Pen. Code, § 16520 · Division 2. DEFINITIONS
Pen. Code, § 16520
Text — As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
(a) As used in this part, “firearm” means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.
(b) As used in the following provisions, “firearm” includes the frame or receiver of the weapon, including both a completed frame or receiver, or a firearm precursor part:
(1) Section 136.2.
(2) Section 646.91.
(3) Sections 16515 and 16517.
(4) Section 16550.
(5) Section 16730.
(6) Section 16960.
(7) Section 16990.
(8) Section 17070.
(9) Section 17310.
(10) Sections 18100 to 18500, inclusive.
(11) Section 23690.
(12) Sections 23900 to 23925, inclusive.
(13) Commencing on July 1, 2026, Sections 25250 to 25275, inclusive.
(14) Sections 26500 to 26590, inclusive.
(15) Sections 26600 to 27140, inclusive.
(16) Sections 27200 to 28490, inclusive.
(17) Sections 29010 to 29150, inclusive.
(18) Section 29185.
(19) Sections 29610 to 29750, inclusive.
(20) Sections 29800 to 29905, inclusive.
(21) Sections 30150 to 30165, inclusive.
(22) Section 31615.
(23) Sections 31700 to 31830, inclusive.
(24) Sections 34355 to 34370, inclusive.
(25) Sections 527.6 to 527.9, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(26) Sections 8100 to 8108, inclusive, of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(27) Section 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(c) As used in the following provisions, “firearm” also includes a rocket, rocket propelled projectile launcher, or similar device containing an explosive or incendiary material, whether or not the device is designed for emergency or distress signaling purposes:
(1) Section 16750.
(2) Subdivision (b) of Section 16840.
(3) Section 25400.
(4) Sections 25850 to 26025, inclusive.
(5) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) of Section 26030.
(6) Sections 26035 to 26055, inclusive.
(d) As used in the following provisions, “firearm” does not include an unloaded antique firearm:
(1) Section 16730.
(2) Section 16550.
(3) Section 16960.
(4) Section 17310.
(5) Subdivision (b) of Section 23920.
(6) Section 25135.
(7) Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 26350) of Division 5 of Title 4.
(8) Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 26400) of Division 5 of Title 4.
(9) Sections 26500 to 26588, inclusive.
(10) Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive.
(11) Section 27510.
(12) Section 27530.
(13) Section 27540.
(14) Section 27545.
(15) Sections 27555 to 27585, inclusive.
(16) Sections 29010 to 29150, inclusive.
(17) Section 29180.
(e) As used in Sections 34005 and 34010, “firearm” does not include a destructive device.
(f) As used in Sections 17280 and 24680, “firearm” has the same meaning as in Section 922 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
(g) As used in Sections 29180 to 29184, inclusive, “firearm” includes the completed frame or receiver of a weapon.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 239, Sec. 1. (AB 725) Effective January 1, 2024.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As published in the Legislative Counsel's database, tables dated October 18, 2026 (pubinfo_2025.zip)
- Official file
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=16520.
