The Firearms Reform Act 2024 has been passed through Parliament with provisions to increase the level of security required for the storage of firearms in Western Australia. The previous regulations were written in 1974 with limited updates over time and failed to address the advancements in technology in equipment and tools that may be used to gain access to gun safes by forced entry methods.
The new storage requirements aim to provide a considerably higher level of protection and security through both firearm licensing regulations and control measures, as well as through greater security and storage requirements for firearm owners throughout Western Australia.
This article walks through the Firearms Regulations 2024 storage matrix as we apply it in Perth: category, quantity, and whether the storage place is occupied or unoccupied. It also covers the safes we supply and install for each level, and the storage statement we issue after a police-licensed install for you to send to WA Police. The compliance date of 31 March 2025 has passed. If you have not had the safe and the anchoring checked against the current matrix, or you are adding or replacing firearms, start here and then confirm your own path with WA Police Firearms.
What are the key changes?
Compared with the previous regulations, the major differences in the gun storage requirements are:
- The introduction of a scaled security grade requirement for gun safes and rifle safes, which requires higher levels of security for applications where the risk is deemed to be higher. Instead of requiring the same level of security for all license holders, the requirements for safes, alarms, CCTV and other limitations are determined by the category, quantity and occupancy status of the licensee and the storage location.
- A differentiation between firearms being stored at “Occupied” vs “Unoccupied” properties. Previously there was no distinction, but as you can imagine, firearms stored at a property that does not have regular occupants would be at a higher risk of theft than those stored in a usually occupied property.
- The introduction of complimentary security measures to further increase the effectiveness of firearm safes, specifically alarm and CCTV systems.
- The focus on the “Secure Place” as opposed to the individual licensee. The level of storage required will be determined by the quantity and category of the firearms being stored at the location, regardless how many firearms are owned by the individual licensee.
- Increase bolting/anchoring requirements. Instead of specifying the exact types of fixings required, the new regulations provide indications of the types of fixings to be used, in conjunction with a measurable level of force that the installation needs to be able to withstand.
When did the new gun storage requirements come into effect?
The Firearm Bill 2024 was first presented to Parliament on the 21st February 2024. The Firearms Regulations 2024 were published on the 21st December 2024. The compliance date was 31st March 2025. That date has passed.
Storage now has to meet the current matrix, including occupied versus unoccupied places. WA Police may still check existing storage. If your safe or the anchoring was not checked against the 2024 regulations, do that before you assume grandfathering covers the install. Adding or replacing firearms can also move you off a grandfathered path and onto the current level.
Updated 9 September 2026. Official overview: WA Police, Firearms Act reform 2024.
What are the new firearm storage requirements?
The new firearm regulations require all firearms and relevant accessories be stored in either a safe or a secure room that meets the requirements set out in Schedule 6 of the Firearms Regulations 2024. The construction of the safe varies across 3 distinct “Levels” and are required in across a scale, based on the category, quantity and storage location of the firearms.
The Below matrix indicates which level of storage is required for each application, as determined by the quantity of firearms, the category of the firearms, as well as the property that they are being stored at.
Occupied and unoccupied places
The matrix already on this page is the working table for all licences except trade licences. Read it in this order: how many firearms are stored at the place, whether that place is occupied or unoccupied, then the category, including any Category H.
Occupied means a place with regular occupants. Unoccupied means a place without regular occupants. A shed, garage, holiday house or vacant rental is treated as unoccupied if nobody is living there as a matter of course. The unoccupied column is the higher bar. Alarm and CCTV appear sooner, and the cabinet level can step up.
Two examples from that matrix, not a substitute for it:
- Category A and/or B, five firearms or fewer, unoccupied: Level 1 cabinet (3 mm steel body and 6 mm steel door).
- Any Category H, six to fifteen firearms, unoccupied: Level 2 cabinet plus alarm and CCTV. That is the same shape as the WA Police example already quoted below: seven Category A and B firearms plus two Category H at an unoccupied premises, Level 2 with alarm and CCTV for every firearm stored there.
The highest-risk firearm at the location sets the level for all firearms stored there. Confirm which column applies to your place with WA Police Firearms before you buy or move a safe. If the install itself is the question, use how to install a gun safe in Western Australia and our safe installation in Perth page.
What is a Level 1 Gun safe?
If you are required to store your firearms according to Level 3, you can use either:
- A locked safe or cabinet that has 3mm thick steel body and a 6mm thick steel door; or
- Grade V safe as determined by AS/NZS 3809:1998 Safes and Strongrooms, or
- Compliant secure room or strong room
There are several more construction and manufacturing requirements that the gun safe or cabinet must meet or exceed, including specific requirements for the welding methods used, the quantity of locking points, provisions for hinge-side protection and the use of compliant safe locks.
