Firearm storage rules in Canada come from one federal regulation: the Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations (SOR/98-209). The rules apply to every licence holder in every province, and they are the single most heavily weighted topic on the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) written tests. If you are getting ready for the exam, this page gives you every rule by firearm class, the definitions examiners like to test, and a set of "Is it legal?" scenarios. When you are done, check yourself on our free PAL practice test.
This is an independent study guide, not legal advice. Section numbers refer to SOR/98-209 as consolidated on the Justice Laws website, checked October 2026.
The four definitions behind every storage rule
Most wrong answers on storage questions come from misreading one word. Learn these definitions from section 1 of the regulations before the tables.
Unloaded
A firearm is unloaded when no cartridge, projectile or propellant that could be fired is in the breech or firing chamber, and none is in a magazine that is attached to or inserted into the firearm. A loaded magazine sitting beside the rifle does not make the rifle "loaded", but the cartridges in that magazine are still ammunition, and the ammunition rules below still apply.
Secure locking device
A device that can only be opened with a key (mechanical, magnetic or electronic) or by entering a letter or number combination, and that stops the firearm from firing when it is applied. Trigger locks, cable locks run through the action, and action locks all qualify if they meet that description.
Unattended vehicle
A vehicle is unattended when no one who is 18 or older, or who holds a firearms licence, is directly and immediately supervising it. A 16-year-old with a minor's licence sitting in the car counts as attending it. A 16-year-old with no licence does not.
Vehicle
Any conveyance used to travel on land, on water or in the air. Boats, ATVs, snowmobiles and aircraft are all vehicles for these rules.
Exam tip: Questions often swap "or" for "and". For non-restricted firearms the three securing options are alternatives: you need only one. For restricted firearms the lock and the locked container are both required, unless you use a purpose-built vault, safe or room.
Firearm storage rules in Canada by class
The table summarizes sections 5, 6, 7 and 14. The sections after it explain each line.
| Class | Must be unloaded | How it must be secured | Ammunition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-restricted (s.5) | Yes | One of: secure locking device; bolt or bolt-carrier removed; or locked container, receptacle or room that cannot readily be broken into | Not readily accessible, unless the ammunition is in a securely locked container or receptacle |
| Restricted (s.6) | Yes | Secure locking device and locked container, receptacle or room; or a locked vault, safe or room built or modified for restricted firearms | Not readily accessible, unless locked in a container, or in the vault, safe or room |
| Prohibited (s.7) | Yes | Same as restricted; an automatic with a removable bolt or bolt-carrier must also have it removed and kept in a different locked room | Same as restricted |
| Antique (s.14) | Yes | No further storage requirement | No requirement in SOR/98-209 |
Non-restricted firearms (section 5)
Most rifles and shotguns used for hunting and target shooting are non-restricted. To store one legally you must meet three conditions together:
- The firearm is unloaded.
- It is secured in one of three ways: a secure locking device applied, the bolt or bolt-carrier removed, or the firearm placed in a container, receptacle or room that is kept securely locked and is built so it cannot readily be broken open or into.
- It is not readily accessible to ammunition, unless the ammunition is in a securely locked container or receptacle that cannot readily be broken open. That container can be the same one that holds the firearm, or a separate one.
So a cable-locked shotgun in an unlocked closet is legal, as long as the shells are not readily accessible to it. A rifle in a locked steel cabinet is legal without any trigger lock. The RCMP's own summary on storing, transporting and displaying firearms says the same: unload, then lock the firearm or lock it up, and store ammunition separately or lock it up.
Two exceptions for non-restricted firearms only
- Predator and animal control (s.5(2)). If you temporarily store a non-restricted firearm because you reasonably need it to control predators or other animals, in a place where it may be lawfully discharged, the locking requirement does not apply. It must still be unloaded, and the ammunition rule still applies.
- Remote wilderness (s.5(3)). In a remote wilderness area with no visible or reasonably ascertainable use that is incompatible with hunting, the locking requirement and the ammunition requirement do not apply. The firearm must still be unloaded.
