Ammunition storage rules in Canada are simpler than most people expect, and also more commonly misquoted. Many websites say ammo must always be locked up. That is not what the law says. This guide walks through the federal rules for keeping ammunition with or apart from firearms, the separate explosives limits on how much you can keep at home, and the wording traps that show up on the CFSC and CRFSC. If you are preparing for your PAL, test yourself afterwards with the free PAL practice test.
Two federal regulations matter. The Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations (SOR/98-209) control how ammunition relates to firearms. The Explosives Regulations, 2013 (SOR/2013-211), administered by Natural Resources Canada, treat cartridges, powder and primers as explosives and set quantity limits. Both were checked on the Justice Laws website in October 2026. This is an independent study guide, not legal advice.
Does ammo have to be locked up in Canada?
No, not in every case. Section 5(1)(c) of SOR/98-209 says a stored non-restricted firearm must not be readily accessible to ammunition, unless the ammunition is kept in a container or receptacle that is securely locked and cannot readily be broken open or into. The ammunition can be in that locked container together with the firearm or separately.
That leaves you two legal paths:
| Option | What it looks like | Legal for non-restricted firearms? |
|---|---|---|
| Store ammunition apart from the firearm | Rifle cable-locked in the bedroom closet; cartridges on a basement shelf | Yes, if the ammunition is not readily accessible to the firearm |
| Lock the ammunition up | Cartridges in a locked ammo can or in the same locked gun safe as the rifle | Yes |
| Ammunition next to the firearm, unlocked | Box of shells on the shelf beside a cable-locked shotgun | No |
The RCMP's plain-language page on storing, transporting and displaying firearms puts it the same way: store the ammunition separately or lock it up, and you may keep it in the same locked container as the firearms.
What "readily accessible" means
The regulations do not define it. Courts look at the facts: how close the ammunition is, whether a person could grab both in moments, and whether anything stands between them. A practical rule: if someone could pick up the firearm and its ammunition in the same reach, without unlocking anything, treat it as readily accessible.
Exam tip: Look for the word "or". On the CFSC, the correct answer for non-restricted ammunition is almost always "stored separately or locked up". An answer that says ammunition must be locked in a separate safe in every case is wrong.
Ammunition rules for restricted and prohibited firearms
The principle is the same, with one more choice of container. Under sections 6(c) and 7(c), a restricted or prohibited firearm must not be readily accessible to ammunition unless the ammunition is in:
- a securely locked container or receptacle that cannot readily be broken open or into; or
- a vault, safe or room specifically built or modified for securely storing restricted (or prohibited) firearms, kept locked.
So a handgun owner may keep pistols and cartridges in the same purpose-built safe. What they may not do is keep a box of 9 mm in an open drawer beside a lockbox. For everything else on restricted firearms, read the firearm storage rules guide and the RPAL rules study note.
Ammunition and display
Display rules are stricter than storage rules for ammunition:
- Non-restricted firearm on display (s.8(c)). It must not be displayed with, and must not be readily accessible to, ammunition that can be fired from it. A wall-mounted shotgun with shells on the mantel below fails this test.
- Restricted or prohibited firearm on display in a home (s.9(1)(d)). Same rule: no fitting ammunition displayed with it or within ready reach.
- Restricted or prohibited firearm displayed away from home (s.9(2)(d), 9(3)(d)). Ammunition may be displayed only if it is in a securely locked container that cannot readily be broken open.
The phrase "that can be discharged from it" matters. Decorative ammunition of a calibre that does not fit any displayed firearm is not covered by this rule, though it is still covered by the explosives rules below.
Loaded magazines, speedloaders and "unloaded"
Under section 1 of SOR/98-209, a firearm is unloaded only when nothing that can be fired is in the breech, the firing chamber, or a magazine attached to or inserted into the firearm. This creates three exam-relevant points:
- A firearm with a loaded magazine inserted is loaded, even if the chamber is empty.
- A loaded magazine that is detached does not make the firearm loaded, but the cartridges in it are ammunition and must follow the readily-accessible rule.
- A tubular magazine is built into the firearm. If it holds cartridges, the firearm is loaded.
Key fact: "Chamber empty" is not the same as "unloaded". Every magazine attached to or inserted in the firearm must be empty too.
Magazine capacity limits are a separate legal topic and are not covered by the storage regulations.
How much ammunition can you store at home?
This is where the explosives law comes in. SOR/98-209 has no quantity limit. The Explosives Regulations, 2013 do, because small arms cartridges, propellant powder and percussion caps are explosives.
