California regulates concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits under Penal Code sections 26150 through 26235. Post-SB 2 (eff. Jan 1, 2024), California is a...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
California regulates concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits under Penal Code sections 26150 through 26235. Post-SB 2 (eff. Jan 1, 2024), California is a SHALL-ISSUE state. Local issuing authorities (county sheriffs and city police chiefs) must issue a CCW license to any applicant who meets the eligibility criteria and is not within any of the ten enumerated disqualifying categories of Penal Code Section 26202. The pre-Bruen "may-issue" / "good cause" discretionary framework was struck down by N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Ass'n v. Bruen (2022) and statutorily replaced by SB 2.
Per Penal Code Section 26202 (the post-SB 2 disqualified-person standard, eff. Jan 1, 2024):
The pre-Bruen "good cause" and "good moral character" discretionary requirements were REPLACED by Section 26202; they are no longer the operative test.
Under Penal Code section 26165, applicants must complete a training course that includes:
SB 2 (2023) enhanced training requirements for CCW permit holders.
SB 2 (Portantino), signed by Governor Newsom on September 26, 2023, made several significant changes:
SB 2 identified certain sensitive public places where carrying firearms is prohibited. Specific locations are outlined in Penal Code section 26230. Additional guidance is available through the California Department of Justice (see DLE Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06 at https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/2025-dle-06.pdf).
Fees vary by county. As an example, Plumas County charges:
Initial CCW Application:
Renewal CCW Application:
Penal Code Section 26205 sets the deadline at 120 days after a complete application is submitted, or 30 days after receipt of the DOJ background check, whichever is later. Real-world processing varies by county and depends on Live Scan availability, the issuing authority's backlog, and (in some counties) the psychological-assessment scheduling under Section 26190(e).
As of April 22, 2025, non-California residents may be eligible to apply for a CCW license under specific conditions resulting from a preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on January 22, 2025 in California Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc., et al. v. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, et al., No. 2:23-cv-10169-SPG.
Non-resident applicants must meet both of the following criteria:
Additional non-resident requirements include:
Applicants must identify each handgun they intend to carry by make, model, caliber, and serial number. Only handguns listed on the license may be validly carried in California. Firearms that cannot lawfully be carried in California (e.g., assault weapons under Penal Code sections 30510, 30515) shall be cause for denial.
For non-resident applicants, Penal Code section 26150(a)(5), section 26155(a)(5), and section 26162 (California roster requirements) do not apply, but the applicant is responsible for ensuring any handgun carried is legal to possess in California in its current configuration.
Historically, California required CCW applicants to demonstrate "good cause" beyond a mere desire to carry a firearm. The "good cause" requirement is no longer in effect. It was struck down by N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Ass'n v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022), and statutorily replaced by SB 2 (2023), eff. Jan 1, 2024. California is now a SHALL-ISSUE state per Penal Code Section 26202. The pre-Bruen Peruta v. County of San Diego (2014) litigation is now of historical interest only.
Disqualification is determined under Penal Code section 26202. All California statutes and provisions of law set forth in Penal Code section 26202(a) apply. For non-resident applicants, comparable statutes from the applicant's state of residence are also considered.
Governor Newsom signed multiple gun safety measures on September 26, 2023, including:
Yes. California Penal Code Section 26815 imposes a 10-day waiting period after the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) check is initiated before delivery. The waiting period applies to every firearm transaction at every California FFL, regardless of whether the buyer holds a CCW, an FSC, or any other state credential. There is no CCW-holder exemption from the 10-day wait.
Yes for most buyers. California Penal Code Sections 31610-31670 require a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) for the purchase of any firearm (handgun or long gun). The FSC is obtained by passing a 30-question written test administered by a DOJ Certified Instructor; the certificate is valid for 5 years. Limited exemptions exist (active LEOs, certain qualifying state-licensed credentials). The current DOJ fee for the FSC test is $25; CCW holders are exempt from the FSC requirement under Penal Code section 31700(a)(9).
No. California is one of the states whose CCW is NOT listed on the ATF Brady Permit Chart, so federal NICS exemption under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(t)(3) does not apply. Independently, California state law requires the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) state background check on every firearm transaction at a California FFL (Penal Code Section 28220). The DROS check and 10-day wait apply to every transaction; CCW holders are not exempt. The current DROS fee is approximately $37.19 (set by DOJ regulation and adjusted periodically).
The current Dealer Record of Sale fee is approximately $37.19 per transaction (set by DOJ regulation; verify the current amount at oag.ca.gov/firearms before relying). The FFL collects this in addition to any FFL transfer fee. Combined with the FSC (one-time $25 every 5 years) and the 10-day waiting period, the typical California handgun purchase has these layered state-level requirements on top of federal NICS.
Lautenberg Amendment - 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9). A misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (MCDV) - any misdemeanor that has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed against a current or former spouse, parent, guardian, person with a child in common, cohabitant, or similarly situated person - triggers a federal lifetime firearm-possession bar that is independent of state law. The federal bar applies even when the state-court conviction did not involve a firearm and even when no firearm-related penalty was imposed at sentencing. The 2024 U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Rahimi reaffirmed that federal firearm disabilities tied to domestic-violence findings remain constitutional under the Second Amendment.
This page covers one part of our California concealed carry guide.
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