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Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations
(SOR/98-209)
Enabling Statute: Firearms Act
Regulation current to October 20th, 2010
Attention: See coming into force provision and notes, where applicable.
Table of Contents
Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by
Individuals Regulations
SOR/98-209
Registration March 24, 1998
FIREARMS ACT
Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations
P.C. 1998-484 March 24, 1998
Whereas, pursuant to section 118 of the Firearms Acta, the Minister of Justice had the
proposed Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals
Regulations, substantially in the annexed form, laid before each House of Parliament
on November 27, 1996 and October 30, 1997, which dates are at least 30 sitting days
before the date of this Order;
Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of
the Minister of Justice, pursuant to paragraphs 117(h), (i) and (o) of the Firearms
Acta, hereby makes the annexed Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of
Firearms by Individuals Regulations.
a S.C. 1995, c. 39
STORAGE, DISPLAY, TRANSPORTATION AND HANDLING OF FIREARMS BY
INDIVIDUALS REGULATIONS
INTERPRETATION
1. The definitions in this section apply in these Regulations.
“Act” means the Firearms Act. (Loi)
“muzzle-loading firearm” does not include a handgun. (arme à feu à chargement par la
bouche)
“non-restricted firearm” means a firearm that is neither a prohibited firearm nor a
restricted firearm. (arme à feu sans restrictions)
“post” has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Canada Post Corporation
Act. (poster)
“prohibited handgun” means a handgun under paragraph (a) of the definition
“prohibited firearm” in subsection 84(1) of the Criminal Code. (arme de poing
prohibée)
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“secure locking device” means a device
(a) that can only be opened or released by the use of an electronic, magnetic or
mechanical key or by setting the device in accordance with an alphabetical or
numerical combination; and
(b) that, when applied to a firearm, prevents the firearm from being discharged.
(dispositif de verrouillage sécuritaire)
“transmit by post” has the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Canada Post
Corporation Act. (transmission postale)
“unattended”, in respect of a vehicle, means that the vehicle is not under the direct
and immediate supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or older or to whom a
licence has been issued under the Act. (non surveillé)
“unloaded”, in respect of a firearm, means that any propellant, projectile or cartridge
that can be discharged from the firearm is not contained in the breech or firing
chamber of the firearm nor in the cartridge magazine attached to or inserted into the
firearm. (non chargée)
“vehicle” means any conveyance that is used for transportation by water, land or air.
(véhicule)
SOR/2004-277, s. 1.
APPLICATION
2. (1) These Regulations do not apply to members of any of the following classes of
persons who are acting in the course of their duties or for the purposes of their
employment:
(a) peace officers;
(b) members of the Canadian Forces or of the armed forces of a state other than
Canada who are attached or seconded to any of the Canadian Forces;
(c) persons training to become police officers or peace officers under the control
and supervision of
(i) a police force, or
(ii) a police academy or similar institution designated by the Attorney General of
Canada or the lieutenant governor in council of a province;
(d) members of a visiting force, within the meaning of section 2 of the Visiting
Forces Act, who are authorized under paragraph 14(a) of that Act to possess and
carry explosives, ammunition and firearms;
(e) persons or members of a class of persons employed in the public service of
Canada or by the government of a province or municipality who are prescribed by
the regulations made by the Governor in Council under Part III of the Criminal Code
to be public officers; and
(f) chief firearms officers or firearms officers.
(2) These Regulations do not apply to the transportation or handling of a restricted
firearm or a prohibited handgun by an individual in accordance with an authorization
issued under section 20 of the Act, including any conditions attached to the
authorization, who is carrying it
(a) to protect the life of that individual or of other individuals; or
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(b) for use in connection with his or her lawful profession or occupation.
(3) [Repealed, SOR/2004-277, s. 2]
(4) Sections 10 and 14 do not apply to firearms that are used or handled by an
individual in the course of hunting from a vehicle in a location in circumstances in
which it is lawful for that individual to hunt from that vehicle in that location.
(5) Sections 5 to 13 do not apply to antique firearms.
SOR/2004-277, s. 2.
3. These Regulations do not apply to the storage and transportation of a non-
restricted firearm, restricted firearm or prohibited handgun in the course of
transmission by post within Canada from the time the firearm or handgun is posted to
the time it is delivered to the addressee, within the meaning of subsection 2(2) of the
Canada Post Corporation Act, or returned to the sender.
SOR/2004-277, s. 3.
4. These Regulations do not apply to the storage and display of firearms that are
being stored and displayed in accordance with the Gun Shows Regulations.
STORAGE OF NON-RESTRICTED FIREARMS
5. (1) An individual may store a non-restricted firearm only if
(a) it is unloaded;
(b) it is
(i) rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device,
(ii) rendered inoperable by the removal of the bolt or bolt-carrier, or
(iii) stored in a container, receptacle or room that is kept securely locked and
that is constructed so that it cannot readily be broken open or into; and
(c) it is not readily accessible to ammunition, unless the ammunition is stored,
together with or separately from the firearm, in a container or receptacle that is
kept securely locked and that is constructed so that it cannot readily be broken
open or into.
