California CCW License Basics

What California Calls It

California's concealed-carry permit is the License to Carry a Concealed Weapon, usually written as the CCW license. The licensing framework is in the California Penal Code, Chapter 4 of Division 5 of Title 4 of Part 6, beginning at Penal Code 26150. It changed substantially after the U.S. Supreme Court decided New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen in June 2022 and after the Legislature passed Senate Bill 2 in 2023.

There is no constitutional or permitless carry in California. A license is required to carry a concealed firearm (Penal Code 25400) or to carry a loaded firearm in public (Penal Code 25850). Carrying without a license is a crime under those sections.

Issuing Authority

California CCW licenses are issued by county sheriffs and city police chiefs. The Department of Justice (DOJ) does not issue CCW licenses; it runs the background check, prescribes the standard forms, and certifies the instructors.

• County sheriffs issue licenses under Penal Code 26150. Subdivision (a) covers a California resident of the county, or a California resident whose principal place of employment or business is in the county. Subdivision (b) covers a non-California resident who applies to that county.
• City police chiefs issue licenses under Penal Code 26155. Subdivision (a) covers a California resident of that city or city and county. Subdivision (b) covers a non-California resident.
• A sheriff and a city police chief may agree in writing to have one of them process applications for the other (Penal Code 26150(d) and 26155(d)).
• The DOJ prescribes the uniform statewide application form (currently BOF 4012), develops the uniform license design, and certifies the instructors who may teach the required course (Penal Code 26175 and 26165(a)(4)).

Each licensing authority must publish and make available a written policy summarizing Penal Code 26150 and subdivisions (a) and (b) of Penal Code 26155 (Penal Code 26160).

A California CCW is valid throughout the state (Penal Code 26220). California does not recognize any other state's permit.

Post-Bruen and SB 2 (2023)

Until 2024, California operated a may-issue system that required applicants to show good cause and good moral character. After Bruen held that New York's analogous proper-cause requirement violated the Second Amendment, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued Legal Alert OAG-2022-02 advising licensing authorities to stop applying the good-cause requirement.

The Legislature then passed Senate Bill 2 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 249), effective January 1, 2024. SB 2 rebuilt the CCW framework. It:

• Replaced good cause and good moral character with an objective disqualified-person standard at Penal Code 26202.
• Set a hard minimum age of 21.
• Required the applicant to be the recorded owner, with the DOJ, of every handgun listed on the license.
• Changed the training minimum to no less than 16 hours, with mandatory live-fire qualification (Penal Code 26165).
• Codified a long list of sensitive places where a licensee may not carry, at Penal Code 26230.
• Added carry conditions, including no consuming or being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance while carrying, and a two-firearm limit (Penal Code 26200).

Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026, restructured and amended Penal Code 26150, 26155, 26185, 26190, 26195, 26202, and 26205. It reorganized Penal Code 26150 and 26155 into three parts: subdivision (a) is the California resident application, subdivision (b) is a new application pathway for non-California residents, and subdivision (c) sets the two license format options (concealed carry, or loaded-and-exposed carry in a county with a population under 200,000). California now has a general non-resident CCW pathway. AB 1078 also added an express licensee reporting duty and a DOJ notification deadline at Penal Code 26195, and addressed renewal timing. The renewal-fingerprint rule keyed to September 1, 2026 comes from Penal Code 26185(b)(2) as enacted by SB 2.

Important litigation note: parts of Penal Code 26230 (the sensitive-places list) were challenged in federal court in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta. A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction on December 20, 2023 that blocked enforcement of many categories. Effective January 23, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed that injunction in large part. The court did not stay the injunction; it reversed it. As a result, 20 of the 26 sensitive-place categories are now enforceable, and six categories remain enjoined and are not being enforced pending further appeal: hospitals and medical facilities (Penal Code 26230(a)(7)), public transit (a)(8), permitted public gatherings and special events (a)(10), places of worship (a)(22), financial institutions (a)(23), and privately owned commercial establishments open to the public, which is the default no-carry-without-a-posted-sign rule (a)(26). See the Prohibited Places section.

Who May Be Issued a CCW

California Resident Applicants (subdivision (a))

Under subdivision (a) of Penal Code 26150 (sheriffs) and Penal Code 26155 (city police chiefs), the licensing authority shall issue or renew a license to a California resident who proves all of the following:

• Not a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202.
• At least 21 years old, with clear evidence of identity and age as defined in Penal Code 16400.
• A resident of the issuing county or city, or, for a sheriff license, the applicant's principal place of employment or business is in that county and the applicant spends a substantial period of time there.
• Completed a course of training as described in Penal Code 26165.
• The recorded owner, with the DOJ, of every pistol, revolver, or other concealable firearm for which the license will be issued.

The employment or business basis is an in-state option for a California resident whose work is in a county other than the one where they live. A license issued on that employment or business basis is valid for no more than 90 days and only in the county that issued it (Penal Code 26220(b)). This is not the non-resident pathway.

Non-California Resident Applicants (subdivision (b))

Assembly Bill 1078 added a general application pathway for people who do not live in California. Under subdivision (b) of Penal Code 26150 and Penal Code 26155, the licensing authority shall issue or renew a license to a non-California resident who proves all of the following:

• Not a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202 and under all comparable statutes and provisions of law of the applicant's home state.
• At least 21 years old, with clear evidence of identity, age, and state of residence shown by a valid driver's license from the home state or a valid out-of-state DMV identification card.
• Attests, under oath, that the jurisdiction where the application is filed is the primary California location where the applicant intends to travel or spend time.
• Completed training meeting paragraphs (1) through (5) of Penal Code 26165(a) and Penal Code 26165(d). If the licensing authority has not approved an online course, the applicant may use one approved by any other licensing authority that issues these licenses.
• Completed live-fire shooting exercises under Penal Code 26165(a)(6) for each firearm to be listed. The applicant tells the authority which live-fire course they intend to complete, and the authority either approves it or suggests an acceptable alternative within 75 miles of the applicant's residence.
• Identified the make, model, caliber, and serial number of each firearm to be listed. A firearm that cannot lawfully be carried or possessed in California is cause for denial as to that firearm.

A non-resident license is issued under Penal Code 26150 or 26155 and is valid for up to two years (Penal Code 26220(a)). For a disqualified-person determination, Penal Code 26206 directs a non-resident applicant's court hearing to the county where the application was submitted.

Separate from CCW eligibility, a person who is prohibited from possessing firearms under state law (Penal Code 29800 and related sections) or federal law (18 U.S.C. 922(g)) cannot lawfully apply for or hold a CCW. The DOJ background check screens for these prohibitions, and a license cannot issue unless the DOJ reports the applicant is eligible (Penal Code 26185).

Disqualified Person Under Penal Code 26202

Penal Code 26202 sets out the disqualifying categories. Unless a court determines otherwise under Penal Code 26206, an applicant is a disqualified person and cannot receive or renew a license if any of the following apply:

1. Reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others, or the community at large, as shown by the application, the investigation, or any psychological assessment.
2. Convicted of contempt of court under Penal Code 166.
3. Subject to a listed restraining, protective, or other court order (Family Code orders under Penal Code 26202(a)(3)(A) and (B), Penal Code 136.2 or 18100, Code of Civil Procedure 527.6, 527.8, or 527.85, or Welfare and Institutions Code 213.5, 304, 362.4, 726.5, or 15657.03), unless the order expired or was vacated or otherwise canceled more than five years before the completed application.
4. In the 10 years before the completed application, convicted of an offense listed in Penal Code 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, or 29805.
5. Engaged in an unlawful or reckless use, display, or brandishing of a firearm.
6. In the 10 years before the completed application, charged with an offense listed in Penal Code 290, 667.5, 1192.7, 1192.8, or 29805 that was dismissed under a plea or a People v. Harvey waiver.
7. In the five years before the completed application, committed to or incarcerated in jail or prison for, or on supervision for, a conviction involving controlled substances (Health and Safety Code 11053 to 11058) or alcohol.
8. An unlawful user of, or addicted to, any controlled substance as described in 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) and applicable federal regulations and guidance (Penal Code 26202(a)(8), added by AB 1078 effective January 1, 2026). This category applies the federal standard, requires no conviction, and is separate from the current-abuse category below. Federal law treats marijuana as a controlled substance regardless of California legalization, so an unlawful user of marijuana is disqualified under this category.
9. Currently abusing controlled substances (Health and Safety Code 11053 to 11058) or alcohol, meaning excessive use or consumption showing a loss of self-control with reference to the substance or alcohol.
10. In the 10 years before the completed application, experienced the loss or theft of multiple firearms due to noncompliant storing, transporting, or securing of the firearm.
11. Failed to report a firearm loss as required by Penal Code 25250 or any other reporting law.

To make this determination, the licensing authority must conduct an investigation that includes an in-person interview with the applicant, interviews with at least three references, a review of publicly available information including the applicant's public statements, a review of the application and DOJ information, and a check of the California Restraining and Protective Order System (Penal Code 26202(b)). For renewals, the authority may forgo the applicant interview and the reference interviews.

Two rules attach to the federal controlled-substance-user category in Penal Code 26202(a)(8). The authority's 90-day initial determination must include a final determination on that category (Penal Code 26202(d)(1)(B)). And if the authority determines an applicant is disqualified under it, the authority must report the applicant to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Index within five days, with supporting documentation (Penal Code 26202(f)).

A disqualified-person determination can be challenged by requesting a superior court hearing under Penal Code 26206. See Denial, Revocation, and Appeals below.

Application Process

Sequence varies by agency, but every California CCW application includes these elements:

1. Apply to the right authority. The sheriff of your county, or your city police chief if you live in an incorporated city. A non-California resident applies under subdivision (b) of Penal Code 26150 or 26155 to the jurisdiction that is the primary California location they intend to travel or spend time. Many agencies process applications through an online portal.
2. Complete the standard form. Applications are uniform statewide on forms prescribed by the Attorney General (currently BOF 4012) under Penal Code 26175. The form collects identifiers, prior detentions, arrests, and convictions, mental-health history, restraining-order history, prior CCW denials or revocations, and three references. At least one reference must be a person described in Penal Code 273.5(b) if applicable, and at least one must be the applicant's cohabitant if applicable. The applicant attests to the truth of the statements in the application (Penal Code 26175(f)).
3. Initial disqualified-person screening. Within 90 days of a completed application, the authority must give written notice of its initial determination of whether the applicant is a disqualified person (Penal Code 26202(d)). A favorable initial determination tells the applicant to proceed to training and fingerprinting. An applicant cannot be required to pay for training before this initial determination (Penal Code 26165(e)).
4. Live Scan fingerprinting and DOJ check. The authority submits fingerprint images to the DOJ, which runs state and federal eligibility checks (Penal Code 26185). For renewals, fingerprints are required only when the renewal is submitted on or after September 1, 2026 (Penal Code 26185(b)(2)). A new license cannot issue unless the DOJ reports the applicant is eligible (Penal Code 26185(a)(3)).
5. Local investigation. The authority conducts the reference interviews and record review required by Penal Code 26202(b).
6. Psychological assessment, if required. If the authority requires an assessment on a new application, the applicant is referred to a licensed psychologist the authority finds acceptable and may be charged the actual cost (Penal Code 26190(e)). On renewal, an additional assessment is required only if there is compelling evidence of a public-safety concern.
7. Training and range qualification. The Penal Code 26165 course, taught by a DOJ-certified instructor, including live-fire proficiency with each firearm to be listed.
8. Notice of approval or denial. The authority must give written notice within 120 days of a completed new application, or 30 days after receipt of the DOJ report, whichever is later. For renewals the deadline is 120 days from the completed renewal application (Penal Code 26205, as amended by AB 1078). A denial must state which requirement was not satisfied.
9. License pickup. The license is issued on the uniform format, or a locally approved equivalent, and shows the licensee's name, identifiers, photo, fingerprints, the authorized firearm or firearms (make, model, serial number, and caliber), and the issuance and expiration dates (Penal Code 26175(i)).

Training Requirement (Penal Code 26165)

For new applicants, the course must meet all of the following minimums (Penal Code 26165(a)):

• No less than 16 hours in length.
• Cover firearm safety, firearm handling, shooting technique, safe storage, legal methods to transport and secure firearms in vehicles, the laws on where permitholders may carry, the laws on permissible use of a firearm, and the laws on the permissible use of lethal force in self-defense.
• Include a component of no less than one hour on mental health and mental-health resources.
• Be taught and supervised by firearms instructors certified by the DOJ under Penal Code 31635. The mental-health component is the only part exempt from the DOJ-certified-instructor requirement.
• Require students to pass a written examination.
• Include live-fire shooting exercises with a demonstration of safe handling and shooting proficiency with each firearm the applicant wants on the license.

The licensing authority sets and publishes the live-fire standard, including the minimum number of rounds and the minimum passing scores at specified distances (Penal Code 26165(b)). An authority may instead require a community college course certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, up to a maximum of 24 hours, but only if required uniformly of all applicants (Penal Code 26165(c)).

For renewal applicants, the course must be no less than 8 hours and must satisfy paragraphs (2) through (6) of Penal Code 26165(a). A person certified by the licensing authority as a CCW trainer is not required to retake the course to renew their own license (Penal Code 26165(d)).

Fees (Penal Code 26190)

CCW fees come in layers:

• DOJ application fee, paid at filing, set by the DOJ and limited to its processing costs for the background check and report under Penal Code 26185. The fee may rise at a rate not exceeding the DOJ's legislatively approved annual cost-of-living adjustment (Penal Code 26190(a)).
• Local processing fee equal to the licensing authority's reasonable costs to process, issue, and enforce the license, excluding fingerprint and training costs. The first 50 percent may be collected at filing; the balance is collected only on issuance (Penal Code 26190(b)).
• Amendment fee for a license amendment under Penal Code 26215, not to exceed the reasonable cost of processing (Penal Code 26190(d)).

Live Scan, training, range time, ammunition, and any required psychological assessment are paid separately to the providers and are generally not refundable if the application is denied. SB 2 authorized licensing authorities to charge the local processing fee on renewals as well as new applications.

License Validity and Types (Penal Code 26220)

Validity depends on the type of license:

• Standard CCW under Penal Code 26150 or 26155, including a non-resident license under subdivision (b): up to two years (Penal Code 26220(a)).
• In-state employment or business-based license under Penal Code 26150: up to 90 days, valid only in the issuing county (Penal Code 26220(b)).
• Judicial license for a California judge or full-time court commissioner, or a federal judge or magistrate: up to three years (Penal Code 26220(c)).
• Custodial-officer license for a custodial officer employed by the sheriff under Penal Code 831.5: up to four years, ending with employment (Penal Code 26220(d)).
• Reserve peace officer license under Penal Code 26170 (Penal Code 830.6 appointees): up to four years, ending with the appointment (Penal Code 26220(e)).

In counties with a population of fewer than 200,000 (most recent federal decennial census), the sheriff or city police chief may issue a license to carry loaded and exposed in that county only (Penal Code 26150(c)(2) and 26155(c)(2)). See the Open Carry section.

Renewal

Apply well before expiration; many agencies set their own submission windows. Renewal training is at least 8 hours (Penal Code 26165(d)). Renewal fingerprints to the DOJ are required only when the renewal is submitted on or after September 1, 2026 (Penal Code 26185(b)(2)). The licensing authority must issue notice within 120 days of a completed renewal application, with the post-September 1, 2026 renewals also tied to the DOJ response timing (Penal Code 26205, as amended by AB 1078). Fees are generally non-refundable.

Amendments and Address Changes

Under Penal Code 26215, a licensee may apply to add or delete a firearm, authorize concealed carry, authorize loaded-and-exposed carry where eligible (counties under 200,000), or change the restrictions and conditions on the license. An amendment does not extend the original expiration date and is not a renewal application.

Under Penal Code 26210, a change of address requires written notice to the licensing authority within 10 days, and the authority must notify the DOJ within 10 days of receiving that notice. A concealed-carry license is not revoked solely because the licensee moves to another county, provided the licensee has not breached any license condition and has not become firearm-prohibited. But if the licensee's place of residence was the basis for issuance, a license issued under Penal Code 26150 or 26155 expires 90 days after the licensee moves from the county of issuance. A loaded-and-exposed license is revoked immediately on a move to another county.

Denial, Revocation, and Appeals

A license shall not be issued if the DOJ determines the applicant is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a firearm (Penal Code 26195(a)).

A licensing authority shall revoke a license if it determines, or is notified by the DOJ, that the licensee is firearm-prohibited, has breached a condition or restriction under Penal Code 26200, provided inaccurate or incomplete information on the application, fails to comply with the reporting duty in Penal Code 26195(c), or has become a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202 (Penal Code 26195(b)). If the DOJ determines a licensee is firearm-prohibited, it must notify the local authority immediately, and no later than 15 days after the determination (Penal Code 26195(d)).

Penal Code 26195(c) imposes a reporting duty: a licensee must inform the issuing authority of any restraining order, or any arrest, charge, or conviction of a crime referenced in Penal Code 26202.

For a disqualified-person determination under Penal Code 26202, the applicant may request a superior court hearing within 30 days of the notice, in the county of residence or, for non-resident applicants, the county where the application was submitted (Penal Code 26206). A licensing authority may require the applicant to exhaust an internal appeal first. At the hearing the people bear the burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that the applicant is a disqualified person. For a denial or revocation based on any other requirement, the applicant may seek a writ of mandate under Code of Civil Procedure 1085 within 30 days of the notice (Penal Code 26206(i)).

Carry Conditions (Penal Code 26200)

While carrying under a CCW, a licensee shall not:

• Consume an alcoholic beverage or a controlled substance (Health and Safety Code 11053 to 11058), or be under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, medication, or controlled substance.
• Be in a place having a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption.
• Carry a firearm not listed on the license, or one for which the licensee is not the recorded owner (with a narrow exception for Penal Code 26170 appointees).
• Falsely represent that the licensee is a peace officer.
• Engage in an unjustified display of a deadly weapon.
• Fail to carry the license on their person.
• Impede a peace officer, or refuse to display the license or provide the firearm for inspection on demand.
• Violate any federal, state, or local criminal law.

A licensee may not carry more than two firearms under their control at one time (Penal Code 26200(d)). The licensing authority may also impose reasonable restrictions as to time, place, manner, and circumstances, which are printed on the license (Penal Code 26200(b) and (c)). Many local policies add a magazine-capacity condition; a separate state law limits magazines to 10 rounds (Penal Code 32310, currently the subject of the Duncan v. Bonta litigation).

A breach of any Penal Code 26230 sensitive-place condition is a license violation and may also be charged independently under Penal Code 25400 or 25850.

Open Carry and Self-Defense in Brief

Open carry is generally prohibited in California. Openly carrying an exposed and unloaded handgun in public is a misdemeanor (Penal Code 26350), and openly carrying an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun is a misdemeanor in prohibited public areas (Penal Code 26400). Loaded open carry falls under Penal Code 25850. A standard CCW authorizes concealed carry; only the loaded-and-exposed license format (counties under 200,000) authorizes exposed carry, and only in the issuing county. A Ninth Circuit panel ruled in Baird v. Bonta that California's open-carry restrictions are unconstitutional, but that decision has not taken effect because the mandate has not issued; the open-carry prohibitions remain enforceable. See the Open Carry section.

California has no statutory stand-your-ground law. Penal Code 197 defines justifiable homicide, and Penal Code 198.5 creates a presumption of reasonable fear when an intruder unlawfully and forcibly enters a residence. Jury instructions CALCRIM 505 and 3470 tell jurors that a person who is not the aggressor and is lawfully present has no duty to retreat. See the Use of Force and Castle Doctrine sections.

Reciprocity and Federal Law

California does not recognize any other state's CCW. A visitor who wants to carry in California must qualify for a California license. A non-California resident may apply through the general non-resident pathway at Penal Code 26150(b) or 26155(b). See the Reciprocity section.

A California CCW does not waive any federal firearm prohibition. The federal prohibited-person categories are at 18 U.S.C. 922(g). A licensee who later becomes federally prohibited (for example, a qualifying domestic-violence restraining order, a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, or an involuntary mental-health commitment) is barred from possessing a firearm regardless of the license. The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, at 18 U.S.C. 926B (active officers) and 18 U.S.C. 926C (qualified retired officers), is a separate federal carry authority and is not a California license. Possession of a firearm in the sterile area of an airport or on an aircraft is governed by federal law at 49 U.S.C. 46505, in addition to California's Penal Code 171.5.

Key Statutes Reference

Practical Notes

• The Penal Code 26230 sensitive-place list was challenged in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta. The December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction was reversed in large part by the Ninth Circuit effective January 23, 2025. As of the most recent California DOJ guidance, 20 of the 26 categories are enforceable and six remain enjoined and are not being enforced: hospitals and medical facilities, public transit, permitted public gatherings and special events, places of worship, financial institutions, and privately owned commercial establishments open to the public. Check the current California DOJ Information Bulletin before relying on any specific 26230 location. See Prohibited Places.
• California now has a general non-resident CCW pathway at Penal Code 26150(b) and 26155(b), added by AB 1078 effective January 1, 2026. The older in-state employment or business basis (a 90-day, single-county license under Penal Code 26220(b)) is a different thing.
• Some licensing authorities impose policy-level requirements stricter than state law, such as magazine caps, platform limits, modification limits, and local reporting deadlines. The statute sets the floor; the local policy can add to it.
• The renewal-fingerprint rule changes on September 1, 2026 (Penal Code 26185(b)(2)). Plan ahead if your renewal lands near that date.
• A California CCW does not waive federal law. The 18 U.S.C. 922(g) prohibitions apply regardless of the state license.

Source Information

Statutory text from California Legislative Information and FindLaw for Penal Code 26150, 26155, 26160, 26162, 26165, 26170, 26175, 26185, 26190, 26195, 26200, 26202, 26205, 26206, 26210, 26215, 26220, 26225, 26230, 25400, 25850, 26350, and 26400, including Senate Bill 2 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 249) and Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570). Federal authority at 18 U.S.C. 922(g), 18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C, and 49 U.S.C. 46505. Case context: New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022); May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta (sensitive-places injunction, reversed in large part by the Ninth Circuit effective January 23, 2025); Baird v. Bonta (open carry). Agency guidance from the California DOJ Division of Law Enforcement Information Bulletins, including 2025-DLE-06, and the standard application form BOF 4012.

Constitutional Carry in California

California does not have constitutional carry. It is not a permitless-carry state.

To carry a handgun concealed in public, or to carry any loaded firearm in public, you must hold a valid California carry license (commonly called a CCW). There is no provision in California law that lets a member of the public carry a concealed or loaded handgun in public without a license. Carrying a concealed firearm without a license is a crime under Penal Code 25400, and carrying a loaded firearm in public without authorization is a separate crime under Penal Code 25850. Both offenses are "wobblers" or misdemeanors in the ordinary case and become felonies under aggravating circumstances such as a prior felony conviction, a stolen firearm, or the carrier being a prohibited person (Penal Code 25400(c); Penal Code 25850(c)).

A License Is Required to Carry

California is a licensed, shall-issue carry state. A license to carry a concealable firearm is issued either by the sheriff of the county where you live or work (Penal Code 26150) or by the chief of a municipal police department for the city where you live (Penal Code 26155). The two statutes apply the same substantive standard.

AB 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026, restructured both Penal Code 26150 and Penal Code 26155 into separate application pathways. Subdivision (a) covers a California resident who applies in the county or city where the person lives, or where the person has a principal place of employment or business. Subdivision (b) is a separate pathway for a non-California resident to apply. So California now has a general non-resident carry license pathway, not a system that is limited to in-state residents.

For a California resident, the licensing authority "shall issue or renew" a license under subdivision (a) of Penal Code 26150 or Penal Code 26155 when the applicant shows all of the following:

• The applicant is not a "disqualified person" under the standards in Penal Code 26202.
• The applicant is at least 21 years of age and presents clear evidence of identity and age.
• The applicant resides in, or has a principal place of business or employment in, the issuing jurisdiction.
• The applicant has completed the training course described in Penal Code 26165.
• The applicant is the recorded owner, with the California Department of Justice, of the firearm for which the license is issued.

A non-California resident applies under subdivision (b) of the same statute. The non-resident must show that they are not a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202 and under any comparable disqualifiers in their home state, must be at least 21 with a valid out-of-state driver's license or DMV identification card, must attest under oath that the chosen jurisdiction is the primary California location where they intend to travel or spend time, must complete the required training and live-fire exercises, and must identify each firearm to be licensed (Penal Code 26150(b); Penal Code 26155(b)).

Because the statute uses "shall issue" once these objective criteria are met, the licensing authority does not have discretion to deny a qualified applicant for lack of a special reason to carry. This reflects the change required after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), which struck down "good cause" or "justifiable need" requirements like the one California previously applied.

A license is issued in one of two formats (Penal Code 26150(c); Penal Code 26155(c)). The standard format is a license to carry concealed (Penal Code 26150(c)(1)). In a county with a population under 200,000, the licensing authority may instead issue a license to carry a handgun "loaded and exposed" that is valid only within that county (Penal Code 26150(c)(2)). For everyone else, the license authorizes concealed carry only.

Training Requirement

A new applicant must complete a training course of no less than 16 hours (Penal Code 26165(a)(1)). The course must cover firearm safety and handling, safe storage, lawful transport, the laws governing where a permitholder may carry, the law on permissible use of a firearm, and the law on the use of lethal force in self-defense. It must include a component of at least one hour on mental health and mental health resources, a written examination, and live-fire shooting exercises demonstrating proficiency with each firearm to be licensed (Penal Code 26165(a)(2) through (a)(6)). For a renewal, the course must be no less than 8 hours (Penal Code 26165(d)).

Fees, Term, and Processing Time

Application fees are set by the framework in Penal Code 26190. The state Department of Justice fee is limited to its processing costs, and the local licensing authority may charge an additional fee capped at its reasonable costs to process, issue, and enforce the license.

A standard license issued under Penal Code 26150 or 26155 is valid for a period not to exceed two years from the date of issuance (Penal Code 26220(a)). Longer terms apply to certain officials, such as judges and qualifying court commissioners (up to three years) and custodial officers (up to four years).

On timing, the licensing authority must give the applicant written notice of its initial disqualification determination within 90 days of receiving a completed application (Penal Code 26202(d)), and must give written notice approving or denying the license within 120 days of receiving the completed application, or 30 days after it receives the Department of Justice background information, whichever is later (Penal Code 26205(a)).

Disqualifiers

Penal Code 26202 lists the conduct and history that make an applicant a disqualified person who cannot receive or renew a license unless a court rules otherwise. These include being reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others, or the community; being subject to certain restraining or protective orders; specified recent convictions or charges; unlawful or reckless brandishing of a firearm; being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance, or currently abusing a controlled substance or alcohol; and certain firearm loss or failure-to-report histories. The licensing authority must conduct an investigation that includes a review of Department of Justice records, character references, and publicly available information about the applicant (Penal Code 26202(b)).

SB 2 and the Sensitive-Places Restrictions

After Bruen, the Legislature passed SB 2 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 249), effective January 1, 2024, which removed the old "good cause" standard, raised and standardized the qualifications above, and added a long list of "sensitive places" where a licenseholder may not carry. That list is at Penal Code 26230. The statute also lets a licensee transport a locked firearm through some of these areas in a vehicle and store it in a locked lock box out of plain view (Penal Code 26230(b) and (c)).

This part of the law has been heavily litigated, and not every category on the statutory list is being enforced today, so you must check the current status of a specific category before relying on it. In May v. Bonta and the consolidated case Carralero v. Bonta, a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction on December 20, 2023 blocking many of the Penal Code 26230 categories. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals then reversed that injunction in large part, and its mandate took effect on January 23, 2025. The court did not simply pause or "stay" the injunction. It reversed the injunction as to most categories, which put those categories back into force.

According to the California Department of Justice information bulletin on this decision (No. 2025-DLE-06, March 27, 2025), 20 of the 26 challenged sensitive-place categories are now in effect, and 6 categories remain enjoined and are not being enforced.

Currently enforceable (a licenseholder may not carry there). These include the categories that were never enjoined and the ones the Ninth Circuit put back into force:

• School zones (Penal Code 26230(a)(1)).
• Preschool and childcare facilities (Penal Code 26230(a)(2)).
• State executive and legislative branch buildings (Penal Code 26230(a)(3)).
• Court buildings (Penal Code 26230(a)(4)).
• Local government buildings (Penal Code 26230(a)(5)).
• Adult and juvenile detention and correctional facilities (Penal Code 26230(a)(6)).
• Places that serve alcohol for on-site consumption, such as bars and many restaurants (Penal Code 26230(a)(9)).
• Playgrounds and public or private youth centers (Penal Code 26230(a)(11)).
• Parks, athletic areas, and athletic facilities open to the public (Penal Code 26230(a)(12)).
• Most land controlled by the Department of Parks and Recreation or the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Penal Code 26230(a)(13)).
• Colleges and universities (Penal Code 26230(a)(14)).
• Casinos and other gambling or gaming establishments (Penal Code 26230(a)(15)).
• Stadiums and arenas (Penal Code 26230(a)(16)).
• Public libraries (Penal Code 26230(a)(17)).
• Airports and passenger vessel terminals (Penal Code 26230(a)(18)).
• Amusement parks (Penal Code 26230(a)(19)).
• Zoos and museums (Penal Code 26230(a)(20)).
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission sites (Penal Code 26230(a)(21)).
• Police, sheriff, and highway patrol stations (Penal Code 26230(a)(24)).
• Polling places and voting locations (Penal Code 26230(a)(25)).

Currently enjoined (not being enforced pending further appeal). As of the January 23, 2025 mandate, these 6 categories remain blocked by the December 2023 preliminary injunction, so they are not operative carry rules right now. Carry in these places is governed by the underlying private-property or other rules rather than by Penal Code 26230, and you should confirm the litigation status before relying on this:

• Hospitals and medical facilities (Penal Code 26230(a)(7)).
• Public transit and transit property (Penal Code 26230(a)(8)).
• Permitted public gatherings and special events (Penal Code 26230(a)(10)).
• Places of worship (Penal Code 26230(a)(22)).
• Financial institutions (Penal Code 26230(a)(23)).
• Privately owned commercial establishments open to the public, which is the default rule that bars carry unless the operator posts a sign permitting licenseholders to carry (Penal Code 26230(a)(26)).

Because this litigation is ongoing and a category can move between these lists, treat any list as a snapshot and confirm the current rule before carrying near one of these locations.

Open Carry Is Generally Prohibited

Open carry is not a substitute for a license. Carrying a loaded firearm openly in public is barred by Penal Code 25850. Separately, openly carrying an exposed and unloaded handgun in a public place or on a public street in an incorporated city (or in a prohibited area of an unincorporated county) is a misdemeanor under Penal Code 26350, and openly carrying an exposed and unloaded firearm that is not a handgun (a long gun) in those public areas is a misdemeanor under Penal Code 26400. Together these statutes leave very little lawful public open carry of a handgun anywhere in California, which is why a carry license is the only practical route to carrying a handgun in public.

Self-Defense and Use of Force

California does not have a statutory "stand your ground" law. Penal Code 197 sets out when a homicide is justifiable, including in lawful defense of self or others against an apparent design to commit a felony or to cause great bodily injury. Penal Code 198.5 creates a presumption that a person who uses deadly force against someone who unlawfully and forcibly enters their residence held a reasonable fear of imminent peril, which is California's version of a "castle" rule for the home. While there is no statute that expressly removes a duty to retreat, the standard jury instructions used in California self-defense cases (CALCRIM 505 and 3470) tell jurors that a person who is not the aggressor has no duty to retreat and may stand their ground and even pursue an assailant if reasonably necessary to defend against the threat. The practical effect is similar to a no-duty-to-retreat rule, but it comes from case law and jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute.

Other California Restrictions Still Apply

A carry license does not exempt you from California's other firearm laws, several of which are themselves the subject of active federal litigation. Examples include the requirement that most firearm transfers between private parties go through a licensed dealer (Penal Code 27545) along with the mandatory 10-day waiting period before a dealer may deliver a firearm; the Unsafe Handgun Act and the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale (Penal Code 32000 et seq.), the microstamping piece of which has been challenged in Boland v. Bonta; the ban on large-capacity magazines, challenged in Duncan v. Bonta; and the assault weapons restrictions tied to the definition in Penal Code 30515, challenged in Miller v. Bonta. Because these regimes change as courts rule, confirm the current status of any specific restriction before acting on it.

Key Takeaway

Anyone who wants to carry a concealed or loaded handgun in public in California must obtain a carry license from the county sheriff (Penal Code 26150) or municipal police chief (Penal Code 26155). After AB 1078, a California resident applies under subdivision (a) and a non-California resident applies under subdivision (b), so there is now a non-resident pathway as well. The license requires being at least 21, passing the Penal Code 26202 disqualifier screen, completing the Penal Code 26165 training, and being the registered owner of the firearm. Carrying without a license violates Penal Code 25400 or Penal Code 25850. Even with a license, the sensitive-place limits in Penal Code 26230 apply, but 6 of the 26 categories are currently enjoined and not being enforced, so verify the current status of a category before you rely on it.

California Concealed Carry Laws

Overview

California requires a license to carry a concealed firearm. Carrying a concealed pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed on the person, or concealed in a vehicle under your control, is a crime under California Penal Code 25400 unless you hold a valid license. Carrying a loaded firearm in public is separately a crime under California Penal Code 25850. The license that lets a private citizen lawfully carry is the License to Carry a Pistol, Revolver, or Other Firearm Capable of Being Concealed Upon the Person, commonly called a CCW license.

As of January 1, 2024, California is a shall-issue state. After the U.S. Supreme Court decided New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022) 597 U.S. 1, which struck down "proper cause" or "good cause" discretionary licensing schemes, California enacted Senate Bill 2 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 249) to remove the old "good cause" and "good moral character" tests. Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570) later amended several of these statutes again, with most changes effective January 1, 2026. Under the current framework, the issuing authority must issue or renew a license to an applicant who meets the objective requirements and is not a "disqualified person" under California Penal Code 26202.

This is one of the most heavily litigated areas of California firearm law. Several provisions described below, especially the list of "sensitive places" in California Penal Code 26230, have been challenged in federal court, and parts have been enjoined. The Ninth Circuit reversed most of the original 2023 injunction, but six sensitive-place categories remain enjoined. Verify the current enforceable status before relying on any specific rule.

Who Issues the License

A CCW license is issued by your local licensing authority:

• The sheriff of the county where you reside, or where your principal place of employment or business is located (California Penal Code 26150), or
• The chief or other head of a municipal police department of the city or city and county where you reside (California Penal Code 26155).

A sheriff and a city police chief may also agree to have one process applications on behalf of the other (California Penal Code 26150, subd. (d); California Penal Code 26155, subd. (d)). A separate statute, California Penal Code 26170, governs licenses issued to certain appointed or deputized peace officers under Penal Code 830.6, and fees for those licenses may be waived.

Resident and Non-Resident Applications

AB 1078 restructured the two main licensing statutes. Under California Penal Code 26150 and 26155 as amended:

• Subdivision (a) sets the requirements for a California resident applying for a new license or renewal.
• Subdivision (b) sets a separate pathway for a non-California resident to apply to a California licensing authority. This is a general non-resident CCW pathway, subject to extra conditions described in the reciprocity section below.
• Subdivision (c) sets the format of the license the issuing authority grants: paragraph (c)(1) is a standard license to carry concealed, and paragraph (c)(2) is a license to carry loaded and exposed in a county whose population is under 200,000.

Core Eligibility Requirements

To receive a CCW license as a California resident under California Penal Code 26150 or 26155, an applicant must show all of the following:

1. Not a disqualified person. The applicant is not disqualified under the standards in California Penal Code 26202.
2. Age 21 or older. The applicant is at least 21 years of age and presents clear evidence of identity and age (California Penal Code 16400).
3. Residency or local nexus. For a county license, the applicant resides in the county or a city within it, or has a principal place of employment or business there. For a city license, the applicant resides in that city or city and county.
4. Training. The applicant has completed the course of training described in California Penal Code 26165.
5. Recorded owner. The applicant is the recorded owner, with the California Department of Justice, of the firearm for which the license will be issued (California Penal Code 26150, subd. (a)(5); California Penal Code 26155, subd. (a)(5)).

The old "good cause" and "good moral character" requirements no longer apply. The licensing authority's role is to confirm the objective criteria above and to determine whether the applicant is a disqualified person.

Disqualifying Categories (California Penal Code 26202)

California Penal Code 26202, subdivision (a) lists the categories that make an applicant a disqualified person who cannot receive or renew a license, unless a court rules otherwise under California Penal Code 26206. These include:

• Being reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others, or the community at large, as shown by the application, the licensing authority's investigation, or a psychological assessment (subd. (a)(1)).
• A conviction for contempt of court under Penal Code 166 or a comparable law (subd. (a)(2)).
• Being subject to certain restraining or protective orders, unless the order expired or was canceled more than five years before the completed application (subd. (a)(3)).
• A conviction in the prior 10 years for an offense listed in Penal Code 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, or 29805, or a comparable law (subd. (a)(4)).
• Unlawful or reckless use, display, or brandishing of a firearm (subd. (a)(5)).
• Within the prior 10 years, being charged with certain offenses that were then dismissed by plea or Harvey waiver (subd. (a)(6)).
• Within the prior five years, being committed, incarcerated, or under supervision for a controlled-substance or alcohol-related conviction (subd. (a)(7)).
• Being an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance as described in 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) (subd. (a)(8)).
• Currently abusing a controlled substance or alcohol (subd. (a)(9)).
• Within the prior 10 years, the loss or theft of multiple firearms due to the applicant's failure to comply with storage, transport, or securing laws (subd. (a)(10)).
• Failing to report a lost firearm as required by Penal Code 25250 or other law (subd. (a)(11)).