The models of safes that we supply and install that are suitable for use in Level 1 requirements are the Dominator Safes GC Series rifle cabinets, which are available in 3 sizes – GC-1, GC-2, GC-3. All 3 of these models exceed the requirements of the regulations and include the ability to be installed with key, combination or electronic locking options.
What is a Level 2 Gun safe?
If you are required to store your firearms according to Level 2, you can use either:
- A locked safe or cabinet that has 6mm thick steel body and a 10mm thick steel door; or
- Grade V safe as determined by AS/NZS 3809:1998 Safes and Strongrooms, or
- Compliant secure room or strong room
Again, there are several more construction and manufacturing requirements that the safe must meet or exceed for level 2 safes, including specific requirements for the welding methods used, the quantity or locking points and provisions for hinge-side protection from forced entry attacks.
The models of safes that we supply and install that are suitable for use in Level 2 requirements are the Dominator Safes GC Series rifle safes, which are available in 2 sizes – GC-4 & GC-5, the DR Series drug safes and the HS Series home safes, which are ideal for handgun storage as they are not tall enough to accommodate rifles. All 3 of these model series exceed the requirements of the regulations and include the ability to be installed with key, combination or electronic locking options.
What is a Level 3 Gun safe?
If you are required to store your firearms according to Level 1, you can use either:
- Grade V safe as determined by AS/NZS 3809:1998 Safes and Strongrooms, or
- Compliant secure room or strong room
In this case, the construction and manufacturing requirements are determined by the certification centres that provide Grade V certification or compatible compliance. The Australian Standards take their reference table from the European Grading system (EN1143) as there are no testing houses in Australia that can conduct the relevant testing, it is required to use a centre from Europe or the US and cross reference in order to determine compliance.
The models of safe that we supply and install that are suitable for use in Level 3 applications are the Dominator Safes FX Series, which comes in 2 sizes as standard, or additional sizes by special order. We also regularly stock second hand safes that would be deemed Grade V or higher and could provide a more cost-efficient alternative.
What types of locks can a gun safe be fitted with?
All safes used for the storage of firearms must utilise locks that meet the requirements stated in Schedule 4.
“Each lock on the cabinet or container must —
(a) involve an internal locking mechanism activated using a compliant lock; and
(b) be protected against kinetic attacks.”
A lock that is deemed “a compliant lock” according to the regulations.
In the preliminary terms section, it is referred to as a lock that is:
- a compliant padlock; or
- an internal lock that is unlocked using an access card, key, pin or code;
The use of the term “internal lock” is aimed at locks that have been designed for use specifically on safes. The distinguishable feature is that the main body of the lock is installed onto the internal face of the safe door, then the key, keypad or dial mechanism reaches through the door to engage the lock. This reference would eliminate most common house and cabinet locks as they generally have cylinders that are on the face of the door or mounted through the door.
Any safe lock that is operated by a key, pin code or swipe card is ok to be used, as long as it is also resistant to “kinetic attacks”.
What is a “Kinetic Attack”?
A kinetic attack is any attempt to cause a lock to open or release by using motion, impact or even magnetic force. In many types of locks, generally those found on low quality or low cost safes, it is possible manipulate them by impacting it in a particular way that causes the locking pin to bounce into the unlocked position. This is very common on safes found in hardware stores, office supply stores and other low cost equipment suppliers.
It may be quite difficult for someone who is not familiar with safes and safe locks to be able to identify of a particular lock is susceptible to kinetic attacks, so as a general rule, we would recommend only using locks that are made by reputable safe lock manufacturers. Brands such as Tecnosicurezza, Kaba (LaGard), Ross, Securam, S&G and Big Red make a variety of key, combination and electronic locks that are tested and certified to ensure a high level of security against these types of attacks.
If you are still unsure, feel free to send a photo of a particular safe lock through to our professional team and we will gladly provide some advice on the locks. info@safecentral.net.au
What is grandfathering?
Grandfathering refers to a legal or policy provision that allows existing conditions, privileges, rights, or rules to continue under an old system, even after new regulations, laws, or requirements are introduced. This means that individuals, entities, or practices already established before the changes take effect are "exempt" from following the new rules, at least for a specified period or under certain conditions.
If you are permitted grandfathering to use safes from the previous regulations, which should mean that your current firearm safe is appropriate, however we would recommend that you undertake an inspection in reference to the previous regulations to ensure that your safe and the method of anchoring is compliant.
What are the new installation gun safe installation requirements in Western Australia?
