Gun Safe Requirements in South Australia

Under the gun safe requirements in SA, most licence holders with 1 to 19 firearms need either a Level 1 safe (body and door of structural grade steel at least 2 mm thick) or a Level 2 safe (at least 3 mm thick). A Level 1 safe is enough only if all the firearms are Category A or B and kept under the main roof of the house or business. Any Category C, D or H firearm, or storage in a shed or other outbuilding, needs a Level 2 safe. Safes under 150 kg empty must be bolted down with at least two anchor points.

These rules come from the Firearms Act 2015 and the Code of Practice in Schedule 1 of the Firearms Regulations 2017. SA Police (SAPOL) sets the storage level by the total number and categories of firearms at the premises, so larger collections step up to CCTV, intruder alarms and eventually a strongroom. This article explains each tier. To compare South Australia with every other jurisdiction, read our overview of firearm storage requirements across Australia.

Where SA’s storage rules come from

SAPOL’s storage, safety and security page says the minimum standard depends on the quantity and category of firearms held, and points to Schedule 1 of the Firearms Regulations 2017, the Code of Practice for the Security, Storage and Transport of Firearms, Ammunition and Related Items. SAPOL also publishes a Firearms Security Storage Quick Guide and separate guides for each tier. We summarise them below, but rules can change, so confirm with the SAPOL Firearms Branch before buying.

Firearms and ammunition must be kept at your principal place of residence, or at your principal place of business if you hold them for the business. Storing them anywhere else needs the Registrar’s approval.

Level 1 and Level 2 safes

Both safe levels share the same design rules and differ only in steel thickness:

• Level 1 safe: body and door of structural grade steel at least 2 mm thick.
• Level 2 safe: body and door of structural grade steel at least 3 mm thick.
• The door must be recessed or flush fitted, and sized and fitted to prevent leverage points.
• Locking must be a three-point locking mechanism activated by an internal key or electronic lock, a PIN combination lock or a biometric fingerprint scanner, or an external lock with a body at least 40 mm wide and a hardened steel shackle, fitted with a cover so it cannot be cut or tampered with.
• Any safe weighing less than 150 kg when empty must be bolted to a solid concrete, brick, metal or timber floor, wall or other permanent internal structure with at least two anchor points.

SAPOL’s quick guide also recognises “grandfathered” safes in some situations. A prescribed safe (steel at least 1.6 mm thick) or a Level 1 safe only counts as grandfathered if the owner used it before 1 July 2017, notified the Registrar in writing before 1 July 2018, and received written confirmation. If you think your safe qualifies, check with the SAPOL Firearms Branch before relying on it.

Gun safe requirements in SA for 1 to 19 firearms

SAPOL says most licensees hold fewer than 20 firearms. For that group:

• Category A and B only, under the main roof: Level 1 safe (or a grandfathered safe).
• Category A and B only, in an outbuilding: Level 2 safe.
• Any Category C, D or H firearm: Level 2 safe, in the main building or an outbuilding.

“Under the main roof” means within the enclosed internal structure of the house or business, including a fully enclosed garage under the main roof. An outbuilding is a shed or garage that is fixed to the land, fully enclosed, structurally sound and lockable. If you are deciding where the safe should go, our article on the best and worst places to install a safe at home has practical tips.

Larger collections: the storage tiers

The count is the total number of firearms kept at the premises by everyone who lives or works there. SAPOL’s example: if two people living together each have 10 firearms and one of them has a Category H firearm, both are treated as holding 20 firearms including a Category H, and both must meet the higher tier.

The intruder alarm must run on mains power with battery backup, use glass-break or movement sensors with anti-tamper circuits, and have its controls out of sight. SAPOL’s strongroom specification calls for no windows, walls, floor and ceiling of reinforced concrete, double brick or reinforced block at least 140 mm thick, and a heavy steel door with protected hinges.

Ammunition and keys

Ammunition must be kept in a locked container separate from the firearms. It can be inside the gun safe if it is in a separate secured compartment or a locked container, and the unlocking mechanism for that compartment cannot open the safe. Don’t keep the ammunition key or code inside the gun safe, or the gun safe key inside the ammunition container. Our guide to ammunition storage rules compares this with other states.

SAPOL treats keys, key cards and codes as “unlocking mechanisms” that must themselves be kept secure. Don’t share them with anyone not authorised, don’t leave a written record where it might be found, and never leave the key in the lock.

Shared safes

Two licence holders can share a safe only if they permanently occupy the same home or business premises. Each person’s firearms must be in separate locked compartments or secured with separate cables or devices, ammunition must be in a separate locked compartment or container, and the Registrar must be told where and how the firearms are kept. The storage level is based on the combined total.

Inspections and moving house

Under section 18(2)(c) of the Firearms Act 2015, licensees must allow police to inspect their firearms and storage at any reasonable time. A change of address must be notified to the Registrar within 14 days. If you are moving, our safe relocation service can move and refit a gun safe in Melbourne or through our national network.

Choosing a safe for South Australia

For most people the deciding question is whether they hold, or might later hold, a Category C, D or H firearm, or will store in a shed. If so, buy a Level 2 safe (3 mm steel) from the start. Check that the specifications state the body and door thickness, the locking type and the anchor points. Our gun safe sizing guide helps you plan for scopes and future purchases, and our guide to fixing a gun safe to the floor or wall explains anchoring.

Browse our rifle and pistol safes, or pair a cabinet with a separate ammunition safe such as the Guardall T25 ammunition safe, currently around $409. Prices change, so check the product page, and ask us to confirm a model’s steel thickness before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Level 1 and Level 2 gun safe in SA?

Both must have a recessed or flush door, an approved three-point lock or covered heavy-duty external lock, and be bolted down with at least two anchor points if under 150 kg. The difference is steel thickness: a Level 1 safe uses structural grade steel at least 2 mm thick, while a Level 2 safe uses steel at least 3 mm thick.

Can I keep my gun safe in the shed in South Australia?

Yes, if the shed meets SAPOL’s definition of an outbuilding: fixed to the land, fully enclosed, structurally sound and lockable. For 1 to 19 Category A and B firearms, storing in an outbuilding requires a Level 2 safe rather than a Level 1. Any Category C, D or H firearm requires a Level 2 safe wherever it is kept.

Does a gun safe need to be bolted down in SA?

Yes, if it weighs less than 150 kg when empty. SAPOL says it must be bolted to a solid concrete, brick, metal or timber floor, wall or other permanent internal structure of the building with at least two anchor points. Most home gun safes weigh less than 150 kg, so most need to be bolted.

Do I need CCTV or an alarm for my firearms in SA?

Not for 1 to 19 firearms. With 20 to 34 firearms (fewer than 30 Category H), SAPOL requires a Level 2 safe plus either CCTV or an intruder alarm. With 35 to 49, you need both. With 50 or more firearms, or 30 or more Category H, a strongroom with both CCTV and an alarm is required.

Find the right gun safe for your SA licence

Our showroom at 38 Barrie Rd, Tullamarine has over 350 new and used safes on display, and we deliver Australia-wide, including to South Australia. Call us on 0409 860 011 or send us a message and we will help you match a safe to your firearm categories and numbers.