(2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply to any individual who stores a non-restricted
firearm temporarily if the individual reasonably requires it for the control of predators
or other animals in a place where it may be discharged in accordance with all
applicable Acts of Parliament and of the legislature of a province, regulations made
under such Acts, and municipal by-laws.
(3) Paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) do not apply to an individual who stores a non-restricted
firearm in a location that is in a remote wilderness area that is not subject to any
visible or otherwise reasonably ascertainable use incompatible with hunting.
STORAGE OF RESTRICTED FIREARMS
6. An individual may store a restricted firearm only if
(a) it is unloaded;
(b) it is
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(i) rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device and stored in a
container, receptacle or room that is kept securely locked and that is constructed
so that it cannot readily be broken open or into, or
(ii) stored in a vault, safe or room that has been specifically constructed or
modified for the secure storage of restricted firearms and that is kept securely
locked; and
(c) it is not readily accessible to ammunition, unless the ammunition is stored,
together with or separately from the firearm, in
(i) a container or receptacle that is kept securely locked and that is constructed
so that it cannot readily be broken open or into, or
(ii) a vault, safe or room that has been specifically constructed or modified for
the secure storage of restricted firearms and that is kept securely locked.
STORAGE OF PROHIBITED FIREARMS
7. An individual may store a prohibited firearm only if
(a) it is unloaded;
(b) it is
(i) rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device and stored in a
container, receptacle or room that is kept securely locked and that is constructed
so that it cannot readily be broken open or into, and, if the prohibited firearm is
an automatic firearm that has a removable bolt or bolt-carrier, the bolt or bolt-
carrier is removed and stored in a room that is different from the room in which
the automatic firearm is stored, that is kept securely locked and that is
constructed so that it cannot readily be broken open or into, or
(ii) stored in a vault, safe or room that has been specifically constructed or
modified for the secure storage of prohibited firearms and that is kept securely
locked; and
(c) it is not readily accessible to ammunition, unless the ammunition is stored,
together with or separately from the firearm, in
(i) a container or receptacle that is kept securely locked and that is constructed
so that it cannot readily be broken open or into, or
(ii) a vault, safe or room that has been specifically constructed or modified for
the secure storage of prohibited firearms and that is kept securely locked.
DISPLAY OF NON-RESTRICTED FIREARMS
8. An individual may display a non-restricted firearm only if it
(a) is unloaded;
(b) is rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device or is in a container,
receptacle or room that is kept securely locked and that is constructed so that it
cannot readily be broken open or into; and
(c) is not displayed with and is not readily accessible to ammunition that can be
discharged from it.
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DISPLAY OF RESTRICTED FIREARMS AND PROHIBITED FIREARMS
9. (1) An individual may display a restricted firearm or a prohibited firearm in a
dwelling-house only if
(a) the restricted firearm or prohibited firearm is unloaded;
(b) the restricted firearm or prohibited firearm is rendered inoperable by means of a
secure locking device;
(c) the restricted firearm or prohibited firearm is securely attached to a non-
portable structure in such a manner that it cannot readily be removed;
(d) the restricted firearm or prohibited firearm is not displayed with and is not
readily accessible to ammunition that can be discharged from it; and
(e) in the case of an automatic firearm that has a removable bolt or bolt-carrier, the
bolt or bolt-carrier is removed and stored in a room that is different from the room
in which the automatic firearm is displayed, that is kept securely locked and that is
constructed so that it cannot readily be broken open or into.
(2) An individual may display a restricted firearm in a place other than a dwelling-
house only if it
(a) is unloaded;
(b) is rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device;
(c) is, subject to subsection (4), securely attached to a structure on which it is
displayed by a chain, metal cable or similar device in such a manner that the
restricted firearm cannot readily be removed; and
(d) is not displayed with and is not readily accessible to ammunition that can be
discharged from it, unless the ammunition is displayed in a container or receptacle
that is kept securely locked and that is constructed so that it cannot readily be
broken open or into.
(3) An individual may display a prohibited firearm in a place other than a dwelling-
house only if
(a) the prohibited firearm is unloaded;
(b) the prohibited firearm is rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking
device;
(c) the prohibited firearm is, subject to subsection (4), securely attached to a
structure on which it is displayed by a chain, metal cable or similar device in such a
manner that the prohibited firearm cannot readily be removed;
(d) the prohibited firearm is not displayed with and is not readily accessible to
ammunition that can be discharged from it, unless the ammunition is displayed in a
container or receptacle that is kept securely locked and that is constructed so that it
cannot readily be broken open or into; and
(e) in the case of an automatic firearm that has a removable bolt or bolt-carrier, the
bolt or bolt-carrier is removed and stored in a room that is different from the room
in which the automatic firearm is displayed, that is kept securely locked and that is
constructed so that it cannot readily be broken open or into.