Key fact: Neither exception ever allows a stored firearm to be loaded. A farmer keeping a rifle by the door for coyotes may skip the trigger lock, but the rifle must stay unloaded until it is needed.
Restricted firearms (section 6)
Restricted firearms include most handguns that are not prohibited and some short semi-automatic centre-fire long guns (see firearm classes in Canada). You may store one only if it is unloaded and you choose one of these two options:
- A secure locking device plus a container, receptacle or room that is kept securely locked and cannot readily be broken open or into; or
- A vault, safe or room that was specifically built or modified to store restricted firearms securely, kept locked.
The ammunition must not be readily accessible unless it is locked in a container that cannot readily be broken open, or kept in that purpose-built vault, safe or room.
A restricted firearm can only be possessed at the place recorded in the registry or another place the Chief Firearms Officer authorizes. The RPAL rules study note covers that, plus registration and the handgun freeze.
Prohibited firearms (section 7)
The storage rules mirror the restricted rules, with one extra condition: for an automatic firearm with a removable bolt or bolt-carrier, the bolt or carrier must be removed and stored in a different room that is kept locked and cannot readily be broken into.
Antique firearms (section 14)
An antique firearm needs only to be unloaded when stored or displayed. Sections 5 to 13 do not apply to antiques at all (s.2(5)).
Display rules: wall racks, cabinets and gun rooms
Displaying a firearm means showing it rather than putting it away. The rules are close to the storage rules but not identical, and examiners test the differences.
| Class and place | Rules |
|---|---|
| Non-restricted, anywhere (s.8) | Unloaded; secure locking device or in a locked container, receptacle or room that cannot readily be broken into; not displayed with, and not readily accessible to, ammunition that fits it |
| Restricted or prohibited, in a dwelling-house (s.9(1)) | Unloaded; secure locking device; securely attached to a non-portable structure so it cannot readily be removed; not displayed with or readily accessible to ammunition that fits it; automatic: bolt or carrier removed to a different locked room |
| Restricted, away from a dwelling-house (s.9(2)) | Unloaded; secure locking device; fastened to the display structure by a chain, metal cable or similar device; ammunition only if it is in a locked container |
| Prohibited, away from a dwelling-house (s.9(3)) | As restricted, plus the automatic bolt rule |
Notice two things. First, removing the bolt is not one of the display options for a non-restricted firearm, although it is for storage. Second, the chain-or-cable requirement for restricted firearms shown away from home can be set aside while someone handles the firearm under the direct and immediate supervision of the person displaying it (s.9(4)). That is what lets a collector pass a pistol to a visitor at a show.
Exam tip: "Securely attached to a non-portable structure" is the phrase that separates restricted display from non-restricted display. If an answer choice lets a restricted handgun sit on a shelf in a glass cabinet with only a trigger lock, it is wrong.
Leaving a firearm in a vehicle
Storage questions often move into the car. These rules come from the transport sections (10 to 13), and they matter because a vehicle left alone is where most thefts happen. The full transport rules, including the Authorization to Transport, are on our transporting firearms in Canada guide.
| Class | Unattended vehicle with a lockable trunk | Unattended vehicle without one |
|---|---|---|
| Non-restricted (s.10(2)) | Unloaded and in the locked trunk or similar lockable compartment | Unloaded, not visible from outside, and the vehicle or the part holding it locked |
| Restricted (s.11) | Unloaded, locking device, locked opaque container, container in the locked trunk | Same firearm conditions; container out of sight and the vehicle locked |
| Prohibited (s.12) | As restricted, plus the bolt or carrier of an automatic removed if it comes out easily | As restricted |
| Replica (s.13) | In the locked trunk | Out of sight, vehicle locked |
For non-restricted firearms in a remote wilderness area, where the vehicle has no lockable trunk and cannot itself be locked, the firearm must be out of sight and fitted with a secure locking device, unless you reasonably need it for predator control (s.10(3)).
