Buying, selling and storing black powder

Black powder, also known as gunpowder, is a type of propellant powder. It is an intimate mixture of potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal. It is extremely flammable and is very sensitive to outside stimulus such as sparks. Under specific conditions, black powder can detonate. (Black powders are classified under the Explosives Regulations as Type P.1.)

A black powder cartouche (or black powder cartridge) is a type of gunpowder cartridge.

The following guidance is for anyone involved with black powder. For situations not covered here, including exemptions and conditions, consult the Explosives Regulations. For general information about firearms in Canada, see Firearms (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and Firearms (Public Safety Canada).

Buying black powder

You are permitted to buy black powder (gunpowder) if you are 18 or older unless otherwise exempted by the Explosives Regulations. For more than 75 kilograms of black powder in a storage unit, or more than 10 kilograms in a detached dwelling (such as a house, apartment or cottage), or both, you must have an explosives licence.

Storing black powder

Storage requirements for users

Black powder (gunpowder) must be stored in its original packaging, in ammunition (small arms cartridges) or in black powder cartouches.

If you do not have an explosives licence, black powder must be stored in a dwelling (such as a house, apartment or cottage) or a storage unit.

If you have an explosives licence, black powder must be stored in the magazine specified in your licence. Propellant powder (black powder or smokeless powder) and primers (percussion caps) must be stored in separate magazines.

Dwelling

The amount of black powder you are permitted to store in a detached dwelling (such as a house, apartment or cottage) or a storage unit attached to a detached dwelling depends on whether you are also storing smokeless powder. You are permitted to store up to 10 kilograms of black powder as long as the combined amount of propellant powder (black powder and smokeless powder) is no more than 25 kilograms.

You are permitted to store up to 1 kilogram of black powder in containers in an attached dwelling.

You are permitted to store up to 3 kilograms of black powder contained in ammunition or cartouches (less any quantity in containers) in an attached dwelling.

You are permitted to store up to 10 kilograms of black powder in a detached dwelling or a storage unit that is attached to a detached dwelling.

You must store black powder or black power cartouches away from flammable substances and sources of ignition. You must ensure that they can be accessed only by people you have authorized.

Storage unit

You are permitted to store up to 75 kilograms of black powder in a storage unit that is not attached to a dwelling.

• The storage unit must be in a dry place, away from flammable substances and sources of ignition.
• The storage unit must prevent unauthorized access and protect the contents from weather.
• If the storage unit is a container, it must not block exit in case of fire.
• If the storage unit is not a container, all exits must be kept clear.
• Any shelving in the storage unit must be made from a non-sparking material (for example, wood or painted metal).
• Only ammunition (small arms cartridges), smokeless powder, primers (percussion caps) and/or black powder cartouches are permitted to be stored with the black powder.
• Black powder and smokeless powder, primers, ammunition and black powder cartouches must be stored separately (for example, on different shelves or separated by a wooden barrier).
• The storage unit must be monitored when it is unlocked.
• The storage unit must be kept clean, dry, organized and free of grit.
• Any spill, leakage or other contamination must be cleaned up immediately.
• You must take steps to minimize the risk of fire in or near the storage unit.
• You must post a sign that displays the words “Danger — Fire Hazard/Risque d’incendie” in letters at least 10 centimetres high on the storage unit in a clearly visible location. The sign must also prohibit smoking using letters or a symbol at least 10 centimetres high.

Storage requirements for sellers

As a retailer, you are permitted to buy, sell and store black powder (gunpowder) without an explosives licence.

If you do not hold a licence, the black powder that is not displayed for sale must be stored in a storage unit in a sales establishment or a dwelling.

If you hold an explosives licence, you are permitted to buy and store more than 75 kilograms of black powder you intend to sell. If you hold an explosives licence, the black powder that is not displayed for sale must be stored in the magazine specified in your licence.

Propellant powder (black powder and smokeless powder) and primers (percussion caps) must be stored separately from each other.

Dwelling

The following information applies to retailers and distributors who store black powder in a dwelling.

You are permitted to store up to 1 kilogram of black powder in containers in an attached dwelling.