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(4) Paragraphs (2)(c) and (3)(c) do not apply if the firearm is detached from the
structure so that the firearm may be handled by a person under the direct and
immediate supervision of the individual displaying it.
TRANSPORTATION OF NON-RESTRICTED FIREARMS
10. (1) An individual may transport a non-restricted firearm only if
(a) except in the case of a muzzle-loading firearm that is being transported
between hunting sites, it is unloaded; and
(b) in the case of a muzzle-loading firearm that is being transported between
hunting sites, its firing cap or flint is removed.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), an individual may transport a non-restricted firearm in
an unattended vehicle only if
(a) when the vehicle is equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can be
securely locked, the non-restricted firearm is in that trunk or compartment and the
trunk or compartment is securely locked; and
(b) when the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can
be securely locked, the non-restricted firearm is not visible from outside the vehicle
and the vehicle, or the part that contains the non-restricted firearm, is securely
locked.
(3) If, in a remote wilderness area that is not subject to any visible or otherwise
reasonably ascertainable use incompatible with hunting, an individual is transporting a
non-restricted firearm in an unattended vehicle that is not equipped with a trunk or
similar compartment that can be securely locked, and the vehicle or the part of it that
contains the non-restricted firearm cannot be securely locked, the individual shall
ensure that the non-restricted firearm
(a) is not visible; and
(b) is rendered inoperable by a secure locking device, unless the individual
reasonably requires the non-restricted firearm for the control of predators.
TRANSPORTATION OF RESTRICTED FIREARMS
11. An individual may transport a restricted firearm only if
(a) it is unloaded;
(b) it is rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device;
(c) it is in a locked container that is made of an opaque material and is of such
strength, construction and nature that it cannot readily be broken open or into or
accidentally opened during transportation; and
(d) if it is in a container described in paragraph (c) that is in an unattended vehicle,
(i) when the vehicle is equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can be
securely locked, the container is in that trunk or compartment and the trunk or
compartment is securely locked, and
(ii) when the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that
can be securely locked, the vehicle, or the part of the vehicle that contains the
container, is securely locked and the container is not visible from outside the
vehicle.
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TRANSPORTATION OF PROHIBITED FIREARMS
12. An individual may transport a prohibited firearm only if
(a) it is unloaded;
(b) it is rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device;
(c) if it is an automatic firearm that has a bolt or bolt-carrier that is removable with
reasonable facility, the bolt or bolt-carrier is removed;
(d) it is in a locked container that is made of an opaque material and is of such
strength, construction and nature that it cannot readily be broken open or into or
accidentally opened during transportation; and
(e) when it is in a container described in paragraph (d) that is in an unattended
vehicle,
(i) if the vehicle is equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can be
securely locked, the container is in that trunk or compartment and the trunk or
compartment is securely locked, and
(ii) if the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can be
securely locked, the vehicle, or the part of the vehicle that contains the
container, is securely locked and the container is not visible from outside the
vehicle.
TRANSPORTATION OF REPLICA FIREARMS
13. An individual may transport a replica firearm only if
(a) when the vehicle in which it is being transported is equipped with a trunk or
similar compartment that can be securely locked, the replica firearm is in that trunk
or compartment and the trunk or compartment is securely locked; and
(b) when the vehicle in which it is being transported is not equipped with a trunk or
similar compartment that can be securely locked, the replica firearm is not visible
from outside the vehicle and the vehicle, or the part of the vehicle that contains the
replica firearm, is securely locked.
ANTIQUE FIREARMS
14. (1) An individual may store, display or transport an antique firearm only if it is
unloaded.
(2) An individual may transport an antique firearm in an unattended vehicle only if
(a) when the vehicle is equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can be
securely locked, the antique firearm is in that trunk or compartment and the trunk
or compartment is securely locked; and
(b) when the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can
be securely locked, the antique firearm is not visible from outside the vehicle and
the vehicle, or the part that contains the antique firearm, is securely locked.
(3) An individual may transport an antique firearm that is a handgun only if it is in a
locked container that is made of an opaque material and is of such strength,
construction and nature that it cannot readily be broken open or into or accidentally
opened during transportation.
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HANDLING OF FIREARMS
15. An individual may load a firearm or handle a loaded firearm only in a place
where the firearm may be discharged in accordance with all applicable Acts of
Parliament and of the legislature of a province, regulations made under such Acts, and
municipal by-laws.
SHIPPING BY POST
16. An individual may ship a firearm by posting it only if
(a) the firearm is a non-restricted firearm, restricted firearm or prohibited handgun;
(b) the destination is within Canada; and
(c) the firearm is posted using the most secure means of transmission by post that
is offered by the Canada Post Corporation that includes the requirement to obtain a
signature on delivery.
SOR/2004-277, s. 4.
OFFENCE
17. For the purpose of paragraph 117(o) of the Act, it is an offence to contravene
section 13.
COMING INTO FORCE
18. These Regulations come into force on December 1, 1998.
SOR/98-471, s. 19.
Last updated: 2010-11-15
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