Any person in possession of a firearm must take all reasonable precautions to ensure the firearm is kept safely, is not lost or stolen and does not come into the possession of an unauthorised person. In addition to this general safe keeping requirement, there are specific legislative requirements for the safe keeping and storage of firearms that you should familiarise yourself with. We have listed out requirements below, that are correct as of July 2023, however it is your responsibility to check with your local laws to make sure you are meeting the required regulations.

ACT

Detailed State Requirements: Click Here

Category A and B firearms (up to and including 10 firearms in total)

• The firearms must be stored in a metal lockable container and the firing mechanisms must be stored in a separate lockable metal drawer or container that may be external or internal to the metal lockable container; or
• The firearms must be stored in a security container that is constructed of a recognised hardwood and lined with steel sheeting, the door of which is fitted with metal hinges and either an appropriate deadlock; or 2 sliding bolts fitted with padlocks of an appropriate strength.
• The container must be bolted to the floor/wall or both with a minimum of two suitable anchor bolts in order to prevent its easy removal (unless the mass of the container when empty is 150 kilograms or more when empty).
  

Category A and B firearms (in excess of 10 firearms in total), Category C, D and H

• The firearms must be stored in a metal or concrete or brick safe.
• For a metal safe: Must be constructed of structural grade mild steel that conforms with AS/NZS 3678:1996 grade 250 and is not less than 3mm thick and be constructed with continuous welding of all edges.
• For a safe other than a metal safe be constructed of reinforced concrete, double brick or reinforced besser blocks that are not less than 140mm thick.
• All safes must be fitted with a door:
• Constructed of structural grade mild steel (that conforms with Australian Standard 3678:1996 grade 250 and is not less than 3mm thick) and that is swung on either concealed pivots or externally mounted sealed-end hinges welded to the door and body of the container, and that is flush fitting with a clearance around it of no more than 1mm; and
• If the door is hinged - have a fixed locking bar or dogging bolts welded to the inside face of the door near the hinge edge that engages or engage in a rebate in the container body when the door is closed; and
• Be fitted with a 5-lever key deadlock or a locking mechanism that provides at least equivalent security; and
• Be constructed with a full length steel rebate welded to the side of the container body, the locking edge of which will receive the deadlock of the locking mechanism.
• A locking mechanism must be securely fixed to the rear face of the door of the container by retaining screws and a metal strap overlapping, or enclosing, the locking case with each end welded to the rear door face.

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NSW

Detailed State Requirements: Click Here

Category A & B

Section 40 of the Firearms Act 1996 (the Act) provides mandatory minimum requirements for the safe keeping and storage of firearms held under a Category A and B licence as follows:

• When any firearm is not actually being used or carried, it must be stored in a locked receptacle of a type approved by the Commissioner of Police and that is constructed of hard wood or steel and not easily penetrable
• If the receptacle weighs less than 150 kilograms when empty, it must be fixed in order to prevent its easy removal
• The locks of such a receptacle must be of solid metal and be of a type approved by the Commissioner
• Any ammunition for the firearm must be stored in a locked container of a type approved by the Commissioner Ammunition may be kept in the receptacle with the firearms, but must be kept in a separate locked container within the receptacle

Category C, D & H

Section 41 of the Act provides mandatory minimum requirements for the safe keeping and storage of firearms held under a Category C, D and H licence as follows:

• When a firearm is not actually being used or carried, it must be stored in a locked steel safe of a type approved by the Commissioner, that cannot be easily penetrated
• The safe must be bolted to the structure of the premises where the firearm is authorised to be kept
• Any ammunition for the firearm must be stored in a locked container of a type approved by the Commissioner
• Ammunition may be kept in the safe with the firearms, but must be kept in a separate locked container within the safe

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QLD

Detailed State Requirements: Click Here

Category A, B, C, E & M (30 or fewer)

In a locked container constructed of solid steel or solid timber, and securely fixed to the frame or floor of a permanent building if the container weighs less than 150kg. Container must be kept locked with a sturdy combination lock, keyed lock or keyed padlock.

Category D, H & R (30 or fewer)

In a solid steel container, bolted to the frame or floor of a permanent building. Container must be kept locked with a sturdy combination lock, keyed lock or keyed padlock.

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SA

Detailed State Requirements: Click Here

New firearms legislation (including storage requirement updates) came into effect on 1 July 2017. An outline is provided below, however comprehensive updates can be found here Click Here

Level 1 Safe

• Minimum 2mm thick steel sides
• Minimum 2mm thick steel door

Level 2 Safe

• Minimum 3mm thick steel sides
• Minimum 3mm thick steel door

Minimum Specifications

Safes and strongrooms are required to be built to minimum specifications (e.g. certain locks and hinges required) or in some other manner approved by the Registrar – for further information refer to clauses 2 and 11, Schedule 1 of the Firearms Regulations or the Firearms section on SAPOL’s website.

