Gun Cabinet Requirements UK — A Complete Legal Guide
28th Apr 2026
Gun Cabinet Requirements UK — A Complete Legal Guide
If you hold or are applying for a firearms or shotgun certificate in the UK, secure storage is not optional — it is a legal requirement. Police firearms licensing officers will inspect your storage arrangements as part of the application process, and inadequate storage is one of the most common reasons applications are delayed or refused.
This guide sets out exactly what you need to know about gun cabinet requirements in the UK, based on current Home Office guidance.
Please note: This guide is intended as general information only. Firearms law is complex and varies by circumstance. Always confirm your specific storage requirements with your local police firearms licensing department before purchasing a cabinet.
Is There a Legal Requirement to Have a Gun Cabinet?
Yes — in practical terms. While the Firearms Acts do not specify an exact cabinet standard by name, all firearms and shotgun certificate holders are legally required to keep their weapons secured against unauthorised access. The police will assess your storage arrangements when you apply for or renew a certificate, and will not grant or renew a certificate if they consider your storage to be inadequate.
The Firearms Act 2023, which came into force on 1 May 2025, and updated Home Office statutory guidance issued in August 2025 reinforced the requirement for satisfactory security arrangements as a condition of holding a certificate.
The British Standard: BS 7558
The benchmark standard for gun cabinets in the UK is BS 7558:1992, which specifies requirements for the construction and security of cabinets intended for the storage of firearms and ammunition. While there is no strict legal obligation to use a cabinet that meets BS 7558 specifically, police forces across the UK widely use it as their reference point when assessing whether storage is adequate. A cabinet certified to BS 7558 is generally accepted by police as suitable for firearms storage.
To meet BS 7558, a cabinet must withstand a five-minute attack using common hand tools including a club hammer, cold chisel and jemmy. In addition, the recommended construction features include:
- Steel body manufactured from sheet steel at least 2mm thick
- All lock mechanisms on the inside of the cabinet
- Locks containing at least five levers to BS 3621 standard (or equivalent)
- All hinges on the inside of the cabinet — or if external, protected with anti-lever bars or hinge bolts
- Pre-drilled fixing holes for securing to a wall or floor
Does the Cabinet Need to Be Fixed to the Wall or Floor?
Yes — this is one of the most important requirements and one that is frequently overlooked. A freestanding cabinet, however heavy, can be removed from a property by determined thieves. Police expect gun cabinets to be securely fixed to a solid wall or floor using appropriate fixings.
The fixing surface matters. A cabinet bolted to a solid brick or concrete wall provides significantly more resistance than one fixed to a stud partition wall. If your preferred installation location has a stud wall, discuss this with your firearms licensing officer — additional measures may be required.
Where Should You Install a Gun Cabinet?
Location is assessed as carefully as the cabinet itself. Key requirements and recommendations include:
- Out of sight — the cabinet should not be visible from windows, doors or to casual visitors. A bedroom, utility room, or inside a built-in wardrobe is preferable to a hallway or living room
- Away from external walls where possible — internal walls are generally more secure and offer better protection against damp
- Not in a garage — garages are generally considered higher-risk locations and police may require additional security measures if this is your only option
- Ammunition stored separately — ammunition should ideally be stored in a separate locked container, away from the firearms themselves. Many gun cabinets include a separate internal lockable ammunition compartment for this purpose
Firearms vs Shotguns — Is There a Difference?
The storage requirements for firearms (held on a Firearm Certificate, FAC) and shotguns (held on a Shotgun Certificate, SGC) are broadly similar in terms of cabinet specification, but the licensing process differs.
For shotgun certificates, police may withhold a certificate if they consider security arrangements unsatisfactory — but applicants are not required to justify why they want to own a shotgun. Under the updated Home Office guidance issued in August 2025, shotgun certificate applicants now require two referees (previously one).
For firearm certificates, applicants must demonstrate a specific reason for each firearm, and security requirements are assessed more rigorously. For larger collections or higher-risk locations, police may require additional security measures beyond a standard cabinet.
How Many Guns Can a Cabinet Hold?
There is no fixed legal limit on how many firearms can be stored in a single cabinet, provided the cabinet can physically accommodate them and is adequately secured. However, police may require a higher-specification cabinet or additional security measures for larger collections.
As a general rule, it is better to buy a cabinet larger than you currently need — adding a second cabinet later can complicate your licensing arrangements and require a further home visit.
What About Air Weapons?
Following the Firearms (Air Weapons) (England and Wales) Rules 2023, certificate holders are now required to store air weapons in a manner that prevents, so far as is reasonably practicable, access by anyone under 18. A locked cabinet meeting the standard requirements is the most straightforward way to comply.
What Happens at a Police Inspection?
When you apply for a certificate, a Firearms Enquiry Officer (FEO) will visit your home to inspect your storage arrangements. They will typically check:
- That the cabinet is of adequate construction and meets BS 7558 or equivalent
- That it is properly fixed to a solid surface
- That the location is appropriate and discreet
- That ammunition is stored separately
- That no unauthorised person has access to the keys
If your storage is considered inadequate, you will be asked to improve it before the certificate is granted. Getting your cabinet installed correctly before the inspection avoids delays.
Browse Our Gun Cabinets
Ace Safes stocks a range of gun cabinets and rifle cabinets suitable for UK firearms licensing requirements, from compact single-gun units to large multi-gun cabinets with separate ammunition storage. All models can be professionally delivered and installed anywhere in the UK.
Browse our gun cabinet range or call our team on 0800 373943 (Mon–Fri, 08:30–17:00) for advice on the right cabinet for your licence requirements.