You are permitted to store up to 3 kilograms of black powder contained in ammunition or cartouches (less any quantity in containers) in an attached dwelling.

You are permitted to store up to 10 kilograms of black powder (including powder in containers, ammunition or cartouches) in a detached dwelling or a storage unit attached to a detached dwelling.

When stored in a dwelling, black powder must be stored away from flammable substances and sources of ignition. You must ensure that it can be accessed only by people you have authorized.

Storage unit

If you do not hold an explosives licence, you are permitted to store up to 75 kilograms of propellant powder, whether black powder or smokeless powder (including black powder in containers, ammunition or cartouches), in a storage unit. This is a total amount for all of your storage units combined.

• The storage unit must be in a dry place, away from flammable substances and sources of ignition.
• The storage unit must prevent unauthorized access and protect the contents from weather.
• If the storage unit is a container, it must not block exit in case of fire.
• If the storage unit is not a container, all exits must be kept clear.
• Any shelving in the storage unit must be made from a non-sparking material (for example, wood or painted metal).
• Only ammunition (small arms cartridges), smokeless powder, primers (percussion caps) and/or black powder cartouches are permitted to be stored with the black powder.
• Gunpowder and smokeless powder, primers, ammunition and black powder cartouches must be stored separately (for example, on different shelves or separated by a wooden barrier).
• The storage unit must be monitored when it is unlocked.
• The storage unit must be kept clean, dry, organized and free of grit.
• Any spill, leakage or other contamination must be cleaned up immediately.
• You must take steps to minimize the risk of fire in or near the storage unit must be taken.

• You must post a sign that displays the words “Danger — Fire Hazard/Risque d’incendie” in letters at least 10 centimetres high on the storage unit in a clearly visible location. The sign must also prohibit smoking using letters or a symbol at least 10 centimetres high.

Selling black powder

As a retailer, you are permitted to buy, sell and store black powder (gunpowder) without an explosives licence.

As a distributor, you must have an explosives licence to sell black powder to other distributors or retailers.

If you do not hold an explosives licence, you must send written notice to the Chief Inspector of Explosives before you are permitted to sell propellant powder (black powder or smokeless powder). This notice must include your name, address, telephone number and email address, as well as the date on which you will begin to sell propellant powder.

Displaying for sale

The amount of black powder you are permitted to display for sale depends on the amount of smokeless powder that is also being displayed. You are permitted to display up to 500 grams of black powder (including in containers, ammunition or cartouches), as long as the combined amount of propellant powder (black powder and smokeless powder) is no more than 12 kilograms (including in containers, ammunition or cartouches).

The black powder that is displayed for sale must be in containers that hold up to 500 grams.

The black powder displayed for sale must be kept behind a sales counter or locked up (for example, in a cabinet).

Only people you have authorized can have access to the area behind the sales counter.

Maximum quantities

If the buyer holds an explosives licence, you are permitted to sell them the maximum quantity of black powder (gunpowder) listed on their licence.

If the buyer does not hold an explosives licence, you are permitted to sell them the maximum quantity they are authorized to store under the Explosives Regulations.

Identification

You must verify the buyer’s identity before you are permitted to sell them black powder. The buyer must prove their identity by providing you with:

• a piece of photo identification, issued by the government of Canada or a provincial, municipal or foreign government; or
• two pieces of identification, both with the buyer’s name. At least one must have been issued by the Government of Canada or a provincial, municipal or foreign government and at least one must have the buyer’s address.

If the buyer provides photo identification, you must verify that it has a photograph of the buyer.

Record of sale

You must keep a record of every sale of black powder. The record must be kept for 2 years after the sale. The record must include:

• the buyer’s name and address or licence number, if any, issued under the Firearms Act
• in the case of a licensed buyer, the licence number and expiry date
• the type and product name of the powder sold, the size of the container and the name of the person who obtained its authorization
• the quantity of powder sold under each product name
• the date of the sale

More information

Consult the following guidelines on safely storing propellant powders, including black powder (gunpowder), in a licensed magazine:

• G06-01: Non-industrial storage guidelines, 2015 (PDF, 311 kB)
• G06-05: Guideline for determining the storage compatibility of explosives (Type P.1) (PDF, 196 kB)

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