As part of the investigation, the licensing authority reviews application information, Department of Justice records, the restraining and protective order system, publicly available statements, and (for new applicants) conducts an interview and contacts character references (California Penal Code 26202, subd. (b)).

Training Requirement (California Penal Code 26165)

For a new license, the training course must be at least 16 hours long and must cover firearm safety, firearm handling, shooting technique, safe storage, legal transport and vehicle storage, where permit holders may carry, lawful use of a firearm, and the lawful use of lethal force in self-defense. It must include a component of at least one hour on mental health and mental health resources, a written examination, and live-fire shooting exercises demonstrating safe handling and proficiency with each firearm the applicant seeks to carry. Except for the mental-health component, the course must be taught and supervised by firearms instructors certified by the Department of Justice under Penal Code 31635 (California Penal Code 26165, subd. (a)).

A licensing authority may instead require a certified community college course of up to 24 hours, but only if required uniformly of all applicants (California Penal Code 26165, subd. (c)). For a renewal, the course must be at least eight hours and meet paragraphs (2) through (6) of subdivision (a) (California Penal Code 26165, subd. (d)).

Application Process and Timeline

The application runs through your local licensing authority and the Department of Justice. The agency takes the application, collects fees and fingerprints, and transmits them to the Department of Justice for the background report (California Penal Code 26185, California Penal Code 26190).

Within 90 days of receiving a completed application, the licensing authority must give written notice of its initial determination of whether the applicant is a disqualified person. If the initial determination is favorable, the applicant is directed to complete the training under Penal Code 26165 (California Penal Code 26202, subd. (d)).

The licensing authority must give written notice approving or denying the license within 120 days of receiving the completed application, or 30 days after it receives the Department of Justice background information, whichever is later (California Penal Code 26205, subd. (a)). If the license is denied, the notice must state which requirement was not satisfied, and the applicant may seek review from a court under California Penal Code 26206.

Fees (California Penal Code 26190)

California Penal Code 26190 does not set a single statewide dollar amount. Fees are built from two parts:

• A Department of Justice fee, set by the department and limited to its processing costs (subd. (a)).
• An additional local fee charged by the city, county, or city and county, limited to the reasonable costs of processing, issuing, and enforcing the license, excluding fingerprint and training costs (subd. (b)).

The first 50 percent of the local fee may be collected when the application is filed, and the balance is collected only when the license is issued (California Penal Code 26190, subd. (b)(2)). Applicants pay fingerprint (Live Scan) and training costs separately, and a psychological assessment fee may apply in some jurisdictions (subd. (e)). Because amounts vary by jurisdiction, confirm the exact fees with your local issuing authority.

License Term, Conditions, and Revocation

A standard CCW license issued under California Penal Code 26150 or 26155 is valid for up to two years from the date of issuance (California Penal Code 26220, subd. (a)). Shorter or longer terms apply in specific cases: a license based on place of employment or business is valid for up to 90 days (subd. (b)), licenses for certain judges and federal magistrates run up to three years (subd. (c)), and licenses for certain custodial officers run up to four years (subd. (d)).

While carrying under the license, a licensee may not consume or be under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, may not be in a place having a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption, may not carry a firearm not listed on the license, may not falsely claim to be a peace officer, may not engage in an unjustified display of a deadly weapon, must carry the license, and must display the license and present the firearm for inspection to a peace officer on demand (California Penal Code 26200, subd. (a)). A licensee may not carry more than two firearms under their control at one time (California Penal Code 26200, subd. (d)). The licensing authority may also impose reasonable additional restrictions as to time, place, manner, and circumstances (California Penal Code 26200, subd. (b)).

A license must be revoked if the licensee breaches the conditions, knowingly provided inaccurate or incomplete information, becomes a disqualified person, or is reported by the Department of Justice as prohibited from possessing firearms (California Penal Code 26195).

Sensitive Places (California Penal Code 26230)

California Penal Code 26230 lists more than two dozen locations where a licensee may not carry a firearm even with a valid CCW license. This list has been the subject of active federal litigation in May v. Bonta and the consolidated Carralero v. Bonta. A federal district court entered a preliminary injunction against numerous categories on December 20, 2023. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit then reversed that injunction in large part. The court did not stay the injunction; it reversed it, and the mandate took effect on January 23, 2025. As a result, roughly 20 of the 26 categories are now enforceable, while six remain enjoined and are not being enforced pending further appeal.

Categories currently in effect (enforceable):

• Gun-free school zones under Penal Code 626.9 (paragraph (a)(1)).
• Preschools and childcare facilities (a)(2).
• Buildings under the control of an officer of the state executive or legislative branch (a)(3).
• Courthouses and court buildings (a)(4).
• Local government buildings (a)(5).
• Jails, prisons, and other detention or correctional facilities (a)(6).
• Places that sell alcohol for onsite consumption, including bars and restaurants that serve alcohol (a)(9).
• Playgrounds and public or private youth centers (a)(11).
• Public parks, athletic areas, and athletic facilities (a)(12).
• Most land controlled by the Department of Parks and Recreation or the Department of Fish and Wildlife, with hunting exceptions (a)(13).
• College and university property (a)(14).
• Gambling and gaming establishments, including casinos (a)(15).
• Stadiums and arenas (a)(16).
• Public libraries (a)(17).
• Airports and passenger vessel terminals (a)(18).
• Amusement parks (a)(19).
• Zoos and museums (a)(20).
• Certain nuclear facilities regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (a)(21).
• Police, sheriff, and highway patrol stations and law enforcement parking areas (a)(24).
• Polling places and ballot return or counting locations (a)(25).

Categories currently enjoined (not being enforced pending further appeal):

• Hospitals, medical offices, and similar medical facilities (a)(7).
• Public transit and transit property funded in whole or part with public funds (a)(8).
• Permitted public gatherings and special events (a)(10).
• Places of worship, including the opt-in posting rule that would otherwise let a place of worship allow licensed carry by posted sign (a)(22).
• Financial institutions and their parking areas (a)(23).
• Privately owned commercial establishments open to the public, including the default rule that would otherwise prohibit carry unless the operator conspicuously posts a sign permitting licensed carry (a)(26).

Because these six categories are enjoined, the default no-carry-without-a-posted-sign rule for private businesses open to the public is not currently being enforced. The litigation continues, so confirm the current enforceable status of any category with the issuing authority or a California attorney before relying on it.

The statute also includes exceptions allowing a licensee to transport and store a firearm locked in a listed lock box within a vehicle in many of these parking areas, and a travel exception for moving along a public right-of-way that touches such premises (California Penal Code 26230, subds. (b), (c), (f)).

Open Carry Is Generally Prohibited

A CCW license authorizes concealed carry, not open carry. Openly carrying an exposed, unloaded handgun in a public place or public street in an incorporated city, or in a prohibited area, is a crime under California Penal Code 26350 (generally a misdemeanor). Openly carrying an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun, such as a rifle or shotgun, in those areas is a crime under California Penal Code 26400 (generally a misdemeanor). Carrying any loaded firearm openly in public is covered by California Penal Code 25850. Between these statutes, public open carry of handguns and long guns is generally prohibited. A narrow exception exists in counties with a population under 200,000, where the licensing authority may issue a license to carry a firearm loaded and exposed, valid only within that county (California Penal Code 26150, subd. (c)(2); California Penal Code 26155, subd. (c)(2)).

Reciprocity and Non-Resident Licenses

California does not honor concealed carry permits or licenses issued by other states. A permit from another state does not authorize concealed or loaded public carry in California. California residents should confirm whether their California license is recognized in any state they plan to visit, because recognition depends on the other state's law.

California does, however, provide a general pathway for non-California residents to obtain a California CCW license. Under California Penal Code 26150, subdivision (b), and California Penal Code 26155, subdivision (b), a non-resident may apply to a California licensing authority, subject to additional conditions. The applicant must not be a disqualified person under California standards and under the comparable laws of their home state, must present a driver's license or identification card from their state of residence, must attest that the jurisdiction where they apply is the primary California location where they intend to travel or spend time, must complete approved training and live-fire exercises, and must identify on the application each firearm to be carried.

Penalties for Unlicensed Carry

Carrying a concealed firearm without a license under California Penal Code 25400 is generally a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both (subd. (c)(7)). It becomes a felony when aggravating facts apply, such as a prior felony conviction, a stolen firearm the person knew or had reason to believe was stolen, active participation in a criminal street gang, or the person being prohibited from possessing firearms (California Penal Code 25400, subd. (c)(1) through (c)(4)). Certain other circumstances make the offense a wobbler that can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor.

Carrying a loaded firearm in public without lawful authority under California Penal Code 25850 follows a similar structure: generally a misdemeanor with up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000, but a felony or wobbler where aggravating facts apply, such as a prior felony, a stolen firearm, gang participation, or being a prohibited person (California Penal Code 25850, subd. (c)).

Key Statutes

Important Notes

• This guide is general information, not legal advice. California firearm law changes frequently through legislation and litigation.
• A CCW license is required to carry concealed (California Penal Code 25400) or loaded in public (California Penal Code 25850). There is no permitless or constitutional carry in California.
• The sensitive-places list in California Penal Code 26230 is being litigated in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta. The Ninth Circuit reversed most of the 2023 injunction effective January 23, 2025, leaving about 20 categories enforceable, while six (hospitals and medical facilities, public transit, permitted public gatherings, places of worship, financial institutions, and private businesses open to the public) remain enjoined. Confirm the current enforceable status before carrying near any listed location.
• Local licensing authorities may impose reasonable additional conditions and may require documentation beyond the state minimums.
• Verify current requirements, fees, and processing times directly with your county sheriff or city police department.

Open Carry Laws in California

General Legality

Open carry is generally illegal in California. With narrow exceptions, you may not carry a firearm exposed in a public place, whether the firearm is loaded or unloaded and whether it is a handgun or a long gun.

California splits this conduct across three parallel statutes:

One scope difference matters. Penal Code 26350 applies only to an exposed handgun. Penal Code 26400 has no exposure element: since Assembly Bill 7 (Stats. 2017, Ch. 734), it covers an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun carried on the person outside a vehicle in an incorporated city or city and county, or in a prohibited area of unincorporated territory, whether the firearm is exposed or concealed. Carrying an uncased long gun under a coat still violates Section 26400. The exemptions in Penal Code 26405 (locked container, encased direct transport, and others) still apply.

Under Penal Code 25850, the loaded-carry charge escalates to a felony in several circumstances, for example a prior felony conviction, a stolen firearm the carrier knew or had reason to know was stolen, active criminal-street-gang participation, carrying a firearm the person is not in lawful possession of, or status as a person prohibited from possessing firearms. The full graduated scheme appears in the Penalties section below.

There is active federal litigation challenging California's open-carry ban (Baird v. Bonta in the Ninth Circuit). As of the most recent California Department of Justice guidance, the open-carry prohibitions remain in effect and continue to be enforced. Court rulings in this area change quickly, so confirm the current status with the California Attorney General's office or current Department of Justice Division of Law Enforcement bulletins before relying on any change.

Your safe assumption: outside of private land you own or lawfully control, openly carrying a firearm in California requires a license issued under Penal Code 26150 or Penal Code 26155, or one of the narrow statutory exceptions discussed below. Anything else risks prosecution.

Who May Open Carry

The general answer is almost no one across most of California. There are three categories of people who may openly carry, and each turns on either an exception or a license.

1. Peace officers and honorably retired peace officers

Penal Code 26361 provides that Section 26350 (open carry of an unloaded handgun) does not apply to a peace officer or honorably retired peace officer who may carry a concealed firearm under Article 2 (commencing with Penal Code 25450) or a loaded firearm under Article 3 (commencing with Penal Code 25900). The parallel exemption for long guns appears at Penal Code 26405, subdivision (e).

2. License-holders in low-population counties

Penal Code 26150 (county sheriff) and Penal Code 26155 (city or city-and-county police chief) authorize a license to carry a concealable firearm. As restructured by Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026, each statute now lays out who may apply and in what format:

• Subdivision (a) governs a California resident's application.
• Subdivision (b) governs a non-California-resident application. California now has a general non-resident pathway to a carry license, and a sheriff or police chief shall issue to a qualifying nonresident who meets the standards in subdivision (b), including the disqualification standard at Penal Code 26202 (and the comparable provisions of the applicant's home state), the 21-year-old minimum age, the training and live-fire requirements tied to Penal Code 26165, and an attestation that the issuing jurisdiction is the primary California location where the applicant intends to travel or spend time.
• Subdivision (c) sets the license format. Subdivision (c)(1) is a license to carry concealed. Subdivision (c)(2) is a license to carry loaded and exposed, but only where the population of the county is less than 200,000 persons according to the most recent federal decennial census, and the open-carry license is valid only in that county.

If you hold a loaded-and-exposed license under Section 26150(c)(2) or Section 26155(c)(2):

• You may openly carry a loaded handgun within the issuing county only.
• You must follow the same sensitive-place restrictions that apply to a CCW license under Penal Code 26230 (school zones, courthouses, government buildings, places that serve alcohol, parks, athletic areas, and many more; see Prohibited Places).
• The license does not authorize open carry in any county at or above the 200,000-person threshold, which includes Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, Contra Costa, and others.
• The license is issued under the same chapter as the CCW license. For the application standard (including the disqualification standard at Penal Code 26202), the 21-year-old minimum age, training under Penal Code 26165, fees, and renewal, see the Application Process and Training Requirements sections of this guide.

3. Narrow statutory exceptions

A limited set of activities is exempt from the open-carry prohibitions even without a license. Commonly invoked examples drawn from Penal Code 26405 (unloaded non-handgun) include:

• A licensed hunter while engaged in hunting, or while transporting the firearm to or from a hunting expedition.
• A member of a club organized for target shooting, while using the firearm on an established target range.
• Carry within a place of business, residence, or private real property the person owns or lawfully occupies.
• A firearm in a locked container or encased while being transported directly between places where the person may lawfully possess it.
• A person engaged in the licensed business of manufacturing, importing, wholesaling, repairing, or dealing in firearms, or that person's authorized representative, while engaged in the lawful course of the business.
• A duly authorized military or civil organization while parading or rehearsing at the organization's meeting place.
• Carry within a gun show conducted under Penal Code 27200 and following.
• Carry on publicly owned land or navigable public-trust waters where the managing agency specifically permits an unloaded non-handgun.

The peace-officer and related exemptions to Section 26350 appear at Penal Code 26361 and following. The exemption list for Section 26400 at Penal Code 26405 is extensive, with more than 30 enumerated subdivisions; that section in its current form became operative January 1, 2026. If you think your activity might be exempt, read the full text of the applicable section. Do not rely on this summary.

Where Open Carry Is Prohibited

The practical answer is nearly everywhere a member of the public can normally go. The three statutes reach:

• Any public place or public street in an incorporated city, or city and county (Penal Code 25850(a), 26350(a)(1)(A)).
• Any public street in a "prohibited area" of an unincorporated area of a county.
• Any public place in a "prohibited area" of a county or city and county.
• For an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun, anywhere in an incorporated city or city and county while the firearm is carried on the person outside a vehicle (Penal Code 26400(a)(1)). Inside city limits, Section 26400 is not limited to public places or public streets. Its unincorporated-territory reach is a public place or public street in a prohibited area (Penal Code 26400(a)(2)).

Penal Code 17030 defines "prohibited area" as "any place where it is unlawful to discharge a weapon." Because discharging a firearm is unlawful in most populated areas, most developed land in California falls within this definition. If you are not on private property you own or lawfully control, treat open carry without a license as illegal.

Sensitive Places Under Penal Code 26230

Even a Section 26150 or 26155 license-holder may not carry on or into the locations listed in Penal Code 26230(a). The list is long and was added by Senate Bill 2 (2023). Most of its categories are currently enforceable, but six categories are currently enjoined and not being enforced while the litigation continues. The breakdown below follows California Department of Justice Division of Law Enforcement Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06.

Currently enforceable categories include, among others:

• Places prohibited by Penal Code 626.9 (school zones), subdivision (a)(1).
• Preschools and childcare facilities, subdivision (a)(2).
• State executive and legislative branch buildings, subdivision (a)(3).
• Courthouses and court buildings, subdivision (a)(4).
• Local government buildings, subdivision (a)(5).
• Adult and juvenile detention and correctional facilities, subdivision (a)(6).
• Establishments where intoxicating liquor is sold for on-premises consumption, subdivision (a)(9).
• Playgrounds and public or private youth centers, subdivision (a)(11).
• Parks, athletic areas, and athletic facilities, subdivision (a)(12).
• Most land controlled by the Department of Parks and Recreation or Department of Fish and Wildlife, subdivision (a)(13).
• Colleges and universities, subdivision (a)(14).
• Casinos and other gambling or gaming facilities, subdivision (a)(15).
• Stadiums and arenas, subdivision (a)(16).
• Public libraries, subdivision (a)(17).
• Airports and passenger vessel terminals (as defined in Penal Code 171.5), subdivision (a)(18).
• Amusement parks, subdivision (a)(19).
• Zoos and museums, subdivision (a)(20).
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission facilities, subdivision (a)(21).
• Police, sheriff, and highway patrol stations, subdivision (a)(24).
• Polling places and locations where votes are cast or counted, subdivision (a)(25).

Currently enjoined categories (not being enforced pending further appeal):

• Hospitals, medical offices, mental health facilities, nursing homes, and urgent care facilities, subdivision (a)(7).
• Buses, trains, and other publicly funded transportation, and transportation-authority property, subdivision (a)(8).
• Permitted public gatherings and special events, subdivision (a)(10).
• Places of worship, subdivision (a)(22).
• Financial institutions, subdivision (a)(23).
• Any privately owned commercial establishment open to the public, unless the operator posts a sign permitting licensed carry, subdivision (a)(26). This default no-carry rule for private businesses is one of the most significant SB 2 changes, and it is currently enjoined.

Because the enjoined categories are not being enforced right now, the posted-sign requirement for a place of worship or a private business is not presently operative for a licensee. That can change if the injunction is lifted, so confirm the current status before relying on it.

Penal Code 26230 also contains limited carve-outs that let a licensee transport or store a firearm locked in a roster-listed lock box within a vehicle in many of these parking areas (subdivisions (b) and (c)), and a travel exception for passing along a public right-of-way that touches the listed premises (subdivision (f)). The travel exception does not apply to college and university grounds under subdivision (a)(14), which expressly include parking areas, sidewalks, and common areas.

Litigation status: Penal Code 26230 has been heavily litigated (May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta, decided together with Wolford v. Lopez in the Ninth Circuit). A December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California had blocked enforcement of many of the sensitive-place provisions. Effective January 23, 2025, the Ninth Circuit reversed that preliminary injunction in large part, making 20 of the 26 sensitive-place categories enforceable. The court did not stay the injunction; it reversed it as to those categories. Six categories remain enjoined: subdivisions (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(10), (a)(22), (a)(23), and (a)(26), as identified in Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06. Confirm the latest status with the California Attorney General's office or current Department of Justice guidance before relying on the list, and see the Prohibited Places section of this guide.

Open Carry in Vehicles

You cannot open-carry in a vehicle in California, license or not. Penal Code 25850(a) applies when a loaded firearm is carried "on the person or in a vehicle" in a public place or on a public street. Penal Code 26350(a)(2) is explicit that a person is guilty of openly carrying an unloaded handgun when carrying an exposed and unloaded handgun "inside or on a vehicle, whether or not on his or her person." There is no general "in your own car" carve-out in California open-carry law.

Lawful Transport Without a CCW or Open-Carry License

A person without a carry license may still transport a firearm by following California's storage-and-transport rules:

1. Unload the firearm completely. Keep ammunition separate from the firearm.
2. For a handgun, place it in a locked container. California defines a locked container as a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar device. A glove box or center console does not qualify.
3. Place the locked container out of reach of the passenger compartment, for example in the trunk.

These requirements and the recognized transport purposes (travel to or from a range, gunsmith, hunting location, gun show, place of sale, or a residential move) are detailed in the Transport section of this guide. Long guns and certain regulated firearms (assault weapons, large-capacity magazines) carry additional restrictions. Read the Transport section before moving any firearm.

If a Peace Officer Asks to Inspect

Penal Code 25850(b) authorizes a peace officer to examine any firearm carried by a person on the person or in a vehicle in any public place or on any public street, for the limited purpose of determining whether it is loaded. The statute provides that refusing to allow the inspection constitutes probable cause for arrest for a violation of Section 25850. This inspection authority is specific to Section 25850 (loaded carry).

Penalties

The penalty scheme under Penal Code 25850(c) is the most severe of the three statutes because it covers loaded firearms. The grade depends on aggravators:

Mandatory minimum. Penal Code 25850(d) requires a minimum three-month county jail term for any Section 25850 conviction where the defendant has a prior conviction for an offense enumerated in Penal Code 23515, or for any crime made punishable under a provision listed in Penal Code 16580. The court may depart from the minimum only in unusual cases where the interests of justice would be served, and it must state the reasons on the record and enter them in the minutes.

Federal-eligibility carve-out. Penal Code 25850(e) provides that a Section 25850 violation punished by up to one year in county jail does not count as a conviction punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year for purposes of federal firearms eligibility under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). This narrow protection does not apply to the felony tiers.

Penal Code 26350 and Penal Code 26400 (unloaded carry) are misdemeanors at baseline. Each statute also provides an enhanced jail-eligible grade where the firearm and unexpended compatible ammunition are in the person's immediate possession and the person is not in lawful possession of the firearm (Penal Code 26350(b)(2), 26400(b)(2)). Under both statutes, each firearm is a distinct and separate offense (Penal Code 26350(d), 26400(d)), so carrying three exposed unloaded handguns can support three counts.

All three statutes preserve prosecutorial flexibility: nothing in them precludes prosecution under any other law carrying a greater penalty (Penal Code 25850(f), 26350(c)(1), 26400(c)(1)). An open-carry stop can therefore lead to additional charges such as felon in possession or prohibited-person in possession.

Definition of "Concealed" and Why Open Carry Matters

Penal Code 25400 defines the offense of carrying a concealed firearm. The line between concealed carry under Section 25400 and open carry under Sections 25850 and 26350 turns on whether the firearm is exposed. Section 26400 sits outside that line: it applies to an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun carried on the person, whether exposed or concealed.

In most states this distinction marks two separate lawful options. In California, both options are crimes for unlicensed carriers in most public places. The exposed-versus-concealed line therefore matters mainly because it determines which statute a prosecutor charges, not whether the conduct is lawful.

A loaded-and-exposed license under Section 26150(c)(2) or 26155(c)(2) (low-population counties only) requires exposed carry. A standard CCW license under those sections requires concealment. The geographic scope of a CCW differs from the open-carry license; see the Application Process section.

Key Statutes Reference

Notes and Cautions

• "Prohibited area" carries the Penal Code 17030 meaning (any place where discharging a weapon is unlawful). Confirm whether a given unincorporated locale qualifies before relying on geographic-scope language.
• The exemption lists in Penal Code 26361 and following (handguns) and Penal Code 26405 (non-handgun long guns) are detailed; this guide summarizes only the most commonly invoked exceptions.
• Loaded-and-exposed open-carry licenses are valid only in the issuing county and only where that county's population is under 200,000. Verify the geographic limitation printed on the license.
• Penal Code 26230 sensitive-place provisions are the subject of ongoing litigation. As of Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06, 20 of the 26 categories are enforceable and six remain enjoined (subdivisions (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(10), (a)(22), (a)(23), and (a)(26)). Confirm the current enforceable scope before relying on the list.
• California's open-carry ban itself is being challenged (Baird v. Bonta). Until a final, effective court order says otherwise, the prohibitions remain enforceable. Check current California Department of Justice guidance before relying on any change.

California Concealed Carry Training Requirements

Overview

California is a licensed shall-issue carry state. A person who wants to carry a concealed firearm in public must obtain a California Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) license. The license is issued by a county sheriff under Penal Code 26150, or by the chief or other head of a municipal police department under Penal Code 26155, or by either one where the two agencies have an agreement to process applications. For a California resident, that is normally the sheriff or police chief where the applicant lives or works. Effective January 1, 2026, Assembly Bill 1078 (AB 1078, Stats. 2025, ch. 570) also created a non-resident licensing pathway, so an out-of-state resident may apply to a California licensing authority under Penal Code 26150, subdivision (b), or 26155, subdivision (b). Carrying a concealed firearm without a license is a crime under Penal Code 25400, and carrying a loaded firearm in public without a license is a crime under Penal Code 25850.

Every CCW applicant, whether applying for a new license or a renewal, must complete a course of training before the license is issued. The minimum requirements for that course are set by Penal Code 26165. The current version of Penal Code 26165 took effect on January 1, 2024 as part of Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), the legislation California enacted after New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022). SB 2 substantially expanded the required training and created a state Department of Justice (DOJ) instructor certification framework.

One sequencing point matters. Under Penal Code 26202, subdivision (d)(1), the licensing authority first makes an initial determination, within 90 days of a completed application, of whether the applicant is a disqualified person. Only after the applicant clears that initial determination does the applicant proceed with the training requirements of Penal Code 26165. Consistent with this, Penal Code 26165, subdivision (e), provides that an applicant is not required to pay for any training course before that initial disqualification determination is made.

Course of Training Requirements (Penal Code 26165)

Minimum Course Length

• New (initial) applicants: The course must be no less than 16 hours in length (Penal Code 26165, subd. (a)(1)).
• Renewal applicants: The course must be no less than 8 hours in length and must satisfy the content, instructor, examination, and live-fire requirements of paragraphs (2) through (6) of subdivision (a) (Penal Code 26165, subd. (d)). A person whom the licensing authority has certified as a trainer for purposes of this section is not required to take a renewal course to renew their own license.
• Optional community college course: Notwithstanding the above, a licensing authority may instead require a community college course certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), up to a maximum of 24 hours, but only if it is required uniformly of all license applicants without exception (Penal Code 26165, subd. (c)).

Required Course Content

The training course must include instruction on all of the following topics (Penal Code 26165, subd. (a)(2)):

• Firearm safety
• Firearm handling
• Shooting technique
• Safe storage of firearms
• Legal methods to transport firearms and to secure firearms in vehicles
• The laws governing where permitholders may carry firearms
• The laws regarding the permissible use of a firearm
• The laws regarding the permissible use of lethal force in self-defense

Mental Health Component

The course must include a component, no less than one hour in length, on mental health and mental health resources (Penal Code 26165, subd. (a)(3)). This is the only portion of the course that may be taught by a person who is not a DOJ certified firearms instructor.

Instructor Requirement

Except for the mental health component, the course must be taught and supervised by firearms instructors certified by the California DOJ pursuant to Penal Code 31635, or in a manner prescribed by regulation (Penal Code 26165, subd. (a)(4)). The DOJ has implemented this through the CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor framework in the California Code of Regulations, title 11, section 4410 and following sections.

Written Examination

The course must require students to pass a written examination demonstrating their understanding of the covered topics (Penal Code 26165, subd. (a)(5)). The examination tests understanding of the subjects listed in subdivisions (a)(2) and (a)(3).

Live-Fire Requirement

The course must include live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range and a demonstration by the applicant of safe handling of, and shooting proficiency with, each firearm the applicant is applying to be licensed to carry (Penal Code 26165, subd. (a)(6)). Each issuing authority must establish, and make available to the public, the standards it uses for the required live-fire exercises, including a minimum number of rounds to be fired and minimum passing scores from specified firing distances (Penal Code 26165, subd. (b)).

Course Completion

Applicants must obtain a certificate or proof of completion from an approved course before the license is issued. Because the live-fire standards and the lists of acceptable courses are set locally, approved-instructor and approved-course information is maintained by the individual issuing authority (county sheriff or city police chief).

CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor Requirements

Effective January 1, 2024, an instructor who teaches the Penal Code 26165 course (other than the standalone mental health component) must be a CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor. The requirements below come from the DOJ Bureau of Firearms and the California Code of Regulations, title 11, section 4410.

Basic Qualifications

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Hold a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE), as proof of the ability to lawfully possess firearms in California, which must be obtained before applying (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, sec. 4410, subd. (a)).
• Provide a copy of a valid California driver license or California identification card issued by the DMV.
• If that ID shows "FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY" on the front, also present proof of lawful presence in the United States using a document listed in California Code of Regulations, title 11, section 4045.1, subdivision (b), referenced by section 4410, subdivision (b).

Training Certification Requirement

The applicant must submit a copy of an active or unexpired training certification from one of the following (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, sec. 4410, subd. (c)):

1. Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), Department of Consumer Affairs - Firearm Training Instructor
2. Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) - Firearms Instructor, Rangemaster, or Concealed Carry Tactics Instructor
3. Authorization from a State of California accredited school to teach a firearm training course
4. California Highway Patrol or California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Firearms Instructor, Weapons Instructor, or Rangemaster
5. National Rifle Association (NRA) - Law Enforcement Instructor, or Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor (the latter must additionally be both an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and an NRA Personal Protection in the Home Instructor)

Live-Fire Shooting Qualification

Within six months before submitting the application, both initial and renewal instructor applicants must pass a live-fire shooting qualification course on a firing range. The shooting course must be administered by someone certified by one of the following (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, sec. 4410, subd. (d)):

• BSIS Firearm Training Instructor
• Federal Government Certified Rangemaster or Firearm Instructor
• Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Firearm Instructor Training Program or Rangemaster
• United States Military MOS as a marksmanship or firearms instructor (assignment as a Range Officer or Safety Officer is not sufficient)
• POST Firearms Instructor, Rangemaster, or Concealed Carry Tactics Instructor
• A State of California accredited school authorized to teach a firearm training course
• CHP or CDCR Firearms Instructor, Weapons Instructor, or Rangemaster
• NRA Law Enforcement Instructor, or Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor (with the additional NRA certifications noted above)

Conflict of interest rule: An applicant may not administer their own shooting qualification (Form BOF 1034, Rev. 02/2024).

Certification Duration and Renewal

• The CCW Program DOJ Instructor Certification is valid for four years, provided the instructor maintains a valid COE (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, sec. 4410, subd. (e)).
• The COE must be renewed annually for the certification to remain valid.
• There is no DOJ fee for the instructor application itself, although the COE has its own fees.

FSC Program vs. CCW Program

The Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) Program is separate from the CCW Program. Being certified as an FSC Program DOJ Certified Instructor does not automatically qualify a person as a CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor. A person may apply for certification under either program, or both, independently. An existing FSC instructor certification was not ended by the January 1, 2024 CCW instructor requirements.

Peace Officer Exemption

Any active or honorably retired peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is certified as a Firearms Instructor by POST may provide the Penal Code 26165 course without applying for DOJ certification. Reserve peace officers appointed under Penal Code 830.6 do not qualify for this exemption (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, sec. 4412).

Grounds for Instructor Certification Revocation

A CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor's certification will be revoked for any of the following (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, sec. 4411, subds. (a)-(b)):

• The instructor made false statements on the application.
• The training course fails to meet the minimum hourly length required by Penal Code 26165, subdivisions (a)(1) or (d).
• The training course fails to include instruction on the topics listed in Penal Code 26165, subdivision (a)(2).
• The instructor fails to require students to pass a written examination demonstrating understanding of the topics listed in Penal Code 26165, subdivisions (a)(2) and (3).
• The training course fails to include the live-fire shooting exercises, safe handling demonstration, or demonstration of shooting proficiency required by Penal Code 26165, subdivision (a)(6).
• Public safety may be endangered if the instructor were to retain the certification.

Any person may notify the DOJ if they believe a certified instructor's certification should be revoked, stating the supporting facts and providing any relevant documents or evidence. Replacement instructor certificates are available at no cost by emailing DOJCertifiedInstructor@doj.ca.gov.

Applicant Eligibility (in Brief)

Training is one of several conditions for a CCW license. To be issued a resident license under Penal Code 26150, subdivision (a), or 26155, subdivision (a), a California resident must, among other things:

• Be at least 21 years of age and present clear evidence of identity and age, as defined in Penal Code 16400 (Penal Code 26150, subd. (a)(2); 26155, subd. (a)(2)).
• Be a resident of the issuing county or city, or have a principal place of employment or business there (Penal Code 26150, subd. (a)(3); 26155, subd. (a)(3)).
• Complete the Penal Code 26165 training course (Penal Code 26150, subd. (a)(4); 26155, subd. (a)(4)).
• Be the recorded owner, with the DOJ, of the firearm for which the license will be issued (Penal Code 26150, subd. (a)(5); 26155, subd. (a)(5)).
• Not be a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202, and not be prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm (Penal Code 26195, subd. (a)).

Non-resident applicants. Effective January 1, 2026, AB 1078 added a separate pathway for people who do not live in California. A non-California resident may apply for a new license or a renewal to a county sheriff (Penal Code 26150, subd. (b)) or a city police chief (Penal Code 26155, subd. (b)), and must attest under oath that the jurisdiction of application is the primary location in California where they intend to travel or spend time. The training conditions track the resident rules, with two accommodations specific to non-residents:

• The applicant must complete a course of training meeting the criteria of paragraphs (1) through (5) of Penal Code 26165, subdivision (a), and subdivision (d), as applied by the licensing authority. If that licensing authority has not approved any online training courses, the applicant may complete an online training course approved by any other licensing authority that issues licenses under the same section (Penal Code 26150, subd. (b)(4); 26155, subd. (b)(4)).
• The applicant must complete the live-fire shooting exercises required by Penal Code 26165, subdivision (a)(6), for each firearm to be licensed. The applicant informs the licensing authority of the live-fire course they intend to complete, and the authority must either approve that course or suggest an acceptable alternative within 75 miles of the applicant's residence (Penal Code 26150, subd. (b)(5); 26155, subd. (b)(5)).

DOJ Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-03 (March 24, 2026) provides implementing guidance for non-resident applications.

Penal Code 26202 sets out the objective disqualifiers that replaced the discretionary "good cause" and "good moral character" standards used before Bruen and SB 2. They include, among others, being reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others, or the community; certain restraining or protective orders that have not expired or been canceled more than five years before the completed application (Penal Code 26202, subd. (a)(3)); specified recent convictions or charges; current abuse of, or recent custody, probation, or parole connected to, controlled substances or alcohol; and certain firearm loss or reporting failures. The licensing authority must also conduct an investigation that includes an in-person interview and character reference interviews (Penal Code 26202, subd. (b)). A full treatment of these disqualifiers appears in the Permit Basics section.

The standard CCW license is valid for a period not to exceed two years from the date of issuance (Penal Code 26220, subd. (a)); shorter or longer terms apply to employment-based licenses, judges, and certain officers. The licensing authority must give written notice approving or denying the application within 120 days of a completed application, or 30 days after receiving the DOJ report, whichever is later (Penal Code 26205, subd. (a)).

Key Legal References

Additional Notes

• Application form for instructors: CCW Program DOJ Certified Instructor applicants apply using Form BOF 1034 (Rev. 02/2024), available through the DOJ Bureau of Firearms forms page. The COE application and instructions are available on the Bureau of Firearms website.
• Local variation: Because live-fire standards and approved-course lists are set by each issuing authority, training hours actually offered, round counts, and passing scores can vary between counties and cities even though the statutory minimums are uniform. Confirm specifics with your local sheriff or police department.
• Ongoing litigation: Several provisions of SB 2, particularly the sensitive-places carry restrictions in Penal Code 26230, have been challenged in federal court (for example, May v. Bonta) and parts have been enjoined or stayed at various points. The training requirements in Penal Code 26165 have generally remained in effect, but applicants and instructors should verify the current enforcement status of any SB 2 provision with their local issuing authority and the California DOJ before relying on it.

This content is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Verify all requirements with your local issuing authority and the California DOJ Bureau of Firearms.

California Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) License Application Process

Overview

California is a licensed carry state, not a permitless or constitutional carry state. A license is required to carry a handgun concealed in public (Penal Code 25400) and to carry a loaded firearm in most public places (Penal Code 25850). Open carry of a handgun in public is generally prohibited (Penal Code 26350), and open carry of a long gun in public is prohibited (Penal Code 26400), so the CCW license is the primary lawful path to carrying a firearm for self-defense in public.

The licensing framework runs from Penal Code 26150 through 26230. Applications are submitted to either the county sheriff (Penal Code 26150) or the chief or other head of a municipal police department (Penal Code 26155). Each licensing authority must publish and make available a written policy summarizing Penal Code 26150 and subdivisions (a) and (b) of 26155 (Penal Code 26160).

This area of law changed substantially after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), which struck down "good cause" discretionary licensing. California responded with Senate Bill 2 (Stats. 2023, Ch. 249, effective January 1, 2024), which removed good cause, rewrote the eligibility standards, added a detailed disqualifier list, increased the training requirement, and created a long list of "sensitive places" at Penal Code 26230. The licensing statutes were amended again by Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026, which is the version described below.