Small arms cartridges (sections 278 to 281)
| Rule | What the regulations require |
|---|---|
| Who may store | Any user may acquire and store small arms cartridges, whether or not they hold an explosives licence |
| Where (unlicensed users) | In a dwelling or a storage unit |
| Maximum quantity | No more than 225 kg of small arms cartridges stored at any one time (s.280) |
| In a dwelling | Keep them away from flammable substances and sources of ignition; do not give people you have not authorized unlimited access to them |
| In a storage unit | Located away from flammables and ignition sources; clean and dry inside; built and maintained to keep out unauthorized people and weather; attended whenever unlocked; must not block exits; non-sparking shelving (for example wood or painted metal); other explosives kept separate; fire-prevention precautions; a "Danger — Fire Hazard / Risque d'incendie" no-smoking sign with letters at least 10 cm high |
Natural Resources Canada's consumer page on buying, selling and storing ammunition states the practical effect: you may keep up to 225 kg in a house, apartment, cottage or storage unit without an explosives licence, and above that you need one. For most hunters and target shooters this is far more than they will ever own. Older articles and forum posts sometimes quote other numbers. Rely on the current consolidated text, which reflects amendments made in 2022 and 2024.
Propellant powder and percussion caps (sections 296 to 304)
If you reload, the limits on powder are much tighter than on finished cartridges:
| Where you store it | Maximum at any one time |
|---|---|
| Detached house, or a storage unit attached to it | 25 kg of propellant powder in total, of which no more than 10 kg may be black powder |
| Other dwelling (apartment, semi, townhouse), smokeless powder | 20 kg if every container holds 1 kg or less; 5 kg if any container holds more than 1 kg |
| Other dwelling, black powder | 1 kg in containers; or up to 3 kg in cartridges or cartouches, less any quantity in containers |
| Storage units not attached to a dwelling | 25 kg black powder and 75 kg smokeless powder in total |
Packaging rules also apply: percussion caps stay in their original packaging, smokeless powder in its original container or in cartridges, and black powder in its original container with no more than 500 g per container, or in cartridges or cartouches. Powder already loaded into a cartridge does not count toward the powder limits. The dwelling safety rule is the same as for cartridges: away from flammables and ignition sources, and no unlimited access for people you have not authorized.
Natural Resources Canada's ammunition and propellant powders pages explain these rules for consumers and retailers.
Exam tip: The CFSC and CRFSC test the firearm-and-ammunition relationship from SOR/98-209, not explosives quantity limits. Know the 225 kg figure for real life, but do not expect it on the written test.
Provincial, municipal and fire code limits
Federal law is the floor, not the whole picture. Before you stock up, check:
- Fire codes. Provinces adopt fire codes that can address storing explosives and flammable materials in buildings. Your local fire department can tell you what applies to your home.
- Municipal by-laws. Some municipalities regulate explosives storage or home businesses that handle them.
- Condominium rules and leases. A condo corporation or landlord can restrict what you keep in a unit or locker.
- Home insurance. Some policies ask about reloading supplies or large quantities of powder.
We do not list specific provincial numbers here because they vary and change. If a page quotes a single "provincial limit" for all of Canada, treat it with caution.
Ammunition in vehicles, on planes and in the mail
In a vehicle
SOR/98-209 has no separate ammunition rule for vehicles. The firearm itself must be unloaded during transport (a muzzleloader moving between hunting sites is the narrow exception, with its cap or flint removed). Good practice that also holds up if police ask: keep ammunition in a separate box or bag, away from the cased firearm, and out of sight when you leave the vehicle. For restricted firearms, keep the locked case free of loaded magazines. The full vehicle rules are on our transporting firearms in Canada guide.
On a plane
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) does not allow firearms, firearm parts, ammunition or cartridges in carry-on bags under any circumstances. They must be declared to the airline at check-in. Airlines set their own packing and weight limits for ammunition in checked baggage under dangerous goods rules, and a per-passenger weight cap (often 5 kg) is common. Confirm the current limit with your carrier before you pack.
By mail or courier
Ammunition is a regulated dangerous good for shipping. Canada Post and couriers set their own conditions, and many do not accept it from individuals. Check with the carrier first.
Buying ammunition and prohibited ammunition
You need a valid firearms licence to buy ammunition in Canada, and sellers check it. Non-residents rely on a confirmed non-resident firearm declaration or a temporary borrowing licence. Some ammunition is prohibited by regulation under the Criminal Code, such as certain armour-piercing handgun cartridges. Possessing it is an offence regardless of how carefully you store it.
