Free British Columbia Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale
A private firearm sale in British Columbia runs on a federal verification step that many sellers still miss: since May 18, 2022, transferring a non-restricted firearm requires the seller to contact the RCMP Registrar, confirm the buyer's licence is valid and eligible, and obtain a REFERENCE NUMBER before handing the firearm over. BC keeps no provincial firearms registry, but the province's Chief Firearms Officer administers licence conditions and issues Authorizations to Transport for restricted firearms — relevant in a province where the range, the backcountry, and the drive between them are all part of ownership.
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British Columbia Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
GST/HST may apply on firearms sales if the seller is a GST registrant. Private individual-to-individual sales are typically exempt from sales tax.
Exemption: Vehicles gifted between certain family members may qualify for a PST exemption. The federal Luxury Tax (10% on the amount exceeding $100,000 for passenger vehicles) applies separately from BC PST.
Inspection Requirements
No safety inspection is required for private firearm sales, but both parties must comply with the Firearms Act (Canada).
British Columbia Gun / Firearm Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Confirm the buyer's PAL or RPAL is valid for the class of firearm being sold.
- Contact the RCMP Registrar (web services portal or call centre) to verify the licence and obtain the reference number — mandatory for non-restricted transfers since May 18, 2022.
- Write both licence numbers, the reference number, the price and date onto the bill of sale.
- Identify the firearm precisely: make, model, action type, calibre or gauge, barrel length, serial number.
- Restricted firearm? RCMP registration to the new owner is required, and BC's Chief Firearms Officer issues the Authorization to Transport that governs moving it.
- Document condition and any modifications in writing — BC firearms see coastal damp and backcountry use, and both leave marks.
- Both parties sign and keep copies of everything.
Common Pitfalls
- Relying on a photo of the buyer's licence: verification with the Registrar and the reference number are what the law requires, not a visual check.
- Assuming a restricted firearm transfers like a non-restricted one: it must be registered to the new owner, and transport is governed by the ATT from the provincial CFO.
- Forgetting to record the reference number on the bill of sale — it is the proof the verification happened.
- Skipping the condition disclosure on a coastal or backcountry gun: corrosion and hard use are real and belong in writing.
Pro Tip
In BC the sequence is federal and simple: verify the licence, get the reference number, then write the bill of sale around it — with the serial number and the reference number both on the page.