This is perhaps the most frequently asked question, mostly because the definition of an "assault weapon" is arbitrary and confusing. For the purposes of this California Law, assault weapons are divided into three categories. These are: Category 1 - Penal Code section 12276 subdivisions (a), (b), (c) (Roberti Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989); Category 2 - Penal Code section 12276 subdivisions (e) and (f) (Kasler v. Lockyer, AK and AR 15 series assault weapons); and Category 3 - Penal Code section 12276.1 (SB 23 generic characteristic assault weapons)

This Flowchart published by calguns.net may be useful determining a weapon's status: CA AW FLOWCHART