Firearms and ammunition storage location

Unless approved otherwise by the Registrar, firearms and ammunition must be stored at your principal place of residence; or if you possess the firearm for the purpose of your business, your principal place of business. Written advice to the Registrar is required prior to a change of location.

Ammunition storage

Ammunition must be stored separately from firearms in a strongly made timber, metal, fibreglass or injection moulded hard thermoplastic container with a substantial locking and hinge mechanism.

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TAS

NOTE: New Storage Laws in Tasmania commence 4 December 2017 – for more information on these changes and what they mean for you. Click Here

GENERAL

If a firearm or firearm part is not being used, maintained, or conveyed it must be stored in a locked receptacle:

• Receptacles must not be easily penetrable;
• Receptacles must be made:
  • (a) of metal at least 2mm thick for Category A or B firearms or firearms parts;
  • (b) of metal at least 3mm thick for Category C, D and H firearms or firearms parts; or
  • (c) of concrete;
• Receptacles that weigh less than 150 kilograms (when empty) must be fixed by masonry fixing bolts or coach screws (as appropriate):
  • (a) at least twice to a wall and at least twice to the floor; or
  • (b) at least four times to either a wall or the floor;
  • in a manner that prevents easy removal;
• The lock on the receptacle must be an internal locking mechanism.
• The receptacle must have:
  • (a) an internal hinging mechanism; or
  • (b) a mechanism that, when the receptacle is locked, would prevent the door from being opened if the hinges were removed.

AMMUNITION

If not being used or conveyed, any ammunition must be stored in a locked receptacle that is:

• (a) separate from, or a separate compartment to, any receptacle in which a firearm is stored; and
• (b) keyed with a different lock to any firearms storage;
• or in a manner that is approved by the Commissioner.

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Additional Requirements for Category H Firearms or Where 10 or More Firearms are Stored

Where any Category H firearms, or 10 or more firearms of any category, are stored at a premises, the premises or storage receptacle must be equipped with an electronic security device that is:

• (a) designed to prevent, detect or deter any unauthorised entry;
• (b) capable of detecting any unauthorised entry; and
• (c) maintained and in proper working order.

The electronic security device may be either an alarm or a visual recording device, and:

• (a) if an alarm, must be either audible or monitored; or
• (b) if a visual recording device:
  • must record to a storage device any activity where the receptacle is located;
  • the storage device must not be located near the receptacle; and
  • the recorded visual recordings must be of sufficient quality to identify people in the vicinity of the receptacle.

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WA

Detailed State Requirements: Click Here

• A person entitled to possess firearms or ammunition of any kind is to ensure that the firearms or ammunition are stored in accordance with this regulation.
• Firearms and ammunition are to be stored in a locked cabinet or container that at least meets the specifications described in Schedule 4 or in such other way as is approved.
• A cabinet or container that can be unlocked with a key is to be regarded as unlocked if the key is left in the lock or is otherwise accessible where the cabinet or container is located.
• A magazine is not to contain any ammunition when it is stored.
• Ammunition is not to be stored in a cabinet or container in which a firearm is stored unless the ammunition is in another locked metal container in which no firearm is stored and which is securely affixed so as to prevent its removal from the cabinet or container.
• The requirements of this regulation are in addition to, not instead of, any requirements under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 which can be found in the Related Information below.

Construction

Specifications for storage cabinets or containers.

• The cabinet or container is to be constructed of mild steel that is 2 mm thick.
• A joint between 2 faces that is butt welded is to have a continuous weld along the full length of the joint.
• A joint where the edge of one face is folded over the edge of another face is to be stitch welded, with welds of at least 20 mm in length at intervals of not more than 100 mm between welds.
• Spot welding is not to be used on the joints between faces.
• The cabinet or container is to be so designed that no firearm or ammunition within it can be removed from it while it is locked.
• In this clause: 'face' means a side, the top, or the bottom, of the cabinet or container.

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VIC

Detailed State Requirements: Click Here

Category A, B, C, D & H

From 30 August 2022, the following must be met to ensure compliance with the law:

• Firearms must be stored in a purpose-built steel storage receptacle
• The steel must be of a thickness of at least 1.6mm (which complies with Australian/New Zealand Standard 1594:2002).
• If the receptacle weighs less than 150 kilograms when it is empty, it must be bolted to the structure of the premises.
• The receptacle must be locked with a lock of sturdy construction when the firearm is stored in it.

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NZ

Detailed Requirements: Click Here

All firearms licences are subject to conditions that require the safe and secure storage of their firearms. There are additional conditions that apply to endorsement holders in relation to pistols, prohibited firearms, prohibited magazines and restricted weapons.