Section 171.5.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 171.5.
in effect(a)
For purposes of this section:
(1)
“Airport” means an airport, with a secured area, that regularly serves an air carrier holding a certificate issued by the United States Secretary of Transportation.
(2)
“Passenger vessel terminal” means only that portion of a harbor or port facility, as described in Section 105.105(a)(2) of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations, with a secured area that regularly serves scheduled commuter or passenger operations.
(3)
“Sterile area” means a portion of an airport defined in the airport security program to which access generally
is controlled through the screening of persons and property, as specified in Section 1540.5 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or a portion of any passenger vessel terminal to which, pursuant to the requirements set forth in Sections 105.255 and 105.260(a) of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations, access is generally controlled in a manner consistent with the passenger vessel terminal’s security plan and the maritime security level in effect at the time.
(b)
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly possess any firearm in any building, real property, or parking area under the control of an airport, except as provided for in subdivision (b), (c), or (e) of Section 26230.
(c)
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly possess, within any sterile area of
an airport or a passenger vessel terminal, any of the following items:
(1)
Any knife with a blade length in excess of four inches, the blade of which is fixed, or is capable of being fixed, in an unguarded position by the use of one or two hands.
(2)
Any box cutter or straight razor.
(3)
Any metal military practice hand grenade.
(4)
Any metal replica hand grenade.
(5)
Any plastic replica hand grenade.
(6)
Any imitation firearm as defined in Section 417.4.
(7)
Any frame, receiver,
barrel, or magazine of a firearm.
(8)
Any unauthorized tear gas weapon.
(9)
Any taser or stun gun as defined in Section 244.5.
(10)
Any instrument that expels a metallic projectile, such as a BB or pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO
2
pressure, or spring action, or any spot marker gun or paint gun.
(11)
Any ammunition as defined in Section 16150.
(d)
Subdivisions (b) and (c) shall not apply to, or affect, any of the following:
(1)
A duly appointed peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3
of Part 2, a retired peace officer with authorization to carry concealed weapons as described in Article 2 (commencing with Section 25450) of Chapter 2 of Division 5 of Title 4 of Part 6, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal government who is carrying out official duties while in California, or any person summoned by any of these officers to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while they are actually engaged in assisting the officer.
(2)
A person who has authorization to possess a weapon specified in subdivision (c), granted in writing by an airport security coordinator who is designated as specified in Section 1542.3 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and who is responsible for the security of the airport.
(3)
A person,
including an employee of a licensed contract guard service, who has authorization to possess a weapon specified in subdivision (c) granted in writing by a person discharging the duties of Facility Security Officer or Company Security Officer pursuant to an approved United States Coast Guard facility security plan, and who is responsible for the security of the passenger vessel terminal.
(e)
Subdivision (b) shall not apply to, or affect, any person possessing an unloaded firearm being transported in accordance with Sections 1540.111(c)(2)(iii) and 1540.111(c)(2)(iv) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which require a hard-sided, locked container, so long as the person is not within any sterile area of an airport or a passenger vessel terminal.
(f)
A violation of this
section is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(g)
The provisions of this section are cumulative, and shall not be construed as restricting the application of any other law. However, an act or omission that is punishable in different ways by this and any other provision of law shall not be punished under more than one provision.
(h)
Nothing in this section is intended to affect existing state or federal law regarding the transportation of firearms on airplanes in checked luggage or the possession of the items listed in subdivision (c) in areas that are not “sterile areas.”
References
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 105.105.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1540.5.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 105.255.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 26230.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 417.4.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 244.5.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 16150.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 830.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 25450.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1542.3.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 1540.111.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026