Storing ammunition safely at home
The law sets the minimum. These habits, taught in the CFSC, keep ammunition reliable and your household safe:
- Cool and dry. Heat and humidity degrade primers and powder. Avoid hot garages, furnace rooms and damp basements without a dehumidifier.
- Away from solvents and oils. Penetrating oils and cleaning solvents can seep into primers and cause misfires or hangfires.
- Original packaging. It shows the exact cartridge name, which prevents dangerous mix-ups such as a 20-gauge shell in a 12-gauge.
- Separate calibres. Never keep loose cartridges of different calibres in the same pocket or tin.
- Out of children's reach. A locked ammo can is cheap and removes any doubt about "readily accessible".
- Inspect before use. Discard corroded, dented or swollen cartridges through a range or retailer that accepts them.
The ammunition study note covers cartridge parts, calibre and gauge, and malfunctions such as hangfires, which share the CFSC topic with storage.
Ammunition traps on the PAL test
- "Ammunition must always be locked." False. It must be locked up or not readily accessible to the firearm.
- "Ammunition may never be stored in the same safe as the firearm." False. The regulations expressly allow storage together in a securely locked container.
- "A detached loaded magazine makes the rifle loaded." False under the definition, but the magazine still counts as ammunition.
- "A displayed rifle may have its ammunition on the same rack if the rifle is trigger-locked." False. Display rules forbid fitting ammunition displayed with the firearm.
- "Restricted firearm ammunition must be in a separate vault." False. It may share the locked container or the purpose-built vault, safe or room.
Your study plan
Ammunition and storage together make up a large share of CFSC questions in our bank. Use this sequence:
- Take the free PAL diagnostic and note which storage and ammunition questions you miss.
- Reread the "Does ammo have to be locked up" table and the traps list.
- Try the free PAL quick practice and then the free full PAL mock exam 1.
- Review real questions with answers on PAL test questions.
- Pro (from CA$7.99 a week, cancel anytime) includes ammunition topic practice, mocks 2 to 10 and every study note for all nine tests. See pricing.
10 free PAL (CFSC) practice questions with answers
Try each one, then open the answer. For a timed experience use the free mock exam.
1. What do the 'shell stops' (shell latches) in a pump shotgun do?
- A. Hold the barrel firmly onto the receiver
- B. Stop the fore-end from sliding at all
- C. Hold shells in the tube until one is fed
- D. Stop the shot pattern from spreading
Show answer
C. Hold shells in the tube until one is fed
Shell stops keep shells in the tube until the action releases one onto the carrier. Pressing them is also one way to unload the magazine (CFSC Handbook, Module 6).
2. When deciding eligibility, which past court order involving an intimate partner must a CFO take into account?
- A. A parking ban at a condominium
- B. A family court order on child support
- C. A firearms ban after violence to a partner
- D. A civil judgment for unpaid rent
Show answer
C. A firearms ban after violence to a partner
Firearms Act s.5(2)(e) directs the CFO to consider whether, in respect of an offence involving violence against an intimate or former intimate partner, the person was previously prohibited by a prohibition order from possessing firearms and other weapons.
3. A cartridge is described as '6.5 mm'. What does the number refer to?
- A. The barrel length in inches
- B. The case length in centimetres
- C. The rough bullet diameter in millimetres
- D. The number of cartridges per box
Show answer
C. The rough bullet diameter in millimetres
Metric calibres give the approximate bullet or bore diameter in millimetres. Case length, capacity and barrel length are other measurements.
4. When firing a shotgun, where should your body weight be?
- A. On the back leg
- B. On the leading leg
- C. Evenly on the heels
- D. On the toes of the back foot
Show answer
B. On the leading leg
When firing a shotgun, shift your body weight to the leading leg, with the leading hand on the fore-stock pointing naturally at the target.
5. For a right-handed shooter in the standing position, how is the body placed?
- A. About 45° to the right of the target
- B. Square to the target
- C. Back to the target
- D. About 90° to the left of the target
Show answer
A. About 45° to the right of the target
In the standing position, a right-handed shooter turns about 45° to the right of the target with the feet about shoulder-width apart.
6. You are hunting alone and come to a barbed-wire fence. What is the safest way to cross?
- A. Unload, slide it under the fence, cross away from the muzzle
- B. Climb over holding the loaded rifle
- C. Lean the loaded rifle on the fence and climb
- D. Cross with the safety on and finger outside the guard
Show answer
A. Unload, slide it under the fence, cross away from the muzzle
Unload the firearm and PROVE it, place it on the far side or slide it under the fence with the muzzle pointed away from where you will cross, cross at a different spot, then pick it up by the stock and check the bore before reloading.
