How To Self Register An 80 Lower Already Engraved In California

If you decided to build an AR-15 or other firearm using an 80% lower or receiver blank, your first question is probably, "Does it need a serial number?" Common sense says this would finer negate whatever benefits or conveniences of using an 80 lower to build an AR-fifteen or other gun, considering then you're merely throwing in paperwork and authorities bureacracy. Permit's reply the most common questions and we'll cover how you lot tin can serialize an fourscore% lower by option, or if information technology'southward required in your state.

Does an 80% Lower Demand a Serial Number?

In most cases, yous do not demand to serialize your 80% lower, even later building your rifle or pistol. Under federal law, any individual building a firearm at home for personal employ does not demand to mark their firearm with a serial number. The ATF all the same recommends yous engrave a series number if yous ever plan on selling your homemade firearm later.

When does a receiver need to take markings or a serial number?

Federal law requires a firearm to need a serial number just if information technology has been manufactured or sold by a licensed dealer or Federal Firearms Licensee, per 27 CFR § 478.92, Firearm Manufacturers Marking Requirements. This doesn't apply to individual builders making a firearm for personal use.

Which states require an 80% lower to accept a serial number?

California and Connecticut require all firearms to accept serial numbers, including fourscore% lower receivers before they're cutting and drilled, making them a firearm under those states' legal definitions. California Bill A.B. 857 requires that all firearms in the state either accept a unique series number engraved, or that they be destroyed. Connecticut'southward legislation requires all firearms and firearm blanks, including unfinished fourscore% lowers, to have unique serial numbers engraved before they're made into a firearm. Some other states may require serialization, likewise, so cheque your local laws.

If you're in that camp, take note. This guide covers how to serialize an fourscore% lower, receiver, or frame to help ensure your homemade firearm is legal.

80% Lower Serialization Requirements

Federal law provides certain standards for serializing a firearm. States like California, which crave serialization, have adopted those same federal standards. To see the standards, your 80% lower, frame, or receiver'south markings must:

Be engraved at least 0.003" into the material.
Have a minimum text size of no less than ane/16" in height.

The engraved markings must include the following information:

Model of the firearm (if chosen or described)
City and land of manufacture (where you alive)
Caliber or gauge of the firearm (cannot be "MULTI")
Manufacturer's first and concluding name (that's yous)

How to Serialize an lxxx% Lower in California

A.B. 857 went into outcome July 1, 2018. That means whatsoever self-fabricated firearm with no serial number that may exist after this engagement would demand to be destroyed. That also means you lot need to employ for a unique series number through the state'southward Department of Defence force. You need to submit to a background cheque (called a PFEC) and receive a series number and engrave information technology on your lower or frame before you fabricate it into a firearm. Hither'southward how information technology's done.

Step i: Download, Fill Out, and Submit PFEC Application

The PFEC, or Personal Firearm Eligibility Check Application, is California's version of a federal background check for a gun purchase (NICS). The PFEC goes off the California criminal database, non the federal 1. You lot need to download the application here, fill out in ink, notarize it, and submit it to the CA DOJ:

What to Submit With PFEC

The PFEC requires y'all also submit:

An impression of your right thumbprint on the application.
A re-create of your California driver's license or state ID bill of fare.
A $20 bank check or money guild made payable to "CALIFORNIA Department OF JUSTICE."
A notary signature and seal placed on the PFEC awarding by a California public notary.

You can scroll your thumbprint yourself using fingerprinting ink, or a local police department or public notary tin assist.

Mailing the PFEC Application

Mail the PFEC and all listed items with it to:

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Agency OF FIREARMS - PFEC

P.O. BOX 820200

SACREMENTO, CA, 94203-0200

Once you mail your application, it will take around 30 calendar days for your awarding to be reviewed by the California DOJ. The DOJ recommends yous await until your PFEC application is approved before submitting your side by side application for your firearm's unique series number.

Questions?

If you lot require assistance with the PFEC Application or accept boosted questions, you can contact the California Section of Justice help line at 916-227-7527, or email them at firearms.bureau@doj.ca.gov.

Footstep ii: Submit a Digital CFARS Application

Side by side, you need to make an account on the California Firearms Awarding Reporting System (CFARS) Website. This is where you lot'll fill out a digital application and submit payment for requesting a unique series number for your firearm.

NOTE: Before filing on CFARS, you must have completed a California Firearm Safety Certificate Program or possess a Handgun Safety Certificate number.

