California Concealed Carry License (CCW): Fees and Costs

Overview

California is a licensed carry state. A license to carry (commonly called a CCW) is required to carry a handgun concealed (Penal Code 25400) or to carry a loaded firearm in most public places (Penal Code 25850). Licenses are issued by the county sheriff (Penal Code 26150) or by a city police chief (Penal Code 26155).

There is no single statewide price for a CCW. The total cost is the sum of several charges: a state Department of Justice (DOJ) fee, a local licensing-authority fee, fingerprint (Live Scan) costs, and the required training course paid to a private instructor. State law caps each government fee at the actual cost of providing the service, but the dollar amounts are set administratively and vary by county, so the figures below are illustrative. Confirm current amounts with the issuing sheriff or police department before you apply.

The Statutory Fee Framework (Penal Code 26190)

Penal Code 26190 sets out the fees an applicant can be charged. It was amended by AB 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570) effective January 1, 2026. The structure is as follows.

DOJ fee (Penal Code 26190(a))

The applicant pays a fee determined by the Department of Justice at the time of filing. By statute this fee may not exceed the DOJ's direct processing costs for furnishing the background information and report required under Penal Code 26185. The fee may rise only at a rate not exceeding the legislatively approved annual cost-of-living adjustment for the department's budget. The officer who receives the application transmits this fee, with fingerprints, to the DOJ.

Local licensing-authority fee (Penal Code 26190(b)-(c))

The city, city and county, or county must charge an additional fee equal to its reasonable costs for processing the application, issuing the license, and enforcing the license, including any required notices. Fingerprint and training costs are excluded from this local fee. The statute caps it at the licensing authority's reasonable costs.

Collection is split: under Penal Code 26190(b)(2) the first 50 percent of the local fee may be collected when the initial or renewal application is filed, and the balance is collected only upon issuance of the license. If your application is denied, you do not owe the second half of the local fee.

Amended-license fee (Penal Code 26190(d))

If you need to amend an existing license (for example, to add a firearm under Penal Code 26215), the licensing authority may charge a fee not exceeding its reasonable cost to process the amendment.

Psychological assessment cost (Penal Code 26190(e))

If the licensing authority requires a psychological assessment on an initial application, the applicant is referred to an approved licensed psychologist and may be charged the actual cost of the assessment, capped at the licensing authority's reasonable cost. On renewal, an assessment may be required only if there is compelling evidence of a public-safety concern.

When training must be paid

Penal Code 26165(e) provides that an applicant is not required to pay for any training course before the initial determination of whether the applicant is a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202.

Typical Cost Components

The dollar figures above are estimates only. Each sheriff and police chief sets local fees within the "reasonable cost" limit of Penal Code 26190, so totals differ from county to county.

Training Cost Detail (Penal Code 26165)

Training is a required cost, not a government fee. Penal Code 26165 requires:

• A new-applicant course of no less than 16 hours.
• A renewal course of no less than 8 hours.
• Live-fire shooting exercises on a range, with a demonstration of safe handling and shooting proficiency for each firearm the applicant wants listed on the license.

A licensing authority may instead require a certified community college course of up to 24 hours, but only if it requires that of all applicants without exception (Penal Code 26165(c)). Course prices are set by the instructor or school, so this is often the largest single cost after the government fees.

License Term (Penal Code 26220)

A standard license issued under Penal Code 26150 or 26155 is valid for up to two years from the date of issuance. Shorter or longer terms apply in specific cases: a license issued on the basis of place of employment or business is valid for up to 90 days; judges and certain court officers may receive up to three years; and certain custodial and reserve peace officers may receive up to four years. Because the term is capped at two years for most holders, applicants should budget for renewal fees and an 8-hour renewal course on roughly that cycle.

Nonresident Applicants

Since SB 2 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 249, effective January 1, 2024), California sheriffs and police chiefs may issue licenses to non-California residents under Penal Code 26150(b) and 26155(b), subject to added conditions (training, live-fire, identification of each firearm, and an attestation about primary travel location). Separately, California does not recognize CCW permits issued by other states for carrying in California. Out-of-state permit holders are not exempt from the carry offenses in Penal Code 25400 and 25850. See the Reciprocity section for detail.

Related Firearm-Transaction Fees

These are not CCW licensing fees, but they are real costs of acquiring a firearm in California, which a license holder will encounter when buying the handgun to be listed on the license.

• Dealer transfer requirement: Any private-party sale or transfer where neither party is a licensed dealer must be processed through a licensed dealer (Penal Code 27545). Dealers may charge a transfer service fee for private-party transfers.
• DOJ transaction fee: The Department of Justice may require dealers to charge a per-transaction fee, capped by statute at one dollar adjusted for the California Consumer Price Index, to fund DOJ processing and related reporting (Penal Code 28225). The familiar "DROS" charge a buyer pays at the counter is set by DOJ regulation and combines several authorized components, so the posted total is higher than the bare statutory figure. Confirm the current amount with the dealer or DOJ.
• Firearm Safety Account fee: A separate per-transaction fee, also capped at one dollar adjusted for CPI, funds the Firearm Safety Account that supports DOJ databases and public rosters (Penal Code 23690).

Because these amounts are set by regulation and adjusted over time, treat any specific dollar figure as approximate and verify the current schedule before purchase.

A Note on Federal NFA Costs

California prohibits or heavily restricts most National Firearms Act items (machine guns, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and most suppressors), so the federal NFA transfer tax rarely applies to an ordinary California resident. For completeness: under Public Law 119-21, the federal making and transfer tax is $200 for a machine gun or destructive device and $0 for other NFA items, effective for calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025 (the first qualifying quarter is January 1, 2026). General ATF web pages may still display the old $200 figure during the transition. This federal change does not lift California's own restrictions on these items.

How to Get an Exact Quote

California's Attorney General directs applicants to their local issuing authority for fee information:

Contact your county sheriff's office or, if you are a resident of an incorporated city, your city police department, for information on obtaining a CCW license. They can provide a copy of their CCW license policy statement and the application.

Because every sheriff and police chief sets local fees within the limits of Penal Code 26190, the only reliable way to learn your total cost is to request the current fee schedule from the agency that will process your application.

Key Points

• The total CCW cost combines a DOJ fee, a local fee, Live Scan fingerprinting, and a required private training course. No statewide flat price exists.
• All government fees are capped at the actual or reasonable cost of the service (Penal Code 26190, 26185).
• The local fee is collected in two parts: up to half at filing, the balance only when the license is issued (Penal Code 26190(b)).
• New applicants need at least 16 hours of training; renewals need at least 8 hours (Penal Code 26165).
• A standard license lasts up to two years (Penal Code 26220), so budget for renewal on that cycle.
• Specific dollar amounts vary by county and change over time. Confirm current figures with your issuing sheriff or police department before applying.