Are AR-15s and assault weapons legal in California (2026)

Featureless parts for a California legal build

Compliant in California.A compliant AR-15 is still legal to build in California. These are the parts that make one featureless.

Most picked by builders

Live prices

1
46% of grip and stock build picks
Strike Industries AR Simple Featureless Grip Compare 5 stores
$31.95at Primary Arms
$31.95at Primary Arms
2
17% of grip and stock build picks
Aim Sports Featureless Grip for AR Rifle, Black - PJFARG Compare 5 stores
$19.99at AT3 Tactical
$19.99at AT3 Tactical
3
14% of grip and stock build picks
Mission First Tactical Engage Featureless AR-15 Grip - Black Compare 4 stores
$35.89at Optics Planet
$35.89at Optics Planet
4
3% of grip and stock build picks
B5 Systems P-Grip C CA Compliant Pistol Grip Compare 2 stores
$19.00at AR15 Discounts
$19.00at AR15 Discounts

Ranked by how often builders add each one to a build on GunPartPicker, across every build. In stock only, prices update hourly.

Plan a compliant build →

Not legal advice. Confirm your own configuration before you buy. All California gun laws

What the California statute says

California's one feature test

Cal. Penal Code §§ 30510, 30515

“A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following: (A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.”

California bans assault weapons by a named list (§ 30510) and by features (§ 30515): a rifle without a fixed magazine fails with any one of a pistol grip, thumbhole stock, folding or telescoping stock, launcher, flash suppressor or forward grip. A district court struck the ban in Miller v. Bonta in 2023, but the Ninth Circuit stayed that ruling, so it is enforced while the Supreme Court hears Grant v. Higgins.

Statute text checked October 3, 2026. Quotes are the statute's own words.

California law in detail

Yes (Assault Weapon Ban) — Semi-auto rifles with features like pistol grips, thumbhole stocks, folding/telescoping stocks, or flash suppressors are banned. Fixed-magazine 'featureless' builds are common workarounds.

The federal rule

There is no federal assault weapon ban; the 1994 federal ban expired in 2004. States that restrict them either name specific models or define an assault weapon by features such as a pistol grip, an adjustable stock, a flash hider or a threaded barrel, which is why featureless and fixed magazine builds exist.

Assault weapons in neighboring states

Next steps

Frequently asked questions