- Text hash
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- compose_ca.py 2026-10-22: the Legislative Counsel's CAML content files read by a tokenizer (caml_readers.reader_a); an independent xml.etree reading (caml_readers.reader_b) agrees on every section
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Code of Civil Procedure
Penal Code
- Pen. Code, § 136.2Printed as Section 136.2
- Pen. Code, § 646.91Printed as Section 646.91
- Pen. Code, § 16515Printed as Sections 16515 and 16517
- Pen. Code, § 16517Printed as Sections 16515 and 16517
- Pen. Code, § 16550Printed as Section 16550
- Pen. Code, § 16730Printed as Section 16730
- Pen. Code, § 16750Printed as Section 16750
- Pen. Code, § 16840Printed as Section 16840
- Pen. Code, § 16960Printed as Section 16960
- Pen. Code, § 16990Printed as Section 16990
- Pen. Code, § 17070Printed as Section 17070
- Pen. Code, § 17280Printed as Sections 17280 and 24680
- Pen. Code, § 17310Printed as Section 17310
- Pen. Code, § 18100Printed as Sections 18100 to 18500, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 18500Printed as Sections 18100 to 18500, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 23690Printed as Section 23690
- Pen. Code, § 23900Printed as Sections 23900 to 23925, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 23920Printed as Section 23920
- Pen. Code, § 23925Printed as Sections 23900 to 23925, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 24680Printed as Sections 17280 and 24680
- Pen. Code, § 25135Printed as Section 25135
- Pen. Code, § 25250Printed as Sections 25250 to 25275, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 25275Printed as Sections 25250 to 25275, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 25400Printed as Section 25400
- Pen. Code, § 25850Printed as Sections 25850 to 26025, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 26025Printed as Sections 25850 to 26025, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 26030Printed as Section 26030
- Pen. Code, § 26035Printed as Sections 26035 to 26055, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 26055Printed as Sections 26035 to 26055, inclusive
- Pen. Code, pt. 6, tit. 4, div. 5, ch. 6Openly Carrying an Unloaded HandgunPrinted as Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 26350) of Division 5 of Title 4
- Pen. Code, pt. 6, tit. 4, div. 5, ch. 7Carrying an Unloaded Firearm That is not a HandgunPrinted as Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 26400) of Division 5 of Title 4
- Pen. Code, § 26500Printed as Sections 26500 to 26588, inclusive | Sections 26500 to 26590, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 26588Printed as Sections 26500 to 26588, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 26590Printed as Sections 26500 to 26590, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 26600Printed as Sections 26600 to 27140, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 26700Printed as Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 26915Printed as Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 27140Printed as Sections 26600 to 27140, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 27200Printed as Sections 27200 to 28490, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 27510Printed as Section 27510
- Pen. Code, § 27530Printed as Section 27530
- Pen. Code, § 27540Printed as Section 27540
- Pen. Code, § 27545Printed as Section 27545
- Pen. Code, § 27555Printed as Sections 27555 to 27585, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 27585Printed as Sections 27555 to 27585, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 28490Printed as Sections 27200 to 28490, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 29010Printed as Sections 29010 to 29150, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 29150Printed as Sections 29010 to 29150, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 29180Printed as Section 29180 | Sections 29180 to 29184, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 29184Printed as Sections 29180 to 29184, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 29185Printed as Section 29185
- Pen. Code, § 29610Printed as Sections 29610 to 29750, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 29750Printed as Sections 29610 to 29750, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 29800Printed as Sections 29800 to 29905, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 29905Printed as Sections 29800 to 29905, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 30150Printed as Sections 30150 to 30165, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 30165Printed as Sections 30150 to 30165, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 31615Printed as Section 31615
- Pen. Code, § 31700Printed as Sections 31700 to 31830, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 31830Printed as Sections 31700 to 31830, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 34005Printed as Sections 34005 and 34010
- Pen. Code, § 34010Printed as Sections 34005 and 34010
- Pen. Code, § 34355Printed as Sections 34355 to 34370, inclusive
- Pen. Code, § 34370Printed as Sections 34355 to 34370, inclusive
Welfare and Institutions Code
- Welf. & Inst. Code, § 8100Printed as Sections 8100 to 8108, inclusive, of the Welfare and Institutions Code
- Welf. & Inst. Code, § 8108Printed as Sections 8100 to 8108, inclusive, of the Welfare and Institutions Code
- Welf. & Inst. Code, § 15657.03Printed as Section 15657.03 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
Cited by 20 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Pen. Code, § 16520. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Business and Professions Code
Civil Code
Food and Agricultural Code
Penal Code
- Pen. Code, § 148.5Printed as Section 16520
- Pen. Code, § 171.7Printed as Section 16520
- Pen. Code, § 626.9Printed as Section 16520
- Pen. Code, § 3453Printed as Section 16520
- Pen. Code, § 12001Printed as Section 16520
- Pen. Code, § 16170Printed as Section 16520
- Pen. Code, § 16460Printed as Sections 16510, 16520, and 16780
- Pen. Code, § 16575Printed as Section 16520
- Pen. Code, § 16580Printed as Section 16520
- Pen. Code, § 29180Printed as Section 16520
Revenue and Taxation Code
Welfare and Institutions Code
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.