As part of the increased security requirements for the cabinets, rooms and locations of storage, the anchoring requirements have been updated to ensure a much higher resistance to forced attack or removal.
The first point to note is that there is an exemption from anchoring your safe if the weight of the safe (when empty) exceeds 500kg. Only if your safe is under 500kg will you be required to anchor it to the property, so you may find it more suitable to purchase a safe over 500kg if you are unable to anchor your safe, for example in a rental property where the owner prefers not to have fitting bolted to the floor or walls.
If your safe requires anchoring, then you will need to comply with one of 3 anchoring methods. In the previous regulations, the size of the fixings to be used was determined, along with the requirement to use oversize washers to increase the surface area that the cabinet was secured through. In the revised regulations there are still requirements of the quantity of fixings used, but also includes the provision for using chemical bonding (adhesives) as an alternative to mechanical fixings.
The 3 options for installing/anchoring your safe are:
- By using at least 4 mechanical fixings (Bolts or Coach screws), through at least 2 faces of the safe (base or sides), into “a structural part of a place” that is “made of masonry, concrete, steel or other similar material”.
- By using Chemical Bonding on at least 2 faces of the safe onto “a structural part of a place” that is “made of masonry, concrete, steel or other similar material”.
- By using a combination of at least 2 mechanical fixings and chemical bonding to 2 separate faces of the safe into “a structural part of a place” that is “made of masonry, concrete, steel or other similar material”.
The most important new addition to these regulations is the requirement that whichever anchoring method that you choose from the above, must “be of such a strength, or creates a bond that it is capable of withstanding 100 kN of force”
The requirement of meeting the force resistant if 100 kN adds a level of complexity to the installation as there are a number of variables that need to be considered when determining the force an installation can withstand.
To give an example, if you installed a firearm cabinet with 2 concrete screws through the back of the safe (concrete wall) and 2 concrete screws through the base of the (concrete floor), at a depth of 95mm each, you would likely achieve a total of 112 kN of force. Because the fixings are installed into adjacent faces, it means that two of the fixings are providing tension load resistance and the other 2 are providing shear load resistance.
The issue is that very few properties will have concrete walls, and many properties may not even have concrete floors thick enough to allow installation to 95mm depth. If you were to change the scenario so the 2 bolts in the rear were installed into a brick wall, the tension load resistance would reduce drastically to a total of around 60-65kN.
Given these disparities, you may require the use of mechanical and chemical fixings to ensure an appropriate installation and you should consider the property and the relevant materials that you will be anchoring the safe to, and speak with a professional for advice on the types of fixings required.
What happens if I change my firearm categories in the future?
One of the major changes in these new regulations is that the level of security required is determined by the highest risk firearm/s stored at a location, but then applied to all firearms on the property. Using the example provided by the WA Police “WA Security and Storage” flyer:
“A firearm authority holder has 7 category A & B firearms and 2 category H firearms at an unoccupied premises. They require a Level 2 cabinet with alarm and CCTV for all firearms stored at that location.”
In this case, if a firearm owner had just the 7 rifles mentioned, they would only need to store them in a Level 1 safe. However, because the 2 category H firearms increase the level of security required, all 9 of the firearms must be secured in a Level 2 safe (along with the other security requirements mentioned).
This requirement means that you really need to consider the future when choosing which safe to purchase. If you think you might look to get a category H firearm in the future, then you should consider purchasing a level 2 safe, unless you are prepared to upgrade it when the additional firearms are purchased.
Obviously, we have just used one example to illustrate the point that all firearms must be secured in the manner which is largely determined by the “higher risk” firearm, so you should look to the above matrix to see where these future changes may affect you. In most instances you may be able to continue using the same safe, but may be required to add an alarm or CCTV system to increase the security level. Either way it is worth considering prior to making a new safe purchase.
Firearms storage statement and install certificate
After we police-licensed-install a firearm safe, we issue an in-house certificate. It records the safe type, the fixings used, and why we deem that install compliant with the storage level that applies. We do not lodge it with WA Police. You send it, the same way a pharmacy sends the certificate we issue for an alternative-storage question to Health.
What to put in the statement, and how that certificate fits, is on our firearms storage statement page. The bolt pattern and the 100 kN requirement sit in how to install a gun safe in Western Australia, not in this matrix.
Disclaimer:
All the information included above is general only and is based on our own experience, as well as our interpretation of the new firearm storage regulations. You should always consult the WA Police Firearms licensing body to ensure you receive the most appropriate and relevant guidance for your individual situation.
If you need any more information or support with safes, you can contact one of our safe specialists by email at info@safecentral.net.au.