a smooth bore for each pull of the trigger. source
  • Federal law defines a short-barreled shotgun as a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches, or any weapon made from a shotgun with an overall length under 26 inches. source
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the law that cut the NFA tax, is Public Law 119-21 and was approved on July 4, 2025. source

Shotguns to consider

Use the 3-step quiz — it flags California's rules on your matches — or compare every model.

Sources

  1. California — Short-barreled shotguns (secondary source)
  2. California — 14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14) (secondary source)
  3. California — Semi-auto / feature rules (secondary source)
  4. California — Magazine limits (secondary source)
  5. California — Permit to buy
  6. California — Waiting period (secondary source)

Last checked October 18, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.

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