Buying, selling and storing ammunition

Ammunition, also known as small arms cartridges, are used to fire projectiles from firearms (guns). These cartridges have a maximum calibre of 19.1 millimetres (.75 calibre), have centre or rim fire priming and contain a propelling charge, with or without a solid projectile. These include shotgun shells of any gauge. (Small arms cartridges are classified under the Explosives Regulations as Type C.1.)

Ammunition includes primers (percussion caps), propellant powders (black powder or smokeless powder) and bullets, shot or slugs.

The following guidance is for anyone involved with ammunition. For situations not covered here, including exemptions and conditions, as well as rules for manufacturers of ammunition, consult the Explosives Regulations. For general information about firearms in Canada, see Firearms (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and Firearms (Public Safety Canada).

Buying ammunition

There is no minimum age requirement, under the Explosives Regulations, to buy ammunition (small arms cartridges) for personal use. For storing more than 225 kilograms of ammunition (the mass of the explosive excluding the packaging, container, shell casing or projectile), you must have an explosives licence. You can apply for an explosives licence through the electronic Licence Management System (eLMS).

Storing ammunition

If you have an explosives licence, ammunition (small arms cartridges) must be stored in the magazine specified in your licence. You can apply for an explosives licence through the electronic Licence Management System (eLMS).

If you do not have an explosives licence, ammunition must be stored in a dwelling (such as a house, apartment or cottage) or a storage unit.

Storage requirements for users

You are permitted to store up to 225 kilograms of ammunition (the mass of the explosive excluding the packaging, container, shell casing or projectile) in a dwelling (such as a house, apartment or cottage) or a storage unit without a licence.

To store more than 225 kilograms of ammunition (the mass of the explosive, excluding the packaging, container, shell casing or projectile), you must have an explosives licence. You can apply for an explosives licence through the electronic Licence Management System (eLMS).

Dwelling

You must store the ammunition away from flammable substances and sources of ignition. You must ensure that it can be accessed only by people you have authorized.

Storage unit

You are permitted to store the ammunition in a storage unit.

• The storage unit must be located away from flammable substances and sources of ignition;
• the interior of the storage unit must be kept clean and dry;
• the storage unit must be constructed and maintained to prevent unauthorized access and to protect the contents from weather;
• the storage unit must be attended when it is unlocked;
• if the storage unit is a container, it must not impede exit in case of fire;
• if the storage unit is not a container, all exits must be kept unobstructed;
• any shelving in the storage unit must be made from a non-sparking material (for example, wood or painted metal);
• if propellant powder, percussion caps, blank cartridges for tools, unmixed reactive targets or black powder cartouches are stored with small arms cartridges in the storage unit, they must be stored separately from one another (for example, on different shelves or separated by a wooden barrier);
• precautions that minimize the likelihood of an ignition or fire in or near the storage unit must be taken; and
• a sign that displays the words “Danger — Fire Hazard/Risque d’incendie” in letters at least 10 cm high and that prohibits smoking using letters, or a symbol, at least 10 cm high must be posted on the storage unit in a clearly visible location.

Storage requirements for sellers

As a retailer, you are permitted to buy, sell and store ammunition (small arms cartridges) without an explosives licence if you do not store more than 225 kilograms of ammunition (the mass of the explosive excluding the packaging, container, shell casing or projectile). To store more than 225 kilograms of ammunition, or if you are a distributor, you must have an explosives licence. You can apply for an explosives licence through the electronic Licence Management System (eLMS).

If you do hold a licence, ammunition (small arms cartridges) must be stored in the magazine specified in your licence.

If you do not hold a licence, the ammunition displayed for sale must be stored in a sales establishment. Any ammunition not displayed for sale must be stored in a dwelling (such as a house, apartment or cottage) or storage unit.

Dwelling

You must store the ammunition away from flammable substances and sources of ignition. You must ensure that it can be accessed only by people you have authorized.

Storage unit

• The storage unit must be located away from flammable substances and sources of ignition;
• the interior of the storage unit must be kept clean and dry;
• the storage unit must be constructed and maintained to prevent unauthorized access and to protect the contents from weather;
• the storage unit must be attended when it is unlocked;
• if the storage unit is a container, it must not impede exit in case of fire;
• if the storage unit is not a container, all exits must be kept unobstructed;
• any shelving in the storage unit must be made from a non-sparking material (for example, wood or painted metal);
• if propellant powder, percussion caps, blank cartridges for tools, unmixed reactive targets or black powder cartouches are stored with small arms cartridges in the storage unit, they must be stored separately from one another (for example, on different shelves or separated by a wooden barrier);
• precautions that minimize the likelihood of an ignition or fire in or near the storage unit must be taken; and
• a sign that displays the words “Danger — Fire Hazard/Risque d’incendie” in letters at least 10 cm high and that prohibits smoking using letters, or a symbol, at least 10 cm high must be posted on the storage unit in a clearly visible location.

Selling ammunition

As a retailer, you are permitted to store up to 225 kilograms (the mass of the explosive excluding the packaging, container, shell casing or projectile) of ammunition (small arms cartridges) without an explosives licence.

As a distributor, you must have an explosives licence to sell ammunition to other distributors or retailers. You can apply for an explosives licence through the electronic Licence Management System (eLMS).

Displaying for sale

When the store is open, ammunition displayed for sale must be monitored, kept behind a sales counter or locked up (for example, in a cabinet).

Only people you have authorized can have access to the area behind the sale counter.

If you hold an explosives licence, ammunition not displayed for sale must be stored in the magazine specified in your licence.

Maximum quantities

If the buyer holds an explosives licence, you are permitted to sell them the maximum quantity of ammunition listed on their explosives licence.

If the buyer does not hold an explosives licence, you are permitted to sell them the maximum of 225 kilograms of ammunition (the mass of the explosive excluding the packaging, container, shell casing or projectile).

More information

Consult the following guidelines on safely storing ammunition with a licence:

• G06-01: Non-industrial storage guidelines, 2015 (PDF, 311 kB)
• G06-05: Guideline for determining the storage compatibility of explosives (Type C.1) (PDF, 196 kB)

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