California has several unique firearm rules that don't fit cleanly into other sections of this guide. None of them are CCW rules in the strict sense,...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
California has several unique firearm rules that don't fit cleanly into other sections of this guide. None of them are CCW rules in the strict sense, but every one of them affects what a CCW holder can buy, sell, transfer, or possess in the state. If you are training students in California, expect questions on every topic below.
This section covers the rules that govern firearm and ammunition purchases, dealer licensing, the handgun roster, lost or stolen reporting, and minor possession. Restrictions on assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, and NFA items are summarized in this guide's NFA Items and Weapon Restrictions section. Storage requirements at home are covered in the Storage section. Open-carry restrictions are covered separately in the Open Carry section.
California imposes a mandatory 10-day waiting period before a firearm dealer can deliver a firearm to a purchaser. This applies to every retail sale, every Private Party Transfer, and every reclaimed pawn. The waiting period exists so the California Department of Justice can run a firearm-eligibility background check against state and federal prohibited-person databases.
The 10 days run from the date the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) is submitted to the DOJ. There is no walk-out-with-it exception for permit holders, prior gun owners, or any retail buyer. (Cal. Penal Code Section 26815.)
A handful of narrow exemptions exist, primarily for peace officers, returning a pawned firearm to its owner where DROS still applies, and certain replacement-firearm scenarios. Outside those, plan for the full 10-day delay.
If a CCW student asks "I just bought a new pistol, can I carry it home today?", the answer is no. They take delivery in 10 days, and only then.
Only a licensed California firearm dealer holding a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is authorized to engage in retail firearm sales. (Cal. Penal Code Section 26700.) That license requires:
A federal FFL alone is not enough to sell firearms in California. A federally licensed dealer who is not on the DOJ Centralized List is prohibited from conducting retail firearm sales in the state.
Each employee who handles, sells, or delivers firearms or ammunition must obtain their own COE from the DOJ, renewed annually.
The same chapter governs ammunition vendors. Effective January 1, 2018, anyone selling more than 500 rounds of ammunition in any 30-day period needs an Ammunition Vendor License. Firearm dealers licensed under Cal. Penal Code Sections 26700 through 26915 are automatically deemed ammunition vendors. (Cal. Penal Code Section 30342.)
It is illegal in California for a non-dealer to transfer a firearm directly to another non-dealer. All private firearm transfers must go through a licensed California firearm dealer under what California calls a Private Party Transfer (PPT). (Cal. Penal Code Section 27545.)
The PPT procedure:
The dealer may charge up to $10 per firearm for conducting the PPT, plus the applicable state DROS fees. (Cal. Penal Code Section 28050.)
Selling or transferring a firearm without going through a dealer is punishable as a misdemeanor or felony. (Cal. Penal Code Section 27590.)
The "infrequent" transfer of firearms between immediate family members is exempt from the PPT requirement. For this purpose, "immediate family member" means parent and child, or grandparent and grandchild. Brothers and sisters are not included. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws are not included. (Cal. Penal Code Section 16720.)
Even with the family exemption:
If a CCW student asks whether they can give their adult son a handgun without going through a dealer, the answer is yes once, infrequently, with FSC, and with the 30-day DOJ report. If they ask the same question about a brother, the answer is no without a PPT.
A retail firearm purchase requires several things at the counter on top of the 10-day wait. The exact bundle varies by transaction type. The full matrix is in the table below.
To purchase a handgun in California, you must present documentation that you are a California resident. The address must match the address on the DROS or on the purchaser's California driver license or ID. Acceptable documentation:
(Cal. Penal Code Section 26845.)
To purchase or acquire a firearm, you must hold a valid Firearm Safety Certificate. The FSC is issued after you score at least 75% on an objective written test on California firearm laws and safety. The test is administered by DOJ Certified Instructors, often at firearm dealers. The certificate is valid for five years. The fee is up to $25. A replacement FSC costs $5. (Cal. Penal Code Sections 31610 to 31670.)
The FSC is required for retail sales, Private Party Transfers, and intrafamilial transfers. Pawn returns are exempt.
Before taking delivery of any firearm, the purchaser must perform a safe handling demonstration with that specific firearm in front of a DOJ Certified Instructor. The demonstration takes place between the time the DROS is submitted and the time the firearm is delivered. (Cal. Penal Code Section 26850.) Pawn returns and intrafamilial transfers are exempt from this requirement.
Every firearm purchased in California must be accompanied by a DOJ-certified firearm safety device (typically a trigger lock, cable lock, or lockbox), or the purchaser must sign an affidavit declaring ownership of a DOJ-approved gun safe and present a receipt or other proof of purchase. (Cal. Penal Code Sections 23635 to 23690.) Pawn returns and intrafamilial transfers are exempt.
A licensed California dealer may not sell a handgun to the public unless that exact make and model appears on the DOJ's Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale in California. (Cal. Penal Code Section 32000 et seq.) To get on the roster, a handgun model must pass firing and drop safety tests at a certified laboratory and meet the requirements in Cal. Penal Code Section 31910.
The roster does not apply to:
This is why a Glock 17 Gen 5 may be available used through a PPT but not on the dealer floor as new retail. The roster is updated periodically. The current list lives at oag.ca.gov/firearms/certified-handguns/search.
You cannot apply to purchase more than one handgun, or more than one semiautomatic centerfire rifle, in any 30-day period. The limit covers retail purchases. Pawn returns, intrafamilial transfers, and Private Party Transfers are exempt. (Cal. Penal Code Sections 27535 and 27540.)
| Requirement | Retail Sale | Private Party Transfer | Intrafamilial Transfer | Pawn Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proof of residency (handgun) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Firearm Safety Certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Safe handling demonstration | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Firearm safety device | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Handgun roster | Yes | No | No | No |
| One-handgun-per-30-days | Yes | No | No | No |
| 10-day waiting period | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| DROS / background check | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
The purchase rules are stricter than many CCW students expect.