Basic Eligibility

To receive or renew a CCW license, an applicant must meet all of the following:

• Age: At least 21 years of age, with clear evidence of identity and age as defined in Penal Code 16400 (Penal Code 26150(a)(2), 26155(a)(2)).
• Not a disqualified person: The applicant must not be a disqualified person under the standards in Penal Code 26202 (Penal Code 26150(a)(1), 26155(a)(1)).
• Firearm ownership: For a resident, the applicant must be the recorded owner, with the California Department of Justice, of the handgun for which the license will be issued (Penal Code 26150(a)(5), 26155(a)(5)).
• Training: The applicant must complete the course of training described in Penal Code 26165.
• Residency or qualifying connection: A resident must apply in the county or city where they reside (Penal Code 26150(a)(3), 26155(a)(3)). A sheriff may also issue to a person whose principal place of employment or business is in the county, but that license carries a much shorter term (see License Term below).

Because the statute now uses the word "shall" issue upon proof of these elements, California operates as a shall-issue state. The licensing authority retains discretion only over the investigation, the disqualifier determination, and reasonable conditions on the license (Penal Code 26200(b)).

Disqualifying Conditions (Penal Code 26202)

Penal Code 26202 sets out the standards for deciding whether an applicant is a disqualified person. An applicant is disqualified if any one or more of the following apply, unless a court determines otherwise under Penal Code 26206:

• The applicant is reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others, or the community at large, as shown by the application, the investigation, or any psychological assessment (26202(a)(1)).
• Conviction of contempt of court under Penal Code 166, or a comparable offense (26202(a)(2)).
• Being subject to certain restraining, protective, or other court orders, unless the order expired or was vacated more than five years before the completed application (26202(a)(3)).
• Conviction within the prior 10 years of an offense listed in Penal Code 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, or 29805 (26202(a)(4)).
• Unlawful or reckless use, display, or brandishing of a firearm (26202(a)(5)).
• Within the prior 10 years, being charged with an offense listed in Penal Code 290, 667.5, 1192.7, 1192.8, or 29805 that was dismissed under a plea or a Harvey waiver (26202(a)(6)).
• Within the prior five years, being incarcerated, on probation, parole, or supervision for a controlled substance or alcohol offense (26202(a)(7)).
• Being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance as described in 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) (26202(a)(8)).
• Currently abusing a controlled substance or alcohol (26202(a)(9)).
• Loss or theft of multiple firearms in the prior 10 years due to noncompliance with storage, transport, or securing laws (26202(a)(10)).
• Failure to report a lost or stolen firearm as required by Penal Code 25250 or other law (26202(a)(11)).

If the licensing authority makes a final determination that the applicant is a disqualified person under 26202(a)(8) (unlawful drug use), it must report the applicant to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System within five days (Penal Code 26202(f)).

California Resident Application Process

1. Application Form

Applications are uniform statewide on forms prescribed by the Attorney General (Penal Code 26175(a)). In practice the California Department of Justice publishes the Standard Initial and Renewal Application for a License to Carry a Concealed Weapon (commonly the BOF 4012 series), which licensing authorities may also offer through online portals. The application requires identifying information, criminal and mental health history disclosures, and the names and contact information of three references, at least one of whom must be a person described in Penal Code 273.5(b) and at least one of whom must be the applicant's cohabitant, if applicable (Penal Code 26175(c)). The applicant must attest to the truth of the statements in the application (Penal Code 26175(f)).

2. Identification and Residency

Residents must present clear evidence of identity and age (Penal Code 26150(a)(2), 26155(a)(2)) and must be a resident of the county or city to which they apply. Prima facie evidence of residency includes voter registration address and a homeowner's property tax exemption filing, and the presumption can be rebutted by evidence that the primary residence is elsewhere (Penal Code 26150(a)(3), 26155(a)(3)).

3. Background Investigation and Interview

The licensing authority must conduct an investigation meeting the minimum requirements of Penal Code 26202(b), which include:

• An interview of the applicant. The statute requires this interview for a license issued under subdivision (b) of Section 26150 or subdivision (b) of Section 26155, which is the non-resident license, and the applicant elects between an in-person interview and a virtual interview by video and audio. For renewal applications, the licensing authority may forgo this interview requirement (Penal Code 26202(b)(1)).
• Interviews with at least three character references, at least one of whom must be a person described in Penal Code 273.5(b), and at least one of whom must be the applicant's cohabitant, if applicable (Penal Code 26202(b)(2)).
• A review of publicly available information, including statements published or posted by the applicant (Penal Code 26202(b)(3)).
• A review of the application and of the information provided by the Department of Justice (Penal Code 26202(b)(4) and (b)(5)).
• A review of the California Restraining and Protective Order System through CLETS (Penal Code 26202(b)(6)).

4. Initial Determination (90 Days)

Within 90 days of receiving the completed application, the licensing authority must give the applicant written notice of its initial determination of whether the applicant is a disqualified person (Penal Code 26202(d)). If the initial determination is that the applicant is not disqualified, the notice directs the applicant to proceed with the training requirement and the authority then submits fingerprints or the renewal notification to the Department of Justice (Penal Code 26202(d)(1)). If the determination is that the applicant is disqualified, the notice states the reason and informs the applicant of the right to a court hearing under Penal Code 26206 (Penal Code 26202(d)(2)).

5. Fingerprinting and DOJ Background Check

Upon the initial non-disqualified determination, the licensing authority submits the applicant's fingerprint images and related information to the Department of Justice, which determines whether the applicant is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a firearm (Penal Code 26185). No new license may issue unless the Department confirms the applicant's eligibility (Penal Code 26185(a)(3)). Fingerprints are typically captured through Live Scan, and the cost of furnishing the background information is recovered through the fees described in Penal Code 26190.

6. Required Training Course (Penal Code 26165)

For new applicants, the training course must be acceptable to the licensing authority and meet these statutory minimums (Penal Code 26165(a)):

• No less than 16 hours in length (26165(a)(1)).
• Instruction on firearm safety, firearm handling, shooting technique, safe storage, legal transport and securing of firearms in vehicles, the laws on where permitholders may carry, the laws on permissible use of a firearm, and the laws on permissible use of lethal force in self-defense (26165(a)(2)).
• A component of no less than one hour on mental health and mental health resources (26165(a)(3)).
• Except for the mental health component, instruction by firearms instructors certified by the Department of Justice under Penal Code 31635, or as prescribed by regulation (26165(a)(4)).
• A written examination that students must pass (26165(a)(5)).
• Live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range, including a demonstration of safe handling and shooting proficiency with each firearm the applicant seeks to carry (26165(a)(6)).

Each licensing authority must publish the standards it uses for the live-fire exercises, including the minimum number of rounds and minimum passing scores at specified distances (Penal Code 26165(b)). A licensing authority may instead require a community college course certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, up to a maximum of 24 hours, but only if required uniformly of all applicants (Penal Code 26165(c)). For renewals, the course must be at least eight hours and satisfy paragraphs (2) through (6) of subdivision (a) (Penal Code 26165(d)).

An applicant is not required to pay for any training course before the initial determination of whether the applicant is a disqualified person (Penal Code 26165(e), referring to 26202(d)(1)). Note that the statute requires Department of Justice instructor certification under Penal Code 31635; particular brand credentials (for example USCCA, NRA, or POST instructor certifications) are accepted only insofar as the instructor also holds the required DOJ certification and the course meets the 26165 criteria. Applicants should confirm with their specific licensing authority which courses it accepts.

7. Psychological Assessment (If Required)

A licensing authority may require a psychological assessment. If it does, the applicant is referred to a licensed psychologist acceptable to the authority and may be charged the actual cost of the assessment, which may not exceed the licensing authority's reasonable costs (Penal Code 26190(e)). For renewals, an additional assessment is required only if there is compelling evidence of a public safety concern (Penal Code 26190(e)(2)).

8. Fees (Penal Code 26190)

• A Department of Justice fee, set by the Department and limited to its processing costs for the background information and report required by Penal Code 26185 (Penal Code 26190(a)).
• An additional local fee equal to the reasonable costs of processing, issuing, and enforcing the license, excluding fingerprint and training costs. The first 50 percent of this local fee may be collected when the application is filed, and the balance is collected only upon issuance of the license (Penal Code 26190(b)).
• A fee for an amended license, not to exceed the licensing authority's reasonable costs (Penal Code 26190(d)).

9. Firearms Listed on the License

A resident must be the Department of Justice recorded owner of each handgun for which the license will be issued (Penal Code 26150(a)(5), 26155(a)(5)). The issued license itself must describe each authorized firearm by manufacturer name, model, serial number, and caliber (Penal Code 26175(i)). A licensee may not carry more than two firearms under their control at one time (Penal Code 26200(d)), and may carry only firearms listed on the license (Penal Code 26200(a)(4)).

10. Issuance or Denial (120 Days)

The licensing authority must give written notice approving or denying the license within 120 days of receiving the completed application, or within 30 days after receipt of the Department of Justice information, whichever is later (Penal Code 26205). If the license is denied, the notice must state which requirement was not satisfied (Penal Code 26205(b)). A denied applicant may request a hearing from a court under Penal Code 26206.

The issued license must set forth the licensee's full name, driver's license or identification number, date of birth, physical description, license type and issuance and expiration dates, the licensee's fingerprints and photograph, and a description of each authorized firearm (Penal Code 26175(i)). Records of issuance, denial, amendment, and revocation are maintained by the licensing authority and copies are filed with the Department of Justice (Penal Code 26225).

Non-California Resident Application Process

California has a general non-resident CCW pathway. Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570, effective January 1, 2026) amended Penal Code 26150 and 26155 so that subdivision (b) of each statute now governs non-California-resident applications, under which a sheriff or police chief "shall" issue or renew a license to a non-resident who meets the conditions below. This codification followed a January 22, 2025 preliminary injunction in California Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. v. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (No. 2:23-cv-10169-SPG, C.D. Cal.), which had earlier required some California authorities to accept non-resident applications. With AB 1078 in effect, the statutory standard, rather than the injunction alone, governs non-resident applications. Applicants should still verify current procedures with the specific California licensing authority.

A non-resident must satisfy all of the following (Penal Code 26150(b), 26155(b)):

• Not a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202 and all comparable statutes of the applicant's state of residence (26150(b)(1), 26155(b)(1)).
• Age and identity: At least 21 years of age, with clear evidence of identity, age, and state of residence, meaning either a valid driver's license from the state of residence or a valid out-of-state DMV identification card (26150(b)(2), 26155(b)(2)).
• Attestation of primary California location: The applicant attests under oath that the jurisdiction to which they apply is the primary location in California where they intend to travel or spend time (26150(b)(3), 26155(b)(3)).
• Training: The applicant completes a course meeting paragraphs (1) through (5) of Penal Code 26165(a) and subdivision (d) of 26165. If the licensing authority has not approved any online training course, the applicant may complete one approved by any other licensing authority that issues these licenses (26150(b)(4), 26155(b)(4)).
• Live-fire: The applicant completes the live-fire exercises required by Penal Code 26165(a)(6) for each firearm. The licensing authority either approves the applicant's proposed course or suggests an acceptable alternative within 75 miles of the applicant's residence (26150(b)(5), 26155(b)(5)).
• Firearm identification: The applicant identifies on the application the make, model, caliber, and serial number of each firearm to be carried in California. A firearm that cannot lawfully be carried or possessed in California is cause for denial as to that firearm (26150(b)(6), 26155(b)(6)).

Because the non-resident license is the license issued under subdivision (b) of Penal Code 26150 or 26155, the interview requirement of Penal Code 26202(b)(1) applies to non-resident applicants, and the interview may be conducted in person or, at the applicant's election, virtually by video and audio (Penal Code 26202(b)(1)). Any required psychological assessment may be virtual or with a provider within 75 miles of the applicant's residence (Penal Code 26190(e)(1)). It remains the applicant's responsibility to confirm that any handgun carried is legal to possess and carry in California.

License Term (Penal Code 26220)

• Standard license: Valid for a period not to exceed two years from the date of issuance (Penal Code 26220(a)).
• Employment or business basis (sheriff licenses): Valid for not more than 90 days, and only in the county of issuance (Penal Code 26220(b)).
• Judges and magistrates: Up to three years for a judge or full-time court commissioner of a California court of record, or a judge or magistrate of a federal court (Penal Code 26220(c)).
• Custodial officers and reserve peace officers: Up to four years for a custodial officer employed by the sheriff under Penal Code 831.5, or for a peace officer appointed under Penal Code 830.6, subject to the underlying appointment (Penal Code 26220(d), (e)).

If a licenseholder fails to apply for renewal within 90 days of the license expiration, the licensing authority requests that the Department of Justice terminate subsequent-notification monitoring (Penal Code 26225(e)).

Reserve and Auxiliary Peace Officer Licenses (Penal Code 26170)

A separate license is available to a person deputized or appointed as a peace officer under Penal Code 830.6, on proof that the applicant is not a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202, is at least 21 years of age, holds the qualifying appointment, and is the recorded owner of, or is authorized to carry, the firearm (Penal Code 26170). Fees for this license may be waived (Penal Code 26170(b)).

Conditions and Where the License Does Not Authorize Carry

A license is subject to statutory conditions in Penal Code 26200, including that the licensee not consume or be under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance while carrying, not carry a firearm not listed on the license, carry the license on their person, and present the license or firearm to a peace officer on demand. The licensing authority may also impose reasonable additional restrictions on time, place, manner, and circumstances, which must be indicated on the license (Penal Code 26200(b), (c)).

A license does not authorize carry in the "sensitive places" listed in Penal Code 26230, which was added by SB 2 and amended by AB 1078. This list includes, among many other locations, places prohibited by the Gun-Free School Zone Act (Penal Code 626.9), preschools and childcare facilities, and government buildings. Penal Code 26230 has been the subject of extensive litigation. A December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction (May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta, Central District of California) blocked enforcement of many of the listed locations. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit reversed that injunction in large part, with its mandate effective January 23, 2025, so most of the sensitive places are now enforceable. Six categories remain enjoined and are not currently being enforced pending further appeal: hospitals and medical facilities (26230(a)(7)), public transit (a)(8), permitted public gatherings and special events (a)(10), places of worship (a)(22), financial institutions (a)(23), and privately owned commercial establishments open to the public, which is the default no-carry-without-a-posted-sign rule (a)(26). See the Prohibited Places section for the full breakdown of which locations are in effect and which remain enjoined.

Key Statutory References

Recent Developments

• Effective January 1, 2024 (Senate Bill 2, Stats. 2023, Ch. 249): Removed the "good cause" requirement after Bruen, rewrote eligibility, expanded the disqualifier list (Penal Code 26202), increased training to a 16-hour minimum with a mental health component (Penal Code 26165), and created the sensitive-places list (Penal Code 26230).
• Effective January 1, 2026 (Assembly Bill 1078, Stats. 2025, Ch. 570): Amended the licensing statutes, including the non-resident licensing pathway in Penal Code 26150(b) and 26155(b) and the license-format options in 26150(c) and 26155(c), and revising the investigation, fingerprinting, fee, and reporting provisions (Penal Code 26185, 26190, 26202, 26205, 26225, 26230).
• Sensitive-places litigation (May v. Bonta / Carralero v. Bonta): The Ninth Circuit reversed the December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction in large part, with its mandate effective January 23, 2025. As a result, 20 of the 26 sensitive places in Penal Code 26230(a) are now enforceable. Six categories remain enjoined and are not currently being enforced pending further appeal: 26230(a)(7) hospitals and medical facilities, (a)(8) public transit, (a)(10) permitted public gatherings and special events, (a)(22) places of worship, (a)(23) financial institutions, and (a)(26) privately owned commercial establishments open to the public. Confirm the current status of any provision and any controlling court order before relying on it.

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.

California CCW License Renewal Process

A California license to carry a concealed weapon (CCW) is issued by the county sheriff (California Penal Code 26150) or a city police chief (Penal Code 26155). The license is what allows a person to carry a handgun concealed (Penal Code 25400) or loaded in public (Penal Code 25850). When a license nears the end of its term, the holder must renew through the same type of issuing authority. The core renewal rules are set statewide by the Penal Code, but each county and city builds its own application forms, online portals, fee amounts, and scheduling around that framework, so the exact steps vary by jurisdiction.

This section reflects the licensing scheme as revised by Senate Bill 2 (2023), which took effect January 1, 2024 after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Assn. v. Bruen (2022), and as further restructured by Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026. SB 2 removed the old "good cause" requirement, replaced the "good moral character" test with an objective disqualified-person standard, and rewrote the training, fee, and processing rules described below. AB 1078 reorganized Penal Code 26150 and 26155 so that subdivision (a) covers California-resident applications, subdivision (b) sets out a pathway for non-California-resident applicants, and subdivision (c) lists the license format options. Several parts of the SB 2 package, especially the sensitive-places list, remain in active litigation, so verify current status with your issuing authority before relying on any single point.

License Term: When You Must Renew

California does not set one flat term for every license. Under Penal Code 26220, the term depends on the type of license:

• Standard license (issued under Penal Code 26150 or 26155): valid for any period not to exceed two years from the date of the license (Penal Code 26220(a)).
• Employment or business-based license issued under Penal Code 26150 where the place of employment or business was the basis for issuance: valid for not more than 90 days, and valid only in the county that issued it (Penal Code 26220(b)).
• Certain officials described in Penal Code 26220(c), such as judges and other specified individuals: valid for not more than three years.
• Custodial officers employed by the sheriff under Penal Code 831.5: valid for not more than four years (Penal Code 26220(d)).
• Reserve and auxiliary peace officers licensed under Penal Code 26170 and appointed under Penal Code 830.6: valid for not more than four years (Penal Code 26220(e)).

Because a standard license can be written for any period up to two years, check the actual expiration date printed on your license rather than assuming a full two-year term. Start the renewal early. Carrying after expiration means carrying without a valid license, which is the same as carrying with no license at all.

Who Renews and Where

Both California residents and non-residents renew through a county sheriff (Penal Code 26150) or a city or city-and-county police chief (Penal Code 26155), using the same authority that could issue a new license. A California resident renews under subdivision (a) of those sections on proof that the applicant is not a disqualified person, is at least 21, resides in (or has a principal place of employment or business in) the jurisdiction, has completed the required training, and is the recorded owner of the firearm. A non-California resident renews under subdivision (b), which requires that the applicant not be a disqualified person under California law and the comparable laws of the home state, be at least 21 with valid out-of-state identification, attest that the chosen jurisdiction is the primary California location where they intend to spend time, and complete the required training and live-fire exercises. The issuing authority then renews in one of the formats set by subdivision (c): a license to carry concealed (Penal Code 26150(c)(1) or 26155(c)(1)), or, only where the county population is under 200,000 by the most recent federal decennial census, a license to carry loaded and exposed in that county (Penal Code 26150(c)(2) or 26155(c)(2)).

Renewal Eligibility: The Disqualified-Person Standard

The controlling test for both new and renewal applicants is the disqualified-person standard at Penal Code 26202. Under Penal Code 26202(a), an applicant is deemed a disqualified person and cannot receive or renew a license if any one or more of the enumerated conditions apply, including:

• Being reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others, or the community at large, as shown by the application, the investigation, or any psychological assessment (Penal Code 26202(a)(1)).
• A conviction, within the 10 years before the licensing authority received the completed application, for an offense listed in Penal Code 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, or 29805 (Penal Code 26202(a)(4)). Penal Code 29805 is California's 10-year firearm prohibition for a long list of specified misdemeanors.
• Being a person prohibited by state or federal law from owning or possessing a firearm. Under California law that lifetime prohibition includes any person convicted of a felony or addicted to the use of any narcotic drug (Penal Code 29800).
• Recent commitment, incarceration, probation, parole, or supervision for offenses involving controlled substances (Health and Safety Code 11053 to 11058) or alcohol within the lookback period.
• Being an unlawful user of, or addicted to, any controlled substance as described in 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) and applicable federal regulations and guidance (Penal Code 26202(a)(8), added by Assembly Bill 1078, effective January 1, 2026). No conviction is required. Because marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law, this disqualifier can reach cannabis users even where the use is legal under California law. A licensing authority that finds an applicant disqualified on this ground must report the applicant to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Index within five days (Penal Code 26202(f)).
• Loss or theft of multiple firearms within the prior 10 years due to the applicant's noncompliance with storage, transport, or securing laws (Penal Code 26202(a)(10)).

Penal Code 26202(e) makes clear that these prohibitions apply whether or not the relevant conduct, order, conviction, charge, or commitment occurred before the law took effect. The pre-SB 2 "good moral character" prong is no longer the operative test. County application forms may still carry older language, but the controlling standard for renewal is Penal Code 26202.

A court may make a contrary determination under Penal Code 26206 (the disqualified-person finding applies "unless a court makes a contrary determination pursuant to Section 26206").

Assembly Bill 1078 also added a duty that runs during the license term rather than at renewal. Under Penal Code 26195(c), effective January 1, 2026, a licensee "shall inform the local licensing authority that issued the license of any restraining order or arrest, charge, or conviction of a crime referenced in Section 26202." Skipping that report has consequences at renewal. The Department of Justice tells licensing authorities in Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-13 that a license shall not be issued where the applicant "fails to inform the licensing authority that issued the license of any restraining order, arrest, charge, or conviction of a crime referenced in Penal Code section 26202," and that an existing license shall be revoked where the licensee failed to give that same notice.

Renewal Training Requirement

Renewal applicants must complete a renewal training course. Under Penal Code 26165(d), the renewal course:

• Must be no less than eight hours in length (the initial-applicant course must be no less than 16 hours under Penal Code 26165(a)(1)).
• Must satisfy paragraphs (2) through (6) of Penal Code 26165(a), which cover firearm safety and handling, safe storage, lawful transport, the laws governing where licensees may carry, lawful use of force in self-defense, a written examination, and live-fire shooting exercises with each firearm the applicant seeks to be licensed to carry.
• Must be taught and supervised by firearms instructors certified by the Department of Justice under Penal Code 31635 (except the mental-health component), per Penal Code 26165(a)(4).

A person whom the licensing authority has certified as a trainer for purposes of Penal Code 26165 is not required to take a renewal training course to renew their own license (Penal Code 26165(d)).

The licensing authority sets its own live-fire standards, including minimum rounds and passing scores (Penal Code 26165(b)). Some counties require that proof of course completion be dated within a set window (for example, within 90 days of the renewal application). That window is a county policy, not a statewide statutory rule, so confirm the requirement with your issuing authority.

Under Penal Code 26165(e), an applicant cannot be required to pay for training before the licensing authority makes its initial determination of whether the applicant is a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202(d)(1).

Processing Timeline

Penal Code 26202(d) requires the licensing authority, within 90 days of receiving the completed application for a new license or a license renewal, to give the applicant written notice of its initial determination:

• If the initial determination is that the applicant is not a disqualified person, the notice tells the applicant to proceed with the Penal Code 26165 training requirements, and the authority then submits the applicant's fingerprints or the renewal notification to the Department of Justice under Penal Code 26185 (Penal Code 26202(d)(1)). That initial determination must include a final determination as to whether the applicant is a disqualified person under the controlled-substance-user ground in Penal Code 26202(a)(8) (Penal Code 26202(d)(1)(B)).
• If the authority determines the applicant is a disqualified person, the notice states the denial and the reason, and informs the applicant of the right to request a hearing from a court under Penal Code 26206 (Penal Code 26202(d)(2)). That notice also satisfies the denial-notice requirement of Penal Code 26205.

The September 1, 2026 Renewal Gate

Assembly Bill 1078 rewrote the renewal side of the licensing process, and three changes across Penal Code 26185 and Penal Code 26205 turn on the date September 1, 2026. These are statewide statutory requirements. They bind every California sheriff and police chief regardless of what a particular county's forms, portal, or posted timeline says.

Fingerprints go in with the renewal notification. Before that date, the licensing authority sends the Department of Justice the renewal notification, with the fee prescribed by Penal Code 26190, and no fingerprints (Penal Code 26185(b)(1) and 26185(c)(1)). For each renewal notification submitted on or after September 1, 2026, the authority "shall also submit to the department fingerprint images and related information required by the department for each applicant applying for a renewal license to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person" (Penal Code 26185(b)(2)).

No renewal license issues until the Department of Justice confirms eligibility. For a renewal notification submitted before September 1, 2026, the department makes the prohibited-person determination and notifies the licensing agency (Penal Code 26185(c)(2)). For a renewal notification submitted on or after that date, the department makes the determination from the applicant's fingerprints, and the statute is explicit: "No renewal license shall be issued by any licensing authority unless the department confirms the applicant's eligibility to possess, receive, own, or purchase a firearm as described in this paragraph" (Penal Code 26185(c)(3)).

The decision deadline splits by filing date. For a renewal application submitted before September 1, 2026, the licensing authority must give written notice of approval or denial "within 120 days of receiving the completed application for a license renewal" (Penal Code 26205(a)(2)). For a renewal application submitted on or after that date, that notice is due "within 120 days of receiving the completed application for a license renewal, or 30 days after receipt of the information from the department described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 26185, whichever is later" (Penal Code 26205(a)(3)). A renewal filed on or after September 1, 2026 can therefore lawfully take longer than 120 days, because the second half of that test runs from the Department of Justice result rather than from your filing date.

The Department of Justice restated the renewal notice timelines in Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-13, dated August 7, 2026, which supersedes Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-03.

Missing the Deadline: The 90-Day Lapse Rule

This rule is already in force, separate from the September 1, 2026 changes above. Under Penal Code 26225(e), added by Assembly Bill 1078 and effective January 1, 2026: "If a licenseholder fails to submit an application for renewal within 90 days of the expiration of their license, the licensing authority shall immediately request that the department terminate state or federal subsequent notification pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 11105.2." Subsequent notification is the standing service at Penal Code 11105.2(d), which is the provision Section 26225(e) directs the authority to shut off. The Department of Justice describes what that service delivers in Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-13: subsequent arrest notifications to licensing authorities, along with information as to whether the person is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm. File the renewal before your license expires, and in no event more than 90 days after it expires.

Renewal Fees

California sets the fee structure by statute but lets the dollar amounts be set locally and by the Department of Justice, so totals vary by jurisdiction. Under Penal Code 26190:

• The applicant pays a Department of Justice fee at the time of filing, set by the department and not to exceed its processing costs for the information and report required by Penal Code 26185. The department may adjust it for legislatively approved annual cost-of-living increases (Penal Code 26190(a)).
• The licensing authority charges an additional local fee equal to its reasonable costs for processing, issuing, and enforcing the license, excluding fingerprint and training costs. The first 50 percent of this local fee may be collected at filing, with the balance collected only upon issuance (Penal Code 26190(b)).
• These local fees may rise only to reflect the authority's reasonable costs and may never exceed those costs (Penal Code 26190(c)).
• An amended-license fee may be charged under Penal Code 26190(d), capped at the reasonable cost of processing the amendment (see Penal Code 26215).
• If a psychological assessment is required, the applicant is referred to a licensed psychologist and may be charged the actual cost, capped at reasonable cost. For renewal applicants, an additional assessment is required only if there is compelling evidence of a public-safety concern (Penal Code 26190(e)).

Live Scan, training, range time, ammunition, and any psychological assessment are paid to the providers separately and are generally not refundable if the application is denied. As an illustration of how counties set amounts, some jurisdictions post renewal fees in the range of roughly 75 to 100 dollars plus the separate DOJ and Live Scan costs, but you should confirm the current figure with your own sheriff or police department.

Amending a License Between Renewals

A license holder does not have to wait for renewal to change what is on the license. Under Penal Code 26215(a), a licensee may apply to the issuing authority to amend the license to:

• Add or delete authority to carry a particular handgun (Penal Code 26215(a)(1)).
• Authorize the licensee to carry concealed a handgun (Penal Code 26215(a)(2)).
• In a county with fewer than 200,000 residents per the most recent federal decennial census, authorize loaded and exposed carry in that county only (Penal Code 26215(a)(3)).
• Change restrictions or conditions on the license, including time, place, manner, and circumstances (Penal Code 26215(a)(4)).

If the authority amends the license, a new license is issued reflecting the change (Penal Code 26215(b)). An amendment does not extend the original expiration date, and the license is still due for renewal at the same time as if it had not been amended (Penal Code 26215(c)). Applying to amend a license is not the same as applying to renew it (Penal Code 26215(d)).

Change of Address and County Moves

A change of address is handled by amendment, not by waiting for renewal. Under Penal Code 26210:

• When a licensee changes address, the license is amended to reflect the new address and a new license is issued under Penal Code 26215(b) (Penal Code 26210(a)).
• The licensee must notify the licensing authority in writing within 10 days of any change of residence, and the authority must notify the Department of Justice within 10 days of receiving that notice (Penal Code 26210(b)).
• A license to carry a concealed handgun may not be revoked solely because the licensee's residence has changed to another county, as long as both of two conditions are met: the licensee has not breached any condition or restriction of the license or imposed under Penal Code 26200, and the licensee has not become prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm (Penal Code 26210(c)).
• Despite that protection, if the license was issued because the licensee's place of residence was the basis for issuance, a license issued under Penal Code 26150 or 26155 expires 90 days after the licensee moves out of the county of issuance (Penal Code 26210(d)).
• A license to carry loaded and exposed is revoked immediately upon the licensee's change of residence to another county (Penal Code 26210(e)).

So moving to a new California county does not, by itself, end a standard concealed-carry license. The licensee updates the address by amendment (Penal Code 26215(b)), and as long as they have not broken a license condition or become prohibited, the concealed license stays valid (Penal Code 26210(c)). The two exceptions are a license whose issuance was based on the licensee's residence, which expires 90 days after the move (Penal Code 26210(d)), and a loaded-and-exposed license, which is revoked immediately on a move to another county (Penal Code 26210(e)). Someone moving into California from another state should apply through the sheriff or police chief where they will reside, because a prior out-of-state permit does not renew into a California license. Both residents and non-residents can hold and renew California licenses under Penal Code 26150 and 26155 (residents under subdivision (a), non-residents under subdivision (b)).

Where the License Lets You Carry Still Applies at Renewal

Renewing keeps a license valid, but it does not change the long list of locations where a licensee may not carry. SB 2 added an extensive "sensitive places" list at Penal Code 26230, effective January 1, 2024. A federal district court preliminarily enjoined much of that list in December 2023, but the Ninth Circuit reversed that injunction in large part in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta, with the mandate taking effect January 23, 2025. Most of the sensitive-place categories are now enforceable. Six categories remain enjoined and are not being enforced pending further appeal: hospitals and medical facilities (Penal Code 26230(a)(7)), public transit (Penal Code 26230(a)(8)), permitted public gatherings and special events (Penal Code 26230(a)(10)), places of worship (Penal Code 26230(a)(22)), financial institutions (Penal Code 26230(a)(23)), and the default rule barring carry in privately owned commercial establishments open to the public unless the operator posts a sign allowing it (Penal Code 26230(a)(26)). Because the case remains on appeal, the enforceable scope can change. Confirm the current boundaries with your issuing authority or counsel before carrying, and review the Prohibited Places section of this guide.

Public Records Note

Certain information submitted on a CCW application can be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act. Review the public-disclosure admonition on the Department of Justice Standard Initial and Renewal Application (BOF 4012) and ask your licensing authority what information in your file is treated as public.

Practical Renewal Checklist

• Confirm the exact expiration date printed on your current license; do not assume a full two-year term (Penal Code 26220).
• Begin the renewal process well before expiration so the 90-day initial-determination window (Penal Code 26202(d)) does not run past your expiration date.
• Expect to be fingerprinted again. Once your licensing authority submits its renewal notification to the Department of Justice on or after September 1, 2026, it must send your fingerprint images with it, and no renewal license can issue until the department confirms your eligibility (Penal Code 26185(b)(2) and 26185(c)(3)).
• If you file the renewal on or after September 1, 2026, expect a decision that can run past 120 days, because the deadline can instead be measured from 30 days after the Department of Justice eligibility result (Penal Code 26205(a)(3)).
• Do not leave a license sitting expired. Failing to file a renewal application within 90 days of expiration makes the licensing authority request termination of the Department of Justice subsequent-notification service (Penal Code 26225(e)).
• Report any restraining order, arrest, charge, or conviction referenced in Penal Code 26202 to the licensing authority that issued your license instead of waiting for renewal (Penal Code 26195(c)).
• Complete the renewal training course of at least eight hours from a Department of Justice certified instructor (Penal Code 26165(d) and 26165(a)(4)).
• Submit qualification for each firearm you want listed, and use the amendment process (Penal Code 26215) to add or drop firearms.
• Keep your address current and report any move in writing within 10 days (Penal Code 26210).
• If you move to another California county, amend your license to update the address; a concealed license is not revoked just for the move, but a loaded-and-exposed license is, and a residence-basis license can expire 90 days after the move (Penal Code 26210).
• Budget for the DOJ fee, the local fee, Live Scan, training, and range costs separately (Penal Code 26190).

This section is a general summary of California law and is not legal advice. CCW licensing and the SB 2 framework are actively litigated and administered differently in each county. Verify current requirements, fees, and forms with your issuing sheriff or police department before you act.

Prohibited Places for Concealed Carry in California

Even with a valid California concealed carry weapon (CCW) license, you cannot carry a firearm everywhere. A license issued under Penal Code 26150 (county sheriff) or Penal Code 26155 (city police chief) authorizes concealed carry, but a long list of "sensitive places" in Penal Code 26230 is off limits to licensees, on top of separate state and federal location bans. Several parts of Penal Code 26230 have been challenged in court and the enforceable scope has shifted more than once, so you must confirm the current status before you rely on any single rule below.

This section is about where a licensee may not carry. It is not legal advice. California firearm law changes often and is heavily litigated. Verify the current status of any restriction with the California Department of Justice and a qualified attorney before you carry.

How California Got Here: Bruen and SB 2

In 2022 the U.S. Supreme Court decided New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1, which struck down discretionary "proper cause" or "good cause" permit standards and set out a history-and-tradition test for firearm regulations. California responded with Senate Bill 2 (Portantino), signed September 26, 2023. SB 2 removed the old "good cause" requirement, raised and tightened licensing standards, and added Penal Code 26230, a long list of sensitive places where a licensee may not carry. Penal Code 26230 took effect January 1, 2024.

Penal Code 26230 was promptly challenged. The result is that the precise list of places where the ban is currently enforceable has changed over time and is still being litigated. Read the litigation status below carefully.

Sensitive Places Under Penal Code 26230

Penal Code 26230, subdivision (a), lists the sensitive places. Paragraphs (1) through (26) name specific categories, and paragraphs (27) through (29) are catch-alls for any other place barred by state, federal, or local law. The categories in subdivision (a) are:

1. School zones, as defined in Penal Code 626.9, and the area within 1,000 feet of school grounds (paragraph (1)).
2. Preschools and childcare facilities, including the real property and parking area (paragraph (2)).
3. Buildings and parking areas controlled by an officer of the state executive or legislative branch, with a narrow exception under Penal Code 171c (paragraph (3)).
4. Buildings designated for court proceedings, including superior courts, courts of appeal, and the California Supreme Court (paragraph (4)).
5. Local government buildings and parking areas, unless the firearm is carried for training under Penal Code 26165 (paragraph (5)).
6. Adult and juvenile detention or correctional facilities, prisons, and jails (paragraph (6)).
7. Hospitals, mental health facilities, nursing homes, medical offices, urgent care facilities, and similar places where medical services are provided (paragraph (7)).
8. Public transit, meaning a bus, train, or other publicly funded transportation, and property controlled by a publicly funded transportation authority (paragraph (8)).
9. Buildings, real property, and parking areas controlled by a vendor or establishment where alcohol is sold for on-premises consumption, meaning bars and restaurants that serve alcohol (paragraph (9)).
10. Public gatherings and special events that require a government permit, plus the immediately adjacent street or sidewalk within 1,000 feet, with an exception for a licensee who must walk through to reach a residence, business, or vehicle (paragraph (10)).
11. Playgrounds and public or private youth centers, as defined in Penal Code 626.95, and the immediately adjacent street or sidewalk (paragraph (11)).
12. Parks, athletic areas, and athletic facilities open to the public, and the immediately adjacent street or sidewalk (paragraph (12)).
13. Real property controlled by the Department of Parks and Recreation or the Department of Fish and Wildlife, except areas designated for hunting or shooting (paragraph (13)).
14. Areas controlled by a community college, college, or university, including buildings, classrooms, venues, athletic fields, parking areas, sidewalks, and common areas (paragraph (14)).
15. Casinos, gambling establishments, gaming clubs, bingo operations, horse racing facilities, and similar gambling venues (paragraph (15)).
16. Stadiums, arenas, and the real property or parking area of a stadium, arena, or collegiate or professional sporting or eSporting event (paragraph (16)).
17. Public libraries, including real property and parking areas (paragraph (17)).
18. Airports and passenger vessel terminals, as defined in Penal Code 171.5 (paragraph (18)).
19. Amusement parks, including real property and parking areas (paragraph (19)).
20. Zoos and museums, including real property and parking areas (paragraph (20)).
21. Nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development sites regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (paragraph (21)).
22. Places of worship such as churches, synagogues, and mosques, and any immediately adjacent parking area, unless the operator clearly and conspicuously posts a sign permitting licensees to carry (paragraph (22)).
23. Financial institutions and their parking areas (paragraph (23)).
24. Police, sheriff, or highway patrol stations and law enforcement parking areas (paragraph (24)).
25. Polling places, voting centers, precincts, and other locations where votes are cast, returned, or counted, and the immediately adjacent streets or sidewalks (paragraph (25)).
26. Any other privately owned commercial establishment open to the public, unless the operator clearly and conspicuously posts a sign permitting licensees to carry (paragraph (26)).

