Safe storage of weapons and ammunition

Safety is everyone's concern, especially when it comes to firearms.  The below information is provided as a general guideline. 

A pamphlet about the requirements for storing firearms/weapons (PDF) is available for download. 

Storage generally

Dealers/armourers/theatrical ordnance suppliers

The storage requirements for these types of licences are at a higher level than that of a firearms licence holder, due to the ability of the licensee to possess and trade in high risk and larger number of weapons. These sections outline specific requirements for:

• how weapons may be stored
• floors
• walls
• ceiling
• external doors
• grills for windows and shopfront doors
• burglar alarms; and
• vaults and safes; and general requirements for gun racks.

Contact Weapons Licensing to arrange an inspection of premises. If establishing new premises or modifying existing premises, it is recommended that contact is made with Weapons Licensing before beginning construction or purchase, to ensure the premises are compliant with the relevant sections of the Weapons Regulation 2016.

Refer to sections 78 - 87 of the Weapons Regulation 2016 for more information.

Security organisations

Section 75 of the Weapons Regulation 2016 states that an organisation that holds a 'security licence - organisation' must take reasonable precautions to ensure that weapons under the licence are not accessible to a person other than an endorsed representative or an employee of the organisation who holds a 'security licence (guard)' or 'firearms licence (instructor)'. 

To ensure the secure storage of weapons registered to your licence Weapons Regulation 2016 also outlines the legislative requirements regarding:

• vaults
• vault doors, and
• safes. 

Storage away from a secure storage facility

Sometimes you may not have access to your normal storage facility but you are still required to store your weapons appropriately.  This means storing your weapons unloaded in:

• a securely closed container with the bolt removed or with a trigger lock fitted, or
• a locked container.​​

The container must be either:

• out of sight in a locked room of a permanent building, or
• locked in the boot of a vehicle, or
• out of sight, locked in a vehicle that does not have a boot.

This does not replace your usual secure storage facility .

Weapons must be kept unloaded at all times unless being used. For example, the weapon must be unloaded during transport to a range, and at the range when it’s not being used in actual competition.

Storage in or on vehicles

As a general rule, you should not store any weapons in a vehicle. Loose firearms in a vehicle are a prime target for thieves.

In some situations, you may need to store a weapon in a vehicle, in these circumstances ensure that:

1. If the vehicle has a lockable boot, the weapon is locked in the boot; otherwise:

(a) the weapon is locked in a metal container fixed to the vehicle; or
(b) the weapon is in a securely closed container that is out of sight in the 
     vehicle.

2. The metal container and anything on or attached to it, must not suggest that a 
    weapon is inside.

3. A person in control of a weapon (whether or not the person has custody of it) must 
    ensure the weapon is not left in an unlocked vehicle if the vehicle is not being 
    attended by someone licensed to possess the weapon.

Safe storage of ammunition

If you bring your own ammunition into Queensland you must fulfil the requirements contained in the Explosives Act 1999 and the Explosives Regulation 2017.

You require a licence or authority issued under the Weapons Act 1990 to possess ammunition. A dealer must be satisfied that if you are purchasing ammunition, you must be licenced appropriately. The only way a dealer can be satisfied is to see the licence. 

Schedule 2 of the Explosives Act 1999  defines ammunition as:

• bombs
• grenades
• rockets
• mines
• projectiles and other similar devices 
• all types of cartridges (including blanks) used in firearms.

Schedule 7 of the Explosives Regulation 2017 defines small arms ammunition as :

1. Ammunition for-

• a shotgun; or
• another firearm with a calibre of not more than 25.4mm; or 

2. Primers (cap type) used for reloading the ammunition.

You will comply with Section 48(1)(g) of the Explosives Regulation 2017  to possess small arms ammunition, if you are licensed under the Weapons Act 1990.

Military ordnance is defined in the Military Dictionary as explosives, chemicals, pyrotechnics and similar stores. (e.g. bombs, guns and ammunition, flares, smoke or napalm). 

The licensing of explosives and ammunition and their components including military ordnance is administered by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy.

For more information see here, or call 13 25 23 during business hours. 

The list of ammunition availability identifies a table containing ammunition that has been assessed and/or approved by the authorised officer as not commercially available.​

Transporting weapons and ammunition on aircraft

Specific regulations apply to travelling by air with weapons and ammunition. ​​​Persons in possession of weapons and travelling between Queensland and other states/territories will be required to comply with Commonwealth legislation for the carriage of weapons and ammunition on aircraft.

