How do I find out which firearms are recorded in my name with California DOJ?

DOJ describes the AFS as "a repository of firearm records" kept under Penal Code 11106. It is filled by firearm purchases or transfers at a California licensed dealer, assault weapon registrations made during the set registration periods, a person's own report of ownership, carry license records, and records entered by law enforcement agencies (DOJ AFS page).

DOJ's FAQ also says there is "no firearm registration requirement in California except for assault weapon owners and personal handgun importers," and that a handgun bought from a licensed California dealer through the Dealer's Record of Sale process is already on file (DOJ FAQ).

The current form is two pages, revised April 2024 (BOF 053). It includes this request: "Please send me a list of the firearms for which I am listed as the purchaser, owner, or assault weapon registrant."

Per the form:

• It must be notarized.
• A photocopy of a valid ID must be included. The form lists a California driver license, California ID, military ID, or out-of-state ID.
• It is mailed to: Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms, AFS Private Citizen Request, P.O. Box 820200, Sacramento, CA 94203-0200.

DOJ says it will "conduct a diligent search" and send the listing by mail (DOJ AFS page).

Neither the BOF 053 form nor the DOJ FAQ entry on records requests lists a fee (BOF 053, DOJ FAQ). A notary may charge for the acknowledgment.

The form itself gives the main reason: before January 1, 2014, DOJ did not retain sales information for rifles and shotguns, so older long gun records exist only for assault weapon registrations and voluntary reports (BOF 053).

State law lets a person who is not otherwise required to report a firearm submit that information to DOJ voluntarily (Penal Code 28000(a)). The form for this is the Firearm Ownership Report.

• Fee: "A total processing fee of $19.00 must accompany this report" (BOF 4542A). DOJ has proposed raising the fee for this and other self-reporting forms from $19.00 to $31.00, plus $5.00 for each additional firearm on the form. The notice was published June 12, 2026. As checked on 2026-11-10, the DOJ page still listed the rule as proposed, with no final statement of reasons posted (DOJ regulations page).
• Check: DOJ runs a firearms eligibility check on the person reporting (Penal Code 28000(e)).
• Where: by mail, or online through CFARS, where an account is free (DOJ CFARS page).
• Limits: the form says it "may not be used to report ownership of assault weapons." DOJ also says it will not process a report for a firearm already recorded in your name (DOJ AFS page).

Since July 1, 2019, DOJ has let a person update AFS records through CFARS to match a current name, date of birth, address, and driver license, ID card, or military ID number (DOJ AFS page). DOJ says the update needs:

• Your current personal information.
• Your exact personal information as it was recorded at the time of the purchase or transfer.
• The type, make, model, caliber, and serial number of a firearm recorded to you.
• Uploaded documents for a change of name, date of birth, or ID type or number, such as a marriage license or court order.

DOJ states there is no fee. If you do not know exactly what was recorded, DOJ points to the BOF 053 list as the way to find out.

A person may report the destruction, disposal, dispossession, relinquishment, or transfer of a firearm to DOJ (Penal Code 28000(f)(1)). The form is the Notice of No Longer in Possession, BOF 4546. Its instructions say to use one form per firearm, with a supplement page for additional firearms. The statute lets DOJ reject a report when the proof is insufficient (Penal Code 28000(h)).