For places of worship and private commercial establishments open to the public (paragraphs (22) and (26)), the statute flips the usual default. Carry is barred unless the operator posts a sign affirmatively allowing it. The sign must follow a uniform design prescribed by the Department of Justice and be at least four inches by six inches. Both of these provisions are currently enjoined, so that statutory default is not being enforced. For now the pre-SB 2 rule applies: a licensee may carry in a place of worship or a private commercial establishment open to the public unless the owner or operator affirmatively prohibits firearms, which a private owner may always do under property law. See the litigation status below.

Litigation Status: What Is Currently Enforceable

Penal Code 26230 was challenged in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta. On December 20, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California preliminarily enjoined many of the sensitive-place categories. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit in Wolford v. Lopez (a consolidated California and Hawaii appeal, decided September 6, 2024) reversed the injunction in large part. Effective January 23, 2025, that reversal restored enforcement of most of the categories.

According to the California Department of Justice Division of Law Enforcement Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06 (dated March 27, 2025), the status is as follows.

Eleven categories were never enjoined and have been enforceable the whole time: school zones; preschools and childcare facilities; state executive and legislative branch buildings; court buildings; local government buildings; detention and correctional facilities; colleges and universities; airports and passenger vessel terminals; Nuclear Regulatory Commission property; police stations; and polling places. (Penal Code 26230, subds. (a)(1) through (6), (14), (18), (21), (24), and (25).)

Nine more categories became enforceable again effective January 23, 2025, after the Ninth Circuit reversed the injunction as to them: bars and restaurants that serve alcohol; playgrounds and youth centers; parks, athletic areas, and athletic facilities; most Parks and Recreation and Fish and Wildlife land; casinos and gambling establishments; stadiums and arenas; public libraries; amusement parks; and zoos and museums. (Penal Code 26230, subds. (a)(9), (11) through (13), (15) through (17), (19), and (20).)

That makes 20 of the 26 enumerated sensitive places currently in effect.

Six categories remain enjoined under the December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction and are not currently enforceable against licensees:

• Hospitals and medical facilities (paragraph (7))
• Public transit (paragraph (8))
• Public gatherings and special events that require a permit (paragraph (10))
• Places of worship (paragraph (22))
• Financial institutions (paragraph (23))
• Privately owned commercial establishments open to the public, meaning the default-no-carry-unless-posted rule (paragraph (26))

This is a preliminary injunction, not a final ruling, and the case is ongoing. Enforcement of any of these six could change as the litigation continues. Do not treat an enjoined provision as permanently void, and do not treat a currently enforceable provision as settled forever. Confirm the current status with Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06, any later bulletin, and the California Attorney General firearms page at oag.ca.gov/firearms before you carry.

A practical caution: even where paragraph (26) is enjoined, a private property owner can still bar firearms under ordinary property rights. If a business tells you to leave or posts a no-firearms sign, respect it. Refusing can support a trespass charge regardless of the carry statute.

Lock Box and Parking Area Exceptions

Penal Code 26230 itself builds in limited carve-outs for transport and parking, found in subdivisions (b) through (f) of the current version (as amended by AB 1078, effective January 1, 2026):

• A licensee may transport a firearm and ammunition inside a vehicle if the firearm is locked in a lock box that is a firearm safety device listed on the Department of Justice roster. This does not apply at Nuclear Regulatory Commission sites or places barred by federal law (paragraphs (21) and (28)), and local law may impose stricter vehicle storage rules. (Penal Code 26230, subd. (b).)
• A licensee barred from carrying into a sensitive place parking area may still transport a concealed firearm or ammunition through the parking area in a vehicle, store it in a locked lock box out of plain view, and carry it the short distance between the vehicle and the lock box to store or retrieve it. (Penal Code 26230, subd. (c).)
• A licensee does not violate the section merely by traveling along a public right-of-way that touches or crosses a listed premises, as long as travel is direct and the licensee does not loiter. This travel exception does not apply at colleges and universities (paragraph (14)). (Penal Code 26230, subds. (f).)

Other State Location Bans That Apply Regardless of SB 2

Several California prohibitions predate Penal Code 26230 and apply on their own terms.

Gun-Free School Zone Act, Penal Code 626.9. It is a crime to possess a firearm in a school zone, meaning on the grounds of, or within 1,000 feet of, a K-12 public or private school. A valid CCW licensee is exempt only in the 1,000-foot zone outside the actual school. The exemption does not let a licensee carry inside any building, real property, or parking area controlled by the school, or on the street or sidewalk immediately adjacent to it. (Penal Code 626.9, subds. (c)(5) and (e)(4).) Possession on the grounds of a K-12 school is punishable by imprisonment for two, three, or five years. Possession within 1,000 feet of school grounds is punishable by up to one year in county jail, or by two, three, or five years if aggravating factors apply. (Penal Code 626.9, subd. (f).) Penal Code 626.9 also separately bars bringing a loaded firearm onto a college or university campus without written permission from the institution.

Courtrooms and public meetings, Penal Code 171b. Unauthorized persons may not bring or possess a firearm in a courtroom, courthouse, court building, or any meeting required to be open to the public, including state and local public buildings where access is controlled.

State Capitol and government offices, Penal Code 171c (and 171d, 171e). Unauthorized persons may not bring or possess a loaded firearm in or on the grounds of the State Capitol, any legislative office, any office or residence of the Governor or another constitutional officer, any Senate or Assembly hearing room, or the Governor's Mansion. A firearm is treated as loaded when the firearm and its unexpended ammunition are in the same person's immediate possession.

Airport and transit sterile areas, Penal Code 171.5 and 171.7. It is a crime to possess a firearm or ammunition in a sterile or secured area of an airport (past TSA screening) or of a passenger vessel terminal or public transit facility. State and federal law generally bar carrying any firearm or ammunition aboard a commercial passenger aircraft, train, ship, or bus. Always arrange transport with the carrier in advance. (Penal Code 171.5, 171.7.)

Federal Location Bans

Federal prohibitions apply in California no matter what state litigation does to Penal Code 26230.

A note on the federal school zone: 18 U.S.C. 922(q)(2)(B)(ii) exempts a person licensed by the state to carry, where the state verifies the person's qualifications. A California CCW license qualifies for that federal exemption. California's own Penal Code 626.9, however, is narrower, so a licensee remains barred from the actual school grounds and the immediately adjacent sidewalk under state law, as described above.

Possessing a firearm in a federal facility under 18 U.S.C. 930(a) is punishable by a fine and up to one year of imprisonment, and up to two years for a federal court facility under 18 U.S.C. 930(e). Carrying a concealed accessible weapon on or attempting to board an aircraft under 49 U.S.C. 46505(b) is a felony punishable by up to ten years of imprisonment.

Exemptions

Some people are not bound by the sensitive-place restrictions, generally including:

• Active sworn peace officers carrying within the course and scope of their duties (see Penal Code sections 830 and following for who qualifies)
• Qualified retired law enforcement officers carrying under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C
• Active and reserve military personnel acting within their duties
• Licensed security guards in the limited circumstances allowed while on duty

These exemptions are specific and narrow. Do not assume one applies to you. Confirm the exact statute that covers your situation.

Penalties for Carrying in a Prohibited Place

Penal Code 26230 does not itself set a separate criminal penalty for a licensee who carries in a sensitive place. Instead, carrying in a barred location is not authorized by the license, so the licensee loses the protection the license otherwise provides and may be prosecuted under the general unlawful-carry statutes: carrying a concealed firearm (Penal Code 25400) or carrying a loaded firearm in public (Penal Code 25850).

A first offense of carrying a concealed firearm under Penal Code 25400, with no aggravating factors, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. (Penal Code 25400, subd. (c)(7).) It becomes a felony when the firearm is stolen, the person is a prohibited person or a gang participant, or the person is otherwise not in lawful possession, and it can be charged as a wobbler in other listed circumstances. (Penal Code 25400, subd. (c)(1) through (6).) A violation in a federal facility or school zone, or aboard an aircraft, carries its own federal or state penalty as noted above. A licensee who violates Penal Code 26230 also risks revocation of the CCW license by the issuing authority.

Practical Guidance

1. Check the current status before you carry. The enforceable scope of Penal Code 26230 has changed during the litigation and can change again.
2. When in doubt, leave it secured. Even if you believe a provision is enjoined, prosecutors and courts may view the facts differently, and you can still face a charge.
3. Honor signage and verbal notice. Private owners can bar firearms under property law no matter what the carry statutes say.
4. Federal bans do not depend on state litigation. Post offices, federal buildings, airport secured areas, and aircraft remain off limits.
5. Use the lock box and parking carve-outs exactly as written. They are narrow and tied to a roster-listed lock box.
6. Read the source material. The full text of Penal Code 26230, the California Department of Justice Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06, and any later bulletin are the controlling references before you make a carry decision.

Carrying Firearms in Vehicles in California

California regulates firearms in vehicles more tightly than most states. Two separate crimes control what you may do: carrying a concealed firearm (California Penal Code 25400) and carrying a loaded firearm in public (California Penal Code 25850). A vehicle counts as a public place for both. Unless you hold a valid California carry license or fit a statutory exemption, a firearm in your car must be unloaded and handled under the narrow transport rules described below.

This is one of the most heavily litigated areas of California firearm law. The rules below state what the statutes say. Where a provision has been challenged in court, that is flagged. Confirm the current status of any contested provision before you rely on it.

The Two Core Crimes

Carrying a Concealed Firearm (Penal Code 25400)

Under California Penal Code section 25400, a person carries a concealed firearm when the person does any of the following:

• Carries a concealed pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person within any vehicle under the person's control or direction;
• Carries such a firearm concealed upon the person; or
• Causes such a firearm to be carried concealed within any vehicle in which the person is an occupant.

A firearm carried openly in a belt holster is not "concealed" within the meaning of this section (Penal Code 25400(b)). Section 25400 reaches only firearms "capable of being concealed upon the person," which California defines as handguns and other firearms with a barrel under 16 inches. Ordinary rifles and shotguns are not concealable firearms for purposes of this section.

A violation is generally a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. It becomes a felony or a wobbler in the circumstances listed in Penal Code 25400(c), including where the person has a prior felony conviction, the firearm is stolen and the person knew it, the person is an active participant in a criminal street gang, or the person is prohibited from possessing firearms. It is also chargeable as a felony or wobbler where the firearm is loaded or readily loadable and the person is not listed with the California Department of Justice as the registered owner (Penal Code 25400(c)(6)).

Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public (Penal Code 25850)

Under California Penal Code section 25850, a person is guilty of carrying a loaded firearm when the person carries a loaded firearm on the person or in a vehicle while in any public place or on any public street in an incorporated city, or in any public place or on any public street in a prohibited area of an unincorporated area. This applies to handguns and long guns alike.

Section 25850 also authorizes a peace officer to inspect any firearm carried on the person or in a vehicle in these locations to determine whether it is loaded; refusal to allow the inspection is probable cause for arrest (Penal Code 25850(b)).

A violation is generally a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, and rises to a felony or wobbler in the circumstances listed in Penal Code 25850(c) (prior felony, stolen firearm, gang participation, prohibited person, or owner not on record with the Department of Justice).

Transporting a Handgun Without a Carry License

If you do not hold a California carry license, California Penal Code section 25610 is the exemption that lets you move a handgun by vehicle. It provides that Section 25400 does not prohibit any United States citizen over 18 years of age who resides or is temporarily within California, and who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, from transporting or carrying a handgun for any purpose specified in Penal Code sections 25510 to 25595 (which include moving a firearm to or from a place of business, residence, gun shop, target range, hunting, or a licensed event), provided that either of the following applies:

• The firearm is unloaded, within a motor vehicle, and locked in the vehicle's trunk or in a locked container in the vehicle (Penal Code 25610(a)); or
• The firearm is unloaded, carried directly to or from a motor vehicle, and, while being carried, is contained within a locked container (Penal Code 25610(b)).

Note that Section 25610 is an exemption from the concealed-carry crime in 25400. Because a vehicle is a public place, the firearm must also be unloaded to avoid the separate loaded-carry crime in 25850. Read together, the practical rule for transporting a handgun without a carry license is: unloaded, and either locked in the trunk or in a locked container.

What Counts as a "Locked Container" (Penal Code 16850)

California Penal Code section 16850 defines a "locked container" as a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar locking device. The statute expressly states that a "locked container" does not include the utility or glove compartment of a motor vehicle.

A common pipeline error is to say that Section 16850 defines the trunk as a "locked container." It does not. Section 16850 describes only the locked container itself. The vehicle's trunk is a separate, independently authorized location named in Penal Code 25610(a) as an alternative to a locked container. Either the trunk or a qualifying locked container satisfies the transport rule; the glove box and utility compartment satisfy neither, even if they lock.

Leaving a Handgun in an Unattended Vehicle (Penal Code 25140)

A stricter rule applies the moment you step away from the car. California Penal Code section 25140 provides that, when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle, a person must do one of the following:

• Lock the handgun in the vehicle's trunk;
• Lock the handgun in a locked container and place the container out of plain view;
• Lock the handgun in a locked container that is permanently affixed to the vehicle's interior and not in plain view; or
• Lock the handgun in a locked toolbox or utility box.

A vehicle is "unattended" when a person who is lawfully carrying or transporting a handgun in the vehicle is not close enough to it to reasonably prevent unauthorized access to the vehicle or its contents (Penal Code 25140(d)(2)). "Plain view" includes any area of the vehicle visible by peering through the windows, including tinted windows, with or without illumination (Penal Code 25140(d)(3)).

The definitions in Section 25140 track those used elsewhere. A "locked container" does not include the utility or glove compartment, and a "trunk" does not include the rear of a hatchback, station wagon, or sport utility vehicle, any compartment with a window, or a toolbox or utility box attached to a pickup bed. A violation of subdivision (a) is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000 (Penal Code 25140(c)). This unattended-vehicle rule is more demanding than the general transport rule in 25610: a bare locked container left sitting in plain view satisfies 25610 while you are present but does not satisfy 25140 once you walk away, because 25140 also requires the container to be out of plain view. A limited peace-officer accommodation in subdivision (b) lets an on- or off-duty officer use a locked center console in a vehicle that has no trunk, and the section does not supersede a stricter local ordinance in effect before September 26, 2016.

Long Guns (Rifles and Shotguns)

Rifles and shotguns are not "firearms capable of being concealed upon the person," so the concealed-carry crime in Penal Code 25400 and the locked-container transport rule in Penal Code 25610 do not apply to them. California law does not require an ordinary rifle or shotgun to be carried in a locked container while in a vehicle.

A long gun must still be unloaded in the vehicle while in public, because carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle in public is a crime under Penal Code 25850. Separately, openly carrying an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun is restricted in public under Penal Code 26400, though that section as written reaches carry "outside a vehicle." Assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles carry their own transport rules, described below.

Registered Assault Weapons and .50 BMG Rifles (Penal Code 30945)

A person who has registered an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle may possess it only under the limited conditions in California Penal Code section 30945, which include possession at the person's residence or place of business, at a licensed or organized target range, at a licensed shooting club, at an approved firearms exhibition, and on certain publicly owned land where permitted.

Under Penal Code 30945(g), the registrant may transport the registered weapon between the places listed in Section 30945, or to a licensed gun dealer for servicing or repair, only if it is transported as required by Penal Code sections 16850 and 25610. In practical terms that means unloaded, and locked in the trunk or in a locked container. Possession, registration, and the assault-weapon definition itself (Penal Code 30515 and related sections) remain the subject of ongoing litigation in Miller v. Bonta; confirm the current state of California's assault-weapon framework before relying on it.

Carrying in a Vehicle With a California Carry License

A valid California carry license authorizes the licensee to carry a loaded, concealed handgun listed on the license, including in a vehicle, subject to the restrictions on where carry is allowed. A county sheriff issues licenses under Penal Code 26150 and a city police chief issues them under Penal Code 26155. As restructured by Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026, each statute now sets out a California-resident application pathway in subdivision (a) and a separate non-California-resident application pathway in subdivision (b). California therefore has a general non-resident license pathway: an out-of-state visitor who meets the qualifications may apply for and hold a California license. Subdivision (c) sets the license format. Most licenses are issued under (c)(1) to carry concealed; in a county with a population under 200,000 the licensing authority may instead issue a (c)(2) license to carry loaded and exposed within that county.

Senate Bill 2 (2023) added California Penal Code section 26230, effective January 1, 2024, which bars a licensee from carrying a firearm into a long list of "sensitive places," many of which include the parking areas under the control of the listed location (for example, schools and the area regulated by Penal Code 626.9, childcare facilities, government and court buildings, and many others). SB 2 also created a default rule treating private property open to the public as off-limits to licensed carry unless the owner posts a sign or otherwise gives permission.

Section 26230 does not strip a licensee of the ability to keep a firearm in the vehicle near a sensitive place. Under Penal Code 26230(b), a licensee may transport a firearm and ammunition within their vehicle so long as the firearm is locked in a lock box that meets the statute's specifications (this does not apply at a Nuclear Regulatory Commission site or a place prohibited by federal law). Penal Code 26230(c) further lets a licensee who cannot carry into a prohibited parking area transport a concealed firearm into and out of that parking area in a lock box and store it in a locked lock box out of plain view within the vehicle.

Litigation Status of the Sensitive-Place List

Section 26230 was challenged in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta. A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction on December 20, 2023 blocking enforcement of many categories. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed that preliminary injunction in large part, and its mandate took effect January 23, 2025. The Ninth Circuit did not merely stay the injunction; it reversed it as to most categories, which restored enforcement of those provisions. Following that decision, 20 of the 26 sensitive-place categories in Section 26230(a) are in effect, and six remain enjoined and are not being enforced pending further appeal.

The six categories that remain enjoined and are not currently enforceable are:

• Hospitals and medical facilities (Penal Code 26230(a)(7));
• Public transit, including buses, trains, and transit-authority property (Penal Code 26230(a)(8));
• Permitted public gatherings and special events (Penal Code 26230(a)(10));
• Places of worship (Penal Code 26230(a)(22));
• Financial institutions (Penal Code 26230(a)(23)); and
• The default no-carry rule for privately owned commercial establishments open to the public that have not posted a sign allowing carry (Penal Code 26230(a)(26)).

The remaining categories are currently enforceable. These include bars and businesses serving alcohol (a)(9), playgrounds and youth centers (a)(11), parks and athletic areas (a)(12), most Parks and Recreation and Fish and Wildlife land (a)(13), casinos and gambling establishments (a)(15), stadiums and arenas (a)(16), public libraries (a)(17), airports and passenger vessel terminals (a)(18), amusement parks (a)(19), zoos and museums (a)(20), and law enforcement stations (a)(24), along with the categories that were never enjoined, such as school zones, preschools and childcare facilities, state government and court buildings, local government buildings, detention facilities, colleges and universities, Nuclear Regulatory Commission sites, and polling places. A California licensee should still verify the current status of Section 26230 and the terms printed on the license, because the case remains on appeal.

Interstate Transport Through California (Federal Safe-Passage Rule)

A traveler who may lawfully possess a firearm at both the origin and the destination has a limited federal protection while passing through states such as California. 18 U.S.C. 926A entitles a person who is not federally prohibited to transport an unloaded firearm for any lawful purpose from a place where the person may lawfully possess it to another such place, provided that during transport the firearm is unloaded and neither it nor any ammunition is readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment. In a vehicle without a separate compartment, the firearm or ammunition must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

Section 926A is a defense for genuine through-travel; it does not authorize possession at a California destination of an item California bans (such as a magazine over 10 rounds or an unregistered assault weapon), and California's stricter container and ammunition-accessibility rules still apply to anyone whose trip begins or ends in the state.

The Loaded-Firearm Exception for Immediate, Grave Danger

California Penal Code section 26045 provides that nothing in Section 25850 precludes carrying a loaded firearm, where it would otherwise be lawful, by a person who reasonably believes that any person or property is in immediate, grave danger and that carrying the weapon is necessary for preservation of that person or property. The statute defines "immediate" narrowly as the brief interval before and after local law enforcement, when reasonably possible, has been notified and before its assistance arrives (Penal Code 26045(c)). This is a narrow, fact-specific justification decided by the trier of fact, not a general right to keep a loaded firearm in the car.

Penalty Summary

Key Statutory References

Important Notes

• The glove compartment and the utility compartment do not qualify as a "locked container" under Penal Code 16850, even if they have a lock. Use the trunk or a separate locked container.
• A firearm in a vehicle in public must be unloaded unless you hold a valid carry license or fit a statutory exception such as Penal Code 26045.
• A loaded firearm in a vehicle in public is a crime under Penal Code 25850, separate from the concealed-carry crime in Penal Code 25400. The two can be charged together.
• When you walk away from the car, Penal Code 25140 imposes a stricter rule: a handgun left in an unattended vehicle must be locked in the trunk, in a locked container placed out of plain view, or in a permanently affixed locked container out of plain view. A container in plain view is not enough.
• An out-of-state carry permit is not recognized in California. A nonresident may not carry a loaded or concealed handgun in a California vehicle on the strength of another state's permit, and should transport under the unloaded, locked-container rules of Penal Code 25610 or the federal safe-passage rule of 18 U.S.C. 926A. Since January 1, 2026, however, a nonresident who qualifies may apply for a California non-resident carry license under Penal Code 26150(b) or 26155(b).
• California's assault-weapon framework (Penal Code 30515 and related, litigated in Miller v. Bonta) and large-capacity magazine ban (Penal Code 32310, litigated in Duncan v. Bonta) remain subject to active litigation. The sensitive-place rules for licensees (Penal Code 26230) are largely in effect after the Ninth Circuit reversed most of the December 2023 injunction, with six categories still enjoined. Verify the current status of any contested provision before relying on it.

Transportation of Firearms in California

If you do not have a California License to Carry a Concealed Weapon (CCW), here is how to legally transport a firearm in your vehicle:

1. The firearm must be unloaded.
2. A handgun must be locked in the vehicle's trunk or in a locked container in the vehicle. The glove box does not count as a locked container, and a center console without an integrated lock should not be relied on either.
3. A rifle or shotgun must be unloaded during transport. The locked-container requirement does not generally apply to long guns under state law, but most California gun owners use a case anyway.
4. You must be transporting the firearm for a lawful purpose specified by statute.

That is the short version. The rules below explain why the short version is correct, what counts as a "lawful purpose," what counts as a "locked container," what changes when you leave the vehicle, and what you cannot do under any circumstances. Every statute cited here was verified against the current Penal Code text.

The Default Rule: You Cannot Carry in a Vehicle Without a License

California treats a vehicle as part of "public" space for carry purposes. Several statutes work together to make this point:

Under Penal Code 25400(a)(1), a person is guilty of carrying a concealed firearm when the person "[c]arries concealed within any vehicle that is under the person's control or direction any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person." Penal Code 25400(a)(3) extends the offense to any occupant who causes a concealable firearm to be carried concealed within a vehicle in which the person is an occupant. Penal Code 25400(b) clarifies that "[a] firearm carried openly in a belt holster is not concealed within the meaning of this section," but an exposed belt-holstered handgun inside a vehicle still violates Penal Code 26350 (open carry of an unloaded handgun) unless it is loaded, in which case Penal Code 25850 applies. There is no carve-out for your own car.

Under Penal Code 25850(a), it is a crime to carry "a loaded firearm on the person or in a vehicle while in any public place or on any public street in an incorporated city, city and county, or in any public place or on any public street in a prohibited area of an unincorporated area of a county or city and county." A round in the chamber, or a loaded magazine attached to the firearm, while the gun sits on the passenger seat triggers this statute even on a brief drive.

The unloaded open-carry statute, Penal Code 26350(a)(2), applies when a person "carries an exposed and unloaded handgun inside or on a vehicle, whether or not on his or her person" in a covered public area. You cannot lay an exposed unloaded handgun on the dashboard or hang it on a rack inside the vehicle and call that lawful.

The Transport Exemption: Penal Code 25610

The exemption that makes lawful handgun transport possible is Penal Code 25610. It provides that Penal Code 25400 (the concealed-carry crime) "shall not be construed to prohibit" transport by a U.S. citizen over 18 years of age who resides or is temporarily in California, who is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a firearm, and who transports a concealable firearm for any purpose specified in Penal Code Sections 25510 to 25595, provided that either of the following applies:

(a) The firearm is unloaded, within a motor vehicle, and locked in the vehicle's trunk or in a locked container in the vehicle.

(b) The firearm is unloaded, carried by the person directly to or from any motor vehicle, and, while carrying the firearm, the firearm is contained within a locked container.

(Penal Code 25610, as amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 249, Sec. 8 (SB 2), effective January 1, 2024.)

Two operational consequences flow from this language:

• The exemption only protects you against Penal Code 25400 (concealed carry). It does not, by itself, exempt you from Penal Code 25850 (loaded carry). That is why "unloaded" is the first requirement in both subdivisions. A firearm transported under Penal Code 25610 must remain unloaded the entire time it is in the vehicle.
• The exemption requires the firearm to stay in the locked container during the entire transit between the vehicle and a building. If you stop at a friend's house and walk the gun inside without the container, you have stepped outside the exemption.

Penal Code 25610 cross-references "any purpose specified in Sections 25510 to 25595, inclusive." Those sections enumerate the lawful purposes (target ranges, gun shows, repair shops, and similar). The practical list of lawful purposes is below.

What Counts as a "Locked Container"

Penal Code 16850 defines the term:

As used in this part, "locked container" means a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, keylock, combination lock, or similar locking device. The term "locked container" does not include the utility or glove compartment of a motor vehicle.

(Penal Code 16850, as amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 103, Sec. 5 (AB 1798), effective January 1, 2015.)

Read that definition carefully, because most students get tripped up here:

• The trunk counts. For the basic transport rule under Penal Code 25610, a vehicle trunk is an authorized location in its own right, separate from the locked-container option.
• A locked hard-sided gun case counts. A keyed or combination case is clearly within the statutory description.
• A locked soft case with an external lock arguably counts. Penal Code 16850 does not list approved container types, so a soft case fully enclosed and locked by an external padlock arguably meets the definition. Hard cases with integrated locks are the safer choice.
• The glove compartment does not count, even if it locks. The statute names it expressly.
• The center console. Penal Code 16850 does not name the center console. The conservative reading is that a console with a non-locking lid does not satisfy the locked-container definition, while a center console with an integrated padlock, keylock, or combination lock arguably does. When in doubt, use the trunk.
• A zippered range bag. A zipper alone is not a "padlock, keylock, combination lock, or similar locking device" under Penal Code 16850. Add a padlock to a zipper bag if you want it to qualify.
• SUV, hatchback, and station wagon rear cargo areas. For the basic transport rule, place the firearm inside a separate locked container in these vehicles. This matters even more when you leave the vehicle: the unattended-storage statute (Penal Code 25140, below) defines "trunk" to exclude the rear of a hatchback, station wagon, or sport utility vehicle, so a cargo area is not a "trunk" for that rule.

If you drive a sedan, the simplest compliant configuration is a hard case with a lock placed in the trunk. If you drive an SUV, hatchback, station wagon, or pickup, place the firearm inside a locked hard case in the cargo area. Pickup trucks have an additional option for unattended storage (a locked toolbox or utility box affixed to the bed) discussed under "Leaving the Vehicle" below.

Lawful Purposes for Transport

Penal Code 25610 only protects transport for a purpose enumerated in Penal Code Sections 25510 to 25595. The most commonly used lawful purposes are:

• Going to or from a target range or shooting facility
• Going to or from a hunting location authorized for firearm use
• Going to or from a place of repair (gunsmith)
• Going to or from a gun show, place of sale, or place of purchase
• Going to or from a law enforcement agency for safety inspection or surrender
• Moving a firearm between residences during a lawful change of residence
• Going to or from a firearms-safety or training course where the firearm is used as part of the course

Two practical points students miss:

1. The trip must be direct. "I was going to the range eventually, but I stopped at the bar first" is not a defense. The exemption contemplates direct travel for a listed purpose. Detours unrelated to the lawful purpose can defeat the exemption.
2. The exemption does not authorize loaded carry. If you stop at a gas station on the way to the range and the gun is unloaded and locked in the trunk, you are still compliant. If the gun is loaded on your hip or in the glove box because you "felt unsafe at the gas station," you have committed a Penal Code 25850 violation. There is no self-defense override built into the transport exemption.

Long Guns: Rifles and Shotguns

Long guns are treated differently from handguns. The California Office of the Attorney General summarizes the rule:

Nonconcealable firearms (shotguns and rifles) are not generally covered within the provisions of California Penal Code section 25400 and therefore are not required to be transported in a locked container. However, as with any firearm, nonconcealable firearms must be unloaded while they are being transported.

(California OAG, "Transporting Firearms in California," oag.ca.gov/firearms/travel.)

Translated into a procedure:

1. The rifle or shotgun must be unloaded during transport. A loaded long gun in a public area, including in your vehicle, violates Penal Code 25850 just as a loaded handgun does.
2. The rifle or shotgun does not have to be in a locked container under state law. A soft case, a hard case without a lock, or a transport sleeve is sufficient on its face. Penal Code 25610 and the locked-container rule apply to firearms "capable of being concealed upon the person," not to long guns.
3. Once you step out of the vehicle and carry an unloaded long gun on your person, Penal Code 26400 can apply. Under Penal Code 26400(a), a person is guilty of carrying an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun when the person "carries upon his or her person an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun outside a vehicle" while in an incorporated city or city and county, or in a public place or public street in a prohibited area of an unincorporated area of a county. A violation is generally a misdemeanor (Penal Code 26400(b)). This is a carry-on-the-person offense, not an in-vehicle offense, but it is the reason most owners keep long guns cased and stowed.

A separate rule applies to registered assault weapons. Penal Code 30945(g) provides that a person who has registered an assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle may transport it only between the locations listed in Penal Code 30945 (or to a licensed dealer for service or repair), and only "if the assault weapon is transported as required by Sections 16850 and 25610." In other words, registered assault weapons must be unloaded and kept in a locked container or trunk during transport, which is stricter than the general long-gun rule. If you own a registered assault weapon, do not rely on the soft-case allowance that applies to ordinary rifles.

Ammunition

California law does not impose a separate statutory requirement that ammunition be physically separated from the firearm during ordinary transport under Penal Code 25610. The statute requires only that the firearm be unloaded and locked in the trunk or a locked container.

That said, two reasons support keeping ammunition separated in practice:

• "Loaded" is defined to reach an attached magazine. Under Penal Code 16840(b), as applied to Penal Code 25850 and related sections, a firearm is "loaded" when "there is an unexpended cartridge or shell ... in, or attached in any manner to, the firearm, including, but not limited to, in the firing chamber, magazine, or clip thereof attached to the firearm." A loaded magazine seated in the firearm therefore makes it loaded, even with an empty chamber. An empty magazine does not, because there is no unexpended cartridge. The clean practice is to remove the magazine entirely and store loaded magazines separately, which puts the firearm beyond any "loaded" interpretation. Officers may examine a firearm to determine whether it is loaded under Penal Code 25850(b).
• The "ammunition readily accessible" sentencing tier under Penal Code 25400. Under Penal Code 25400(c)(6)(A), a higher sentencing tier applies when the concealable firearm is loaded, or "both it and the unexpended ammunition capable of being discharged from it are in the immediate possession of the person or readily accessible to that person." If you are charged under Penal Code 25400 for any reason, ammunition in the same compartment as the firearm makes the offense more serious. Separating them avoids the enhancement.

The clean instruction for students: unload the firearm, lock it in a container in the trunk, and put the ammunition in a separate container or a separate part of the vehicle.

Officer Inspections

If you are stopped while transporting a firearm, expect the officer to inspect it.

Under Penal Code 25850(b), peace officers are authorized to "examine any firearm carried by anyone on the person or in a vehicle while in any public place or on any public street in an incorporated city or prohibited area of an unincorporated territory." That subdivision goes further:

Refusal to allow a peace officer to inspect a firearm pursuant to this section constitutes probable cause for arrest for violation of this section.

(Penal Code 25850(b).)

Three points for students:

1. Do not refuse the inspection. Refusing creates probable cause for arrest under Penal Code 25850, even if the firearm turns out to be unloaded.
2. The inspection authority is specific to Penal Code 25850. It applies in any public place or on any public street in an incorporated city, or in a prohibited area of an unincorporated territory.
3. Disclose the firearm early. As a practical matter, telling the officer about the locked case early in the stop avoids surprises and keeps the encounter calm. See the Duty to Inform section of this guide for the statutory framework.

Leaving the Vehicle: Unattended Handguns Under Penal Code 25140

When you leave the vehicle, a separate set of rules takes over. Senate Bill 869 (Stats. 2016, Ch. 651) added Penal Code 25140, which governs handguns left in unattended vehicles. Senate Bill 1382 (Stats. 2018, Ch. 94) later amended the statute to add a fourth storage option and detailed definitions. The current text of Penal Code 25140(a) reads:

Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), a person shall, when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle, lock the handgun in the vehicle's trunk, lock the handgun in a locked container and place the container out of plain view, lock the handgun in a locked container that is permanently affixed to the vehicle's interior and not in plain view, or lock the handgun in a locked toolbox or utility box.

(Penal Code 25140(a), as amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 94, Sec. 1 (SB 1382), effective January 1, 2019.)

So there are four lawful configurations under Penal Code 25140(a):

• Locked in the trunk
• Locked in a locked container placed out of plain view
• Locked in a locked container permanently affixed to the vehicle's interior and not in plain view
• Locked in a locked toolbox or utility box (a fully enclosed container permanently affixed to the bed of a pickup or to a vehicle without a trunk)

A locked case sitting on the passenger seat in plain view does not satisfy this statute, even if the case itself is locked. Move it into the trunk, out of plain view, into a permanently affixed container, or into a locked toolbox.

The statute supplies precise definitions in Penal Code 25140(d)(1):

• "Trunk" means "the fully enclosed and locked main storage or luggage compartment of a vehicle that is not accessible from the passenger compartment," and it does not include "the rear of a hatchback, station wagon, or sport utility vehicle, any compartment which has a window, or a toolbox or utility box attached to the bed of a pickup truck." If you drive an SUV, hatchback, or wagon, you cannot treat the cargo area as a "trunk" for this rule. Use a locked container instead.
• "Plain view" includes "any area of the vehicle that is visible by peering through the windows of the vehicle, including windows that are tinted, with or without illumination" (Penal Code 25140(d)(3)). Tinted windows do not make a visible case compliant.
• A vehicle is "unattended" when "a person who is lawfully carrying or transporting a handgun in a vehicle is not within close enough proximity to the vehicle to reasonably prevent unauthorized access to the vehicle or its contents" (Penal Code 25140(d)(2)).

A violation of Penal Code 25140(a) is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) (Penal Code 25140(c)).

Penal Code 25140(b) gives a narrow option to a peace officer leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle that has no trunk: the officer may lock the handgun out of plain view within the vehicle's center utility console using a padlock, keylock, combination lock, or similar device. This option is limited to peace officers as defined in the statute.

Two cross-reference statutes confirm that the unattended-storage rule reaches everyone. Penal Code 25452 requires a peace officer or honorably retired peace officer, when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle, to secure it "pursuant to Section 25140." Penal Code 25612 imposes the same duty on any person leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle. Both were added by SB 869 (2016).

Penal Code 25645 carves out a narrow exception: Penal Code Sections 25140 and 25400 "do not apply to, or affect, the transportation of unloaded firearms by a person operating a licensed common carrier or an authorized agent or employee thereof when the firearms are transported in conformance with applicable federal law."

Out-of-State CCW Holders

California does not honor any out-of-state concealed carry permit (see the Reciprocity section of this guide for the statutory basis). If you are visiting California with a permit from another state, you are an unlicensed carrier in California for vehicle-transport purposes. You must follow the Penal Code 25610 transport rules:

• The firearm must be unloaded.
• The firearm must be locked in the trunk or in a locked container in the vehicle.
• The transport must be for a lawful purpose enumerated in Penal Code Sections 25510 to 25595.
• Ammunition should be separated as a practical matter.

You may not carry loaded under your home-state permit, even briefly, even in your own car parked in California. The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA, 18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C) may authorize qualified active and retired law enforcement officers to carry under federal law, but ordinary out-of-state CCW holders have no such federal protection.

CCW Holders

If you hold a valid California CCW issued by a county sheriff under Penal Code 26150 or a city police chief under Penal Code 26155, the unlicensed-transport restrictions in Penal Code 25610 do not constrain you in the same way. A CCW authorizes you to carry a concealed, loaded handgun, including in your vehicle, subject to the conditions printed on the license and to the sensitive-place restrictions in Penal Code 26230 (added by SB 2, effective January 1, 2024). Note that the scope of the Penal Code 26230 sensitive-places list has been heavily litigated (May v. Bonta and related cases), and portions have been enjoined and stayed at different points, so confirm the current enforceable status before relying on it. See the Prohibited Places section of this guide.

A few practical reminders for CCW holders:

• The CCW authorizes carry of the specific firearm or firearms listed on the license. Transporting an unlisted concealable firearm puts you back under the unlicensed-transport rules in Penal Code 25610.
• The unattended-vehicle storage rule in Penal Code 25140 applies to CCW holders too. When you leave the vehicle, the handgun must go in the trunk, in a locked container out of plain view, in a permanently affixed locked container, or in a locked toolbox.
• Sensitive places under Penal Code 26230 (such as schools, courthouses, government buildings, and places that serve alcohol for on-site consumption) can override the CCW. Plan stops accordingly, and verify current litigation status.

Penalties

The grading scheme depends on which statute you are charged under and on aggravators.

