California AB 1263: What Firearms Retailers Need to Know About the New Accessory Law

California's firearms landscape is about to change significantly. Assembly Bill 1263, signed into law on October 11, 2025, introduces new requirements for retailers selling firearm accessories to California residents. With the law taking effect on January 1, 2026, many retailers are scrambling to understand their compliance obligations.

If you sell firearm parts, accessories, or manufacturing equipment to California customers, here's what you need to know.

What is AB 1263?

Assembly Bill 1263, officially titled "Firearms: ghost guns," significantly expands California's regulation of firearm-related products beyond complete firearms. While the law's stated goal is to address concerns about unserialized "ghost guns," its scope extends far beyond that, affecting everyday firearm accessories and parts.

The law amends California's Firearm Industry Responsibility Act (FIRA) and creates new requirements for anyone selling what California defines as "firearm accessories" or "firearm manufacturing machines" to state residents.

Who Does AB 1263 Affect?

You're affected if you:

Sell firearm accessories online to California customers
Ship firearm parts to California addresses
Operate an e-commerce store selling gun-related products
Are located outside California but serve California residents

This includes:

Online retailers and marketplaces
Out-of-state gun stores with e-commerce
Parts manufacturers selling direct-to-consumer
Accessory vendors on platforms like eBay (though many have stopped CA sales)

The law applies regardless of where your business is located. If you're shipping to California, you're subject to AB 1263.

What Products Are Covered?

AB 1263's definition of "firearm accessory" is broad and includes:

Rate-of-Fire Modifying Items:

Trigger modifications
Bump stocks and similar devices (already prohibited)
Speed loaders and reloading aids

Magazine-Related Items:

Magazines of any capacity
Magazine loaders
Magazine release mechanisms

Assault Weapon Features (Per Penal Code § 30515):

Pistol grips and foregrips
Folding, telescoping, or thumbhole stocks
Flash suppressors
Threaded barrels
Shrouds and handguards

Manufacturing-Related Items:

80% lower receivers and jigs
CNC machines marketed for firearm production
3D printers advertised for firearm manufacturing
Parts sets designed for firearm assembly

Additionally:

Standalone firearm barrels (subject to both AB 1263 and SB 704)
Triggers, barrels, slides, and similar components

If you're unsure whether your products fall under these definitions, err on the side of caution. The California Department of Justice has authority to issue additional clarifying regulations.

The Four Compliance Requirements

AB 1263 creates four mandatory requirements before completing any sale or delivery to California residents:

1. Age and Identity Verification

Requirement: Verify the purchaser is at least 18 years old using government-issued photo identification.

What this means:

Driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID required
Must confirm identity matches the ID
Cannot rely on customer's word or honor system
Must verify before completing the sale or delivery

Acceptable verification methods:

Real-time ID authentication systems
Manual review of uploaded ID photos
Third-party age verification services

2. Provide Legal Notice

Requirement: Display clear and conspicuous notice informing customers about California's firearm manufacturing restrictions.

The notice must inform customers it's a crime in California to:

Manufacture more than 3 firearms per year without a license
Manufacture firearms using 3D printers or CNC machines without a license
Manufacture firearms for sale to unlicensed individuals
Manufacture firearms to sell without required background checks
Aid prohibited persons in manufacturing firearms
Manufacture assault weapons, machine guns, unserialized firearms, or unsafe handguns

Implementation: Most retailers display this notice during checkout with a clear acknowledgment mechanism.

3. Collect Acknowledgment

Requirement: Obtain written (or digital) acknowledgment that the customer received and understands the legal notice.

What this means:

Customer must actively acknowledge (checkbox, signature, click-through)
Cannot be buried in general terms and conditions
Must be specific to AB 1263 requirements
Must be retained for audit purposes

Best practice: Implement a dedicated acknowledgment step in your checkout flow with clear, unambiguous language.

4. Address Matching and Signature Requirements

Requirement: Ensure proper shipping and delivery procedures.

Shipping requirements:

Package labels must state: "Signature and proof of identification of person aged 18 years or older required for delivery"
Shipping address must match the address on the customer's ID
Adult signature required upon delivery
Courier must verify ID at delivery

Implementation challenges:

Not all carriers support detailed ID verification at delivery
Address matching can be complex (apartments, work addresses, etc.)
Some retailers are limiting California sales due to carrier limitations

Timeline and Effective Date

Key Dates:

October 11, 2025: Governor Newsom signed AB 1263 into law
January 1, 2026: Law takes effect (ALREADY IN EFFECT)
Ongoing: California DOJ may issue additional implementing regulations

If you're reading this after January 1, 2026, you should already be in compliance. Sales made after this date without proper verification and acknowledgment procedures violate the law.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

AB 1263 violations carry serious consequences:

Civil Liability:

Violations are civilly actionable under FIRA
Private lawsuits allowed (individuals can sue directly)
Potential injunctive relief (court orders to change practices)
Compensatory damages
Attorney's fees

Increased Exposure:

FIRA creates strict liability for certain violations
No intent required for civil penalties
Retailers can be liable even if products are later misused

Practical Impact:

Legal defense costs, even if you win
Reputational damage
Potential loss of payment processing or merchant accounts
Business disruption

The law does not specify criminal penalties for verification failures, but civil exposure alone is significant enough to warrant immediate compliance efforts.