You will be required to obtain the permission of the owner or operator of the aircraft as provided for in section 23 of the Crimes (Aviation) Act 1991. Further, section 22D of the Air Navigation Act 1920 provides that competitors must ensure the weapon is not carried on board the aircraft. Generally, this means the weapon will be required to be stored in the hold of the aircraft, unloaded and in an appropriate storage container.

Persons intending to carry ammunition on an aircraft can do so as long as they:

• only carry up to 5kg of ammunition
• obtain the permission of the airline company, and
• the ammunition is boxed in the manufacturer’s packaging.

If you intend to carry more than 5kg of ammunition per person, section 23 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 provides that the permission of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority is also required

For further information go to www.casa.gov.au.

Public display of weapons

​The appropriate public display of historically significant and military weapons by RSL Sub Branches, historical societies, private museums and other organisations has strong and legitimate support across the community, within government and by legislation.

Organisations wishing to lawfully possess and display firearms are required to satisfy specific licensing, registration and storage provisions under the Weapons Act 1990 and the Weapon Regulations 2016.

Alternative storage (safe storage measures)

The authorised officer is able to approve safe storage measures equivalent to or of a higher standard than those required under this regulation in some circumstances. If your storage differs from those set in the regulation, written approval is required from the authorised officer. 

An application can be made in writing to an authorised officer to take a particular safety measure for the safe storage of weapons other than those listed above. Your application should outline the measures being replaced with those proposed, indicating how these measures meet or exceed the safe storage requirements of those being replaced.

The authorised officer must be satisfied that the proposed safety measures give at least the same level of safety and security as the replaced measures. You should include all information about security at premises (e.g. alarms and locks), photos if available, contact telephone numbers and email addresses.

This also applies to organisations wishing to apply for approval to take particular alternative safety measures to allow for the display of collectable firearms instead of measures required under the legislation.

Refer to ​Section 98 of the Weapons Regulations 2016  for more information.

Current firearms/weapons legislation compels a licence holder to store their firearms in a permanent building and as per the requirements of Section 60 ‘Secure Storage of Weapons’ of the Weapons Act 1990 and Section 94 ‘Storage of particular weapons not in persons physical possession – secure storage facilities’ from the Weapons Regulations 2016.

If you are unable to store your weapons within a permanent building of a residence or business, you have the ability to apply to an authorised officer for approval for alternative storage.  The type of alternative storage locations an authorised officer has considered include vessels, caravans, motor homes or shipping containers.

You can make an application to an authorised officer for alternative storage by submitting an online Form 4A – Change of Address / Name / Weapons Secure Storage Facility Address located here: https://forms.police.qld.gov.au/reports/changeCircumstance.

Alternatively, you can print and submit a paper Form 4A – Change of Address / Name / Weapons Secure Storage Facility Address  located here: Form 4A Change of Address / Change of Name / Change of Weapon(s) Secure Storage Facility.

For each alternative storage location you will be required to provide the following –

• Online Change of Circumstance Form OR Completed Form 4A – Change of Address / Name / Weapons Secure Storage Facility Address;
• Proof of ownership of the alternative storage. If a vessel or vehicle, registration papers will be required. If the vessel/vehicle is not registered to the applicant (e.g. you work on a boat or the caravan belongs to your partner), a Statutory Declaration signed by a Justice of the Peace (Qualified or Commissioner for Declarations) is required from the owner of the property, along with identification from that person (on the same document) stating that the applicant has permission for the specific alternative storage scenario;
• Genuine reason for requiring an alternative storage location;
• A written description of the alternative storage including dimensions and a physical description of the materials it is made from e.g. fire glass, aluminium, steel etc;
• If applying to store on a vessel, the name of the vessel and usual place of mooring;
• If applying to store on a shipping container, coloured images clearly showing how the container is attached to a concrete slab with Dynabolts – this may include the shipping container being attached to footings that are attached to the concrete slab;
• Coloured images of the entire alternative storage;
• Coloured images of the purpose-made gun safe closed;
• Coloured images of the gun safe open and how it is secured to the alternative storage i.e. image of the bolts; and,
• Any additional information that may support the application e.g. alarm system used / sensor lighting used / security services used.