Two specific points students should know:

• Three-month minimum jail term for repeat offenders. Under Penal Code 25400(d) and Penal Code 25850(d), a person convicted under either section who has previously been convicted of an offense enumerated in Penal Code 23515, or of a crime made punishable by a provision listed in Penal Code 16580, must serve at least three months in county jail. The court may depart from the minimum only in unusual cases by stating its reasons on the record and in the minutes (Penal Code 25400(e); Penal Code 25850(d)(2)).
• Federal-eligibility carve-out. Under Penal Code 25850(e), a misdemeanor Penal Code 25850 conviction punished by up to one year in county jail "shall not constitute a conviction of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year for the purposes of determining federal firearms eligibility under Section 922(g)(1) of Title 18 of the United States Code." This protection does not extend to the felony tiers of Penal Code 25850.

Penal Code 25850(f) preserves prosecutorial flexibility: "Nothing in this section, or in Article 3 (commencing with Section 25900) or Article 4 (commencing with Section 26000), shall preclude prosecution under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900) of Division 9 of this title, Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or any other law with a greater penalty than this section." A traffic stop that turns up a firearm can produce charges beyond the carry statutes.

A Compliant Transport Procedure

Follow these steps every time:

1. Confirm the firearm is unloaded. Remove the magazine. Lock the action open. Visually and physically check the chamber. Then check it again. Under Penal Code 16840(b), a firearm is "loaded" if a live cartridge is in the chamber or in a magazine or clip attached to the firearm, so removing the magazine entirely is the surest way to be unloaded.
2. Place the firearm in a locked container. A hard case with a padlock or built-in keyed or combination lock is the cleanest configuration. Engage the lock.
3. Place the locked container in the trunk. If the vehicle has no trunk (SUV, hatchback, station wagon, pickup), place the locked container in the cargo area, out of plain view. Remember that Penal Code 25140 does not treat those cargo areas as a "trunk."
4. Place ammunition and magazines in a separate container in a different part of the vehicle. This is not strictly required by Penal Code 25610 for handguns, but it eliminates the "ammunition readily accessible" sentencing tier under Penal Code 25400(c)(6).
5. Take the most direct route to the lawful-purpose destination. Detours unrelated to the purpose can defeat the exemption.
6. If stopped, disclose calmly. Tell the officer where the locked case is and follow instructions. Do not refuse an inspection authorized under Penal Code 25850(b).
7. If you leave the vehicle, comply with Penal Code 25140: trunk, locked container out of plain view, permanently affixed locked container, or locked toolbox or utility box.

That sequence is the safe configuration whether you have a CCW or not, whether you are a California resident or visiting from out of state, and whether you are driving across town or across the state.

Key Statutes Reference

Ambiguities and Notes

• The phrase "any purpose specified in Sections 25510 to 25595" in Penal Code 25610 cross-references specific destinations and activities. Treat any destination not on that list as outside the exemption until verified.
• Penal Code 16850 excludes the utility and glove compartment from "locked container." The center console is not named in the statute. A console with a non-locking lid does not satisfy the definition under a conservative reading, while a center console with an integrated lock arguably does. When in doubt, use the trunk.
• The unattended-storage rule under Penal Code 25140 applies to handguns. Long guns left unattended in a vehicle are not specifically addressed by Penal Code 25140; some local ordinances impose similar requirements, and Penal Code 25140(f) preserves local ordinances that were in effect before September 26, 2016. Confirm local rules where you live.
• Out-of-state visitors are subject to the same Penal Code 25610 transport rules as unlicensed Californians, because California honors no out-of-state CCW.
• The current operative text of Penal Code 25140 reflects the 2018 SB 1382 amendment, which added the locked toolbox or utility box option and the statutory definitions of "trunk," "plain view," and "unattended." Older summaries that list only three storage options predate that amendment.
• The scope of Penal Code 26230 sensitive places is contested. Federal courts have enjoined and stayed portions at different stages of May v. Bonta and related litigation. Verify the current enforceable status before relying on any specific sensitive-place restriction.

Source Information

• California Penal Code 25400. Carrying a concealed firearm. Source: California Legislative Information. Operative January 1, 2012 (Stats. 2010, Ch. 711); last amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15 (AB 109). Verified 2026-06-26.
• California Penal Code 25610. Transport exemption for concealable firearms. Source: California Legislative Information. Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 249, Sec. 8 (SB 2), effective January 1, 2024. Verified 2026-06-26.
• California Penal Code 25850. Carrying a loaded firearm in public. Source: California Legislative Information. Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 249, Sec. 9 (SB 2), effective January 1, 2024. Verified 2026-06-26.
• California Penal Code 26350. Openly carrying an exposed unloaded handgun. Source: California Legislative Information. Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 725 (AB 144). Verified 2026-06-26.
• California Penal Code 26400. Carrying an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun. Source: California Legislative Information. Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 734 (AB 7). Verified 2026-06-26.
• California Penal Code 16850. Definition of "locked container." Source: California Legislative Information. Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 103 (AB 1798). Verified 2026-06-26.
• California Penal Code 16840. Definition of "loaded." Source: California Legislative Information. Verified 2026-06-26.
• California Penal Code 25140, 25452, 25612, 25645. Unattended-vehicle handgun storage and common-carrier exception. Source: California Legislative Information. Penal Code 25140 added by SB 869 (Stats. 2016, Ch. 651) and amended by SB 1382 (Stats. 2018, Ch. 94). Verified 2026-06-26.
• California Penal Code 30945. Possession and transport of registered assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles. Source: California Legislative Information. Verified 2026-06-26.
• California Office of the Attorney General, "Transporting Firearms in California," oag.ca.gov/firearms/travel. Agency guidance; cross-checked against the Penal Code sections cited above. Last scraped 2026-03-07.

California Firearm Storage Requirements

Overview

California regulates how firearms must be stored, with the strongest rules aimed at keeping firearms away from children and other people who are prohibited from possessing them. These rules apply to all firearm owners, including concealed carry license holders during the times when a firearm is not being lawfully carried. As of January 1, 2026, California requires firearms kept in a residence to be securely stored whenever they are not being carried or readily controlled (Penal Code 25145). On top of that affirmative duty, California imposes criminal liability for negligent storage that gives a child or a prohibited person access, sets specific storage rules for firearms left in vehicles, and requires a safety device at the point of sale.

This page summarizes the storage rules. It is general information, not legal advice. Firearm law in California changes frequently and several related statutes are the subject of ongoing litigation, so confirm the current text before relying on it.

Criminal Storage of a Firearm (Access by Children and Prohibited Persons)

California's core storage offense is "criminal storage of a firearm" under Penal Code 25100. It applies to keeping any firearm, loaded or unloaded, on premises under your custody or control when a child or a prohibited person gains access. The statute is graded in three degrees based on the harm that results.

• First degree (Penal Code 25100(a)): Keeping any firearm, loaded or unloaded, where you know or reasonably should know that a child (any person under 18) is likely to gain access without parental permission, or that a prohibited person is likely to gain access, and the child or the prohibited person gains access and causes death or great bodily injury to themselves or another person.
• Second degree (Penal Code 25100(b)): The same storage conduct where the child or the prohibited person gains access and causes injury other than great bodily injury, or carries the firearm to a public place or in violation of Penal Code 417 (brandishing).
• Third degree (Penal Code 25100(c)): Negligently storing or leaving a firearm where you know, or reasonably should know, that a child is likely to gain access without parental permission, unless you take reasonable action to secure the firearm against access by the child.

Note that California amended this law so it now reaches both loaded and unloaded firearms, and it covers access by a "prohibited person" as well as by a child. Older summaries that describe it as a loaded-firearm-only rule are out of date.

Penalties (Penal Code 25110)

• First degree is a "wobbler." It can be charged as a felony, punishable under Penal Code 1170(h) by 16 months or 2 or 3 years and a fine up to $10,000, or as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine up to $1,000.
• Second degree is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine up to $1,000.
• Third degree is a misdemeanor.

The Safe Harbor for Criminal Storage (Penal Code 25105)

Operative January 1, 2026, Penal Code 25105 lists the circumstances in which the criminal storage offenses in Penal Code 25100 do not apply. Section 25100 does not apply when any of the following occurs:

• The child obtains the firearm as a result of an illegal entry to any premises by any person.
• The firearm is securely stored, as defined in Penal Code 25145. A firearm is securely stored when it is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or a secure gun safe.
• The firearm is carried or readily controlled by the lawful owner or another lawful authorized user, as defined in Penal Code 25145.
• The person is a peace officer or a member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard and the child obtains the firearm during, or incidental to, the performance of the person's duties.
• The child obtains, or obtains and discharges, the firearm in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another person.

Securely storing the firearm under Penal Code 25145 is the clearest way to stay within this safe harbor.

Affirmative Duty to Securely Store Firearms in a Residence (Penal Code 25145)

Beginning January 1, 2026, California imposes an affirmative storage duty under Penal Code 25145. A person must ensure that any firearm the person possesses in a residence is securely stored whenever the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user. This is a separate, standalone requirement. It does not depend on whether a child or prohibited person actually gains access, which is what triggers the criminal storage offenses under Penal Code 25100.

A firearm is "securely stored" if it is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or a secure gun safe. A "certified firearm safety device" is any firearm safety device or gun safe listed on the California DOJ roster of tested and approved firearm safety devices certified for sale under Penal Code 23655. A "secure gun safe" is one that meets the standards adopted under Penal Code 23650. A firearm is "readily controlled" when the lawful authorized user is carrying it on their person or is within close enough proximity to readily prevent unauthorized users from gaining access.

Penalties (Penal Code 25145(d))

• A first violation is punishable by a fine of up to $250.
• A second violation is punishable by a fine of up to $500.
• A third or subsequent violation is a misdemeanor.

A person is not penalized for violating this section if they secured the firearm using a firearm safety device or gun safe they reasonably believed met the requirements, including a device that was certified, or a safe that met the adopted standards, at the time it was purchased. The requirement does not apply to unloaded antique firearms (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(16)) or to firearms that are permanently inoperable.

Storing a Handgun in an Unattended Vehicle (Penal Code 25140)

California sets specific rules for leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle. Under Penal Code 25140, when leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle you must do one of the following:

• Lock the handgun in the vehicle's trunk;
• Lock the handgun in a locked container and place that container out of plain view;
• Lock the handgun in a locked container that is permanently affixed to the vehicle's interior and out of plain view; or
• Lock the handgun in a locked toolbox or utility box.

A "locked container" is a fully enclosed container locked by a padlock, keylock, combination lock, or similar device. The glove compartment and the utility (center console) compartment do not count as locked containers. The statute also defines "trunk" narrowly: it means the fully enclosed and locked main storage or luggage compartment of a vehicle that is not accessible from the passenger compartment, and it does not include the rear of a hatchback, station wagon, or SUV, or any compartment that has a window (Penal Code 25140(d)). If you drive an SUV, hatchback, or wagon, the rear cargo area is not a "trunk," so the handgun must go in a locked container out of plain view instead. A "locked toolbox or utility box" must be a fully enclosed, locked container permanently affixed to the bed of a pickup truck or to a vehicle that does not have a trunk (Penal Code 25140(d)); a loose toolbox sitting in the vehicle does not qualify under that option. A vehicle is "unattended" when the person who is lawfully carrying or transporting the handgun is not close enough to reasonably prevent unauthorized access. "Plain view" includes anything visible by looking through the windows, including tinted windows.

A violation of Penal Code 25140(a) is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000. This vehicle-storage requirement is important for concealed carry license holders, because it governs how you secure your handgun whenever you have to leave it in a parked car (for example, before entering a location where carry is not allowed).

Firearm Safety Device Required at Point of Sale (Penal Code 23635)

Separate from how you store a firearm at home, California requires that firearms be sold or transferred with a safety device. Under Penal Code 23635 and the related sections (Penal Code 23635 through 23690), all firearms, both long guns and handguns, sold or transferred in California must be accompanied by a firearm safety device (FSD) that has passed required testing and appears on the California Department of Justice (DOJ) roster of approved devices.

The FSD requirement can also be met if the purchaser signs an affidavit declaring ownership of a DOJ-approved lock box or a gun safe capable of holding the firearm and presents proof of purchase or ownership of that safe. Pawn returns and intra-familial transfers are not subject to the FSD requirement. The current DOJ roster of certified firearm safety devices is published at oag.ca.gov/firearms/fsdcertlist.

Federal Point-of-Sale Rule (18 U.S.C. 922(z))

Federal law adds a parallel rule for handguns. Under 18 U.S.C. 922(z), a licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer may not sell, deliver, or transfer a handgun to a non-licensee unless the buyer is provided with a secure gun storage or safety device for that handgun. This is a dealer obligation at the time of sale; it is not a continuing federal mandate dictating how you must store the firearm afterward.

Recommended Storage Practices (California DOJ)

The California DOJ recommends the following practices. Beyond the DOJ's recommendations, secure storage of firearms in a residence is now legally required under Penal Code 25145, and following these practices keeps you inside that requirement and the Penal Code 25105 safe harbor while reducing the risk of theft or unauthorized access.

General Guidelines

1. Use a California-approved firearm safety device, such as a trigger lock or cable lock, so the firearm cannot be fired.
2. Store the firearm unloaded in a locked container, such as an approved lock box or a gun safe.
3. Store the firearm in a different location from the ammunition.
4. For maximum security, use both a locking device and a locked storage container.

When Children May Be Present

• Store all firearms unloaded.
• Lock each firearm with a firearm safety device.
• Store firearms in a locked container.
• Store ammunition separately in a locked container.

Child-access precautions matter even if you have no children of your own. Visitors such as nieces, nephews, neighbors' children, or grandchildren may be present, and the criminal storage rules in Penal Code 25100 turn on whether a child is likely to gain access, not on whether you are a parent.

Location Considerations

• Do not store a firearm where it is plainly visible.
• Avoid predictable spots such as a bedside table, under a mattress or pillow, or on a closet shelf.
• Do not store a firearm among valuables like jewelry unless it is locked in a secure container.
• Consider storing firearms not kept for immediate self-defense in a secure manner away from the home.

Types of Safety and Storage Devices

Locking Devices

• Trigger locks: Two-piece devices that fit around the trigger and trigger guard to block access to the trigger, secured by a key or combination.
• Cable locks: A steel cable threaded through the action of the firearm to keep it from operating and prevent accidental firing.

Neither trigger locks nor cable locks are designed to prevent physical access to or removal of the firearm itself.

Locking Storage Containers

• Lock boxes: Sturdy metal containers opened by key or combination, built to prevent unintended handling or removal of a firearm.
• Gun safes: Generally the most secure option, often weighing 50 pounds or more. More expensive, but more reliable and harder to defeat or carry off.

Any device is only as secure as the steps you take to protect the key or combination.

Key Points for License Holders

• Beginning January 1, 2026, Penal Code 25145 affirmatively requires firearms kept in a residence to be securely stored in a certified firearm safety device or a secure gun safe whenever they are not being carried or readily controlled. This duty stands on its own and does not depend on a child or prohibited person actually gaining access.
• When your firearm is not being lawfully carried, the criminal storage rules in Penal Code 25100 also apply. Securely storing the firearm under Penal Code 25145 is the cleanest way to stay within the Penal Code 25105 safe harbor and avoid criminal storage liability.
• Securing a handgun left in a parked car is governed by Penal Code 25140. Use the trunk or a locked container out of plain view; the glove box and center console do not satisfy the statute, and the rear cargo area of an SUV, hatchback, or wagon does not count as a trunk.
• These statutes are amended frequently, and several California firearm laws are in active litigation. Verify the current text of any cited Penal Code section before relying on it.

Sources

• California Penal Code 25100 (criminal storage of a firearm, degrees)
• California Penal Code 25105 (exceptions to criminal storage, operative January 1, 2026)
• California Penal Code 25110 (punishment for criminal storage)
• California Penal Code 25140 (storage of a handgun in an unattended vehicle)
• California Penal Code 25145 (affirmative duty to securely store firearms in a residence, operative January 1, 2026)
• California Penal Code 23635 through 23690 (firearm safety device required at point of sale)
• 18 U.S.C. 922(z) (federal secure gun storage or safety device requirement for handgun sales)
• California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Firearm Safety Tips: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/tips
• California DOJ roster of certified firearm safety devices: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/fsdcertlist

Use of Force Laws in California

California is a licensed-carry state. Carrying a concealed firearm (Penal Code 25400) or a loaded firearm in public (Penal Code 25850) requires a CCW license issued by a county sheriff (Penal Code 26150) or city police chief (Penal Code 26155). Holding a license does not change the rules that govern when a person may use force. Any use of force in self-defense is judged under California's homicide and self-defense statutes, the supporting case law, and the standard jury instructions (CALCRIM). A lawful carrier who uses a firearm must be able to justify that use under the same standards that apply to everyone else.

Permissible Use of Lethal Force in Self-Defense

Under California law, a homicide may be justifiable when committed by any person resisting an attempt to murder, to commit a felony, or to do great bodily injury, or in defense of habitation, property, or person against one who manifestly intends or endeavors by violence or surprise to commit a felony (Penal Code 197). The lawful defense of self or of a spouse, parent, child, or other listed person is justifiable when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design to commit a felony or to do great bodily injury and imminent danger of that design being accomplished (Penal Code 197(3)). In practice, the standard jury instructions reduce this to three elements:

1. Reasonable belief of imminent danger: The person reasonably believed that they, or someone else, was in imminent danger of being killed, suffering great bodily injury, or being the victim of a forcible and atrocious felony;
2. Reasonable belief in necessity: The person reasonably believed that the immediate use of deadly force was necessary to defend against that danger; and
3. Proportional force: The person used no more force than was reasonably necessary to defend against that danger.

The danger must be imminent and cannot rest on a belief in future harm alone. The belief in imminent danger must be reasonable, and the person must have acted because of that belief. A person may use the degree of force, up to lethal force, that a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances would believe necessary to prevent the imminent danger (Penal Code 197; Penal Code 198; CALCRIM 505).

"The 'ultimate question' for the jury is whether a reasonable person in defendant's situation 'would believe in the need to kill to prevent imminent harm.'" - People v. Horn (2021) 63 Cal.App.5th 672, 685-686, quoting People v. Humphrey (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1073, 1087.

Key Definitions

• Great bodily injury: A significant or substantial physical injury, not merely a minor or moderate injury. For the home-defense presumption, Penal Code 198.5 defines great bodily injury as "a significant or substantial physical injury."
• Forcible and atrocious crime: A felony that by its nature and the manner of its commission threatens, or is reasonably believed to threaten, life or great bodily injury so as to instill in the person a reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury (People v. Ceballos (1974) 12 Cal.3d 470, 478). Examples include murder, mayhem, rape, and certain robberies.
• Serious bodily injury: A serious impairment of physical condition, including but not limited to loss of consciousness, concussion, bone fracture, protracted loss or impairment of function of any bodily member or organ, a wound requiring extensive suturing, and serious disfigurement (Penal Code 243(f)(4)).
• Deadly force: Force intended or likely to cause death or great bodily injury. For civilian self-defense the operative authorities are Penal Code 197, 198, 198.5, and 199, together with CALCRIM 505, 506, and 3470. Penal Code 835a defines deadly force and governs use of force by peace officers under AB 392 (2019); it does not control civilian self-defense.
• Imminent threat: Based on the totality of the circumstances, a threat is imminent when a reasonable person in the same situation would believe that another person has the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause death or great bodily injury. A subjective fear of future harm alone is not enough (Penal Code 198; CALCRIM 505, 3470; People v. Humphrey (1996) 13 Cal.4th 1073).

Limitations on the Use of Force in Self-Defense

• Bare fear is not enough: A bare fear of one of the offenses listed in Penal Code 197 does not justify a homicide. The circumstances must be sufficient to excite the fears of a reasonable person, and the person must have acted under the influence of those fears alone (Penal Code 198).
• Cessation of danger: The right of self-defense ends when the danger ends. Once the attacker has been rendered incapable of inflicting further injury, no further force may be used (CALCRIM 505, 3474).
• Proportionality: A person may use only the amount of force that a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances would believe necessary to prevent the imminent danger.
• Initial aggressor: Self-defense is generally not available to a person who starts a fight. If that person tries in good faith to stop the fight and clearly tells the opponent they want peace, but the opponent keeps fighting, the right of self-defense returns (Penal Code 197(3); CALCRIM 3471).
• Excessive force: Force beyond these limits can result in civil or criminal liability, even if the encounter began as lawful self-defense.

No Duty to Retreat

California has no statutory stand-your-ground law, but California courts and the standard jury instructions provide a no-duty-to-retreat rule for lawful defenders. A person who is not the aggressor is not required to retreat, even if a safe retreat is possible, and may stand their ground and defend themselves. This rule is stated in the standard self-defense jury instructions, CALCRIM 505 and 3470, which tell the jury that a defendant who is lawfully defending themselves is not required to retreat and may pursue an assailant until the danger has passed. Penal Code 835a(d) creates a separate no-retreat rule for peace officers and does not govern civilians. The force used must still be reasonable and proportional to the threat.

Castle Doctrine: Defending Yourself or Another in the Home (Penal Code 198.5)

A person who uses force intended or likely to cause death or great bodily injury inside their residence is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to self, family, or a member of the household when:

1. The force is used against a person who is not a member of the family or household; and
2. That person unlawfully and forcibly entered, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, the residence; and
3. The person using force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry occurred.

This is a rebuttable presumption of reasonable fear (Penal Code 198.5). It does not give blanket authority to use deadly force in the home. The presumption can be challenged by the prosecution, and the force used must still appear necessary to a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances. The presumption applies only to a residence and only against a person who forcibly and unlawfully enters; it does not extend to family or household members.

Defense of Property

The lawful occupant of real property may ask a trespasser to leave. If the trespasser does not leave within a reasonable time, the occupant may use reasonable force to eject them, limited to the force a reasonable person would believe necessary under the same or similar circumstances (CALCRIM 3475).

Note: Defense of property alone does not justify lethal force. Lethal force is justified only when there is a reasonable belief of imminent danger of death or great bodily injury to a person.

Peace-Officer Use-of-Force Standard (Penal Code 835a)

Penal Code 835a, enacted by AB 392 (2019), sets the standard for use of force by peace officers. It is not the civilian self-defense standard, but it reflects principles that often appear in use-of-force analysis:

• Force is judged on the totality of the circumstances, meaning all facts known to the person at the time, including the conduct of both parties leading up to the use of force.
• The reasonableness of force is judged from the perspective of a reasonable person in the same situation, not with hindsight.
• Deadly force is justified only when reasonably necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.

Civilians should not assume the officer standard applies to them. Civilian use of force is governed by Penal Code 197, 198, 198.5, and 199 and the CALCRIM instructions.

Self-Defense and Workplace Violence Rules

California's workplace violence prevention law (Labor Code 6401.9) expressly states that "workplace violence" does not include lawful acts of self-defense or defense of others. A lawful defensive act by an employee is not a reportable workplace violence incident under that statute.

Key Statutory References

Key Case Law

Important Considerations for Concealed Carry Permit Holders

• Whether the use of lethal force is justified cannot be reduced to a simple checklist. It depends on statutory law (Penal Code 197, 198, 198.5, 199), case law, and the totality of the circumstances as a jury would view them.
• California imposes no duty to retreat for a lawful defender, but the force used must always be reasonable and proportional to the perceived threat.
• The use of excessive force, even when an encounter began as lawful self-defense, can result in both civil and criminal liability.
• A CCW license authorizes lawful carry. It does not lower the legal threshold for using force, and it does not provide immunity from prosecution if force is later found to be unjustified.

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Federal context

N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Ass'n v. Bruen (2022) and United States v. Rahimi (2024). Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022), established the historical-tradition test for Second Amendment claims and recognized a right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense. Rahimi, 602 U.S. 680 (2024), applied Bruen to uphold the federal firearm prohibition for persons subject to a domestic-violence restraining order at 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8), confirming that not every firearm disability fails Bruen's test. Anyone advising on use of force or firearm-disability questions should be familiar with both decisions.

Castle Doctrine and Self-Defense Law in California

California does not have a statutory "Stand Your Ground" law. Instead, the state's self-defense framework comes from a combination of statute (chiefly Penal Code 197, 198, and 198.5), standard jury instructions (CALCRIM), and case law. There is no pretrial "immunity hearing" in California. A claim of self-defense is decided by the jury at trial, not dismissed by a judge beforehand.

Two ideas often get blended together in everyday conversation: the "Castle Doctrine," which gives a homeowner a legal presumption when force is used against a home intruder, and "no duty to retreat," which California recognizes through its jury instructions rather than through a Stand Your Ground statute. Both apply in California, but they come from different sources and work differently from how they operate in true Stand Your Ground states.

The Home-Intruder Presumption (Penal Code 198.5)

California's Castle Doctrine is codified at Penal Code 198.5. The statute provides that any person who uses force intended or likely to cause death or great bodily injury within their own residence is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to self, family, or a member of the household, when that force is used against a person who is not a member of the family or household and who unlawfully and forcibly enters or has unlawfully and forcibly entered the residence, and the person using the force knew or had reason to believe that the unlawful and forcible entry occurred.

The statute defines "great bodily injury" as a significant or substantial physical injury.

Read together with the standard jury instruction on this presumption (CALCRIM No. 3477), the presumption requires:

• The intruder unlawfully and forcibly entered, or was entering, the residence;
• The person using force knew or reasonably believed that an unlawful and forcible entry was occurring;
• The person used force likely to cause death or great bodily injury against the intruder; and
• The intruder was not a member of the household or family.

Two important limitations:

1. The presumption is rebuttable. Penal Code 198.5 shifts the analysis in the resident's favor, but it does not grant absolute immunity. The prosecution may introduce evidence to overcome the presumption, and the case can still go to a jury.
2. Forcible and unlawful entry is required. The presumption does not apply to an invited guest, a person with a legal right to enter, or a situation where someone enters through an open door without force. Courts treat "residence" to include the place where a person actually lives, such as a house, apartment, condominium, or an occupied hotel or motel room.

Justifiable Homicide (Penal Code 197)

Penal Code 197 sets out when a homicide by a private person is justifiable. The statute lists four situations:

1. When resisting any attempt to murder a person, to commit a felony, or to do some great bodily injury upon any person;
2. When committed in defense of habitation, property, or person, against one who manifestly intends or endeavors, by violence or surprise, to commit a felony, or against one who manifestly intends and endeavors, in a violent, riotous, or tumultuous manner, to enter the habitation of another for the purpose of offering violence to any person inside;
3. When committed in the lawful defense of the person, or of a spouse, parent, child, master, mistress, or servant of that person, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design to commit a felony or to do some great bodily injury, and imminent danger of that design being accomplished. If the person who killed (or the person being defended) was the assailant or engaged in mutual combat, that person must really and in good faith have tried to decline any further struggle before the homicide; and
4. When necessarily committed in attempting, by lawful means, to apprehend a person for a felony committed, or in lawfully suppressing a riot, or in lawfully keeping the peace.

Penal Code 197 was last amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50 (SB 1005), effective January 1, 2017.

Bare fear is not enough (Penal Code 198). Penal Code 198 makes clear that a bare fear of one of the offenses described in subdivisions 2 and 3 of Section 197 is not sufficient to justify a homicide. The circumstances must be sufficient to excite the fears of a reasonable person, and the person who killed must have acted under the influence of those fears alone. This is the statutory anchor for California's reasonableness requirement.

No Duty to Retreat (Jury Instructions, Not Statute)

California is not a statutory Stand Your Ground state, but its standard jury instructions tell juries there is no duty to retreat before using force in lawful self-defense.

• CALCRIM No. 505 (Justifiable Homicide: Self-Defense or Defense of Another): A defendant is not required to retreat. The defendant is entitled to stand their ground and defend themselves, and if reasonably necessary, to pursue an assailant until the danger has passed, even if safety could have been achieved by retreating.
• CALCRIM No. 3470 (Right to Self-Defense or Defense of Another, Non-Homicide): A person who reasonably believes they are in imminent danger is not required to retreat before using reasonable force.
• CALCRIM No. 506 (Justifiable Homicide: Defending Against Harm to Person Within Home or on Property): Addresses defense of persons inside the home, incorporating the principles of Penal Code 197 and 198.5.

Because these principles come from case law and jury instructions rather than a Stand Your Ground statute, they apply at trial. They do not create the kind of pretrial immunity or civil immunity that some other states provide by statute.

Core Self-Defense Requirements

California self-defense law generally requires all of the following:

1. Reasonable belief of imminent danger. The person must reasonably believe they are in imminent danger of being killed, suffering great bodily injury, or being the victim of a forcible and atrocious crime.
2. Reasonable belief that force was necessary. The person must reasonably believe the immediate use of force was necessary to defend against that danger.
3. Proportional force. The force used must be no more than was reasonably necessary. Deadly force is justified only against a threat of death or great bodily injury.
4. A hybrid standard. The belief must be both genuinely held (subjective) and one that a reasonable person in the same situation would have held (objective).

Initial aggressor limitation (CALCRIM No. 3471). A person who starts or provokes a fight generally cannot claim self-defense unless they actually and in good faith tried to stop fighting, communicated that intent, and gave the other person a chance to stop, or unless the opponent suddenly escalated a simple fight into one involving deadly force.

Imperfect self-defense (CALCRIM No. 571). If a person actually but unreasonably believed deadly force was necessary, the killing is not justified, but the charge may be reduced from murder to voluntary manslaughter.

Firing at an Inhabited Dwelling (Penal Code 246)

The Castle Doctrine protects people defending a home. A separate statute protects homes from being fired upon. Penal Code 246 makes it a felony to maliciously and willfully discharge a firearm at an inhabited dwelling house, occupied building, occupied motor vehicle, occupied aircraft, inhabited housecar, or inhabited camper. A related offense, Penal Code 246.3, makes it a crime to willfully discharge a firearm in a grossly negligent manner that could result in injury or death.

How This Differs From Stand Your Ground States

Even after a person is cleared in a criminal case on self-defense grounds, California provides no automatic shield against a separate civil lawsuit for wrongful death or injury.

Notes for Concealed Carry License Holders

California's self-defense rules apply the same way whether or not a person holds a concealed carry weapon (CCW) license. A license controls where and how a person may carry. It does not change when force may lawfully be used.

That said, a CCW holder should understand how carry law interacts with self-defense:

• Carrying a concealed firearm without a license is generally an offense under Penal Code 25400, and carrying a loaded firearm in public without a license is generally an offense under Penal Code 25850. Open carry of a handgun in most public places is prohibited under Penal Code 26350.
• SB 2 (2023), effective January 1, 2024, revised the licensing standard after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022). It kept the minimum age of 21, retained a good-moral-character and training requirement, and added a long list of "sensitive places" where a licensee may not carry, codified at Penal Code 26230.
• Penal Code 26230 has been heavily litigated and its enforceable scope is contested. Plaintiffs in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta challenged the sensitive-place list. A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction on December 20, 2023 blocking many of the listed locations. On appeal (decided in the consolidated Ninth Circuit case along with Wolford v. Lopez), the Court of Appeals reversed that injunction in large part. According to California DOJ Bulletin 2025-DLE-06, as of January 23, 2025, 20 of the 26 sensitive-place categories in Section 26230 are enforceable, while 6 categories remain enjoined: hospitals and similar medical facilities (subd. (a)(7)), public transit (subd. (a)(8)), permitted public gatherings and special events (subd. (a)(10)), places of worship (subd. (a)(22)), financial institutions (subd. (a)(23)), and the default rule barring carry onto private property open to the public unless the owner posts permission (subd. (a)(26)).
• Because this litigation is ongoing and the enforceable list has shifted more than once, a license holder should verify the current status of any specific sensitive-place restriction before relying on it, rather than assume any single provision is permanently in force or permanently blocked.
• Carrying in a place where carry is prohibited can be a separate criminal offense even if a firearm is ultimately used in lawful self-defense. A justified use of force does not erase a separate unlawful-carry charge.

Residential Burglary and the Seriousness of Home Invasion

California treats burglary of an inhabited dwelling as a grave offense, which reinforces the policy behind the Castle Doctrine. First-degree (residential) burglary is classified as a "serious felony" under Penal Code 1192.7(c), and residential burglary committed while another person other than an accomplice is present is treated as a "violent felony" under Penal Code 667.5(c). These classifications underscore how seriously the state regards home invasion.

Related Statutes

Disclaimer: This summary describes California statutes (Penal Code 197, 198, 198.5, 246, and others) and standard CALCRIM jury instructions (505, 506, 3470, 3471, 3477, 571). The sensitive-place rules in Penal Code 26230 are the subject of active litigation (May v. Bonta, Carralero v. Bonta, and the related Ninth Circuit proceedings), and the enforceable scope has changed during that litigation. This content is for general information only, is not legal advice, and may not reflect the most recent court orders. Consult the current statutory text and qualified California counsel before relying on any specific provision.

Duty to Inform - California

California does not have a statewide statutory duty requiring a concealed carry weapon (CCW) license holder to proactively tell a law enforcement officer that they are armed during a traffic stop or other encounter. No provision of the California Penal Code commands a licensee to volunteer that they are carrying a concealed firearm the moment an officer makes contact.

That said, California law does impose a responsive duty. A licensee must carry the license on their person while carrying, and must display the license and hand over the firearm for inspection when a peace officer demands it. Those obligations live in Penal Code 26200, not in a separate duty-to-inform statute. The distinction matters: you are not required to announce your CCW status unprompted, but you must comply if an officer asks to see the license or inspect the gun.

What the Statute Actually Requires

The two operative obligations both come from Penal Code 26200(a), which lists conduct a licensee may not engage in while carrying under a license:

• Penal Code 26200(a)(7) - A licensee shall not "fail to carry the license on their person." This is the source of the carry-the-license requirement. Carrying concealed without the physical license on you is a breach of the statute's conditions.
• Penal Code 26200(a)(9) - A licensee shall not "refuse to display the license or to provide the firearm to a peace officer upon demand for purposes of inspecting the firearm." This is the responsive disclosure duty. If an officer asks, you must show the license and let the officer inspect the firearm.
• Penal Code 26200(a)(8) - A licensee shall not "impede a peace officer in the conduct of their activities."

Note what these provisions do not say. They do not require you to initiate disclosure. The duty is triggered by the officer's demand, not by the encounter itself.

A separate provision reinforces the inspection point for any loaded firearm in public, licensed or not. Under Penal Code 25850(b), peace officers are authorized to examine any firearm carried on the person or in a vehicle in a public place, and "refusal to allow a peace officer to inspect a firearm pursuant to this section constitutes probable cause for arrest." So even apart from the license conditions, refusing a firearm inspection in public carries direct legal consequence.

Identification Generally

California is not a "stop and identify" state. There is no general statute compelling a person to identify themselves to law enforcement absent a lawful arrest or a statute requiring it in a specific context (such as producing a driver license during a traffic stop). However, falsely identifying yourself is a crime. Under Penal Code 148.9, falsely representing yourself as another or a fictitious person to a peace officer upon a lawful detention or arrest is a misdemeanor. The takeaway for a CCW holder is narrow: you generally are not required to volunteer information, but you cannot lie about your identity, and you must produce the CCW license and firearm for inspection when an officer demands it under Penal Code 26200(a)(9).

Statutory Framework for the License

California's CCW licensing scheme runs from Penal Code 26150 through 26225 (the chapter beginning at Section 26150). The framework was overhauled by Senate Bill 2 (2023) and further restructured by Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026. None of these sections creates a statewide proactive duty to inform.

• Penal Code 26150 - The sheriff of a county shall issue or renew a license to a qualifying applicant. AB 1078 organized this section into three parts. Subdivision (a) governs California-resident applications: the sheriff shall issue or renew a license to a resident (or a person whose principal place of employment or business is in the county) who is not a "disqualified person" under Penal Code 26202, is at least 21, has completed training under Penal Code 26165, and is the recorded owner of the listed firearm. Subdivision (b) creates a general non-California-resident application pathway. A nonresident may apply to a county sheriff if they meet the disqualification standards of Penal Code 26202 plus those of their home state, are at least 21, present a valid out-of-state driver license or DMV identification card, attest under oath that the jurisdiction is their primary California destination, complete the required training and live-fire exercises, and identify each firearm they intend to carry. California therefore now has a general non-resident CCW pathway, not just a narrow employment-based exception. Subdivision (c) sets the license format options.
• Penal Code 26155 - Parallel authority for the chief or other head of a municipal police department to issue or renew a license. It mirrors Penal Code 26150: subdivision (a) for city residents, subdivision (b) for non-California-resident applicants, and subdivision (c) for the license format.
• License format under Penal Code 26150(c) and 26155(c) - The issuing authority shall issue the license in one of two formats. Under (c)(1), a license to carry concealed. Under (c)(2), only where the county population is less than 200,000 according to the most recent federal decennial census, a license to carry loaded and exposed in that county. The loaded-and-exposed option is the (c)(2) format, not (b)(2).
• Penal Code 26165 - The training requirement. The course for new applicants shall be no less than 16 hours, must cover firearm safety, handling, safe storage, legal transport, where licensees may carry, lawful use of force in self-defense, and at least one hour on mental health resources, and must include a live-fire shooting demonstration and a written exam. Renewal training shall be no less than 8 hours.
• Penal Code 26202 - The objective "disqualified person" standard. SB 2 repealed and replaced the old standard; this section now sets out the specific disqualifiers (danger to self or others, certain restraining orders, enumerated convictions and charges, substance abuse, and more). This replaced the former "good cause" and "good moral character" requirements that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022) rendered unconstitutional.
• Penal Code 26185 - Despite how it is sometimes cited, this section is about the Department of Justice fingerprint and background-check process for applicants, not about presenting a license to an officer on the street. Do not rely on 26185 as the "show your license" statute.
• Penal Code 26190 - The fee framework. Fees are set to recover the Department of Justice's and the local licensing authority's reasonable processing, issuance, and enforcement costs.

