On this page
- What changed when the new Act started
- Gun safe requirements in WA: the three storage levels
- Which level applies to you
- What makes a container “compliant”
- Anchoring: the 500 kg rule
- Ammunition in the same container
- Existing safes and transitional rules
- Choosing a safe for WA
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Get help choosing a WA-compliant gun safe
Gun safe requirements in WA now depend on the category of firearm, how many firearms are kept at the storage place and whether that place is someone’s home. For up to five Category A or B firearms, the minimum is “Level 1 storage”: a locked compliant container with steel faces at least 3 mm thick and a door at least 6 mm thick, or a Grade V safe. Keeping a Category H handgun at home steps up to Level 2 storage, with 6 mm faces and a 10 mm door.
These rules come from the Firearms Act 2024 and the Firearms Regulations 2024, which replaced the Firearms Act 1973 and Firearms Regulations 1974 on 31 March 2025. They are much more prescriptive than the old regime and than most other states. This article summarises what the regulations say about containers, anchoring, alarms and existing safes. For how WA compares with the rest of the country, see our guide to gun safe laws in every Australian state and territory.
What changed when the new Act started
The WA Government confirmed that the new legislation commenced on Monday 31 March 2025. Existing licence holders were automatically granted a transitional authority and have at least 90 days to move to a new licence type when their licence comes up for renewal. WA Police has said it will tell each licence holder about any changes to their storage requirements and how many firearms they can hold.
The storage rules themselves are in Part 8 and Schedules 4 to 6 of the Firearms Regulations 2024. We have read the current consolidated version, but this is a complex regime, so confirm your own requirements with WA Police before you buy. WA Police runs a dedicated firearms call centre on 1300 894 474.
Gun safe requirements in WA: the three storage levels
The regulations define three levels of storage. Each level can also be met by a compliant secure room or a compliant strongroom.
| Level | Container option | Safe option |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 storage | Locked compliant container with faces at least 3 mm thick and a door at least 6 mm thick | Locked Grade V safe (AS/NZS 3809:1998) |
| Level 2 storage | Locked compliant container with faces at least 6 mm thick and a door at least 10 mm thick | Locked Grade V safe |
| Level 3 storage | Not available | Locked Grade V safe, or a compliant secure room or strongroom |
A “face” means the sides, top and bottom of the cabinet, not the door. A Grade V safe is one with a resistance grade of at least V under AS/NZS 3809:1998, the Australian standard for physical security safes. Our explainer on Australian safe standards and our pillar on how safe ratings and AS/NZS 3809 grades work explain those gradings in more detail.
Which level applies to you
Schedule 6 of the regulations sets the level for general storers (ordinary licence holders) using tables. The most common situations for five or fewer firearms, with no Category D, are:
- Only Category A, B or E firearms: Level 1 storage.
- At least one Category C firearm, at a home: Level 1 storage.
- At least one Category C firearm, at an unoccupied place: Level 1 storage plus an operational alarm system.
- At least one Category H firearm, at a home: Level 2 storage.
- At least one Category H firearm, at an unoccupied place: Level 2 storage plus an operational alarm system.
As numbers grow beyond five, and especially at unoccupied places such as a farm shed away from the house, the tables increasingly require alarm systems and, in many cases, video surveillance. For example, more than 15 Category A or B firearms kept at a home need Level 1 storage plus an operational alarm system. Any Category D firearm requires a compliant secure room or strongroom, a Level 2 alarm system and video surveillance. Handgun owners should also read our Category H safe requirements guide.
What makes a container “compliant”
A level 1 or level 2 container must also meet the construction standard in Schedule 4. In summary:
- joints must be continuously butt welded or stitch welded; spot welding is not allowed
- doors must be recessed into the frame, with a reinforced frame, protected hinges and internal stops
- locks must use an internal locking mechanism operated by a compliant lock, with no override mechanism
- a compliant padlock must be shrouded and rated at least S10 for physical security and C4 for corrosion resistance under AS 4145.1-2008
This is a manufacturing standard, so ask the supplier for documentation showing the face and door thickness and construction before you buy. A cabinet built for the “not easily penetrable” standard used in other states will often have thinner steel than WA’s Level 1.