Once on the CFARS website, click on "Create a CFARS Account". It will bring y'all to a disclaimer.

Read the disclaimer, and click "I Agree." You lot'll be brought to the registration folio.

Fill out your personal information, e-mail, and secret questions and responses. Enter a unique countersign, click "I'grand not a robot" and click "Submit." One time you've registered, check your email for your username. Navigate back to the CFARS website, and log in.

On the dashboard, expect to the left-hand side and locate the Unique Serial Number Application (USNA). Click information technology.

Read through all of the instructions on the first folio. It provides data for mailing a copy of your driver's license or ID card, and some important state laws governing homemade firearms. Curlicue to the bottom, and select the option well-nigh appropriate for yous:

On the next folio, read through the Unique Serial Number Application Private Notice, and check the box labeled "I Agree" at the lesser:

One time you've agreed, keep to the next section: Applicant Data. Fill out your personal data every bit it is displayed on your state-issued ID.

The side by side section is the Firearm Data section. Do not fill this out until reading the instructions below.

The but required fields are:

Firearm Blazon
Firearm Color
Date of Industry
Material

DO Not put today's date nether "Engagement of Manufacture".

California state law does not permit you to fabricate your firearm until your USNA application is approved and the serial number has been engraved on the frame or receiver. A best practice is to put a engagement that is thirty agenda days from today.This gives the California DOJ fourth dimension to procedure the application and provide you with your serial number, in addition to the take it will accept you to notice an engraver and have the series number engraved. If your application is approved and your serial number is engraved in, say, 20 days instead, you can still build your weapon.

Optional fields should not be filled out. They aren't required and adding data in those fields will but increase the chance your application is rejected. Once y'all've enter your firearm's bones information and all other personal data, click "Preview." This will bring you lot a final review folio:

On the last review folio, take a 2nd look at all the personal and firearm information you entered. Verify all information is correct, click "Agree" at the bottom, and click on "Submit Last" to submit your USNA awarding. You'll be brought to a payment processing page where y'all're required to submit a $xv payment for the awarding using a credit or debit carte.

What Happens Next?

California DOJ takes at least 15 calendar days to process your Unique Serial Number Application. Once canonical, you'll be notified via email and you lot'll receive your series number for engraving.

IMPORTANT: You lot must accept your serial number and other markings engraved on your 80% receiver or frame inside x calendar days. Approval of your USNA application is considered day one. It'due south a good idea to attain out to a local gunsmith, machinist, or engraving service before or as soon every bit you lot submit your application. That way you tin can schedule time to take the service performed within 10 days. This is important considering y'all must submit proof of the engraving to the California DOJ by uploading a digital image of the finished engraved markings on the CFARS website.Otherwise, your serial number and application volition be retroactively rejected and you'll demand to submit another application for a new serial number.

Engraved? Fabricate Your Firearm!

In one case your serial number is engraved and a photo has been uploaded of the finished results to the CFARS website, y'all may now legally cut, drill, and fabricate your 80% lower, receiver, or frame into a firearm. This guide ( Legal Requirements for Self-Made Firearms) clarifies the certain restrictions and configurations your newly minted weapon can or cannot employ under state law.

Quick Recap

That was a lot of information to pour through, especially if you're a California resident. Here's a quick summary and recap of everything discussed:

Under federal law, an 80% lower or homemade firearm does not demand to be engraved.
If you always sell your finished lower-equipped gun, ATF recommends (simply doesn't require) serializing it.
If you alive in California, you need to have a unique serial number for your eighty% lower or homemade gun.
In California, yous need to submit a notarized PFEC (background cheque) application by mail service with a $xx payment.
In California, you need to also submit a digital USNA awarding and pay a $fifteen fee via debit or credit card.
In California, use your approved USNA and assigned serial number to engrave your receiver or frame.
Engravings must include the serial number, model, your proper name, and where you made your weapon (urban center, land).
Engravings must mensurate at least 0.003" deep and measure at least ane/16" in height.

DISCLAIMER: If you are new to the earth of DIY gun building, you likely accept a lot of questions and rightfully so. Information technology's an area that has a lot of questions that, without the right answers, could have some serious implications. At AR-15lowerreceivers.com, we are by no ways providing this content on our website to serve as legal advice or legal counsel. We encourage each and every builder to perform their own research around their corresponding State laws as well as educating themselves on the Federal laws. When performing your ain research, delight exist sure that yous are getting your information from a reliable source.