SB 2 (2023) and the Sensitive-Places List

Senate Bill 2, signed in 2023 and effective January 1, 2024, rewrote California's licensing standard after Bruen and added a long list of "sensitive places" where a licensee may not carry, codified at Penal Code 26230. SB 2 did not add a statewide duty to inform.

Penal Code 26230(a) lists 26 categories of locations a licensee may not carry on or into. Not all of them are currently enforceable. A December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction from the United States District Court for the Central District of California (May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta) blocked enforcement of much of the list. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit did not stay that injunction. It reversed the injunction in large part. With the Ninth Circuit's mandate effective January 23, 2025, 20 of the 26 categories are now in effect and 6 remain enjoined. The California Department of Justice confirmed this status in Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06.

Categories currently in effect (enforceable). These include the never-enjoined places: schools and places prohibited by Penal Code 626.9 (a)(1), preschools and childcare facilities (a)(2), state executive and legislative branch buildings (a)(3), court buildings (a)(4), local government buildings (a)(5), detention and correctional facilities (a)(6), colleges and universities (a)(14), airports and passenger vessel terminals (a)(18), Nuclear Regulatory Commission property (a)(21), law enforcement stations (a)(24), and polling places (a)(25). They also include the categories the Ninth Circuit allowed back into force on January 23, 2025: bars and establishments serving alcohol for on-site consumption (a)(9), playgrounds and youth centers (a)(11), parks and athletic areas or facilities (a)(12), most Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Fish and Wildlife land (a)(13), casinos and gambling establishments (a)(15), stadiums and arenas (a)(16), public libraries (a)(17), amusement parks (a)(19), and zoos and museums (a)(20).

Categories currently enjoined (not being enforced pending further appeal). Six categories remain subject to the December 20, 2023 injunction and are not currently enforceable:

• Penal Code 26230(a)(7) - hospitals, medical offices, mental health facilities, nursing homes, urgent care, and similar places where medical services are provided.
• Penal Code 26230(a)(8) - public transit, including buses, trains, and other transportation paid for in whole or part with public funds, and property under a publicly funded transportation authority.
• Penal Code 26230(a)(10) - public gatherings or special events that require a government-issued permit, and the adjacent sidewalk or street within 1,000 feet.
• Penal Code 26230(a)(22) - churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship, unless the operator posts a sign permitting licensed carry.
• Penal Code 26230(a)(23) - financial institutions and their parking areas.
• Penal Code 26230(a)(26) - any other privately owned commercial establishment open to the public unless the operator posts a sign allowing licensed carry. This is the "default no" rule for private businesses, and because it is enjoined, it is not currently being enforced.

Because the six enjoined categories are still on appeal, their status can change. Do not treat an enjoined category as an operative rule, and confirm the current status of Penal Code 26230 before relying on any single subdivision.

Local Issuing-Agency Conditions

Beyond the statewide rules in Penal Code 26200(a), Penal Code 26200(b) authorizes the issuing authority to add "any reasonable restrictions or conditions that the licensing authority deems warranted, including restrictions as to the time, place, manner, and circumstances under which a licensee may carry." Any such restriction must be indicated on the license itself (Penal Code 26200(c)). This is the legal basis for the post-encounter reporting and notification conditions that some sheriffs and police chiefs attach to their licenses.

These local conditions vary by jurisdiction and are not uniform across the state. Some agencies, for example, require a licensee to notify the CCW unit within a set number of days after any law enforcement contact while armed, to report a change of address or name, or to report any arrest or restraining order. The specific timeframes, methods, and triggers are set by each agency's own policy, can change, and are not fixed by statute. Confirm the exact conditions printed on your own license and published by your issuing agency rather than assuming a particular rule applies.

A breach of any condition or restriction set under Penal Code 26200 is grounds for revocation. Penal Code 26195(b)(1)(A) directs the local licensing authority to revoke a license if the licensee "has breached any of the conditions or restrictions set forth in or imposed in accordance with Section 26200."

Carrying Without a Valid License

Separate from any disclosure issue, carrying concealed without a valid license is a crime under Penal Code 25400. In the default case (Penal Code 25400(c)(7)), the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both. It becomes a felony where aggravating circumstances apply, such as a prior felony conviction, a stolen firearm the carrier knew or should have known was stolen, active criminal street gang participation, or the carrier being a person prohibited from possessing a firearm (Penal Code 25400(c)(1) to (c)(4)). Carrying a loaded firearm in public without authorization is separately punishable under Penal Code 25850. Keeping your license valid and on your person is what keeps these offenses off the table.

Practical Guidance

1. Carry the physical license at all times when carrying concealed. This is required by Penal Code 26200(a)(7); failing to do so breaches your license conditions.
2. Be ready to display the license and surrender the firearm for inspection if a peace officer demands it. Penal Code 26200(a)(9) makes refusal a violation, and Penal Code 25850(b) makes refusing a firearm inspection in public probable cause for arrest.
3. Understand that you are not required to volunteer your CCW status unprompted. California has no proactive duty-to-inform statute. The duty is responsive.
4. Do not give a false identity. Penal Code 148.9 makes that a misdemeanor on a lawful detention or arrest.
5. Read the conditions printed on your own license. Penal Code 26200(b) lets your issuing agency impose its own time, place, and manner restrictions, including post-encounter reporting. Those local conditions are binding and a breach can cost you the license under Penal Code 26195.
6. Verify the current status of the sensitive-places rules in Penal Code 26230 before you carry near a restricted location. As of the Ninth Circuit's January 23, 2025 mandate, 20 of the 26 categories are enforceable and 6 remain enjoined (hospitals and medical facilities, public transit, permitted public gatherings, places of worship, financial institutions, and the private-business default-no rule). The enjoined categories are still on appeal, so the enforceable scope can change.

Carrying a Firearm Under the Influence in California

California does not have a single statute titled "carrying under the influence." Instead, the rules for a concealed-carry licensee come from the conditions that attach to every license under Penal Code 26200, the disqualification standards in Penal Code 26202, and the mandatory revocation provision in Penal Code 26195. Federal law adds a separate firearms disability for unlawful drug users under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3). Carrying a firearm without complying with these rules can cost you your license and can expose you to criminal liability for unlicensed carry.

This section addresses licensees. California requires a license to carry a concealed firearm (Penal Code 25400) or a loaded firearm in public (Penal Code 25850), so the alcohol and drug rules below are written around the licensed carrier.

There is no standalone statewide California crime called "carrying a CCW while intoxicated." A licensee who carries while intoxicated is dealt with through the license itself, the no-consumption and no-impairment conditions in Penal Code 26200 and the mandatory revocation that follows a breach, and through general laws that apply to anyone, such as public intoxication under Penal Code 647(f) and driving under the influence. Penal Code 25600 is not an intoxication offense at all. It is a self-defense justification that excuses an otherwise unlawful violation of Penal Code 25400 when the person reasonably believes they are in grave danger because of a current restraining order.

License Conditions: Penal Code 26200

Senate Bill 2 (2023) rewrote Penal Code 26200, effective January 1, 2024, to impose uniform conditions on every license issued under Chapter 4 (Penal Code 26150, 26155, or 26170). The alcohol and drug conditions are in subdivision (a):

• Penal Code 26200(a)(1): While carrying, a licensee shall not "consume an alcoholic beverage or controlled substance as described in Sections 11053 to 11058, inclusive, of the Health and Safety Code." This is an absolute no-consumption rule. It does not require that the licensee become impaired. Drinking at all while carrying violates the condition.
• Penal Code 26200(a)(2): While carrying, a licensee shall not "be in a place having a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption." This keeps a licensee out of bars while armed, independent of whether the person drinks.
• Penal Code 26200(a)(3): While carrying, a licensee shall not "be under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, medication, or controlled substance." Note that this provision lists "medication" as its own category alongside alcohol and controlled substances, so impairment from a lawfully prescribed or over-the-counter drug is covered.
• Penal Code 26200(a)(10): While carrying, a licensee shall not "violate any federal, state, or local criminal law." A separate offense committed while armed is itself a breach of the license.

Penal Code 26200 states no blood alcohol concentration threshold. California uses a general "under the influence" standard for subdivision (a)(3), and subdivision (a)(1) bans consumption outright with no threshold at all. Health and Safety Code sections 11053 through 11058 are the controlled-substance schedules that define which drugs are covered.

There is no separate criminal penalty written into Penal Code 26200 for breaching these conditions. The direct consequence is license revocation, discussed below. Practical criminal exposure arises because a carrier who is no longer carrying lawfully under the license can be charged for unlicensed carry (see "Criminal Exposure" below), and conduct such as brandishing or assault while intoxicated is separately punishable. General public-intoxication law under Penal Code 647(f) and the DUI statutes also continue to apply to a licensee regardless of the firearm.

Mandatory License Revocation: Penal Code 26195

Penal Code 26195(b)(1)(A) provides that a license "shall be revoked by the local licensing authority if at any time the local licensing authority determines" that "the licensee has breached any of the conditions or restrictions set forth in or imposed in accordance with Section 26200." Revocation is mandatory, not discretionary, once a breach is found. (The prior version of this guide described revocation as discretionary "for good cause," which is incorrect under the current statute.)

A license is also revoked under Penal Code 26195(b)(1)(C) if the licensee becomes a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202, and under Penal Code 26195(b)(2) if the Department of Justice notifies the authority that the licensee is prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law. On revocation, the licensing authority must notify the Department of Justice (Penal Code 26195(b)(3), referencing Penal Code 26225) and immediately notify the licensee in writing.

License Disqualification for Substance Abuse: Penal Code 26202

Penal Code 26202(a) lists the grounds on which an applicant is "deemed to be a disqualified person" who cannot receive or renew a license. Several relate directly to alcohol and controlled substances:

• Penal Code 26202(a)(7): In the five years before the licensing authority receives the completed application, the applicant has been committed to or incarcerated in county jail or state prison for, or placed on probation, parole, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision as a result of, a conviction of an offense an element of which involves controlled substances (Health and Safety Code 11053 to 11058) or alcohol.
• Penal Code 26202(a)(8): The applicant is "an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance" as described in 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) and applicable regulations and guidance.
• Penal Code 26202(a)(9): The applicant "is currently abusing any controlled substance ... or alcohol." The statute defines "abusing" as "excessive use or consumption reflecting that the applicant has lost the power of self-control with reference to the controlled substance or alcohol."

These grounds apply at both initial application and renewal. Under Penal Code 26202(e), they apply whether or not the relevant conduct occurred before the statute took effect. Penal Code 26202 was amended by AB 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026.

Bars and Alcohol-Serving Establishments as Sensitive Places: Penal Code 26230(a)(9)

Separate from the personal-impairment conditions in Penal Code 26200, the SB 2 "sensitive places" statute bars a licensee from carrying into certain locations. Penal Code 26230(a)(9) lists "a building, real property, and parking area under the control of a vendor or an establishment where intoxicating liquor is sold for consumption on the premises." This is a location-based prohibition: a licensee may not carry into such a place regardless of whether the person drinks.

The earlier version of this guide quoted this provision as "any bar or restaurant serving alcohol for on-premises consumption, including adjacent parking areas." That is a paraphrase, not the statutory text. The actual language is quoted above. The parking area is covered only when it is under the control of the establishment.

Important litigation note. Penal Code 26230 has been heavily litigated since it took effect. In the consolidated challenges (May v. Bonta and related cases, decided in the Southern and Central Districts of California in December 2023), district courts preliminarily enjoined a number of the section's sensitive-place provisions. On appeal in Wolford v. Lopez (9th Cir. 2024), the Ninth Circuit reversed most of that injunction, allowing the bulk of Penal Code 26230 to be enforced while leaving a narrow set of provisions blocked. As matters currently stand, six subdivisions of Penal Code 26230(a) remain enjoined and are not enforceable: (a)(7) hospitals and medical facilities, (a)(8) public transit, (a)(10) permitted public gatherings and special events, (a)(22) places of worship, (a)(23) financial institutions, and (a)(26) privately owned commercial establishments open to the public. Everything else in Penal Code 26230(a) is currently enforceable. The bar and alcohol-serving restriction in Penal Code 26230(a)(9) is one of the provisions in force: the Ninth Circuit reversed the earlier injunction against it, and the provision became enforceable on January 23, 2025. Because the litigation is ongoing and the enforceable scope of individual paragraphs has shifted before, confirm the current status of any specific provision before relying on it. Penal Code 26230 was most recently amended by AB 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026.

Criminal Exposure for Unlicensed Carry

A licensee who carries while in breach of the Penal Code 26200 conditions risks more than revocation. The license is what exempts the carrier from California's general carry bans, so carrying outside the terms of the license can be charged as:

• Carrying a concealed firearm, Penal Code 25400. This is a wobbler. It is a felony in the aggravated situations listed in Penal Code 25400(c)(1) through (c)(4), for example where the person has a prior felony conviction or is otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms. In all other cases it is punishable under Penal Code 25400(c)(7) by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
• Carrying a loaded firearm in public, Penal Code 25850. This statute carries a parallel wobbler structure, with felony treatment for prohibited persons and otherwise misdemeanor treatment.

In short, the under-the-influence rules are enforced primarily through license revocation, but a person who continues to carry after losing the protection of the license faces ordinary criminal liability for unlicensed carry.

Federal Overlay: 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3)

Federal law independently makes it unlawful for any person "who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act)" to ship, transport, possess, or receive a firearm. This is 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3), the same provision cross-referenced in California's disqualification statute at Penal Code 26202(a)(8). Habitual unlawful drug use, including marijuana use that remains federally unlawful even where state-legal, is a federal firearms disability, not merely a state CCW issue. This federal prohibition does not list "under indictment" (that disability appears separately at 18 U.S.C. 922(n)).

Penalties Summary

Practical Guidance for Licensees

• Do not consume any alcohol or controlled substance while carrying. Penal Code 26200(a)(1) prohibits consumption itself, not just impairment, and there is no allowable level.
• Do not carry into any place having a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption. Penal Code 26200(a)(2) treats your mere presence there while armed as a breach, and Penal Code 26230(a)(9) separately designates alcohol-serving establishments as off-limits.
• Treat impairing medication seriously. Penal Code 26200(a)(3) names "medication" as a covered category. If a drug warns against driving or operating machinery, carrying while it affects you can breach your license.
• Understand that a breach means losing the license. Revocation under Penal Code 26195(b)(1)(A) is mandatory once the authority finds a breach, not a matter of discretion.
• Remember the federal layer. Even apart from California's CCW rules, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance is a federal firearms disability under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3).
• Verify the current status of sensitive-place provisions. The alcohol-serving establishment restriction in Penal Code 26230(a)(9) is currently enforceable, but several other subdivisions of Penal Code 26230(a) remain enjoined, so confirm the status of any specific paragraph before relying on it.

This section is general information, not legal advice. California firearm law changes frequently and is the subject of ongoing federal litigation. Confirm the current text of each statute and the status of any pending case before acting.

California Concealed Carry Weapon Restrictions

California is a licensed-carry state. A person may not carry a concealed firearm or carry a loaded firearm in public without a license to carry (CCW) issued under Penal Code 26150 or 26155. Even with a valid license, California layers on a long list of restrictions covering who may possess a firearm, where firearms may be carried, what may be bought, and how. Many of these restrictions are the subject of active federal litigation, so the practical scope of some rules has shifted during the appeals process. Where a rule is being litigated, this guide flags it and tells you to verify the current status before relying on it.

Carrying Without a License Is Itself Restricted

• Carrying a concealed firearm (Penal Code 25400). It is a crime to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, whether on your person or concealed in a vehicle you control. A violation is generally a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both. It becomes a felony when an aggravating circumstance applies, including a prior felony conviction, a stolen firearm the person knew or had reason to believe was stolen, active participation in a criminal street gang, or the person being within a class prohibited from possessing firearms (Penal Code 25400, subd. (c)). A firearm carried openly in a belt holster is not "concealed" for purposes of this section.
• Carrying a loaded firearm in public (Penal Code 25850). It is a crime to carry a loaded firearm on your person or in a vehicle in any public place or public street in an incorporated city, or in a prohibited area of an unincorporated county. The default offense is a misdemeanor (up to one year in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine), and it rises to a felony under the same kinds of aggravators listed above (Penal Code 25850, subd. (c)).
• Open carry of a handgun. Openly carrying an exposed and unloaded handgun in public is generally prohibited and is a misdemeanor (Penal Code 26350). Openly carrying a loaded handgun in public is covered by the loaded-carry statute (Penal Code 25850).
• Carrying an unloaded long gun on your person. Carrying an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun (a rifle or shotgun) on your person outside a vehicle, whether openly or concealed, in an incorporated city, or in a public place or public street in a prohibited area of an unincorporated county, is a misdemeanor (Penal Code 26400; exemptions in Penal Code 26405, including firearms in a locked container).

A valid CCW license is the principal exception to the concealed-carry and loaded-carry prohibitions, but it does not authorize open carry and does not override the location restrictions described below.

Prohibited Persons - Who Cannot Possess Firearms

California law prohibits certain categories of persons from possessing firearms. These prohibitions apply to all firearm possession, including concealed carry, and are independent of any federal disability (Penal Code 29800-29825, 29900; Welfare and Institutions Code 8100, 8103).

Lifetime Prohibitions

• Persons convicted of a felony, or of any violent offense including murder, mayhem, rape, attempted murder, arson, robbery, or kidnapping, or any other violent felony enumerated in Penal Code 29905
• Persons convicted of a misdemeanor involving assault on a person with a firearm or machinegun, or who have an outstanding warrant for a misdemeanor offense enumerated in Penal Code 23515, 29800, or 29805
• Persons convicted of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or significant other (Penal Code 273.5) on or after January 1, 2019 (Penal Code 29805)
• Persons with two or more convictions for drawing or exhibiting a firearm in a rude, angry, or threatening manner (Penal Code 417, subd. (a)(2))
• Persons adjudicated to be a danger to others because of a mental disorder, or a mentally disordered sex offender (Welfare and Institutions Code 8103, subd. (a)(1))
• Persons found mentally incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity, unless the court has found restoration of competence or sanity (Welfare and Institutions Code 8103, subds. (b)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1))

10-Year Prohibitions

Any person convicted of, or who has an outstanding warrant for, a misdemeanor violation of specified statutes, including Penal Code 71, 76, 136.1, 136.5, 140, 148(d), 148.5(f), 171b, 171c(a)(1), 171d, 186.28, 240, 241, 242, 243, 243.4, 244.5, 245, 245.5, 246.3, 247, 273.5, 273.6, 417, 417.6, 422, 422.6, 626.9, 646.9, 830.95, 17500, 17510, 25300, 25800, 26100(b) or (d), 27510, 27590(c), 30315, or 32625, and Welfare and Institutions Code 871.5, 1001.5, 8100, 8101, or 8103 (Penal Code 29805).

5-Year Prohibitions

• Persons taken into custody as a danger to self or others and admitted to a mental health facility under Welfare and Institutions Code 5150, 5151, or 5152, or certified under 5250, 5260, or 5270.15 (a person certified under 5250, 5260, or 5270.15 may face a lifetime bar under federal law)
• Any person who communicates a threat against a reasonably identifiable victim to a licensed psychotherapist that is then reported to law enforcement (Welfare and Institutions Code 8100, subd. (b))
• Persons who own or possess a firearm or ammunition with knowledge that they are prohibited from doing so by a gun violence restraining order (Penal Code 18205)

Juvenile Prohibitions

• Juveniles adjudged wards of the juvenile court are prohibited until age 30 if they committed an offense listed in Welfare and Institutions Code 707, subd. (b) (Penal Code 29820)

Other Prohibitions

• Persons denied firearm possession as a condition of probation (Penal Code 29900, subd. (c))
• Voluntary patients in a mental health facility, or persons under a gravely disabled conservatorship, found to be a danger to self or others (Welfare and Institutions Code 8103, subd. (e))
• Persons addicted to the use of narcotics (Penal Code 29800, subd. (a))
• Persons subject to a protective order as defined in Family Code 6218, Penal Code 136.2 or 646.91, Welfare and Institutions Code 15657.03, or a temporary restraining order under Code of Civil Procedure 527.6, 527.8, or 527.85 (Penal Code 29825)
• Persons with an outstanding warrant (felony or specified misdemeanor) who have knowledge of the warrant (Penal Code 29800 and 29805)

Prohibited Locations - Where Firearms Are Restricted

Even with a valid CCW license, firearms are restricted in many locations. The two principal categories are the long-standing criminal "gun-free" statutes and the SB 2 sensitive-places list that applies specifically to licensees.

Schools and School Zones (Penal Code 626.9)

The Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1995 makes it a crime to possess a firearm in a place the person knows, or reasonably should know, is a school zone, which means in or on the grounds of a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten through grade 12, or within 1,000 feet of those grounds. A violation on school grounds is a felony punishable by two, three, or five years (Penal Code 626.9, subd. (f)(1)). The statute contains exceptions, including for a person holding a valid CCW license who is within the 1,000-foot zone but not within a building, real property, or parking area under the control of the school, and not on a street or sidewalk immediately adjacent to school property. Separate provisions restrict firearms on the campuses of public or private universities and colleges unless written permission is obtained (Penal Code 626.9, subds. (h), (i)).

Government Buildings, the Capitol, and Courts

• It is a public offense, punishable by up to one year in county jail or by state prison, to bring or possess a firearm in any state or local public building or at any meeting required to be open to the public, absent written permission from the official in charge of building security (Penal Code 171b).
• It is unlawful to bring or possess a loaded firearm in the State Capitol, legislative offices, hearing rooms, the Governor's office or residences, or the residences of constitutional officers and legislators (Penal Code 171c, 171d, 171e).
• Buildings designated for court proceedings and property under the control of a courthouse are restricted under the sensitive-places statute (Penal Code 26230, subd. (a)(4)).

Airports and Passenger Vessel Terminals (Penal Code 171.5)

It is unlawful to knowingly possess a firearm in any building, real property, or parking area under the control of an airport (subject to limited exceptions). It is also unlawful to possess specified weapons within the sterile area of an airport or a passenger vessel terminal, the screened area past security. A violation is punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both (Penal Code 171.5). An unloaded firearm being transported in a hard-sided locked container in accordance with federal TSA rules is treated separately, so long as the person is not within a sterile area.

SB 2 Sensitive Places for Licensees (Penal Code 26230)

Effective January 1, 2024, SB 2 added Penal Code 26230, which lists more than two dozen categories of "sensitive places" where a CCW licensee may not carry. The categories currently being enforced include school zones, preschools and childcare facilities, government and court buildings, jails and detention facilities, places where liquor is sold for on-site consumption, playgrounds and youth centers, parks and athletic facilities, college and university grounds, gambling establishments, stadiums and arenas, public libraries, airports and passenger vessel terminals, amusement parks, zoos and museums, police stations, polling places, and nuclear facilities.

Litigation status (important): Penal Code 26230 was challenged in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta, and the enforcement picture has been settled since the Ninth Circuit's mandate took effect on January 23, 2025 (DOJ Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06). Exactly six categories remain preliminarily enjoined and are not being enforced: hospitals and medical facilities (Penal Code 26230, subd. (a)(7)), public transit (subd. (a)(8)), permitted public gatherings and special events (subd. (a)(10)), places of worship (subd. (a)(22)), financial institutions (subd. (a)(23)), and the default rule that barred carry onto private commercial property open to the public unless the operator posted a sign allowing it (subd. (a)(26)). All other listed categories are enforceable. While the injunction on subdivision (a)(26) stands, the operative rule is the reverse of the statutory default: a licensee may carry in a privately owned commercial establishment open to the public unless the owner prohibits it. Any private property owner may still ban firearms on their own premises as a matter of property rights. The litigation remains ongoing, so verify the current status before relying on any enjoined category.

Age Restrictions

• You generally must be at least 21 years of age to purchase any firearm from a dealer (Penal Code 27510)
• As of January 1, 2020, you must be at least 21 to purchase a semiautomatic centerfire rifle, unless a law enforcement or military exemption applies
• It is unlawful for a minor to possess any firearm (Penal Code 29610(c), effective July 1, 2023) except in narrow circumstances, such as while accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and engaged in lawful recreational, sporting, ranching, or hunting activity, or with prior written parental consent as specified (Penal Code 29615)
• It is unlawful for a minor to possess live ammunition unless the minor has written consent of a parent or legal guardian, is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or is actively engaged in a lawful recreational sport or agricultural or hunting activity (Penal Code 29650, 29655)

Firearm Purchase and Acquisition Restrictions

• 10-day waiting period. A dealer may not deliver a firearm until 10 days after the Dealer Record of Sale is submitted, during which the Department of Justice runs an eligibility background check (Penal Code 26815, 27540).
• Dealer-routed transfers (universal background checks). Where neither party to a sale, loan, or transfer holds a dealer's license, the transaction must be completed through a licensed firearms dealer (Penal Code 27545). A licensed dealer conducting a private party transfer may charge a fee not to exceed $10 per firearm (Penal Code 28050).
• Three firearms per 30 days. Effective April 1, 2026, a person may not apply to purchase firearms that would result in more than three firearms cumulatively, of any type, within any rolling 30-day period (Penal Code 27535, as rewritten by AB 1078, Stats. 2025, ch. 570; DOJ Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-02). The exemptions are specific and narrow (Penal Code 27535, subd. (b)): they include the return of a firearm to its owner (which covers pawn returns), replacement of a firearm reported lost or stolen, private party sales where the seller is legally required to relinquish all firearms, estate and trust transfers by a personal representative or trustee, licensed collectors with a certificate of eligibility, and law enforcement. There is no general exemption for private party transfers, so ordinary private party purchases count against the limit.
• Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC). To purchase or acquire a firearm you must hold a valid FSC, obtained by scoring at least 75% on a written test on firearm law and safety. An FSC is valid for five years and costs up to $25 (Penal Code 31610-31670).
• Safe handling demonstration. Before taking possession of a firearm you must perform a safe handling demonstration in front of a DOJ Certified Instructor (Penal Code 26850).
• Firearm safety device. A firearm purchased in California must be accompanied by an approved firearm safety device, or the buyer must show ownership of an approved lock box or gun safe (Penal Code 23635-23690).
• Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale (Unsafe Handgun Act). A dealer may sell to the public only a handgun make and model that has passed safety and functionality testing and appears on the DOJ Roster (Penal Code 31900 et seq.; 32000 et seq.). Private party transfers, intra-familial transfers, curio and relic handguns, certain single-action revolvers, and pawn returns are exempt. Litigation status: the microstamping requirement that had effectively frozen new additions to the Roster was struck down in Boland v. Bonta, and the Roster scheme remains in active litigation, so its current contours should be verified.

Ammunition Purchase Restrictions

A person seeking to purchase or transfer ammunition must undergo an eligibility check and be approved by the DOJ before the sale or transfer, processed electronically through a licensed ammunition vendor (Penal Code 30352, 30370). Litigation status: California's ammunition background-check requirement has been challenged in Rhode v. Bonta. The requirement has been enjoined and then stayed at points during the appeals, so whether the check is currently being enforced is contested and should be verified.

Magazines, Assault Weapons, and Other Hardware Bans

• Large-capacity magazines (Penal Code 32310). Manufacturing, importing, selling, giving, lending, buying, or receiving a magazine able to hold more than 10 rounds is an offense, and possession is an infraction or misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $100 per magazine. Litigation status: this ban is the subject of long-running litigation in Duncan v. Bonta. Enforcement has been enjoined and reinstated at different stages, so verify the current status.
• Assault weapons (Penal Code 30515, 30605, 30900). California defines an "assault weapon" to include a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or semiautomatic pistol that lacks a fixed magazine and has certain features (Penal Code 30515). Possession of an unregistered assault weapon is an offense (Penal Code 30605), and registration of certain previously lawful weapons was required by deadline (Penal Code 30900). Litigation status: the assault weapon scheme is being litigated in Miller v. Bonta. Verify current status before relying on any part of it.

Prohibited Acts

• Obliterating or altering firearm identification marks (make, model, serial number, or other distinguishing mark) is unlawful (Penal Code 23900), as is buying, selling, or possessing a firearm knowing its identification has been obliterated or altered (Penal Code 23920).
• Straw purchases. Buying a firearm for a person prohibited from possessing one, or for someone who does not want their name on the transaction, violates both California and federal law.

New California Residents

A new California resident who brings a firearm into the state must report ownership to the DOJ, or sell or transfer the firearm in accordance with California law, within 60 days. A New Resident Report of Firearm Ownership (BOF 4010A) must be submitted with a $19 fee (Penal Code 27560).

Federal Context

State eligibility does not override federal firearm law. Federal restrictions apply independently and can be more severe.

Federal prohibited persons (18 U.S.C. 922(g)). Federal law bars firearm possession by, among others, felons, fugitives, unlawful users of controlled substances, persons adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution, persons subject to qualifying domestic violence restraining orders (922(g)(8)), and persons convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (922(g)(9)). Being under indictment for a felony is addressed separately at 18 U.S.C. 922(n) (which bars receiving or shipping a firearm), not at 922(g).

Lautenberg Amendment (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9)). A misdemeanor crime of domestic violence triggers a federal lifetime firearm-possession bar that is independent of state law and applies even if the state conviction did not involve a firearm and no firearm penalty was imposed. United States v. Rahimi (2024) upheld the related domestic-violence restraining-order disability at 922(g)(8) under the Bruen historical-tradition framework.

Firearms aboard aircraft (49 U.S.C. 46505). Carrying a concealed dangerous weapon that is or would be accessible in flight, or placing a loaded firearm aboard an aircraft, is a federal crime punishable by a fine and imprisonment for up to 10 years. This is the controlling federal aircraft provision, not the general firearm-use statute at 18 U.S.C. 924.

LEOSA (18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C). The federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act allows qualified active (926B) and retired (926C) law enforcement officers who meet the statutory conditions to carry concealed across state lines. LEOSA is a federal authority, not a California exemption, and it does not displace facility-specific federal or state restrictions.

National Firearms Act transfer tax (Pub. L. 119-21). For NFA items, the transfer and making tax is $200 for a machinegun or destructive device and $0 for all other NFA items (such as suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns). The change is effective for calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025, with the first qualifying quarter starting January 1, 2026. General ATF pages may still display the older $200 figure, but the statutory change controls. NFA registration and California's own restrictions on these items still apply.

California NFA Items and Weapon Restrictions

Overview

California has some of the most restrictive firearm laws in the nation. Many items that federal law permits to civilians through the National Firearms Act (NFA) process, meaning registration on the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record plus the federal making or transfer tax, are flatly prohibited to ordinary civilians under California state law. A California concealed carry license does not authorize possession of any NFA item or any California-defined assault weapon. Federal registration or a recent change in federal tax does not create a state exemption.

This section explains the federal NFA framework, then the California prohibitions that override it.

How federal NFA classification works

The federal NFA regulates a defined list of items. Under 26 U.S.C. 5845(a), an NFA "firearm" includes a short-barreled shotgun (barrel under 18 inches, or overall length under 26 inches if made from a shotgun), a short-barreled rifle (barrel under 16 inches, or overall length under 26 inches if made from a rifle), a machinegun, a silencer, a destructive device, and "any other weapon" (AOW).

• A machinegun is any weapon that fires, is designed to fire, or can be readily restored to fire more than one shot by a single function of the trigger, including the frame or receiver and conversion parts. (26 U.S.C. 5845(b))
• An AOW is generally a concealable weapon from which a shot can be discharged through the energy of an explosive, plus certain smooth-bore pistols and combination guns. (26 U.S.C. 5845(e))
• A destructive device includes explosive, incendiary, and poison gas devices, plus firearms with a bore over one-half inch other than sporting shotguns. (26 U.S.C. 5845(f))

At the federal level these items are legal to civilians who complete ATF registration and pay the applicable tax, unless state law prohibits them. In California, most are prohibited regardless of federal registration.

Silencers and suppressors

• Possession is a felony in California. Penal Code 33410 states that any person, firm, or corporation who within the state possesses a silencer is guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment under Penal Code 1170(h), or a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both. There is no civilian exception for a federally registered suppressor.
• A "silencer" is broadly defined as any device or attachment designed, used, or intended to silence, diminish, or muffle the report of a firearm, including any combination of parts intended to assemble or fabricate one, and any part intended only for that use. (Penal Code 17210)
• Separately, a semiautomatic pistol with a threaded barrel "capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer" is one of the features that makes the pistol an assault weapon under Penal Code 30515.

Machine guns

• Possession or knowing transport is prohibited. Penal Code 32625(a) makes it a public offense, punishable by imprisonment under Penal Code 1170(h), or a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both, except as authorized by the chapter (narrow permits issued by the Department of Justice, generally for law enforcement and other limited holders).
• Intentionally converting a firearm into a machinegun, or selling, offering for sale, or knowingly manufacturing a machinegun, is punishable by imprisonment under Penal Code 1170(h) for four, six, or eight years. (Penal Code 32625(b))

Short-barreled rifles (SBRs) and short-barreled shotguns (SBSs)

• Prohibited under Penal Code 33215. Any person in the state who manufactures, causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses a short-barreled rifle or short-barreled shotgun is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or by imprisonment under Penal Code 1170(h). This is a wobbler that can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony.
• The statute is subject to narrow exceptions in Penal Code 33220 and 33225 and the permit provisions beginning at Penal Code 17700. These exceptions do not authorize ordinary civilian possession.
• A short-barreled rifle and short-barreled shotgun are also listed among the "generally prohibited weapons" in Penal Code 16590, which cross-references Penal Code 33215.
• The federal length thresholds are barrel under 16 inches for rifles and under 18 inches for shotguns, or an overall length under 26 inches for a weapon made from either. (26 U.S.C. 5845(a))
• Note a separate overlap: a semiautomatic, centerfire rifle with an overall length of less than 30 inches is itself an assault weapon under Penal Code 30515, independent of the federal 26-inch threshold.

Destructive devices

• Possession of a destructive device, other than fixed ammunition greater than .60 caliber, is a public offense under Penal Code 18710(a). A conviction is punishable by up to one year in county jail, or in state prison, or by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both. (Penal Code 18710(b))
• The destructive device offenses are set out in the chapter beginning at Penal Code 18710 and continuing through Penal Code 18780, which separately address manufacture, sale, transport, and possession in specific places. "Destructive device" is defined for California purposes in Penal Code 16460 and covers items such as bombs, grenades, explosive missiles, certain large-bore projectile weapons, and incendiary or explosive materials.

"Any other weapon" (AOW)

• California does not use the federal "AOW" label. (26 U.S.C. 5845(e))
• Items that would fall in the federal AOW category are instead reached by California's "generally prohibited weapons" list in Penal Code 16590 and its cross-referenced sections. Examples include cane guns (Penal Code 24410), wallet guns (Penal Code 24710), and zip guns (Penal Code 33600), each a separate prohibited-weapon offense. A federally registered AOW does not become legal in California by virtue of that registration.

Assault weapons (California state restrictions)

California bans assault weapons through three overlapping categories. (Penal Code 30510, 30515)

Category One: banned by make and model

Specific firearms are banned by type, series, and model by name, for example the Beretta AR-70, Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48, Steyr AUG, Sterling MK-6, and the Bushmaster Assault Rifle. (Penal Code 30510)

Category Two: AK and AR-15 variants

Firearm models that are variations of the AK or AR-15 with only minor differences are banned. (Penal Code 30510, subds. (a)(1) and (f); see Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, section 5499.) Category One and Category Two firearms are banned whether or not they have a Category Three feature.

Category Three: banned by generic characteristics (Penal Code 30515)

Rifles. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle without a fixed magazine that has any one of: a pistol grip protruding conspicuously beneath the action, a thumbhole stock, a folding or telescoping stock, a grenade or flare launcher, a flash suppressor, or a forward pistol grip. Also any such rifle with a fixed magazine over 10 rounds, or with an overall length under 30 inches.

Pistols. A semiautomatic pistol without a fixed magazine that has any one of: a threaded barrel capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer; a second handgrip; a barrel shroud (other than a slide that encloses the barrel); or the capacity to accept a detachable magazine outside the pistol grip. Also any such pistol with a fixed magazine over 10 rounds.

Shotguns. A semiautomatic shotgun with both a folding or telescoping stock and a pistol grip, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip; a semiautomatic shotgun without a fixed magazine; or any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

Other firearms. A semiautomatic centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, without a fixed magazine, having any one of the listed features; with a fixed magazine over 10 rounds; or with an overall length under 30 inches.

Penalty for possession

Unlawful possession of an assault weapon under Penal Code 30605(a) is a wobbler. The statute provides that any person who, within the state, possesses an assault weapon, except as provided in the chapter, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170. Charged as a misdemeanor it carries up to one year in county jail. Charged as a felony it carries a county jail term under Penal Code 1170(h) rather than a commitment to state prison. A reduced penalty applies under Penal Code 30605(b): a first violation is punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) if the person was found in possession of no more than two firearms in compliance with Section 30945 and meets the other statutory conditions, including that the person lawfully possessed the firearm before it was defined as an assault weapon.

Litigation status

California's assault weapon ban has been challenged in Miller v. Bonta. The ban remains in effect while the case proceeds through the courts. Treat the prohibitions above as currently enforceable, and verify the litigation status before relying on any reported ruling.

