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Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY

Chapter 9.07 — SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS

Palo Alto Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-29 · Palo Alto

9.07.010 Definitions.

(a) For the purpose of this chapter, "firearm" means a firearm as defined in Section 16520 of the Penal Code of the State of California.

(b) "Locked container" means a locked container, as defined in Section 16850 of the Penal Code of the State of California listed on the California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms roster of approved firearm safety devices. For purposes of this chapter, a locked container does not include a bag or other container made of fabric or other penetrable material, such as a regular purse, backpack, or gym bag.

(c) "Residence" means any structure intended or used for human habitation, including but not limited to houses, condominiums, rooms, accessory dwelling units, motels, hotels, single room occupancies, time shares, recreational vehicles, and other vehicles where human habitation occurs.

(d) "Trigger lock" means a trigger lock that is listed on the California Department of Justice's roster of approved firearms safety devices and that is identified as appropriate for that firearm by reference to either the manufacturer and model of the firearm or to the physical characteristics of the firearm that match those listed on the roster for use with the device under Section 23635 of the Penal Code of the State of California.

(Ord. 5530 § 2 (part), 2021)

9.07.020 Safe Storage of Firearms.

Except when carried on the person, no person shall keep a firearm in any residence unless the firearm is stored in a locked container or is disabled with a trigger lock.

(Ord. 5530 § 2 (part), 2021)

9.07.030 Exception.

To encourage reporting of lost or stolen firearms, a person who complies with Section 25250 of the Penal Code of the State of California by reporting the loss or theft of a firearm they own or possess to a local law enforcement agency within five days from the time they knew or reasonably should have known the firearm had been lost or stolen from their residence where the firearm was improperly stored shall not be penalized for that violation of Section 9.07.020.

(Ord. 5530 § 2 (part), 2021)

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▸Contents — Palo Alto Municipal Code
Palo Alto Municipal Code
  1. Article VIII — A. Board of Education
  2. Title 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  3. Title 2 — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
  4. Title 4 — BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
  5. Title 5 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
  6. Title 6 — ANIMALS
  7. Title 8 — TREES AND VEGETATION
  8. ▸Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY
    Overview
    1. 9.04 Alcoholic Beverages
    2. 9.05 Entertainment Zones
    3. 9.06 Rental of Recreational Vehicles for Human Habitation
    4. 9.07 Safe Storage of Firearms
    5. 9.08 Guns and Explosives
    6. 9.09 Public Nuisance
    7. 9.10 Noise
    8. 9.12 Loudspeakers
    9. 9.14 Smoking and Tobacco Regulations
    10. 9.16 Reserved
    11. 9.17 Reserved
    12. 9.20 Reserved
    13. 9.22 Impersonating Public Officials
    14. 9.24 Reserved
    15. 9.26 Private Patrol Service
    16. 9.28 Hotels and Rooming Houses
    17. 9.32 Reserved
    18. 9.40 Aircraft
    19. 9.44 Solicitation of Employment, Business, or Contributions Wi…
    20. 9.45 Solicitation in Streets, Commercial Parking Areas, and in…
    21. 9.48 Obstructing Streets and Sidewalks
    22. 9.50 Graffiti
    23. 9.56 Abatement of Nuisances
    24. 9.57 Reserved
    25. 9.60 Civic Center Block Regulations
    26. 9.64 Regulation of Community Facilities
    27. 9.65 Residential Rental Registry Program
    28. 9.68 Rental Housing Stabilization
    29. 9.70 Resale Controls For Units Originally Financed With Mortga…
    30. 9.72 Mandatory Response to Request for Discussion of Disputes …
    31. 9.73 City Policy Against Arbitrary Discrimination
    32. 9.74 Discrimination Against Families with Minor Children in Ho…
    33. 9.76 Mobilehome Park Conversion
    34. 9.78 Mosquito Abatement
    35. 9.79 Newsracks
    36. Chapter 9.04 — ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
    37. Chapter 9.05 — ENTERTAINMENT ZONES
    38. Chapter 9.06 — RENTAL OF VEHICLES FOR HUMAN HABITATION
    39. Chapter 9.07 — SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS
    40. Chapter 9.08 — GUNS AND EXPLOSIVES
    41. Chapter 9.09 — PUBLIC NUISANCE
    42. Chapter 9.10 — NOISE
    43. Chapter 9.12 — LOUDSPEAKERS
    44. Chapter 9.14 — SMOKING AND TOBACCO REGULATIONS
    45. Chapter 9.16 — RESERVED
    46. Chapter 9.17 — RESERVED
    47. Chapter 9.20 — RESERVED
    48. Chapter 9.22 — IMPERSONATING PUBLIC OFFICIALS
    49. Chapter 9.24 — RESERVED
    50. Chapter 9.26 — PRIVATE PATROL SERVICE
    51. Chapter 9.28 — HOTELS AND ROOMING HOUSES
    52. Chapter 9.32 — RESERVED
    53. Chapter 9.40 — AIRCRAFT
    54. Chapter 9.44 — SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS, OR CONTRI…
    55. Chapter 9.45 — SOLICITATION IN STREETS, COMMERCIAL PARKING ARE…
    56. Chapter 9.48 — OBSTRUCTING STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
    57. Chapter 9.50 — GRAFFITI
    58. Chapter 9.56 — ABATEMENT OF NUISANCES
    59. Chapter 9.57 — RESERVED
    60. Chapter 9.60 — CIVIC CENTER BLOCK REGULATIONS
    61. Chapter 9.64 — REGULATION OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES
    62. Chapter 9.65 — RESIDENTIAL RENTAL REGISTRY PROGRAM
    63. Chapter 9.68 — RENTAL HOUSING STABILIZATION
    64. Chapter 9.70 — RESALE CONTROLS FOR UNITS ORIGINALLY FINANCED W…
    65. Chapter 9.72 — MANDATORY RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION OF
    66. Chapter 9.73 — CITY POLICY AGAINST ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATION
    67. Chapter 9.74 — DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FAMILIES WITH MINOR CHIL…
    68. Chapter 9.78 — MOSQUITO ABATEMENT
    69. Chapter 9.79 — NEWSRACKS
  9. Title 10 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
  10. Title 11 — ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
  11. Title 12 — PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
  12. Title 13 — IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE
  13. Title 15 — FIRE PREVENTION
  14. Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
  15. Title 17 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE
  16. Title 18 — ZONING
  17. Title 19 — MASTER PLAN
  18. Article 7 — AUTHORITY FOR AND SCOPE OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLANS.
  19. Article 8 — PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLAN.
  20. Chapter 19.06 — SPECIFIC PLANS
  21. Chapter 19.10 — COORDINATED AREA PLANS
  22. Title 20 — PRECISE PLANS
  23. Title 21 — SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND
  24. Title 22 — PARKS

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