A CCW license requires age 21 separately under the licensing chapter (see the Permit Basics section).
It is unlawful for a minor to possess a handgun unless one of these conditions is met (Cal. Penal Code Sections 29610 and 29615):
A minor may not possess live ammunition unless (Cal. Penal Code Sections 29650 and 29655):
These rules cover the typical "junior hunter" and "junior shooter" scenarios. They do not authorize a minor to walk around with a loaded long gun in public.
California is one of the few states that requires a point-of-sale eligibility check for every ammunition purchase. (Cal. Penal Code Sections 30352 and 30370.)
Before a licensed ammunition vendor can complete a sale, the buyer's eligibility must be verified electronically through the DOJ. There are four ways the DOJ confirms eligibility:
Ammunition vendors must be licensed by the DOJ. Each vendor employee handling ammunition must hold a current COE. (Cal. Penal Code Section 30342.)
A CCW holder is not exempt from the ammunition eligibility check. The CCW license itself does not satisfy the DOJ verification requirement at point of sale. Plan for the check, and bring valid California ID.
California requires every firearm owner to report the loss or theft of a firearm to local law enforcement within five days of when the owner knew or reasonably should have known the firearm was lost or stolen. (Cal. Penal Code Section 25250.) This requirement was enacted as part of Proposition 63 (the Safety for All Act of 2016).
The report goes to the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the loss or theft occurred, not to the DOJ directly.
Two reasons this matters for a CCW student:
Tell your students: if a firearm goes missing, file the report. Same week. Get a copy of the police report.
When a California FFL ships a firearm to or receives a firearm from another California FFL, the sending FFL must obtain a California Firearms Licensee Check (CFLC) verification number from the DOJ before delivery. (Cal. Penal Code Section 27555.) This is on the dealer side, not the consumer side, but it explains why out-of-state internet-purchased firearms still require an FFL transfer through a California dealer (and the 10-day wait, FSC, safe-handling demonstration, and roster check that go with it).
If you move to California and bring firearms with you, you must either report your firearms to the DOJ or sell or transfer them in compliance with California law within 60 days of bringing them into the state. (Cal. Penal Code Section 27560.)
The form is the New Resident Report of Firearm Ownership (BOF 4010A). The fee is $19 per submission and the form may be filed online at cfars.doj.ca.gov.
The new-resident report does not legalize a firearm that is not California-legal. An out-of-state assault weapon, a high-capacity magazine, or a roster-banned handgun does not become legal in California by submitting BOF 4010A. New residents with firearms that are not California-legal must dispose of those items in accordance with California law before the 60-day deadline. (See the NFA Items and Weapon Restrictions section for the assault-weapon and large-capacity-magazine framework, and Cal. Penal Code Sections 30510 to 30680.)
Anyone may obtain a determination from the DOJ as to whether they are eligible to possess firearms under California law. The form is the Personal Firearms Eligibility Check (BOF 116). The fee is $20. (Cal. Penal Code Section 30105.)
The check reviews California records only. It does not address federal disqualifications under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g). Students who are uncertain about their eligibility (prior arrest, unclear disposition on a domestic-violence misdemeanor, mental-health hold history) should run the BOF 116 well before submitting a CCW application or attempting to purchase a firearm.
It is illegal for any person to obliterate or alter the identification marks on a firearm, including the make, model, serial number, or any distinguishing mark assigned by the DOJ. (Cal. Penal Code Section 23900.) It is also illegal to buy, sell, or possess a firearm knowing its identification has been obliterated or altered. (Cal. Penal Code Section 23920.)
This applies even to private collectors and to firearms acquired before California enacted the rule. If a serial number is obscured by wear, document the original number with photographs and a dealer affidavit before refinishing.
| Statute | Subject |
|---|---|
| Cal. Penal Code Section 16720 | Definition of "immediate family member" for intrafamilial transfer exemption |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 23635 to 23690 | Firearm safety device requirement at sale |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 23900 | Obliteration or alteration of firearm identification |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 23920 | Possession of a firearm with obliterated identification |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 25250 | Reporting lost or stolen firearms (5-day requirement) |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 26700 | Firearm dealer licensing requirements |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 26815 | 10-day waiting period |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 26845 | Proof of residency for handgun purchase |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 26850 | Safe handling demonstration |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 26915 | Employee Certificate of Eligibility |
| Cal. Penal Code Sections 27505 and 27510 | Age restrictions on sale, loan, or transfer of firearms |
| Cal. Penal Code Sections 27535 and 27540 | One-handgun-per-30-days and one-rifle-per-30-days limits |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 27545 | Private Party Transfer requirement |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 27555 | California Firearms Licensee Check (CFLC) |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 27560 | New California resident firearm report |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 27590 | Penalties for unlawful firearm transfer |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 28050 | $10 PPT fee cap |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 28220 | DROS firearm eligibility check |
| Cal. Penal Code Sections 29610 and 29615 | Minor possession of a handgun |
| Cal. Penal Code Sections 29650 and 29655 | Minor possession of live ammunition |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 30105 | Personal Firearms Eligibility Check (BOF 116) |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 30342 | Ammunition vendor license requirement |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 30352 | Ammunition transfer recordkeeping |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 30370 | Ammunition purchase eligibility check |
| Cal. Penal Code Sections 31610 to 31670 | Firearm Safety Certificate program |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 31910 | Handgun safety and certification testing |
| Cal. Penal Code Section 32000 | Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale |
This page covers one part of our California concealed carry guide.
Read the complete California guideBrowse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.