Large-capacity magazines

• California generally prohibits the manufacture, importation into the state, keeping or offering for sale, and the giving, lending, buying, or receiving of any magazine able to accept more than 10 rounds. A violation is a wobbler punishable by up to one year in county jail or by imprisonment under Penal Code 1170(h). (Penal Code 32310(a))
• Possession of a large-capacity magazine is an infraction or a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $100 per magazine. (Penal Code 32310(c))
• The large-capacity magazine ban has been litigated extensively in Duncan v. Bonta. The restriction has been upheld and remains in effect, but its status has shifted during the litigation. Confirm the current enforceable status before relying on it.

Federal NFA tax change (Pub. L. 119-21)

• Under Pub. L. 119-21, the federal making and transfer tax is set at $0 for NFA items that are not machineguns or destructive devices, meaning silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and AOWs. The $200 tax continues to apply to machineguns and destructive devices.
• The change applies to calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after July 4, 2025, so the first qualifying quarter is January 1, 2026. ATF general pages may still display the older $200 figure for all items; the statutory change is the controlling authority.
• This federal tax change does not affect California law. Items prohibited under California law (silencers, machine guns, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and assault weapons) remain prohibited regardless of the federal tax or NFA registration. The federal registration requirement and the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record also remain in effect.

Pending federal legislation

• H.R. 2395, the SHORT Act (Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today Act), would remove short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and AOWs from the NFA definition of "firearm." As of this writing it has been referred to committee and has not been enacted. Even if it passes, California's independent state prohibitions on these items would remain in force.

Key takeaway for CCW holders

A California concealed carry license authorizes carrying a handgun. It does not authorize possessing any NFA item or any California-defined assault weapon. Silencers, machine guns, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns are prohibited under state law, possession is generally a felony or a wobbler, and federal NFA registration provides no defense. Assault weapons under Penal Code 30510 and 30515 and large-capacity magazines over 10 rounds under Penal Code 32310 are also prohibited. Because several of these bans are in active litigation, verify the current enforceable status before acting.

Key statutes

Red Flag Laws: California Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVRO)

California's "red flag" law is formally the Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO). It lets a court temporarily prohibit a person who poses a significant danger from having, owning, buying, or receiving firearms and ammunition. GVROs have been available in California since January 1, 2016 and are codified in the Penal Code beginning at Penal Code 18100.

This page explains how a GVRO works, who can ask for one, the different order types and their durations, and how a GVRO (and related protective orders) affect a person who holds a California carry license.

What a GVRO Does

Under Penal Code 18100, a gun violence restraining order is a court order prohibiting and enjoining a named person from having custody or control of, and from owning, purchasing, possessing, or receiving, any firearms or ammunition while the order is in effect. The statute provides that "ammunition" includes a magazine as defined in Penal Code 16890. The California courts self-help materials describe the prohibition as reaching firearms, firearm parts, ammunition, magazines, and body armor.

A GVRO restricts firearms only. It does not order the restrained person to:

• Stay away from, or stop contacting, another person
• Move out of a shared home
• Stop abuse or harassment

If protection beyond firearm restrictions is needed, a different order (a domestic violence restraining order, civil harassment order, or workplace violence order) may be more appropriate. Those orders carry their own separate firearm prohibitions, described below.

Surrender of Firearms

Once a GVRO is issued and served, the restrained person must give up their firearms and ammunition under Penal Code 18120. If a law enforcement officer serves the order and requests it, surrender must occur immediately. Otherwise, the person must surrender within 24 hours of being served, by turning the firearms and ammunition over to a local law enforcement agency in a safe manner, or by selling or transferring them to a licensed firearms dealer. The restrained person must file proof of surrender with the court (and the serving law enforcement agency, if applicable) within 48 hours.

Types of GVRO

California provides three GVRO mechanisms, each with its own petitioner pool, legal standard, and duration.

1. Temporary Emergency GVRO (Penal Code 18125)

• Who can request it: A law enforcement officer only.
• How it issues: On an ex parte basis. The officer asserts the grounds and a judicial officer makes the finding. These are commonly requested by phone when court is not in session.
• Standard: Reasonable cause to believe the subject poses an immediate and present danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having access to a firearm or ammunition, and that the order is necessary because less restrictive alternatives are inadequate or have been tried and found ineffective.
• Duration: The temporary emergency order expires no later than 21 days from the date it is issued.

2. Ex Parte GVRO (Penal Code 18150)

• Who can request it: A broader group of petitioners. Under Penal Code 18150(a)(1), this includes an immediate family member, an employer, a qualifying coworker (with employer approval and at least one year of substantial regular interaction), a qualifying school employee or teacher (with administrator approval), a law enforcement officer, a roommate, a person in a dating relationship with the subject, and a person who shares a child with the subject. The petitioner pool grew in two stages. AB 61 (Stats. 2019, ch. 725) added employers, qualifying coworkers, and qualifying school employees, effective January 1, 2020. AB 2870 (Stats. 2022, ch. 974) added roommates, dating partners, and additional family and co-parent relationships, effective January 1, 2023.
• Standard: The court may issue the order if there is a substantial likelihood that the subject poses a significant danger, in the near future, of causing personal injury to self or others by having access to a firearm or ammunition, and that the ex parte order is necessary to prevent that injury.
• Duration: The ex parte order remains in effect until the hearing. Under Penal Code 18165, within 21 days after the date on the order the court must hold a hearing to decide whether to issue an order after notice and hearing under Penal Code 18175.

3. GVRO After Notice and Hearing (Penal Code 18170, 18175)

• Who can request it: The same petitioner list as the ex parte order, under Penal Code 18170(a)(1).
• Standard: At the hearing the court must find, by clear and convincing evidence, that the subject poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to self or others by having access to a firearm or ammunition, and that the order is necessary. This is a higher standard than the showing required for an emergency or ex parte order.
• Duration: Under Penal Code 18175, an order issued after notice and hearing lasts from one to five years, subject to termination by further court order. A GVRO may be renewed under Penal Code 18190 for an additional one to five years on the same clear-and-convincing-evidence standard.

Evidence the Court Considers

When ruling on a GVRO petition, the court considers evidence such as specific statements or acts suggesting danger, recent threats or acts of violence, prior protective orders or their violation, reckless use or brandishing of a firearm, history of firearm or ammunition acquisition, and substance abuse history. Witness statements made under oath, police reports, medical records, photographs, and threatening messages may all be submitted. A GVRO can be issued even if the petitioner does not know whether the subject currently possesses firearms, because the order also bars future acquisition.

Service and Proof of Service

If the court issues a temporary or ex parte GVRO, the restrained person must be personally served with a copy of the order. Service may be performed by a person 18 or older who is not the petitioner, and a sheriff or marshal can serve the order at no charge. Proof of personal service (Judicial Council form GV-200) is filed with the court.

Related Protective Orders That Restrict Firearms

A California carry licensee should understand that several other court orders independently prohibit firearm possession, each suspending the practical ability to carry while in effect.

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders (DVROs)

A person subject to a domestic violence protective order may not own, possess, purchase, or receive a firearm or ammunition while the order is in effect, and the court must order the respondent to relinquish firearms and ammunition. Relinquishment timing mirrors the GVRO process: immediately on law enforcement request, or within 24 hours otherwise, with a receipt filed within 48 hours. Family Code 6389 governs this prohibition, the relinquishment procedure, and the return of firearms (generally within five days after the relinquishment order expires, subject to exceptions). A temporary DVRO typically lasts until the hearing (commonly on the order of three weeks), and a DVRO issued after hearing can last up to five years. Federal law independently bars firearm possession by persons subject to a qualifying domestic-violence order under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8).

Criminal Protective Orders (CPOs)

Issued during or after criminal proceedings, a criminal protective order prohibits firearm and ammunition possession while in effect and can extend years beyond the underlying case. Proposition 63 (passed November 2016) strengthened relinquishment and compliance verification for persons convicted of firearm-prohibiting offenses, including requirements that the defendant show proof of sale or transfer of firearms and that probation officers and courts verify compliance.

Other Civil Protective Orders

The following also prohibit firearm and ammunition possession while in effect:

• Civil harassment restraining orders
• Workplace violence restraining orders
• Private postsecondary school violence restraining orders
• Elder or dependent adult abuse protective orders (except cases solely involving financial abuse)
• Emergency protective orders, including those issued for stalking

Impact on California Carry License Holders

A California carry license does not override a firearms-prohibiting order. A person subject to a GVRO, DVRO, criminal protective order, or other qualifying protective order is prohibited from possessing firearms, which suspends the ability to lawfully carry for the duration of the order. A protective order also bears on license eligibility itself: the carry-licensing scheme revised by SB 2 (2023) treats certain protective orders and disqualifying conduct as bars to issuance.

California carry licensees should separately be aware that SB 2 added a long list of "sensitive places" where a licensee may not carry, at Penal Code 26230 (effective January 1, 2024). That statute was challenged in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta. A federal district court issued a preliminary injunction on December 20, 2023, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed that injunction in large part, with its mandate taking effect January 23, 2025. As a result, about 20 of the 26 sensitive-place categories are currently enforceable. Six categories remain enjoined and are not being enforced pending further appeal: hospitals and medical facilities (26230(a)(7)), public transit (a)(8), permitted public gatherings and special events (a)(10), places of worship (a)(22), financial institutions (a)(23), and the default rule barring carry in privately owned commercial establishments open to the public unless a sign is posted (a)(26). The other categories, such as bars and businesses serving alcohol, playgrounds and youth centers, parks and athletic areas, casinos, stadiums and arenas, libraries, airports, amusement parks, zoos and museums, and law enforcement stations, are in effect. Verify the current enforceable status before relying on any particular location restriction.

State Records Systems

When a protective order issues, it is entered into state and federal databases used to identify prohibited persons. The California Department of Justice maintains firearm transaction and carry-license records under Penal Code 11106, where the Attorney General is required to keep and file copies of carry licenses and to maintain a registry of reported firearms; the system the DOJ operates for this purpose is the Automated Firearms System (AFS). Protective orders are tracked in the California Restraining and Protective Order System (CARPOS) and reported to the federal NCIC files.

The DOJ also operates the Armed and Prohibited Persons System (APPS), which cross-references firearm ownership records against prohibiting events, including GVROs and other protective orders, to identify people who possess firearms but are legally barred from doing so. APPS activity is reported by the DOJ in annual reports.

Recent Developments

• The GVRO petitioner pool was broadened in two stages beyond the original immediate family and law enforcement. AB 61 (Stats. 2019, ch. 725) added employers, qualifying coworkers, and qualifying school employees, effective January 1, 2020. AB 2870 (Stats. 2022, ch. 974) added roommates, dating partners, and additional family and co-parent relationships, effective January 1, 2023 (Penal Code 18150 and 18170).
• The DOJ has issued information bulletins updating how restraining orders and GVROs are tracked in CARPOS and reported to the NCIC.
• The sensitive-place limits under SB 2 and Penal Code 26230 were partly enjoined in December 2023, but the Ninth Circuit reversed that injunction in large part effective January 23, 2025. Twenty of the 26 categories are now enforceable and six remain enjoined. Verify the current status before relying on any contested provision.

Federal Context

In United States v. Rahimi, 602 U.S. 680 (2024), the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal firearm prohibition at 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(8) for persons subject to a qualifying domestic-violence restraining order, holding that the disability survives the historical-tradition test of New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022). Rahimi is the controlling Supreme Court authority on firearm disabilities tied to domestic-violence findings, and it informs how courts evaluate state red-flag and protective-order frameworks that operate alongside the federal Section 922(g)(8) prohibitor.

Resources

• California Attorney General, Office of Gun Violence Prevention: oag.ca.gov/ogvp
• California Courts self-help guide on gun violence restraining orders: selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/GV-restraining-order
• GVRO petition forms (GV-100 series) through the Judicial Council of California
• Your local superior court self-help center for free filing assistance

This page is general information, not legal advice. Firearm and protective-order law in California changes frequently and several provisions are in active litigation. Confirm current requirements with the issuing court, the California Department of Justice, or a qualified California attorney before acting.

California Firearm Preemption and the State-Local Divide

California does not have a single, sweeping preemption law that bars cities and counties from regulating firearms. Instead, the state has carved out a few discrete areas where local rules are forbidden, while leaving local governments broad authority to regulate firearms more strictly than the state in everything else. For a concealed carry licensee, the practical result is that you must follow both state law and the local ordinances of every city and county where you carry.

The Default Rule: Broad Local Police Power

Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution lets a county or city "make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws." California courts have long held that this police power includes the power to regulate firearms, and a local ordinance is valid unless it conflicts with state law (for example, by penalizing conduct the state expressly authorizes, or permitting conduct the state forbids), or unless the state has occupied the field.

The Legislature reinforced this default in 2022. SB 1327, effective January 1, 2023, provides that a state statute "shall not be construed to restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting firearms in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state, unless the statute explicitly states that political subdivisions are prohibited from regulating or prohibiting firearms in the manner described by the statute." In plain terms, California rejects implied preemption of stricter local gun rules. A locality may go further than the state unless a statute expressly says it cannot.

Where State Law Expressly Preempts Local Rules

The Legislature has expressly preempted local action in a small set of areas:

• Registration and licensing of commercially manufactured firearms. Government Code 53071 states the Legislature's intent "to occupy the whole field of regulation of the registration or licensing of commercially manufactured firearms as encompassed by the provisions of the Penal Code," making those provisions exclusive of all local regulation on registration or licensing. A city or county cannot create its own firearm registry or its own carry-license scheme.
• Keeping a handgun at home or at a place of business. Penal Code 25605(b) provides that no permit or license is required for an eligible adult to purchase, own, possess, keep, or carry a handgun within the person's own residence, place of business, or private property they own or lawfully possess. Local governments cannot require a permit for possession in those private spaces.
• Imitation firearms. Government Code 53071.5 preempts local regulation of the manufacture, sale, or possession of imitation firearms, with a statutory exception that allows Los Angeles County and the cities within it to adopt stricter rules.
• Shooting range noise. Civil Code 3482.1 generally bars local governments from enforcing new or amended noise control ordinances against an existing, lawfully operating shooting range where there has been no substantial change in the range's nature or use.

Outside these enumerated areas, local governments retain authority to regulate firearms, and many California cities and counties impose ordinances stricter than state law on matters such as dealer operations, ammunition sales, storage, and where firearms may be discharged or carried on local property.

The State Sets the Carry-License Framework; Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Administer It

A license to carry a concealed handgun is issued under a uniform state framework, not by local ordinance. The sheriff of a county may issue a license under Penal Code 26150, and the chief or other head of a municipal police department may issue one under Penal Code 26155. A sheriff and a police chief may agree to have one office process applications for the other. Because of Government Code 53071, a locality cannot substitute its own licensing standard for the state's.

Both statutes were restructured by AB 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026. Subdivision (a) of each section covers California-resident applications. Subdivision (b) of each section sets out a separate pathway for non-California-resident applicants, so California now has a general non-resident license pathway in addition to the resident process. Subdivision (c) covers the license format: paragraph (c)(1) is the standard license to carry concealed, and paragraph (c)(2) is a license to carry loaded and exposed, available only in a county whose population is under 200,000.

Within that framework, the licensing authority applies state-set criteria. The applicant must be at least 21 years of age, complete the required training course (Penal Code 26165, which sets a minimum of 16 hours for a new license and a minimum of 8 hours for a renewal), submit fingerprints (Penal Code 26185), pay the statutory fees (Penal Code 26190), and not be a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202. The Penal Code, not local rule, defines who is disqualified, and Penal Code 26190 authorizes a psychological assessment as part of the process.

SB 2 (2023) Standardized the Criteria After Bruen

Before 2022, California required a concealed carry applicant to show "good cause" and "good moral character," and local licensing authorities exercised wide discretion over whether that standard was met. After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar "proper cause" requirement in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), California enacted SB 2, which removed the good cause and good moral character requirements from the issuance criteria and replaced them with objective disqualification standards. Any claim that California still requires applicants to demonstrate "good cause" is out of date.

SB 2 also added Penal Code 26230 (effective January 1, 2024), a long list of "sensitive places" where a licensee may not carry even with a valid license. Most of these categories are currently in effect, including schools, preschools and childcare facilities, state government buildings, courthouses, local government buildings, detention facilities, college and university campuses, bars and other establishments that serve alcohol, playgrounds and youth centers, parks and athletic areas, casinos and other gambling establishments, stadiums and arenas, public libraries, airports, amusement parks, and zoos and museums. Six categories are currently enjoined and are not being enforced pending further appeal: hospitals and other medical facilities (subdivision (a)(7)), public transit (a)(8), permitted public gatherings and special events (a)(10), places of worship (a)(22), financial institutions (a)(23), and any other privately owned commercial establishment open to the public (a)(26). Notably for preemption, Penal Code 26230 expressly defers to local authority: it prohibits carry in any place "prohibited by local law." The statute also sets a default rule that would make most privately owned commercial establishments open to the public off-limits unless the operator posts a sign permitting licensed carry, but that default rule in subdivision (a)(26) is one of the six provisions currently enjoined and not being enforced.

Penal Code 26230 Is Heavily Litigated

Penal Code 26230 has been the subject of active federal litigation (including May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta). On December 20, 2023, the United States District Court for the Central District of California issued a preliminary injunction blocking many of its sensitive-place provisions. The Ninth Circuit then reversed that preliminary injunction in large part. It did not merely stay the injunction; it reversed it. The appellate mandate took effect January 23, 2025, and as a result 20 of the 26 sensitive-place categories in subdivision (a) are now enforceable. Six categories remain subject to the injunction and are not being enforced pending further appeal: hospitals and other medical facilities (a)(7), public transit (a)(8), permitted public gatherings and special events (a)(10), places of worship (a)(22), financial institutions (a)(23), and the default no-carry rule for privately owned commercial establishments open to the public (a)(26). The enforceable scope of specific subdivisions could shift again as the cases continue, so treat the list in Penal Code 26230 as the statute on the books and verify the current status of any particular provision before relying on it.

What This Means for License Holders

• The carry license itself is governed by uniform state law, so the criteria for getting and keeping a license do not change from county to county.
• Where you may lawfully carry can change as you cross city and county lines. Local governments may impose firearm restrictions stricter than the state in areas the Legislature has not expressly preempted, and Penal Code 26230 itself incorporates local prohibitions.
• The areas California has expressly placed off-limits to local regulation are narrow: registration or licensing of commercially manufactured firearms (Government Code 53071), permits for keeping a handgun at home or business (Penal Code 25605), imitation firearms (Government Code 53071.5), and certain shooting-range noise rules (Civil Code 3482.1).
• Because California rejects implied preemption of stricter local rules (SB 1327), do not assume that the absence of a state prohibition means a locality allows the conduct. Check the ordinances of the jurisdiction you are in.

This guide summarizes statutes that change and that are being actively litigated. It is not legal advice. Confirm the current text of each cited Penal Code, Government Code, and Civil Code section and the status of any pending case before you rely on it.

California Concealed Carry Reciprocity

The Bottom Line

California does not honor any other state's concealed carry permit. To carry a concealed handgun in California you must hold a California Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) license. A California CCW, in turn, is recognized in roughly half the country, mostly in states that allow permitless carry for any qualifying adult rather than because those states formally recognize a California license.

If you hold a California CCW and you travel, verify each destination state's current rules before you cross the line. Reciprocity changes often, and a state that recognized your license last year may not today.

California Does Not Recognize Out-of-State Permits

The California Department of Justice Firearms Public FAQ states the rule directly:

"No. CCW licenses/permits issued in other states are not valid in California."

"California law does not honor or recognize CCW licenses issued outside this state." (Pen. Code, Sections 25400-25700, 26150-26225.)

There is no out-of-state permit, nonresident permit, or "constitutional carry" status that lets a visitor carry a concealed or loaded handgun in California. The only path to lawful concealed carry in California is a California CCW issued by a county sheriff under Penal Code 26150 or by a city police chief under Penal Code 26155. California residents apply under subdivision (a) of those statutes. Non-California residents are not shut out: subdivision (b) of both Penal Code 26150 and Penal Code 26155 provides a non-resident application pathway. Under it, a nonresident may apply to the county sheriff or the city police chief, subject to the disqualifier standards of Penal Code 26202 and the comparable laws of the applicant's home state, plus proof of age, identity, training, and live-fire qualification. This non-resident pathway was restructured into subdivision (b) by AB 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026. See Permit Basics for the application details.

A person who carries a concealed firearm in California without a California license risks prosecution under Penal Code 25400. If the firearm is loaded and carried in public, the charge is Penal Code 25850. Both offenses are "wobblers" or felonies depending on the offender and circumstances. In the ordinary case with no aggravating factor, a violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both (Penal Code 25400(c)(7); Penal Code 25850(c)(7)). The offense becomes a felony where, for example, the person has a prior felony conviction, the firearm is stolen, or the person is otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms (Penal Code 25400(c)(1)-(4); Penal Code 25850(c)(1)-(4)).

Where the License Is Valid Inside California

A California CCW issued on the basis of your residence is a state license, not a county pass, so it lets you carry throughout California, subject to the statewide restrictions below. The license is issued in one of two formats under Penal Code 26150(c) and Penal Code 26155(c): a standard license to carry concealed (subdivision (c)(1)), or, in a county with a population under 200,000, a license to carry loaded and exposed in that county only (subdivision (c)(2)). Two further limits in the statute are worth knowing:

• A license issued because your place of employment or business (rather than your residence) is in the issuing county is valid only in that county and for no more than 90 days (Penal Code 26220(b)).
• A standard license is valid for a period set by the issuing authority, not to exceed two years from the date of the license (Penal Code 26220(a)). Longer terms apply to a narrow set of judicial officers (up to three years) and to certain custodial officers (up to four years).

Even with a valid California CCW, you may not carry in the long list of "sensitive places" set out in Penal Code 26230, which took effect January 1, 2024 under Senate Bill 2. The statute lists more than two dozen categories, but not all of them are currently being enforced. After the December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta, the Ninth Circuit reversed that injunction in large part, and its mandate took effect January 23, 2025. The court did not stay the injunction. It reversed the injunction as to most categories, which made those categories enforceable again.

As a result, about 20 of the 26 sensitive-place categories are currently enforceable. These include schools and school zones, government and court buildings, bars and places that serve alcohol (Penal Code 26230(a)(9)), playgrounds and youth centers (a)(11), parks and athletic areas (a)(12), casinos and gambling establishments (a)(15), stadiums and arenas (a)(16), public libraries (a)(17), airports and passenger vessel terminals (a)(18), amusement parks (a)(19), zoos and museums (a)(20), and law enforcement stations (a)(24), along with the categories that were never enjoined.

Six categories remain enjoined and are not being enforced pending further appeal: hospitals and medical facilities (a)(7), public transit (a)(8), permitted public gatherings and special events (a)(10), places of worship (a)(22), financial institutions (a)(23), and the default no-carry rule for any privately owned commercial establishment open to the public that has not posted a sign allowing carry (a)(26). Do not treat those six as operative restrictions while the injunction stands, and check the current status before relying on any version of the list. See Prohibited Places for detail.

States That Honor a California CCW

Whether another state recognizes your California license depends entirely on that state's law, not on California's. Some states extend formal recognition to a California CCW. Many more simply allow any qualifying adult to carry without a permit, so your California license is not needed there at all (though that state's own possession, storage, and sensitive-place rules still apply to you).

Because recognition is set by each destination state and changes frequently, the safest approach is to confirm status on the destination state's Attorney General website immediately before you travel rather than relying on any list. As a general pattern, the restrictive-permit states (for example Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington) do not honor a California CCW. Some states that do recognize out-of-state licenses limit recognition to a license issued by the holder's state of residence, which means only a resident California CCW would qualify and a California nonresident license would not.

This is reciprocity in the outbound direction only. None of it changes the rule that out-of-state permits are invalid inside California.

Practical Steps Before Traveling

1. Check the destination state's Attorney General or State Police website for the current reciprocity status of a California license. Treat any printed or app-based reciprocity map as a starting point, not the final word.
2. Confirm whether the destination is a permitless-carry state for someone of your age and residency. If it is, your California permit is not required there, but the state's possession, transport, and storage rules still bind you.
3. Comply with the visited state's rules on sensitive places, vehicle carry, magazine capacity, ammunition, and duty to inform. These vary widely.
4. For states that recognize only resident licenses, confirm that your California CCW is a resident license. A California nonresident license will not qualify in those states.

Federal LEOSA

Qualified active and qualified retired law enforcement officers may carry a concealed firearm across state lines under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act. The authority for active officers is 18 U.S.C. 926B and for qualified retired officers is 18 U.S.C. 926C. LEOSA is a federal carry authority that operates independently of state CCW reciprocity; it is not a California exemption. California does not run a single statewide LEOSA qualification program for retired officers, so a retiree's qualifying credential and required annual firearms qualification are handled through the officer's agency or another authorized entity. LEOSA does not override the federal sensitive-place limits built into the statute itself, and it does not authorize carry where 926B or 926C exclude it.

If You Move

If you move from the county that issued your California CCW, the change-of-residence rules apply. You must notify the licensing authority in writing within 10 days of the move (Penal Code 26210(b)). If your residence was the basis for issuance, the license expires 90 days after you move from the county of issuance (Penal Code 26210(d)). Moving out of California therefore ends the practical life of a residence-based California CCW within that 90-day window, and California offers no carry recognition once you are a resident elsewhere. Apply for the new state's permit when you establish residency there. For a move between California counties, follow the same 10-day notice procedure; a residence-based license is not revoked solely because you moved to another county, provided you remain eligible (Penal Code 26210(c)). See Permit Basics.

Key Statutes Reference

Source Information

• California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms, Firearms Public FAQ. Quoted text on out-of-state permits and on California not recognizing out-of-state licenses, citing Pen. Code Sections 25400-25700 and 26150-26225.
• Penal Code 25400 and Penal Code 25850, carrying a concealed and a loaded firearm without a license, including penalty grading. California Legislative Information (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).
• Penal Code 26150 and 26155, the CCW licensing statutes, restructured by AB 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026: subdivision (a) resident applications, subdivision (b) non-resident applications, subdivision (c) license format. Penal Code 26202, 26210, and 26220 round out the licensing chapter. California Legislative Information; FindLaw California Codes.
• Penal Code 26230, sensitive-places restrictions added by Senate Bill 2 (2023), effective January 1, 2024. The Ninth Circuit reversed the December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction in large part in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta, with the mandate effective January 23, 2025. Twenty of the 26 categories are enforceable and six remain enjoined (subds. (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(10), (a)(22), (a)(23), and (a)(26)). California Department of Justice Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06; California Legislative Information.
• 18 U.S.C. 926B and 18 U.S.C. 926C, Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.
• Outbound recognition by other states is governed by each destination state's law and changes frequently. Confirm current status with the destination state's Attorney General or State Police before traveling.

California CCW Resources

This section points you to the controlling sources for California concealed-carry law and summarizes the statewide licensing framework. California is the most heavily litigated firearm-law state, so several rules below are subject to active court challenges. Where a statute or part of a statute has been enjoined or otherwise limited by a court, that is flagged. Always confirm the current enforceable status with your issuing agency and the California Department of Justice before you rely on any single rule.

Authoritative Government Sources

• California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms - https://oag.ca.gov/firearms - the controlling state-level source for CCW issuance rules, the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) process, the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, the Firearm Safety Certificate program, and DOJ-certified instructor information.
• California Legislative Information - https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/ - the official statute text. Read the Penal Code section directly rather than relying on a summary, because California amends these provisions frequently.
• Your issuing authority - the county sheriff (Penal Code 26150) or city police chief (Penal Code 26155) publishes the operative application process, fee schedule, training standards, and license conditions for that jurisdiction. The issuing agency and the license itself control over any general summary.
• CCW reciprocity - California does not recognize any other state's carry permit. There is no inbound reciprocity. See the RECIPROCITY section for the controlling rule.
• DOJ Information Bulletins - the DOJ publishes Information Bulletins that set out enforcement guidance and track the status of litigation affecting the Penal Code 26230 sensitive-places list. Parts of that list were enjoined in December 2023, then the Ninth Circuit reversed the injunction in large part, with six categories still enjoined. Check the most recent bulletin (currently 2025-DLE-06) for the currently enforceable scope.

Statewide Licensing Framework (Post-SB 2, effective January 1, 2024)

California is a shall-issue carry state. Under Penal Code 26150 the sheriff, and under Penal Code 26155 a city police chief, shall issue or renew a license to carry a concealed firearm to a qualified applicant. AB 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), effective January 1, 2026, restructured both statutes into separate resident and non-resident pathways:

• Subdivision (a) governs a California resident application. The resident must prove all of the following.
• Subdivision (b) governs a non-California-resident application. California now has a general non-resident CCW pathway, so an out-of-state applicant is no longer limited to an employment or business basis. The non-resident must meet a parallel set of conditions, including compliance with the comparable firearm laws of their home state, identity and age proof, an attestation about where they will spend time in California, the training and live-fire requirements, and identification of each firearm to be carried.

For a California resident under subdivision (a), the applicant must prove all of the following:

1. The applicant is not a disqualified person under the standard in Penal Code 26202 (Penal Code 26150(a)(1) / 26155(a)(1)).
2. The applicant is at least 21 years of age and presents clear evidence of identity and age (Penal Code 26150(a)(2) / 26155(a)(2)).
3. The applicant is a resident of the county or a city within the county, or has a principal place of employment or business there (Penal Code 26150(a)(3)); for a city police chief, the applicant is a resident of that city or city and county (Penal Code 26155(a)(3)).
4. The applicant has completed the training course described in Penal Code 26165 (Penal Code 26150(a)(4) / 26155(a)(4)).
5. The applicant is the recorded owner, with the Department of Justice, of each firearm for which the license will be issued (Penal Code 26150(a)(5) / 26155(a)(5)).

The license is issued in one of two formats under subdivision (c). The standard format is a license to carry a concealed handgun (Penal Code 26150(c)(1) / 26155(c)(1)). In a county with a population under 200,000, the issuing authority may instead issue a license to carry loaded and exposed within that county only (Penal Code 26150(c)(2) / 26155(c)(2)).

After the post-Bruen, SB 2 changes, the issuing authority no longer evaluates "good cause." Issuance now turns on the objective disqualifier standard in Penal Code 26202 plus the training and ownership requirements above.

Disqualifying Factors (Penal Code 26202)

Penal Code 26202(a) makes an applicant a disqualified person, unless a court rules otherwise under Penal Code 26206, if any one or more of the following applies. This list replaces the old discretionary standard and should be read in full at the statute. The categories include:

• Being reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others, or the community, as shown by the application, the agency investigation, or a psychological assessment (26202(a)(1)).
• A conviction for contempt of court under Penal Code 166 (26202(a)(2)).
• Being subject to certain restraining or protective orders, unless the order expired or was canceled more than five years before the completed application (26202(a)(3)).
• A conviction within the prior 10 years for an offense listed in Penal Code 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, or 29805 (26202(a)(4)).
• Unlawful or reckless use, display, or brandishing of a firearm (26202(a)(5)).
• Within the prior 10 years, a charge for an offense listed in Penal Code 290, 667.5, 1192.7, 1192.8, or 29805 that was dismissed by plea or Harvey waiver (26202(a)(6)).
• Within the prior 5 years, commitment, incarceration, probation, parole, or supervision resulting from a conviction involving controlled substances or alcohol (26202(a)(7)).
• Being an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) (26202(a)(8)).
• Currently abusing a controlled substance or alcohol (26202(a)(9)).
• Within the prior 10 years, loss or theft of multiple firearms due to the applicant's failure to store, transport, or secure them lawfully (26202(a)(10)).
• Failure to report a lost or stolen firearm as required by Penal Code 25250 or other law (26202(a)(11)).

Separately, anyone who cannot lawfully possess a firearm cannot be licensed. A felon is prohibited from possessing firearms under Penal Code 29800(a)(1); a person convicted of a qualifying domestic-violence or other specified misdemeanor is prohibited for 10 years under Penal Code 29805; and federal law adds a lifetime prohibition for a domestic-violence misdemeanant under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9). The Department of Justice firearms-eligibility check required by Penal Code 26185 screens for these state and federal prohibitions during the application.

There is no separate two-DUI disqualifier in Penal Code 26202. A DUI history matters only to the extent it falls within one of the categories above (for example, the controlled-substance or alcohol provisions, or the danger-to-self determination).

Training Requirement (Penal Code 26165)

• New applicants must complete a course of no less than 16 hours (Penal Code 26165(a)(1)).
• The course must cover firearm safety and handling, shooting technique, safe storage, lawful transport and vehicle securing, the laws on where a licensee may carry, and the laws on the permissible use of force in self-defense (Penal Code 26165(a)(2)).
• It must include a component of no less than one hour on mental health and mental-health resources (Penal Code 26165(a)(3)).
• It must be taught and supervised by an instructor certified by the Department of Justice under Penal Code 31635 (Penal Code 26165(a)(4)), include a written examination (26165(a)(5)), and include live-fire shooting exercises with a proficiency demonstration for each firearm to be listed (26165(a)(6)).
• Renewal applicants must complete a course of no less than 8 hours that satisfies paragraphs (2) through (6) of subdivision (a) (Penal Code 26165(d)).

The issuing authority sets and publishes its live-fire standard, including the minimum round count, passing score, and firing distances (Penal Code 26165(b)). The exact qualification format varies by jurisdiction and instructor, so confirm it with your issuing agency.

Fees (Penal Code 26190)

California sets CCW fees by cost recovery, not by a fixed statutory dollar amount. The fees authorized by Penal Code 26190 are:

• A Department of Justice application fee that may not exceed the department's processing costs (26190(a)).
• A local fee equal to the licensing authority's reasonable costs to process, issue, and enforce the license, excluding fingerprint and training costs. The first 50 percent may be collected at filing and the balance only on issuance (26190(b)).
• An amendment fee not to exceed the reasonable cost to process the amendment (26190(d); see Penal Code 26215 for amendments).
• The actual cost of a psychological assessment, if the licensing authority requires one (26190(e)).

Real-world total cost (state fee, local fee, training, Live Scan fingerprinting, and any psychological-assessment fee) commonly runs several hundred dollars and varies by county. Separate from the CCW fees, a firearm purchase carries a DROS fee and a Firearm Safety Certificate cost, both set by Department of Justice regulation; confirm the current amounts at oag.ca.gov/firearms.

What Is Listed on a CCW

• Only handguns may be listed on a California CCW. No long guns.
• The applicant must be the recorded owner of each listed handgun in the Department of Justice records (Penal Code 26150(a)(5) / 26155(a)(5)).
• A licensee may not carry a firearm not listed on the license, and may not carry more than two firearms at one time (Penal Code 26200(a)(4) and (d)).
• Adding, deleting, or changing a listed firearm or a license condition requires a license amendment (Penal Code 26215). An amendment does not extend the original expiration date (Penal Code 26215(c)).

Carry Conditions and License Restrictions (Penal Code 26200)

Penal Code 26200(a) prohibits a licensee, while carrying, from doing any of the following: consuming or being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance; being in a place having a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption; carrying a firearm not listed on the license; falsely claiming to be a peace officer; engaging in an unjustified display of a deadly weapon; failing to carry the license on the person; refusing to display the license or present the firearm for inspection on a peace officer's demand; impeding a peace officer; or violating any federal, state, or local criminal law.

Penal Code 26200(b) also lets the licensing authority add reasonable restrictions on the time, place, manner, and circumstances of carry. Any such restriction is printed on the license (26200(c)). The published conditions of your issuing agency and the license itself control, so confirm them with that agency.

License Term and Ongoing Obligations

• Term and renewal. A standard license is valid for up to 2 years from the date of issue (Penal Code 26220(a)). A license issued on an employment or business basis is valid for up to 90 days (26220(b)); a license issued to a judge or magistrate is valid for up to 3 years (26220(c)); and certain custodial-officer and reserve-peace-officer licenses run up to 4 years (26220(d), (e)). Renewal requires the 8-hour renewal course (Penal Code 26165(d)). For a renewal notification submitted to the Department of Justice on or after September 1, 2026, the licensing authority must also submit the applicant's fingerprint images (Penal Code 26185(b)(2)), and no renewal license may issue "unless the department confirms the applicant's eligibility to possess, receive, own, or purchase a firearm" (Penal Code 26185(c)(3)).
• Amendments. Apply to the licensing authority to add or remove a firearm or change a condition (Penal Code 26215).
• Decision timeline. Penal Code 26205(a) sets three separate deadlines. For a new license, the licensing authority must give written notice of approval or denial within 120 days of the completed application, or 30 days after it receives the Department of Justice information described in Penal Code 26185(a)(2), whichever is later (Penal Code 26205(a)(1)). For a license renewal submitted before September 1, 2026, the notice is due within 120 days of the completed renewal application (Penal Code 26205(a)(2)). For a license renewal submitted on or after September 1, 2026, the notice is due within 120 days of the completed renewal application, or 30 days after receipt of the Department of Justice information described in Penal Code 26185(c)(3), whichever is later (Penal Code 26205(a)(3)). A denial notice must state which requirement was not satisfied (26205(b)). The agency also gives an initial disqualification determination within 90 days (Penal Code 26202(d)).
• Lapsed licenses. If a license holder fails to submit a renewal application within 90 days of expiration, the licensing authority must immediately request that the Department of Justice terminate state or federal subsequent notification (Penal Code 26225(e)).
• Duty to report. A licensee must inform the licensing authority that issued the license of any restraining order or arrest, charge, or conviction of a crime referenced in Penal Code 26202 (Penal Code 26195(c)).