Is it legal? Ten storage scenarios
Work through each one before reading the answer. These mirror the situation questions on the CFSC and CRFSC.
1. Trigger-locked rifle in a bedroom closet
An unloaded bolt-action rifle with a trigger lock sits in an unlocked closet. The cartridges are in a box in the basement. Legal. The firearm is unloaded and secured by one of the three options, and the ammunition is not readily accessible to it.
2. Rifle and ammunition in the same gun safe
Legal. Ammunition may be stored together with the firearm when it is inside a securely locked container that cannot readily be broken open.
3. Bolt in your pocket, rifle in the closet
You remove the bolt from an unloaded non-restricted rifle and keep it on your key ring. Legal. Removing the bolt or bolt-carrier is a stand-alone option for non-restricted storage. It is not an option for display.
4. Shotgun in an unlocked closet, no lock, shells in a locked box
Not legal. Locking up the ammunition does not secure the firearm. You still need a locking device, the bolt removed, or a locked container or room.
5. Handgun with a trigger lock in a dresser drawer
Not legal. A restricted firearm needs the locking device and a locked container, receptacle or room, or a purpose-built vault or safe.
6. Handgun in a heavy steel gun safe without a trigger lock
Legal, if the safe was specifically built or modified for securely storing restricted firearms and is kept locked. A thin lockbox that can easily be pried open does not meet that description, so with a lockbox you also need the trigger lock.
7. Wall-mounted shotgun over the fireplace
The shotgun is unloaded, cable-locked and hung on the wall. A box of shells sits on the mantel. Not legal. A displayed non-restricted firearm must not be displayed with, or be readily accessible to, ammunition it can fire.
8. Loaded rifle by the farmhouse door for coyotes
Not legal. The predator-control exception only removes the locking requirement. The rifle must still be unloaded while stored.
9. Rifle on the back seat under a blanket during lunch
Your car has a lockable trunk. Not legal. When the vehicle has a lockable trunk, an unattended non-restricted firearm must be in it. Out of sight is only enough when there is no trunk.
10. Rifle in a locked SUV with no trunk, behind tinted glass
The rifle is unloaded, in the cargo area under a cover, and the SUV is locked. Legal. With no lockable trunk or compartment, the firearm must be not visible from outside and the vehicle locked.
Key fact: Every scenario starts with the same test: is it unloaded? If not, it fails, whatever else is right.
Choosing locks, safes and cases
The law sets outcomes, not brands. Here is how the common products fit:
- Trigger locks and cable locks. They count as secure locking devices if they need a key or combination and stop the firearm from firing. Cable locks run through the open action or magazine well are hard to defeat and fit most actions. Many come free with a new firearm.
- Lockable gun cabinets. Steel cabinets satisfy the "locked container that cannot readily be broken open" option for non-restricted firearms. A glass-front display case that a person could smash in seconds is a weaker argument.
- Gun safes. A good safe works for every class. For restricted firearms, a safe built for firearms storage generally fits the "specifically constructed" option. If in doubt, add a trigger lock as well.
- Locked rooms. A room can serve, but it must be kept securely locked and built so it cannot readily be broken into. An ordinary interior door with a privacy latch does not qualify.
- Hard cases. A locked hard case can be a storage container for a non-restricted firearm. For transporting restricted firearms the case must also be opaque.
Biometric locks raise a practical question. The definition of a secure locking device mentions keys and combinations only. If a fingerprint-only device is your plan, confirm with the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program before you rely on it.
Handling, shipping and penalties
Loading and handling a loaded firearm (section 15)
You may load a firearm, or handle a loaded one, only where it may lawfully be discharged under all applicable federal and provincial laws and municipal by-laws. Your living room in a city is not that place.
Mailing firearms (section 16)
Individuals may mail non-restricted firearms, restricted firearms and prohibited handguns only within Canada, using the most secure Canada Post service that requires a signature on delivery.
Penalties
Breaking these regulations is an offence under section 86 of the Criminal Code. Beyond a fine or jail, an unsafe storage charge can lead the Chief Firearms Officer to refuse or revoke your licence. Insurance claims after a theft may also turn on whether you stored firearms legally.
