California’s New Firearms Rules: What AB 1263 & SB 704 Mean for 2026 and Beyond

California is entering a major new phase of firearms regulation. Two recently passed laws — Assembly Bill 1263 (AB 1263) and Senate Bill 704 (SB 704) — will take effect in 2026 and 2027, creating new rules for firearm parts, accessories, digital design files, and even the sale of standalone barrels. Supporters say the changes close loopholes that allow untraceable “ghost guns”; critics argue these laws put significant restrictions on lawful gun owners and businesses. Here’s an accessible breakdown of what’s changing.

What Is AB 1263?

A New Crackdown on Ghost Guns, Accessories, and Digital Firearm Blueprints

AB 1263 significantly expands California’s oversight of firearm accessories, unfinished weapon components, and digital manufacturing technology. The law targets the growing trend of at-home firearm production, including 3D-printed and CNC-milled guns.

Key Elements of AB 1263

• Regulation of accessories and parts: Firearm accessories sold in California will now come with new requirements for identity and age verification. Sellers must confirm a buyer’s government-issued ID before completing a sale.

• Mandatory buyer notifications: Sellers must provide a written notice explaining legal restrictions, including the consequences of using accessories to build an illegal firearm.

• Shipping restrictions: If accessories are shipped to buyers, the delivery must go to the address that matches the verified ID and must be accepted with an adult signature.

• Restrictions on firearm manufacturing: The law prohibits knowingly helping someone unlawfully manufacture a firearm, including by supplying parts, tools, or materials commonly used for 3D printing or CNC milling.

• Digital blueprint regulation: AB 1263 makes it illegal to distribute CAD/CAM files or similar digital code intended to produce a firearm or major component. This includes posting downloadable design files online.

• Increased liability and penalties: Anyone who intentionally assists in efforts to manufacture an unserialized or undetectable firearm faces new criminal exposure. A conviction for certain offenses may also trigger a 10-year ban on firearm ownership.
  

Overall, AB 1263 broadens California’s ability to regulate not just physical parts, but also the digital and technological tools used to make firearms at home.

What Is SB 704?

New Rules for Firearm Barrels Starting in 2027

SB 704 focuses specifically on regulating the sale and transfer of firearm barrels — a key component in any weapon. Previously, barrels could be purchased online and shipped directly to consumers with few restrictions. That changes under the new law.

Key Elements of SB 704

• Barrels treated like firearms: When sold separately from a complete firearm, standalone barrels will now be subject to the same transfer rules as a complete gun.

• Dealer involvement required: Starting January 1, 2027, all transfers of standalone barrels must be completed through a licensed firearms dealer.

• In-person purchases only: Barrels can no longer be shipped directly to private individuals. Transfers must occur face-to-face at the dealer’s location.

• Background checks and record keeping: Dealers must run background checks and maintain detailed records of barrel transfers, similar to existing firearm sales procedures.

• Restrictions on non-dealers: Individuals who are not licensed dealers cannot legally offer barrels for sale with the intent to transfer them outside the dealer-mediated system.
  

SB 704 is designed to close a long-standing gap in gun-parts regulation by ensuring that a critical component — the barrel — is traceable and tied to a lawful purchaser.

How AB 1263 and SB 704 Work Together

Though the two laws take different approaches, they collectively mark a substantial expansion of California’s firearm-related regulatory framework:

• AB 1263 regulates accessories, manufacturing tools, digital blueprints, and shipping requirements — all aimed at curbing ghost-gun assembly and online distribution of firearm-ready components.

• SB 704 regulates a central physical component — the barrel — placing it fully within the same rules that apply to complete firearms.
  

Together, the laws shift California’s focus beyond regulating complete guns; they now regulate parts, manufacturing processes, and even the digital plans used to create them. This is one of the broadest expansions of firearms-parts regulation in state history.

What Gun Owners and Businesses Should Know

These laws introduce significant new compliance requirements:

For Individual Firearm Owners

• Online parts orders will get more complicated. Accessories will require ID verification, special warnings, and adult-signature delivery beginning in 2026.

• Buying barrels online will end in 2027. Expect to purchase replacement barrels only through in-person dealer transfers.

• Don’t share digital blueprints. Posting or distributing files used to manufacture firearms or parts will be illegal.
  

For Retailers and Manufacturers

• Increased liability: Businesses can be held responsible for unlawful firearm manufacturing if they fail to comply with new restrictions.

• More paperwork: ID checks, written notices, shipping controls, records of transfers, and updated policies will all be necessary.

• Website operators must be cautious: Hosting downloadable firearm design files can result in enforcement actions.
  

Final Thoughts

AB 1263 and SB 704 represent a major shift in California’s approach to firearm regulation. By extending oversight to the digital instructions, parts, and components used to build firearms — not just the firearms themselves — the state aims to disrupt the ghost-gun pipeline and make firearm components more traceable.

For gun owners, businesses, and hobbyists, this means the purchasing process for accessories and parts will look very different beginning in 2026 and 2027. Whether these laws are seen as overdue reforms or burdensome overreach, their impact on California’s firearms landscape will be significant.