California Codes

Cal. Penal Code § 626.10 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a)(1)Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal government who is carrying out official duties while in this state, a person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, knife having a blade longer than 212 inches, folding knife with a blade that locks into place, razor with an unguarded blade, taser, or stun gun, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 244.5, any instrument that expels a metallic projectile, such as a BB or a pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or spring action, or any spot marker gun, upon the grounds of, or within, any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, is guilty of a public offense, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.

(2)Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal government who is carrying out official duties while in this state, a person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his or her duties, who brings or possesses a razor blade or a box cutter upon the grounds of, or within, any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, is guilty of a public offense, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year.

(b)Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal government who is carrying out official duties while in this state, a person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, or knife having a fixed blade longer than 212 inches upon the grounds of, or within, any private university, the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges is guilty of a public offense, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.

(c)Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings or possesses a knife having a blade longer than 212 inches, a razor with an unguarded blade, a razor blade, or a box cutter upon the grounds of, or within, a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private university, state university, or community college at the direction of a faculty member of the private university, state university, or community college, or a certificated or classified employee of the school for use in a private university, state university, community college, or school-sponsored activity or class.

(d)Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings or possesses an ice pick, a knife having a blade longer than 212 inches, a razor with an unguarded blade, a razor blade, or a box cutter upon the grounds of, or within, a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private university, state university, or community college for a lawful purpose within the scope of the person’s employment.

(e)Subdivision (b) does not apply to any person who brings or possesses an ice pick or a knife having a fixed blade longer than 212 inches upon the grounds of, or within, any private university, state university, or community college for lawful use in or around a residence or residential facility located upon those grounds or for lawful use in food preparation or consumption.

(f)Subdivision (a) does not apply to any person who brings an instrument that expels a metallic projectile, such as a BB or a pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or spring action, or any spot marker gun, or any razor blade or box cutter upon the grounds of, or within, a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, if the person has the written permission of the school principal or his or her designee.

(g)Any certificated or classified employee or school peace officer of a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, may seize any of the weapons described in subdivision (a), and any certificated or classified employee or school peace officer of any private university, state university, or community college may seize any of the weapons described in subdivision (b), from the possession of any person upon the grounds of, or within, the school if he or she knows, or has reasonable cause to know, the person is prohibited from bringing or possessing the weapon upon the grounds of, or within, the school.

(h)As used in this section, “dirk” or “dagger” means a knife or other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death.

(i)Any person who, without the written permission of the college or university president or chancellor or his or her designee, brings or possesses a less lethal weapon, as defined in Section 16780, or a stun gun, as defined in Section 17230, upon the grounds of, or within, a public or private college or university campus is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 65 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1992–2026 · leading case: People v. Do Kyung K., 2001 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3082 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001).
People v. Do Kyung K., 2001 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 3082 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “” (Pen. Code, § 626.10, subd. (a), italics added.”
United States v. Bauer, 84 F.3d 1549 (9th Cir. 1996). “We have applied the new law in a ease where a school district’s “no knives” policy and Cal.Penal Code § 626.10(a) led the school district to prohibit Sikh children from wearing seven-inch kirpans (small swords) to school, as their faith required.”
TIMOTHY J. v. Superior Court, 58 Cal. Rptr. 3d 746 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007). “(Pen. Code, § 626.10, subd. (a).) On March 28, 2006, Timothy’s counsel requested that the juvenile court declare a doubt as to the minor’s competency to stand trial.”
People v. Stephon L., 181 Cal. App. 4th 1227 (Cal. Ct. App. 2010). “Code, § 211), possessed a weapon on school grounds (Pen. Code, § 626.10, subd. (a)), and committed second degree commercial burglary (Pen.”
People v. G.F. (In re G.F.), 218 Cal. Rptr. 3d 271 (Cal. Ct. App. 5th 2017). “(Pen. Code, § 626.10, subd. (a) ; Welf. & Inst.”
People v. T.F. (In re T.F.), 223 Cal. Rptr. 3d 830 (Cal. Ct. App. 5th 2017). “2 ( Pen. Code, § 626.10, subd. (a).) In May 2014, the petition was amended adding one felony count of committing a lewd and lascivious act upon child under 14 years of age.”
People v. D.T., 237 Cal. App. 4th 693 (Cal. Ct. App. 2015). “Appellant’s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied September 23, 2015, S227973.”
People v. Cody S., 2004 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 6899 (Cal. Ct. App. 2004). “Code, § 11359) and possessed a knife on school grounds (Pen. Code, § 626.10, subd. (a)). The minor moved to suppress evidence as the product of an illegal search and seizure.”
Cheema v. Thompson, 67 F.3d 883 (9th Cir. 1995). “" Cal.Penal Code § 626.10(a) makes it illegal to carry various weapons and knives, including knives with blades longer than 214 inches, upon public school campuses.”
People v. Arturo H., 96 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 1424 (Cal. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 2× “Penal Code section 626.10, subdivision (a) prohibits the possession of various weapons on school grounds, including “any instrument that expels a metallic projectile such as a BB or a pellet, through the force of air pressure, C02 pressure, or spring action, or any spot marker…”
People v. Lisa G., 23 Cal. Rptr. 3d 163 (Cal. Ct. App. 2005). “, a minor, with one count of possession of a knife on school grounds (Pen. Code, § 626.10, subd. (a)) (count one) and one count of carrying a knife on her person (Pen.”
People v. Ernest R., 98 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 5346 (Cal. Ct. App. 1998). “Code, § 484), possession of a knife on school grounds (Pen. Code, § 626.10), making terrorist threats (Pen.”
— Cal. Penal Code § 626.10(a) — 3 cases
United States v. Bauer, 84 F.3d 1549 (9th Cir. 1996). “We have applied the new law in a ease where a school district’s “no knives” policy and Cal.Penal Code § 626.10(a) led the school district to prohibit Sikh children from wearing seven-inch kirpans (small swords) to school, as their faith required.”
Cheema v. Thompson, 67 F.3d 883 (9th Cir. 1995). “" Cal.Penal Code § 626.10(a) makes it illegal to carry various weapons and knives, including knives with blades longer than 214 inches, upon public school campuses.”
United States v. Bauer, 75 F.3d 1366 (9th Cir. 1996).
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