Resources:

• EOPSS Chapter 135 Guidance Letter #4
• Massachusetts Firearm Registration Regulation 501 CMR 19
• Massachusetts Firearm Serialization Regulation 501 CMR 20
• Massachusetts – What Guns Do I Have to Register Under the New Law?

Registration

This includes frames, receivers, and unfinished frames or receivers.

 

WARNING: This system, just like the current system, will allow you to register firearms that you cannot legally possess in Massachusetts.

Question: When do I have to have my guns registered?

Answer: October 2, 2026 is the deadline.

Question: Do I have to register firearms I already have?

Answer: According to the EOPPS Guidance letter #4: If you have already registered your firearms on the current transaction portal, you will not have to re-register them when the new system goes live.

Question:  Do I have to register all guns?

Answer:  The only exemption is for "Antique Firearms" (see definition below).

 

Chapter 140, Section 121B: “All firearms possessed, manufactured or assembled in the commonwealth shall be registered in accordance with this section.”

• By October 2, 2026, all firearm registrations shall be completed at the time of firearm import, purchase, acquisition, manufacture or assembly according to the following timelines:
• New residents have 60 days to register their firearms with the Commonwealth.
• Retailers, gunsmiths, distributors or manufacturers have 7 days to register inventory once the firearms have been acquired.
• An heir or “devisee” through the distribution of an estate has 60 days to comply.
• If a firearm is manufactured or assembled as a privately made firearm it must be registered within 7 days.

 

• It is very important to note the new definition of “Firearm” now includes
• Frames or receivers
• Unfinished frames or receivers. (See definition below)

Serialization

This includes frames, receivers, and unfinished frames or receivers.

 

Chapter 140, Section 121C: All firearms, with certain exemptions listed below, shall have a serial number in accordance with the requirements of this section by October 2, 2026

Serial Number Standards:

• Shall be conspicuously engraved, cast or otherwise permanently embedded.
• Have a unique serial number on the frame or receiver.
• Shall be placed in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered or removed.
• Shall be engraved, cast or otherwise permanently embedded to a depth of not less than .003 inches.
• The print size not less than 1/16 inch.
• If the firearm (including frames and receivers) are made from non-metallic materials, they are required to have a metal plate permanently embedded.

Compliance timelines once initiated:

• New residents moving into the Commonwealth have 7 days to comply.
• Firearms acquired by heirs or "devisees" through distribution of an estate have 60 days to comply.
• Retailers, gunsmiths, distributors or manufacturers must comply within 7 days of import or acquisition.

Exemptions for serialization:

• Being delivered to law enforcement for the sole purpose of their destruction.
• Possessed by common carriers and their employees and agents while performing the regular and ordinary transport of firearms.
• Firearms possessed by individuals lawfully traveling through the Commonwealth in the care and custody of a nonresident owner. Must be stored in accordance with sections 131C and 131L.
• That are the property of the government of the United States.
• Produced by federally licensed manufacturers not for sale in the Commonwealth.
• Manufactured prior to October 22, 1968.
• Antique Firearms (Definition below) This exemption is not spelled out in the law. The only way to find it is through the definition of "firearm" which excludes "antique firearms".

Serial Number Requests:

• The state has established the serial number request system: Unified Gun Portal

Definitions & References:

 “Antique firearm”, any firearm or replica thereof manufactured in or prior to the year 1899 if such firearm: (i) is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition; or (ii) uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition that is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade; provided, that “antique firearm” shall include any muzzle loading rifle, shotgun or pistol that is designed to use black powder, or a black powder substitute, and that cannot use fixed ammunition, unless the firearm: (a) incorporates a firearm frame or receiver; (b) is converted into a muzzle loading firearm; or (c) is a muzzle loading firearm that can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof.

“Firearm”, a stun gun, pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, sawed-off shotgun, large capacity firearm, assault-style firearm and machine gun, loaded or unloaded, which is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a shot or bullet; the frame or receiver of any such firearm or the unfinished frame or receiver of any such firearm; provided, however, that “firearm” shall not include any antique firearm or permanently inoperable firearm.


“Serialization”, the process of conspicuously engraving, casting or otherwise permanently embedding a unique serial number on a firearm frame or receiver; provided, that the serial number shall be placed in a manner not susceptible to being readily obliterated, altered or removed and shall be engraved, cast or otherwise permanently embedded to a depth of not less than .003 inches and in a print size not less than 1/16 inch; and provided further, that serialization of firearms, frames and receivers made from non-metallic materials shall be accomplished by using a metal plate permanently embedded in the material of the frame or receiver.

“Unfinished frame or receiver”, a forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body or similar item that: (i) has reached a stage in manufacture when it may readily be completed or assembled to function as a frame or receiver; or (ii) is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed or assembled; provided, however, that “unfinished frame or receiver” shall not include a component designed and intended for use in an antique firearm.

“Untraceable firearm”, a firearm that has not been serialized or a firearm whose serial or other identification number has been removed, defaced, altered, obliterated or mutilated in any manner.