Anchoring: the 500 kg rule
WA’s fixing rule is stricter than the 150 kg threshold used elsewhere. A compliant cabinet or container that weighs less than 500 kg must be anchored to a permanent wall or floor, meaning a structural part of the building made of masonry, concrete, steel or similar. The options are:
- at least four bolts or coach screws, reinforced under the head, with at least two on one face and at least two on another face, capable of withstanding 100 kN of force
- chemical bonding on at least two faces capable of withstanding 100 kN
- a combination of chemical bonding on one face and at least two anchors on another face, together capable of withstanding 100 kN
Getting this right usually means fixing to both the floor and a wall. Our practical guide to bolting down a gun safe covers anchor types in general terms, but in WA we recommend using an installer who can document the method.
Ammunition in the same container
The regulations allow ammunition to be stored in the same level 1 or level 2 container as a firearm only if it is in a locked compliant accessory compartment inside the container. That compartment can hold only ammunition, unloaded external magazines, major firearm parts or parts that make the firearm inoperable when removed, and prohibited accessories. Our ammunition storage requirements guide covers the other states for comparison.
Existing safes and transitional rules
Regulation 309 gives some existing owners breathing room. If, before 31 March 2025, you held five or fewer Category A, B, C or H firearms (or one or more Category E firearms) under the old Act, and no Category D or uncategorised prohibited firearm, you may keep storing them in a locked cabinet that meets the old 1974 Schedule 4 specifications. That concession ends when you acquire another firearm or a prohibited accessory, at which point the new storage levels apply. The Commissioner can impose different requirements if the old storage is not adequate.
The Commissioner can also grant exemptions where a general storer cannot reasonably meet a requirement, for example because of a firearm’s size, with conditions such as alarms or surveillance.
Choosing a safe for WA
Before you buy, work out your level from Schedule 6, then confirm the steel thickness of both faces and door, or the Grade V certification. Remember the 500 kg anchoring rule and the alarm triggers if you have more than five firearms or store them away from home. Our gun safe range includes rifle and pistol safes, and our high-security safes include graded models. We deliver Australia-wide, and if you are replacing an old cabinet our safe removal service can help take it away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my old gun cabinet still legal in WA?
Possibly. Regulation 309 lets people who held five or fewer Category A, B, C or H firearms (or Category E firearms) before 31 March 2025, with no Category D, keep using a cabinet that meets the old 1974 Schedule 4 specifications. Once you acquire another firearm or a prohibited accessory, the new storage levels apply. Confirm your position with WA Police.
What steel thickness does a gun safe need in WA?
For Level 1 storage, a compliant container needs faces at least 3 mm thick and a door at least 6 mm thick. For Level 2 storage, it needs faces at least 6 mm thick and a door at least 10 mm thick. A locked Grade V safe under AS/NZS 3809:1998 satisfies either level, and is one of the options for Level 3.
Does a gun safe have to be bolted down in WA?
Yes, if a compliant cabinet or container weighs less than 500 kg. Schedule 4 of the Firearms Regulations 2024 requires anchoring to a permanent wall or floor using at least four bolts or coach screws across two faces, chemical bonding on two faces, or a combination, in each case capable of withstanding 100 kN of force.
Do I need an alarm for my firearms in WA?
It depends on the number, category and location of your firearms. For five or fewer firearms at your home, an alarm is generally not required unless you hold a Category D firearm. Storing Category C or H firearms at an unoccupied place, or keeping larger numbers, adds alarm and sometimes video surveillance requirements under Schedule 6.
Get help choosing a WA-compliant gun safe
Our showroom at 38 Barrie Rd, Tullamarine has over 350 new and used safes on display, and we deliver Australia-wide, including to Western Australia. Call us on 0409 860 011 or ask our team a question online and we will help you compare steel thickness and grading against the WA storage levels.
