Safe storage requirements — every Australian state

Every state requires safe storage — the National Firearms Agreement set the floor, and most states added their own rules on top. The general rule across the country: steel cabinet, bolted to the structure, ammunition stored separately, and locked except when in use.

Category A and B (long arms)

• Steel cabinet of solid construction, hardened or hardened-equivalent.
• Bolted to the floor or to a wall stud — the wall must be solid (not just plasterboard).
• Locked when not in immediate use.
• Ammunition stored separately — most states require a separate locked container.

Category H (handguns)

• A higher standard — bolted Class B safe in most states (heavier gauge, more bolt points, key-and-deadlock).
• Some states require a tamper-detection alarm.

Inspections

Most states allow firearms registry officers to inspect storage at reasonable times. The most common reasons inspections fail: cabinet not bolted, ammo stored in the same compartment, or keys left accessible. None are hard to fix; all of them result in licence action.

Practical tips

• Buy the safe before you buy the firearm. Many dealers won't complete a transfer without confirmation that storage is in place.
• Bolt to a structural element. Concrete floor with masonry anchors is best; otherwise, two studs through a backing plate.
• Photograph the install for your records — useful if you move house.