7. You sell your non-restricted rifle to a licensed buyer who lives in another province. What is required?
- A. A registration certificate
- B. The buyer's licence and a valid reference number
- C. Nothing extra; out-of-province sales are unregulated
- D. A permit from both provinces
Show answer
B. The buyer's licence and a valid reference number
Firearms Act s.23 applies to any non-restricted transfer in Canada: the buyer must hold a licence to acquire it and you must obtain a valid reference number from the Registrar. Licences are valid throughout Canada (s.63). Shipping must follow SOR/98-209.
8. When may you load one barrel of a double-barrelled percussion shotgun?
- A. Only with both hammers cocked
- B. Only after the other barrel's cap is off
- C. Only after firing both barrels
- D. Any time, if the muzzle is up
Show answer
B. Only after the other barrel's cap is off
Do not load one barrel of a double-barrelled muzzleloading shotgun unless the percussion cap on the other barrel's nipple has been removed.
9. Why should you never shoot at flat, hard surfaces or at water?
- A. The noise is much louder
- B. It damages the barrel's rifling
- C. Bullets can ricochet unpredictably
- D. It is only a problem with shotguns
Show answer
C. Bullets can ricochet unpredictably
Projectiles striking water, rock or other flat, hard surfaces can glance off (ricochet) at unpredictable angles and carry dangerous energy a long way. The CFSC teaches choosing targets with a safe backstop that will stop projectiles.
10. What is the 'hammer' on a firearm?
- A. The part that strikes the firing pin or primer
- B. The sling attachment at the butt
- C. The part used to clean the bore
- D. The part that holds the magazine
Show answer
A. The part that strikes the firing pin or primer
The hammer is a spring-powered part that, when released by the trigger, strikes the firing pin (or directly the primer in some designs) to fire the cartridge. It may be exposed or internal.
Frequently asked questions
+Do you need a licence to buy ammunition in Canada?
Yes. Sellers must check that you hold a valid firearms licence before selling you ammunition. Non-residents generally rely on a confirmed non-resident declaration or a temporary borrowing licence.
+Can I keep loaded magazines at home in Canada?
A loaded magazine is ammunition. It may sit in the same locked safe as the firearm, or be stored separately where it is not readily accessible to the firearm. It must never be attached to or inserted in a stored firearm, because that makes the firearm loaded.
+How much gunpowder can I store at home in Canada?
In a detached house the federal limit is 25 kg of propellant powder, of which no more than 10 kg may be black powder. Lower limits apply in other dwellings such as apartments, semi-detached homes and townhouses.
+Is it legal to store ammunition in a vehicle in Canada?
SOR/98-209 has no separate ammunition rule for vehicles, but the firearm must be unloaded during transport and a loaded magazine must not be in it. Keeping ammunition in a separate locked box and out of sight is the safe, defensible choice.
+Does ammo expire?
Ammunition has no legal expiry date, but heat, moisture and solvents can degrade primers and powder. Store it cool and dry in its original packaging and do not fire cartridges that are corroded, dented or swollen.
+What is prohibited ammunition in Canada?
Prohibited ammunition is ammunition listed by regulation under the Criminal Code, such as certain armour-piercing handgun cartridges. Possessing it is an offence, whatever the storage method.
+Can I store ammo in my condo or apartment?
Federal law allows it, subject to the dwelling rules: away from flammable substances and ignition sources, with no unlimited access for unauthorized people. Your building's rules, lease, fire code and insurance policy may add limits, so check them.
Study offline on your phone too
The Canada Licence Prep app has the same questions with audio, French explanations and an ACTS & PROVE coach.
Keep reading
- Firearm Storage Rules in CanadaPlain-English firearm storage rules from SOR/98-209 for every class, plus display, vehicles, locks and ammo. Includes 'Is it legal?' scenarios.
- Transporting Firearms in CanadaHow to legally transport non-restricted, restricted and prohibited firearms in Canada, when you need an ATT, vehicle rules, provinces and flights.
- Free PAL Practice Test (CFSC)Free 50-question CFSC mock exam for the PAL test: 80% pass mark, timed like the real thing, scored instantly with explanations. Start with a diagnostic.
- PAL Test Questions and Answers50 CFSC exam questions with answers, grouped by topic: ACTS & PROVE, actions, ammunition, storage, transport and the law. Free printable PDF version.
- Free RPAL Practice Test (CRFSC)Practise for the restricted (CRFSC) exam with timed 50-question RPAL mocks, handgun and storage questions, and clear explanations for every answer.