CHAPTER 1. Seizure and Subsequent Procedures [18250. - 18275.]

Cal. Penal Code - PEN 1.

in effect

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 18250. Section 18250.

(a) If any of the following persons is at the scene of a domestic violence incident involving a threat to human life or a physical assault, is serving a protective order as defined in Section 6218 of the Family Code, or is serving a gun violence restraining order issued pursuant to Division 3.2 (commencing with Section 18100), that person shall take temporary custody of any firearm or other deadly weapon in plain sight or discovered pursuant to a consensual or other lawful search as necessary for the protection of the peace officer or other persons present: (1) A sheriff, undersheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, or police officer of a city, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 830.1. (2) A peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 830.2. (3) A member of the University of California Police Department, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 830.2. (4) An officer listed in Section 830.6, while acting in the course and scope of the officer’s employment as a peace officer. (5) A member of a California State University Police Department, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 830.2. (6) A peace officer of the Department of Parks and Recreation, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 830.2. (7) A peace officer, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 830.31. (8) A peace officer, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 830.32. (9) A peace officer, as defined in Section 830.5. (10) A sworn member of the Department of Justice who is a peace officer, as defined in Section 830.1. (11) A member of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District Police Department, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 830.33. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 18255. Section 18255.

(a) Upon taking custody of a firearm or other deadly weapon pursuant to this division, the officer shall give the owner or person who possessed the firearm or other deadly weapon a receipt. (b) The receipt shall describe the firearm or other deadly weapon and list any identification or serial number on the firearm. (c) The receipt shall indicate where the firearm or other deadly weapon can be recovered, the time limit for recovery as required by this division, and the date after which the owner or possessor can recover the firearm or other deadly weapon. (d) The receipt shall include the name and residential mailing address of the owner or person who possessed the firearm or other deadly weapon.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 18260. Section 18260.

Any peace officer, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 830.32, who takes custody of a firearm or other deadly weapon pursuant to this division, shall deliver the firearm or other deadly weapon within 24 hours to the city police department or county sheriff’s office in the jurisdiction where the college or school is located.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 18265. Section 18265.

(a) No firearm or other deadly weapon taken into custody pursuant to this division shall be held less than 48 hours. (b) Except as provided in Section 18400, if a firearm or other deadly weapon is not retained for use as evidence related to criminal charges brought as a result of the domestic violence incident or is not retained because it was illegally possessed, the firearm or other deadly weapon shall be made available to the owner or person who was in lawful possession 48 hours after the seizure, or as soon thereafter as possible, but no later than five business days after the owner or person who was in lawful possession demonstrates compliance with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 33850) of Division 11 of Title 4. (c) In any civil action or proceeding for the return of any firearm, ammunition, or other deadly weapon seized by any state or local law enforcement agency and not returned within five business days after the initial seizure, except as provided in Section 18270, the court shall allow reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing party.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 18270. Section 18270.

If a firearm or other deadly weapon has been stolen and has been taken into custody pursuant to this division, it shall be restored to the lawful owner upon satisfaction of all of the following conditions: (a) Its use for evidence has been served. (b) The owner identifies the firearm or other deadly weapon and provides proof of ownership. (c) The law enforcement agency has complied with Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 33850) of Division 11 of Title 4.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 18275. Section 18275.

(a) Any firearm or other deadly weapon that has been taken into custody and held by any of the following law enforcement authorities for longer than 12 months, and has not been recovered by the owner or person who had lawful possession at the time it was taken into custody, shall be considered a nuisance and destroyed as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 18005: (1) A police, university police, or sheriff’s department. (2) A marshal’s office. (3) A peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 830.2. (4) A peace officer of the Department of Parks and Recreation, as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 830.2. (5) A peace officer, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 830.31. (6) A peace officer, as defined in Section 830.5. (b) If a firearm or other deadly weapon is not recovered within 12 months due to an extended hearing process as provided in Section 18420, it is not subject to destruction until the court issues a decision, and then only if the court does not order the return of the firearm or other deadly weapon to the owner.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026