Five storage traps on the CFSC and CRFSC
- "And" versus "or". Non-restricted: one option. Restricted: lock and locked container, or the purpose-built vault.
- Bolt removal. Allowed for non-restricted storage, not for display, and only part of the rule for automatic prohibited firearms (bolt in a different locked room).
- The attendant's age. "Attended" means someone 18 or older, or a licence holder. Not "any adult passenger" and not "anyone with a driver's licence".
- Out of sight is not always enough. Only when the vehicle has no lockable trunk.
- Exceptions never allow loaded storage. Predator control and remote wilderness relax locking, not unloading.
Our study note on storage, display, transport and handling has the same rules in revision format, and the ACTS and PROVE guide covers the handling rules that go with them. For ammunition quantities at home, read ammunition storage rules in Canada.
Your study plan
Storage, display and transport is the largest topic in our CFSC question bank, so it pays to drill it until the answers feel automatic.
- Take the free 20-question PAL diagnostic to see where you stand.
- Reread the class table and the ten scenarios above for any question you missed.
- Sit the free full PAL mock exam 1: 50 questions with a 40-correct (80%) pass mark, matching the format course providers report.
- If you are going for your RPAL, also take the RPAL diagnostic, since restricted storage and display questions are worded differently.
- For focused drills, Pro includes storage and transport topic practice, mocks 2 to 10 and every study note for all nine tests from CA$7.99 a week, cancel anytime. 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 I need a gun safe in Canada?
Not for non-restricted rifles and shotguns. A trigger or cable lock, or removing the bolt, is enough on its own as long as the firearm is unloaded and ammunition is not readily accessible. A safe is one option, not a requirement, for that class.
+Can I keep my gun and ammo in the same safe in Canada?
Yes. The regulations allow ammunition to be stored together with the firearm if it is inside a securely locked container that cannot readily be broken open. A locked gun safe meets that test for non-restricted firearms.
+Is a biometric gun safe legal in Canada?
The regulations require a container that is kept securely locked and hard to break into, and they do not name a lock type for containers. The definition of a secure locking device refers to keys and combinations. If you rely on a fingerprint-only device, confirm with the Canadian Firearms Program before counting on it.
+Can I store my firearms at a friend's house?
A non-restricted firearm may be stored anywhere as long as the storage rules are met and the person in possession is licensed. A restricted or prohibited firearm may only be kept at the place recorded for it or another place the Chief Firearms Officer authorizes, and moving it needs an Authorization to Transport.
+What is the penalty for unsafe storage of a firearm in Canada?
Breaking the storage, display, transport or handling regulations is an offence under section 86 of the Criminal Code. A conviction can bring a fine or jail time, and the Chief Firearms Officer can refuse or revoke your licence.
+Does a detachable magazine have to be stored separately?
A magazine that is not attached to or inserted in the firearm does not make the firearm loaded. If the magazine contains cartridges, though, it counts as ammunition, so it must not be readily accessible to the firearm unless it is locked up.
+Do storage rules apply to antique firearms?
Only one rule applies to storing and displaying an antique firearm: it must be unloaded. Antiques have their own transport rules for unattended vehicles and for antique handguns.
+Are these storage rules the same in every province?
Yes. The storage, display and transport rules are federal and apply in every province and territory. Provinces and municipalities can add rules on where firearms may be loaded or discharged, and on ammunition quantities through fire codes.
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
- Ammunition Storage Rules in CanadaDoes ammo have to be locked up in Canada? Federal rules for storing ammunition with or apart from firearms, home quantity limits, and exam tips.
- 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.
- 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.
- Firearm Classes in CanadaHow Canada classifies firearms, examples in each class, what licence you need, and how classes appear on the CFSC and CRFSC exams.
- PAL vs RPAL: What's the Difference?PAL covers non-restricted rifles and shotguns; RPAL adds restricted firearms. Compare courses, exams, fees, storage rules and 2026 handgun limits.