Exemptions

AB 1263's requirements do NOT apply to sales or deliveries to:

Federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs)
Licensed ammunition vendors
Armed Forces or National Guard members (on duty, within scope of employment)
Law enforcement officers (on duty, within scope of employment)
Forensic laboratories
Wholesalers
Licensed common carriers (during transportation)

If your business primarily serves other FFLs or law enforcement, your compliance burden is significantly reduced.

What Retailers Are Doing

The firearms industry has responded to AB 1263 in several ways:

Compliance Efforts:

Implementing ID verification systems at checkout
Adding AB 1263 acknowledgment steps
Requiring adult signatures on all California shipments
Working with carriers to improve delivery verification

Market Exit:

Some retailers have stopped shipping to California entirely
Major marketplaces like eBay struggle to implement verification
Small retailers find compliance costs prohibitive

Hybrid Approaches:

Limiting California sales to specific product categories
Requiring FFL transfers for all California sales (even non-firearms)
Manual order review for every California shipment

Technology Solutions:

Third-party identity verification services (like ZeroTrust)
Integrated checkout verification flows
Automated address matching systems

Steps Retailers Should Take Now

If you haven't already implemented AB 1263 compliance, here's your action plan:

Immediate Actions (This Week):

Review your product catalog
- Identify which products fall under AB 1263
- Flag California-restricted items in your inventory system
Implement temporary measures
- Consider manual verification for California orders
- Add legal notices to your checkout process
- Update shipping procedures
Evaluate your options
- Continue serving California customers with proper compliance
- Exit the California market
- Require all California sales through FFLs

Short-Term Actions (Next 2-4 Weeks):

Select a compliance solution
- Identity verification service
- Manual review process
- Third-party compliance platform
Update your checkout flow
- Add age verification step
- Display AB 1263 legal notice
- Collect acknowledgments
- Implement address matching
Train your team
- Order fulfillment staff
- Customer service representatives
- Compliance officers
Document your procedures
- Written compliance policy
- Record retention procedures
- Audit trail processes

Ongoing Compliance:

Monitor for updates
- California DOJ may issue clarifying regulations
- Industry best practices will evolve
- Legal challenges may clarify requirements
Maintain audit trails
- Keep verification records (minimum 3 years recommended)
- Document acknowledgments
- Log all California transactions
Review quarterly
- Compliance procedure effectiveness
- Verification success rates
- Customer feedback and pain points

AB 1263 doesn't exist in isolation. Be aware of related requirements:

Senate Bill 704 (Firearm Barrels):

Effective January 1, 2026
Requires all standalone barrel sales go through California FFLs
Background check required starting July 1, 2027
Direct-to-consumer barrel shipments prohibited

Assembly Bill 1078 (Purchase Limits):

Creates 3-per-30-day firearm purchase limit
Replaced previous 1-per-30-day limit after court ruling

Existing California Regulations:

California Firearms Roster (handguns)
Assault weapon restrictions
Large-capacity magazine prohibitions
Ammunition purchase requirements

Understanding the full regulatory landscape helps ensure comprehensive compliance.

Industry Resources

California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA):

Detailed AB 1263 guidance bulletin
Sample acknowledgment forms
FFL finder tools
Legal support resources

National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF):

Compliance webinars
Industry working groups
Best practices documentation

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC):

Legal challenges and updates
Advocacy efforts

California Department of Justice:

Official regulations and guidance
Contact: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/contact

The Bottom Line

California AB 1263 represents a significant expansion of regulation beyond firearms themselves to encompass accessories, parts, and manufacturing tools. While compliance adds friction to the sales process, the penalties for non-compliance are too severe to ignore.

Retailers serving California customers have three realistic options:

Implement full compliance - Invest in verification systems, update processes, and continue serving the California market
Exit the California market - Stop shipping to California addresses entirely
FFL-only sales - Require all California sales go through licensed dealers

The right choice depends on your business model, California sales volume, and resources available for compliance implementation.

For retailers choosing compliance, the key is acting now. The law is already in effect, and every day of non-compliance increases your exposure to civil liability.

Need Help with AB 1263 Compliance?

ZeroTrust provides identity verification specifically designed for e-commerce compliance needs. Our system handles age verification, ID authentication, and provides the audit trail required for AB 1263 compliance.

Learn more: www.entrinsia.com/solutions/ab1263

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about California AB 1263 and should not be construed as legal advice. For specific guidance on your compliance obligations, consult with an attorney familiar with California firearms law. The information in this article is current as of January 7, 2026, but regulations may change.

About Entrinsia: Entrinsia provides identity verification and compliance solutions for regulated industries. Our ZeroTrust platform helps e-commerce businesses meet age verification requirements while minimizing data liability.