Sensitive Places (Penal Code 26230)

Penal Code 26230, added by SB 2 and effective January 1, 2024, lists 26 categories of locations where a licensee may not carry. A December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction from the United States District Court for the Central District of California, in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta, blocked enforcement of several categories. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit reversed that injunction in large part (the consolidated decision that also resolved Wolford v. Lopez), and the mandate took effect January 23, 2025. The court did not stay the injunction. It reversed it as to most categories, so those provisions are now enforceable. As confirmed by DOJ Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06, 20 of the 26 categories are currently in effect and 6 remain enjoined.

Currently enforceable categories include:

• Gun-free school zones under Penal Code 626.9 (26230(a)(1)).
• Preschools and childcare facilities (26230(a)(2)).
• Buildings under the control of a state executive or legislative branch officer (26230(a)(3)).
• Court buildings (26230(a)(4)).
• Local government buildings (26230(a)(5)).
• Adult and juvenile detention and correctional institutions, prisons, and jails (26230(a)(6)).
• Bars and establishments that serve alcohol for on-site consumption (26230(a)(9)).
• Playgrounds and public or private youth centers (26230(a)(11)).
• Parks, athletic areas, and athletic facilities open to the public (26230(a)(12)).
• Most land controlled by the Department of Parks and Recreation or Department of Fish and Wildlife (26230(a)(13)).
• College and university grounds (26230(a)(14)).
• Casinos and other gambling or gaming establishments (26230(a)(15)).
• Stadiums and arenas (26230(a)(16)).
• Public libraries (26230(a)(17)).
• Airports and passenger-vessel terminals (26230(a)(18)).
• Amusement parks (26230(a)(19)).
• Zoos and museums (26230(a)(20)).
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission sites (26230(a)(21)).
• Police, sheriff, and highway patrol stations (26230(a)(24)).
• Polling places, voting centers, and ballot-counting locations (26230(a)(25)).

The following six categories remain enjoined under the December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction. They are not being enforced pending further appeal, so do not treat them as operative no-carry rules right now:

• Hospitals, mental health facilities, nursing homes, medical offices, urgent care, and similar medical facilities (26230(a)(7), currently enjoined and not being enforced).
• Public transit, including buses, trains, and transit-authority property funded in whole or part with public funds (26230(a)(8), currently enjoined and not being enforced).
• Permitted public gatherings and special events (26230(a)(10), currently enjoined and not being enforced).
• Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship, unless the operator posts a sign allowing licensed carry (26230(a)(22), currently enjoined and not being enforced).
• Financial institutions (26230(a)(23), currently enjoined and not being enforced).
• Any other privately owned commercial establishment open to the public. This is the default no-carry rule that would bar licensed carry unless the operator posts a sign expressly allowing it (26230(a)(26), currently enjoined and not being enforced).

Because the litigation continues, the enforceable scope can change. Confirm the present status through the latest DOJ Information Bulletin and your issuing agency before carrying near any listed location. Penal Code 26230(b) and (c) also let a licensee transport a firearm locked in a compliant lock box through many of these areas and store it in a locked lock box, out of plain view, within a vehicle in a parking area.

Open Carry and Carry Without a License

• Carrying a concealed firearm without a license is generally a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both, and becomes a felony where the person is a prohibited person, the firearm is stolen and known to be stolen, the person is an active criminal-street-gang participant, or similar aggravating facts apply (Penal Code 25400(c)).
• Carrying a loaded firearm in public is similarly a wobbler under Penal Code 25850(c), with the base offense charged as a misdemeanor (up to one year and a $1,000 fine) and felony treatment for prohibited persons and the other aggravators listed in the statute.
• Open carry of a handgun in public is generally prohibited by Penal Code 26350, and open carry of a loaded or unloaded long gun in public is prohibited by Penal Code 26400.

Related California Purchase and Possession Rules

These overlays apply to acquiring and owning firearms in California regardless of CCW status. Several are in active litigation; cite the statute and verify the current status.

• Dealer transfer for private sales. Most firearm transfers between private parties must run through a licensed dealer (Penal Code 27545).
• Waiting period. A 10-day waiting period applies before a buyer may take delivery of a firearm (Penal Code 26815 and 27540).
• Purchase limit. Commencing April 1, 2026, a person may not apply to purchase firearms that would result in more than three firearms cumulatively within any 30-day period (Penal Code 27535, as rewritten by AB 1078, Stats. 2025, Ch. 570), subject to the specific exemptions in Penal Code 27535(b). See DOJ Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-02.
• Firearm Safety Certificate. A buyer generally must hold a valid Firearm Safety Certificate to acquire a firearm (Penal Code 31610 et seq.); the certificate test is administered by a DOJ-certified instructor (Penal Code 31635).
• Ammunition. Ammunition purchases require a point-of-sale eligibility check through the Department of Justice (Penal Code 30370).
• Unsafe Handgun Act and Roster. Only handguns certified for sale may be sold by dealers (Penal Code 31900 et seq.). The roster's microstamping requirement was struck down in Boland v. Bonta, and the broader scheme remains in litigation.
• Large-capacity magazines. Penal Code 32310 restricts magazines over 10 rounds. This ban is the subject of the long-running Duncan v. Bonta litigation; verify the current enforceable status.
• Assault weapons. California restricts so-called assault weapons (Penal Code 30515 definition, 30605 possession, 30900 registration). These provisions are challenged in Miller v. Bonta; verify the current status.

Self-Defense Law

• Justifiable homicide. Penal Code 197 sets out when a homicide is justifiable, including resisting an attempt to murder or to commit a felony, or to do great bodily injury.
• Home presumption. Penal Code 198.5 gives a resident a presumption of reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily injury when using deadly force against someone who unlawfully and forcibly enters the home.
• No duty to retreat. California has no statutory stand-your-ground law. Instead, the standard jury instructions (CALCRIM 505 and 3470) tell jurors that a person who is not the aggressor and is acting in lawful self-defense has no duty to retreat and may stand their ground. This is a jury-instruction rule, not a Penal Code section.

Common Location Prohibitions to Know

• Gun-Free School Zone. Penal Code 626.9 prohibits possession of a firearm in a school zone, subject to its exceptions.
• State and local government buildings. Penal Code 171b restricts firearms in state and local public buildings and certain meetings.
• Sterile airport areas. Penal Code 171.5 restricts weapons in the sterile area of an airport or a passenger-vessel terminal.
• Federal law independently governs the secured area of an airport and aircraft; carrying or attempting to carry a weapon into a secured area or on board is a federal offense under 49 U.S.C. 46505.

Application Process (General Framework)

The exact process varies by issuing agency, but generally:

1. Submit the application to the county sheriff or city police chief. Many California agencies use an online portal.
2. Complete the Penal Code 26165 training course (16 hours for a new license) from a DOJ-certified instructor.
3. Pass the live-fire range qualification set by the issuing authority.
4. Complete Live Scan fingerprinting.
5. Submit to the Department of Justice background check (Penal Code 26185).
6. Complete any interview and character-reference checks the agency requires (Penal Code 26202(b)).
7. Pay the applicable fees (Penal Code 26190).
8. Receive a decision within the timeline in Penal Code 26205.

Non-Citizens

California's CCW eligibility standard in Penal Code 26202 does not add a citizenship requirement beyond what federal and state firearm-possession law already impose. A lawful permanent resident or other lawfully present non-citizen who is not federally prohibited (see 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(5)) and not otherwise disqualified may apply.

Key Statute References

• Penal Code 25400 - carrying a concealed firearm without a license (wobbler)
• Penal Code 25850 - carrying a loaded firearm in public (wobbler)
• Penal Code 26150 / 26155 - CCW issuing authorities (sheriff / city police chief); subdivision (a) resident pathway, subdivision (b) non-resident pathway, subdivision (c) license formats
• Penal Code 26165 - training course requirements (16 hours new, 8 hours renewal)
• Penal Code 26175 / 26185 - license forms and the Department of Justice background check; separate new-license and renewal tracks, with fingerprints required on renewal notifications submitted on or after September 1, 2026
• Penal Code 26190 - fees
• Penal Code 26195 - denial and revocation grounds; licensee duty to report restraining orders, arrests, charges, and convictions
• Penal Code 26200 - prohibited conduct while carrying and license restrictions
• Penal Code 26202 - disqualified-person standard (post-SB 2); 26206 court review
• Penal Code 26205 - decision notice deadlines; separate renewal timelines before and on or after September 1, 2026
• Penal Code 26215 - license amendments
• Penal Code 26220 - license term (up to 2 years standard)
• Penal Code 26225 - licensing authority records and filings; termination of subsequent notification after a 90-day renewal lapse
• Penal Code 26230 - sensitive-places list (20 of 26 categories in effect; 6 enjoined per DOJ Bulletin 2025-DLE-06)
• Penal Code 26350 / 26400 - open carry of handguns and long guns prohibited
• Penal Code 26815 / 27540 - 10-day waiting period
• Penal Code 27545 - dealer transfer for private sales
• Penal Code 29800(a)(1) / 29805 - felon and specified-misdemeanant prohibitions
• Penal Code 30370 - ammunition purchase eligibility check
• Penal Code 31610 et seq. / 31635 - Firearm Safety Certificate and certified instructors
• Penal Code 197 / 198.5 - justifiable homicide and the home presumption
• Penal Code 626.9 / 171b / 171.5 - school zones, government buildings, sterile airport areas
• 18 U.S.C. 922(g) - federal prohibited-person categories; 49 U.S.C. 46505 - federal airport and aircraft weapons offense

California Concealed Carry Laws: Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ explains how California licenses concealed carry and the major state rules that affect anyone who carries or buys a firearm here. California is a licensed-carry state, not a permitless or constitutional-carry state. Many of the carry-location rules are the subject of active federal litigation, so treat anything described as "enjoined" as a moving target and confirm the current status before you rely on it.

Do I need a license to carry in California?

Yes. Carrying a concealable firearm concealed on your person or in a vehicle is a crime under Penal Code 25400 unless you fall within an exemption such as holding a valid carry license. Carrying a loaded firearm in public is a separate crime under Penal Code 25850. Both offenses are normally chargeable as a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both, but each statute lists conditions (for example, a prior felony conviction, a stolen firearm, gang participation, or being a prohibited person) that elevate the offense to a felony. The license that lets you lawfully carry concealed is issued under Penal Code 26150 (county sheriff) or Penal Code 26155 (city police chief).

What is the legal framework for concealed carry licensing?

California regulates carry licenses in Penal Code 26150 through 26235. Since Senate Bill 2 took effect on January 1, 2024, California is a shall-issue state. Under Penal Code 26150(a) and Penal Code 26155(a), the issuing authority "shall issue or renew" a license to an applicant who proves all of the statutory requirements and who is not a "disqualified person" under the standards in Penal Code 26202. The pre-Bruen "good cause" and "good moral character" discretionary tests no longer apply (see the good-cause question below).

What are the basic requirements to obtain a license?

Under Penal Code 26150 and Penal Code 26155, an applicant must show all of the following:

• Be at least 21 years of age and present clear evidence of identity and age (Penal Code 26150(a)(2), 26155(a)(2)).
• Be a resident of the county or city (or, for the sheriff, have a principal place of business or employment there), or, for a non-resident, meet the separate non-resident conditions in subdivision (b).
• Complete the training course described in Penal Code 26165.
• Be the recorded owner, with the California Department of Justice, of each handgun for which the license is issued (resident applicants, Penal Code 26150(a)(5) and 26155(a)(5)).
• Not be a "disqualified person" under Penal Code 26202.

The applicant also undergoes a background investigation, including character-reference interviews and a review of state and federal records, conducted by the licensing authority under Penal Code 26202(b).

Who is a "disqualified person" under Penal Code 26202?

Penal Code 26202(a) lists eleven categories that disqualify an applicant unless a court rules otherwise under Penal Code 26206. The main ones are:

• Being reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others, or the community, including as shown by a psychological assessment (Penal Code 26202(a)(1)).
• A conviction for contempt of court under Penal Code 166 (Penal Code 26202(a)(2)).
• Being subject to certain restraining or protective orders, unless the order expired or was vacated more than five years before the application (Penal Code 26202(a)(3)).
• A conviction within the prior 10 years for an offense listed in Penal Code 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, or 29805 (Penal Code 26202(a)(4)).
• Unlawful or reckless use, display, or brandishing of a firearm (Penal Code 26202(a)(5)).
• A commitment, incarceration, probation, parole, or supervision within the prior 5 years resulting from a controlled-substance or alcohol offense (Penal Code 26202(a)(7)).
• Being an unlawful user of, addicted to, or currently abusing a controlled substance or alcohol (Penal Code 26202(a)(8) and (a)(9)).

Note: the older pipeline version of this guide described Penal Code 26202(a)(2) as a "two or more DUI" disqualifier. That is incorrect. Subdivision (a)(2) addresses contempt of court. The alcohol and controlled-substance grounds are in subdivisions (a)(7), (a)(8), and (a)(9).

What training is required?

Penal Code 26165 sets the minimum training. For a new license the course must be at least 16 hours and must cover firearm safety and handling, shooting technique, safe storage, legal transport, the laws on where a licensee may carry, and the laws on the permissible use of force in self-defense. It must include a mental-health component of at least one hour, a written examination, and live-fire shooting exercises demonstrating safe handling and proficiency with each handgun to be carried (Penal Code 26165(a)). A renewal course must be at least 8 hours and meet most of the same criteria (Penal Code 26165(d)). The course must be taught by instructors certified by the Department of Justice under Penal Code 31635. A licensing authority may instead require a certified community-college course of up to 24 hours if it does so uniformly for all applicants (Penal Code 26165(c)).

What did Senate Bill 2 (2023) change?

SB 2, signed September 26, 2023 and effective January 1, 2024, rewrote the licensing standard to respond to New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022). It removed "good cause," set a statewide minimum age of 21, replaced the licensing standard with the objective "disqualified person" test in Penal Code 26202, strengthened the training requirements in Penal Code 26165, and added a long list of "sensitive places" where a licensee may not carry in Penal Code 26230.

Where can a licensee not carry (sensitive places)?

Penal Code 26230(a) prohibits a licensee from carrying in a long list of locations, including schools and school zones, preschools and childcare facilities, state and local government buildings, courthouses, jails and detention facilities, colleges and universities, airports and passenger vessel terminals, police stations, polling places, parks and athletic facilities, playgrounds and youth centers, bars and places that serve alcohol for onsite consumption, casinos, stadiums and arenas, libraries, amusement parks, zoos and museums, hospitals and medical facilities, public transit, public gatherings requiring a permit, places of worship, financial institutions, and privately owned commercial establishments open to the public (the last category prohibits carry unless the operator posts a sign permitting it). Do not read this as a flat list that is fully in force. As the litigation caveat below explains, six of these categories are currently enjoined and are not being enforced, while the rest are in effect.

Important litigation caveat: Penal Code 26230 has been heavily litigated in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta. A federal district court enjoined many provisions in December 2023, and the Ninth Circuit reversed that injunction in substantial part, with its mandate effective January 23, 2025 (consolidated with Wolford v. Lopez). According to California Department of Justice Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06 (March 27, 2025), about 20 of the 26 enumerated sensitive places were enforceable as of that date. Six categories remained enjoined and were not being enforced pending further appeal: hospitals and medical facilities (Penal Code 26230(a)(7)), public transit (a)(8), permitted public gatherings and special events (a)(10), places of worship (a)(22), financial institutions (a)(23), and the default "privately owned commercial establishment open to the public" rule (a)(26). The other categories were in effect, including bars and places that serve alcohol (a)(9), playgrounds and youth centers (a)(11), parks and athletic areas (a)(12), casinos (a)(15), stadiums and arenas (a)(16), libraries (a)(17), airports (a)(18), amusement parks (a)(19), and zoos and museums (a)(20). The Ninth Circuit reversed, rather than merely stayed, the December 2023 injunction, so the bars-and-alcohol prohibition in subdivision (a)(9) is currently enforceable. This status can change as appeals proceed. Verify the current enforceable scope at oag.ca.gov/firearms before relying on any single provision.

How long is a license valid?

Under Penal Code 26220(a), a standard license issued under Penal Code 26150 or 26155 is valid for up to two years from the date of issuance. A license based on a place of employment or business may be limited to 90 days (Penal Code 26220(b)). Longer terms apply to narrow categories: up to three years for judges and certain court officers (Penal Code 26220(c)) and up to four years for certain sheriff's custodial officers (Penal Code 26220(d)).

What does a license cost?

Fees are governed by Penal Code 26190 and vary by jurisdiction. The applicant pays a Department of Justice fee set to cover the department's processing costs (Penal Code 26190(a)), plus an additional local fee equal to the issuing authority's reasonable costs to process, issue, and enforce the license (Penal Code 26190(b)). The first 50 percent of the local fee may be collected at filing and the balance only on issuance. If the licensing authority requires a psychological assessment, the applicant may be charged the actual cost, capped at the authority's reasonable cost (Penal Code 26190(e)). Fingerprint (Live Scan) and training costs are separate. Because amounts differ by county and city, confirm the exact fees with your issuing authority.

How long does the process take?

Penal Code 26205(a) requires the licensing authority to give written notice of approval or denial within 120 days of receiving a complete application, or within 30 days after it receives the Department of Justice background information, whichever is later. Separately, Penal Code 26202(d) requires an initial determination of whether the applicant is a disqualified person within 90 days. Real-world timelines vary with Live Scan scheduling, the authority's backlog, and any required psychological assessment.

Can non-residents get a California license?

Yes. Penal Code 26150(b) and Penal Code 26155(b) expressly provide a path for non-California residents. A non-resident applicant must not be a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202 (and under the comparable laws of their home state), must be at least 21, must present a valid driver's license or state ID from their state of residence, and must attest under oath that the California jurisdiction where they applied is the primary place in California they intend to travel or spend time. They must complete the Penal Code 26165 training and live-fire requirements and identify each handgun by make, model, caliber, and serial number. (An earlier version of this guide tied non-resident eligibility to membership in four specific organizations under a 2025 preliminary injunction. The statute itself now provides the non-resident path, so that framing is outdated.)

What firearms can I carry on the license?

You may carry only handguns identified on the license by make, model, caliber, and serial number (Penal Code 26150(a) and (b)(6); Penal Code 26155(a) and (b)(6)). Identifying a firearm that cannot lawfully be carried or possessed in California is cause for denial as to that firearm. A licensee may not carry more than two firearms at one time (Penal Code 26200(d)). California assault weapons, as defined in Penal Code 30515, generally cannot be possessed or carried by ordinary licensees.

What conduct rules apply while carrying?

Penal Code 26200(a) bars a licensee, while carrying, from consuming or being under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, being in a place having a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption, carrying a firearm not listed on the license, falsely claiming to be a peace officer, making an unjustified display of a deadly weapon, failing to carry the license, or refusing to display the license or present the firearm to a peace officer on demand. The license may also carry additional time, place, and manner restrictions the authority deems warranted (Penal Code 26200(b)).

Is the "good cause" requirement still in effect?

No. California formerly required applicants to show "good cause" to carry. That requirement was held unconstitutional in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022), and was removed by SB 2. The licensing standard is now the objective "disqualified person" test in Penal Code 26202. The older Peruta v. County of San Diego "good cause" litigation is of historical interest only.

Does open carry require a license?

Open carry is generally not a lawful alternative. California prohibits openly carrying an exposed and unloaded handgun in most public places (Penal Code 26350) and carrying an unloaded firearm that is not a handgun, such as a long gun, on your person outside a vehicle in an incorporated city, whether openly or concealed (Penal Code 26400). Carrying any loaded firearm in public is separately barred by Penal Code 25850. A standard concealed-carry license does not authorize open carry, except that in counties with a population under 200,000 the issuing authority may issue a license to carry "loaded and exposed" within that county (Penal Code 26150(c)(2) and 26155(c)(2)). See the Open Carry section of this guide for detail.

Is there a waiting period to take delivery of a firearm I buy?

Yes. Penal Code 26815 bars delivery of any firearm within 10 days of the application to purchase (or within 10 days of a later correction or required fee, whichever is later). The 10-day wait applies to every firearm transaction at a California dealer regardless of whether the buyer holds a carry license. There is no license-holder exemption.

Does my license exempt me from the background check on a purchase?

No. California requires a Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) background check on every firearm transaction at a licensed dealer. Under Penal Code 28220, the Department of Justice checks its records and participates in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for each purchaser. The California carry license is not listed on the federal Brady permit chart, so it does not provide a federal NICS exemption under 18 U.S.C. 922(t)(3). The DROS fee is set by Department of Justice regulation and adjusted periodically, so verify the current amount at oag.ca.gov/firearms.

Do private-party sales go through a dealer?

Yes. Under Penal Code 27545, when neither party to a firearm sale, loan, or transfer holds a dealer's license, the transaction must be completed through a licensed firearms dealer. This is California's universal background-check rule; the dealer runs the DROS check and the 10-day wait applies.

Is there a limit on how many firearms I can buy in a month?

Yes. Under Penal Code 27535, as rewritten by Assembly Bill 1078 (Stats. 2025, ch. 570), a person may not apply to purchase firearms that would result in more than three firearms cumulatively within any 30-day period. This three-firearm cap took effect April 1, 2026, counts firearms of any type, and runs on a rolling 30-day window. (From January 1 through March 31, 2026, the limit was one firearm of any type per 30 days.) Holding a carry license does not exempt you. Penal Code 27535(b) lists specific exemptions, including law enforcement agencies, peace officers, licensed collectors with a certificate of eligibility, dealer exchanges, replacement of a firearm reported lost or stolen, return of a firearm to its owner, private-party sales where the seller is required to relinquish all firearms, and estate or trust transfers. There is no general exemption for private-party transfers, so an ordinary private-party purchase completed through a dealer counts against the limit. The Department of Justice summarizes the rule in Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-02.

Do I need a Firearm Safety Certificate?

Most buyers do. Penal Code 31610 and the following sections require a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) to acquire a firearm. The FSC is earned by passing a written test administered by a Department of Justice certified instructor and is valid for five years. Limited exemptions exist, including for holders of a valid California carry license issued under Penal Code 26150 or 26155 (Penal Code 31700(a)(9)) and, for firearms other than handguns, buyers 18 or older with a valid unexpired hunting license (Penal Code 31700(c)). Confirm the current FSC fee and any exemptions at oag.ca.gov/firearms.

What about magazines and assault weapons?

California restricts large-capacity magazines and "assault weapons," and both areas are in active litigation:

• Large-capacity magazines (generally those over 10 rounds): Penal Code 32310 prohibits manufacturing, importing, selling, giving, lending, buying, or receiving them, and makes possession an infraction or misdemeanor (a fine up to $100 per magazine, or up to one year in county jail). This statute has been challenged for years in Duncan v. Bonta, so its enforceable status has shifted; confirm the current posture before relying on it.
• Assault weapons: Penal Code 30515 defines "assault weapon," and related provisions prohibit possession and require registration of certain firearms. The definition and ban are being litigated in Miller v. Bonta. Confirm current status.

How does self-defense law work in California?

California treats a homicide as justifiable in defense of self or others under Penal Code 197 when the statutory conditions are met. Penal Code 198.5 creates a rebuttable presumption that a resident who uses force likely to cause death or great bodily injury against someone who unlawfully and forcibly enters the residence held a reasonable fear of imminent harm (California's "castle doctrine"). California has no separate statutory "stand your ground" law, but its standard jury instructions (CALCRIM 505 and 3470) tell jurors that a person who is lawfully present and not the aggressor has no duty to retreat and may stand their ground. See the Use of Force and Castle Doctrine sections for detail.

What other recent firearm laws affect me?

The 2023 legislative package that accompanied SB 2 included additional measures, such as Assembly Bill 28, which imposed an 11 percent state excise tax on firearm and ammunition dealers and manufacturers. Several 2023 and later measures, along with the roster and microstamping rules in Penal Code 31900 and following sections (litigated in Boland v. Bonta), continue to be challenged in court. Because these areas change quickly, verify the current law before relying on it.

Where can I find more information?

• California Department of Justice: oag.ca.gov
• California DOJ Bureau of Firearms: oag.ca.gov/firearms
• Penal Code 26150 through 26235 (carry licensing)
• Penal Code 26165 (training)
• Penal Code 26202 (disqualifying conditions)
• Penal Code 26205 (decision timeline)
• Penal Code 26220 (license term)
• Penal Code 26230 (sensitive places)
• Penal Code 26815 and 28220 (10-day wait and DROS background check)
• Penal Code 27535 (three-firearms-per-30-days purchase limit)
• Penal Code 27545 (private-party transfers)
• Penal Code 31610 and following (Firearm Safety Certificate)
• Your county sheriff or city police chief for local application procedures

Federal context

Lautenberg Amendment - 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9). A misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, meaning 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 conviction did not involve a firearm. The 2024 Supreme Court decision in United States v. Rahimi reaffirmed that firearm disabilities tied to domestic-violence findings remain constitutional under the Second Amendment.

Other California Firearm Rules a CCW Student Should Know

California has several firearm rules that do not fit cleanly into the 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 train 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. Home storage requirements are covered in the Storage section. Open-carry restrictions are covered in the Open Carry section.

A note on California firearm law in general: it changes often and is heavily litigated. Several provisions described here or in the cross-referenced sections have been challenged in federal court, and some have been enjoined or stayed at various points. Where a rule is the subject of active litigation, this section flags it. Confirm the current state of any contested rule before relying on it for a transaction.

The 10-Day Waiting Period

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 (DOJ) 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. If the DOJ requires a correction to the application or an additional fee, the clock can restart from that later submission. There is no walk-out-with-it exception for permit holders, prior gun owners, or any retail buyer. (Cal. Penal Code Sections 26815 and 27540. Section 27540 directs that a dealer shall not deliver a firearm within 10 days of the application to purchase.)

A handful of narrow exemptions exist, primarily for peace officers 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.

Who Can Sell Firearms in California

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 valid federal firearms license (FFL Type 01, 02, 07, 08, 09, 10, or 11)
• Any regulatory or business license required by local government
• A valid Seller's Permit issued by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
• A Certificate of Eligibility issued by the DOJ
• A license granted by the local licensing authority of the city or county
• A valid listing on the DOJ Centralized List of Firearm Dealers

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 agent or employee who handles, sells, or delivers firearms must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the DOJ pursuant to Cal. Penal Code Section 26710, and the dealer must require and keep a copy of it. (Cal. Penal Code Section 26915.) The COE is renewed annually.

The same chapter governs ammunition vendors. A valid Ammunition Vendor License is required for any person or business to sell more than 500 rounds of ammunition in any 30-day period. Firearm dealers licensed under Cal. Penal Code Sections 26700 through 26915 are automatically deemed ammunition vendors. (Cal. Penal Code Section 30342.) Any agent or employee who handles, sells, or delivers ammunition must also hold a current COE under Section 26710.

Universal Background Checks: Private Party Transfers

Where neither party to the transaction holds a California dealer's license, the parties must complete the sale, loan, or transfer through a licensed California firearm 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:

1. The buyer and seller meet in person at a licensed California firearm dealer.
2. They complete the DROS document together.
3. The dealer takes possession of the firearm during the mandatory 10-day waiting period.
4. The DOJ runs the background check on the buyer.
5. After 10 days, if the buyer is eligible and has met the other purchase requirements, the dealer delivers the firearm.

The dealer may charge a fee not to exceed $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.)

If a PPT fails because the firearm can be neither delivered to the buyer nor returned to the seller, the dealer must, at the seller's request, retain the firearm for 45 days (storage fee capped at $10), then deliver it to local law enforcement if no eligible recipient is designated. (Cal. Penal Code Sections 28050 and 28055.)

Limited Family Exemption

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.)

"Infrequent" is defined by statute. For these purposes it means fewer than six firearm transactions per calendar year, regardless of the type of firearm. (Cal. Penal Code Section 16730.)

Even with the family exemption:

• The transferee must hold a valid Firearm Safety Certificate before taking possession, unless exempt under Cal. Penal Code Section 31700 (for example, a valid CCW license holder).
• Within 30 days of the transfer, the transferee must submit a "Report of Operation of Law or Intra-Familial Firearm Transaction" (BOF 4544A) to the DOJ.

If a CCW student asks whether they can give an adult child a handgun without going through a dealer, the answer is yes, infrequently (fewer than six firearm transactions in the calendar year), with a valid FSC or an FSC exemption (a valid CCW license counts), and with the 30-day DOJ report. If they ask the same question about a brother, the answer is no without a PPT.

What You Need to Buy a Firearm in California

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.

Proof of Residency

To purchase a handgun in California, you must present documentation that you are a California resident. The address on that document must match either the address on the DROS or the address on the purchaser's California driver license or ID. This handgun proof-of-residency requirement applies to retail sales, Private Party Transfers, and pawn returns. It does not apply to intrafamilial transfers. Acceptable documentation:

• A utility bill from within the last three months
• A residential lease
• A property deed
• Military permanent duty station orders showing assignment within California

(Cal. Penal Code Section 26845.)

Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC)

To purchase or acquire a firearm, you must hold a valid Firearm Safety Certificate or fall within one of the statutory exemptions. 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, and a replacement certificate costs $5. (Cal. Penal Code Sections 31610 to 31670.)

The FSC applies to retail sales, Private Party Transfers, and intrafamilial transfers. Pawn returns are exempt because the statute exempts the return of a firearm to its owner. (Cal. Penal Code Section 31700, subd. (a)(7).)

Section 31700 also exempts several classes of people from the FSC requirement entirely. Two matter most in a CCW class: a person holding a valid CCW license issued under Cal. Penal Code Section 26150 et seq. does not need an FSC (Section 31700, subd. (a)(9)), and a person 18 or older with a valid, unexpired hunting license is exempt for firearms other than handguns (Section 31700, subd. (c)). Peace officers, military members, licensed dealers, and other listed categories are also exempt.

Safe Handling Demonstration

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, and the purchaser and dealer sign an affidavit stating it was completed. (Cal. Penal Code Section 26850.) Pawn returns and intrafamilial transfers are exempt from this requirement.

Firearm Safety Device

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 or lock box and present a receipt or other proof of purchase. (Cal. Penal Code Sections 23635 to 23690.) Pawn returns and intrafamilial transfers are exempt.

Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale

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., part of the Unsafe Handgun Act at Cal. Penal Code Section 31900 et seq.) To get on the roster, a handgun model must pass firing and drop-safety tests at a certified laboratory and meet the design criteria in Cal. Penal Code Section 31910.

One of those criteria, microstamping, has been the subject of active federal litigation (Boland v. Bonta), where a district court enjoined enforcement of the microstamping requirement and the related provision requiring three older models to be removed from the roster for each new model added. The scope and status of that injunction has shifted on appeal, so verify the current enforceability of the microstamping criterion before relying on it.

The roster does not apply to:

• Private Party Transfers
• Intrafamilial transfers
• Curio and relic handguns
• Certain single-action revolvers
• Pawn or consignment returns

This is why a particular handgun 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/certguns.

Three-Firearms-Per-30-Days Limit

AB 1078 (Stats. 2025, Ch. 570) rewrote California's purchase-frequency limit. From January 1 through March 31, 2026, the limit was one firearm of any type per 30-day period. Effective April 1, 2026, you cannot apply to purchase firearms that would result in more than three firearms cumulatively within any 30-day period. The 30-day window is rolling and the cap counts firearms of every type together. (Cal. Penal Code Section 27535, as amended by AB 1078; DOJ Information Bulletin 2026-DLE-02.)

The exemptions in Section 27535(b) are specific. They include law enforcement agencies and full-time paid peace officers, dealer exchanges within 30 days of the dealer's purchase, the return of a firearm to its owner (which covers pawn and consignment returns), and the replacement of a firearm reported lost or stolen under Section 25250 before the replacement application. There is no general Private Party Transfer exemption: a PPT purchase counts against the three-firearm cap unless the transaction fits a listed carve-out, such as a seller who is required by state law or court order to relinquish all firearms (Section 27535(b)(8)) or an estate, probate, or trust transfer after a death (Section 27535(b)(9)). Intrafamilial transfers do not involve a dealer purchase application, so the limit does not reach them. A dealer may not deliver a firearm when the DOJ reports that the buyer's applications would exceed the cap. (Cal. Penal Code Section 27540, subd. (f).)

Quick Reference: What Applies to What (Handguns)

For long guns, the proof-of-residency requirement above does not apply, but the FSC, safe handling demonstration, firearm safety device, 10-day wait, and DROS still do.

Age Restrictions on Firearm Purchase and Possession

The purchase rules are stricter than many CCW students expect.

• All firearm purchases: A licensed dealer shall not sell, supply, deliver, or give possession of a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, with narrow exemptions. (Cal. Penal Code Sections 27505 and 27510.)
• Semiautomatic centerfire rifle: The purchaser must be at least 21 years of age, with limited law-enforcement, military, and hunting-license carve-outs that do not extend to handguns or semiautomatic centerfire rifles. The purchaser must also be a California resident with a valid California driver license or DMV-issued ID.
• Other long guns: A person 18 or older with a valid, unexpired California hunting license may purchase a firearm that is not a handgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle; otherwise the 21 minimum applies at retail.

A CCW license requires age 21 separately under the licensing chapter (see the Permit Basics section).

Minor Possession of Firearms

California bars minors from possessing handguns and semiautomatic centerfire rifles, and since July 1, 2023, from possessing any firearm at all. (Cal. Penal Code Section 29610.) A minor may possess a firearm only if one of these conditions is met (Cal. Penal Code Section 29615):

• The minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and is actively engaged in a lawful recreational sporting, agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, or a motion picture, television, or other entertainment event.
• The minor is accompanied by a responsible adult, has prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and is involved in one of those activities.
• The minor is at least 16 years of age, has prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and is involved in one of those activities.
• The minor has prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian, is on lands owned or lawfully possessed by that parent or guardian, and is involved in one of those activities.
• For a firearm other than a handgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle: the minor has the express permission of a parent or legal guardian, is actively engaged in (or in direct transit to or from) a lawful recreational sport or an agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity or hunting education, and is either 16 or older or accompanied by a responsible adult at all times while possessing the firearm.

Minor Possession of Live Ammunition

A minor may not possess live ammunition unless (Cal. Penal Code Sections 29650 and 29655):

• The minor has written consent of a parent or legal guardian, or
• The minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or
• The minor is actively engaged in (or going to or from) a lawful recreational sport including competitive shooting, or an agricultural, ranching, or hunting activity.

These rules cover the typical junior hunter and junior shooter scenarios. They do not authorize a minor to walk around with a loaded firearm in public.

Ammunition Purchase Requirements

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 at the time of purchase and before the buyer takes possession. There are four ways the DOJ confirms eligibility:

1. The buyer holds a current Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the DOJ.
2. The buyer's information matches an entry in the Automated Firearms System and the buyer is not in the Prohibited Armed Persons File. This is the Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check.
3. The buyer is not prohibited based on a single-transaction records review. This is the Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check, which can take longer because it requires a more involved DOJ review.
4. The buyer was approved by the DOJ to receive a firearm in the same transaction at the same vendor (firearm dealer only). The firearm-eligibility check under Cal. Penal Code Section 28220 covers the ammunition.

Ammunition vendors must be licensed by the DOJ, and each vendor employee handling ammunition must hold a current COE under Cal. Penal Code Section 26710. (Cal. Penal Code Section 30342.) The DOJ may charge a per-transaction fee not to exceed $1.

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.

Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms

California requires every firearm owner or possessor to report the loss or theft of a firearm to a local law enforcement agency within five days of the time 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:

1. Failure to report a lost or stolen firearm under Section 25250 bears on CCW license issuance and renewal. The standard license application asks whether the applicant has failed to report a firearm loss as required by law.
2. The replacement-firearm exemption to the three-firearms-per-30-days limit applies only when the owner properly reported the loss or theft before applying to purchase the replacement.

Tell your students: if a firearm goes missing, file the report the same week, and keep a copy of the police report.

Transfer Verification: CFLC

When a California FFL ships a firearm to, or receives a firearm from, another FFL, the FFL must obtain a verification number from the DOJ before shipping. Both in-state and out-of-state FFL holders must obtain this approval prior to shipping firearms to any California FFL. (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, along with the 10-day wait, FSC, safe-handling demonstration, and roster check that go with a retail handgun sale.

New Resident Reporting

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 large-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.)

Personal Firearms Eligibility Check

Any individual may request 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, and the application must be notarized. (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.

Identification Marks: Do Not Touch Them

It is illegal for any person to change, alter, remove, or obliterate the identification marks on a firearm, including the name of the maker, the model, the manufacturer's number, or any other distinguishing mark. (Cal. Penal Code Section 23900.) It is also illegal to buy, receive, sell, offer for sale, or possess a firearm knowing its identification marks have been changed, altered, removed, or obliterated. (Cal. Penal Code Section 23920.)

If a serial number is obscured by wear, document the original number with photographs and a dealer affidavit before refinishing.

Cross-References to Other Sections

• Assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, machine guns, silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, destructive devices: see the NFA Items and Weapon Restrictions section. The assault-weapon framework lives at Cal. Penal Code Sections 30510 and 30515 and is the subject of ongoing litigation (Miller v. Bonta). The large-capacity-magazine prohibition lives at Cal. Penal Code Section 32310 and is the subject of ongoing litigation (Duncan v. Bonta). Both have been enjoined and then stayed at points, so verify current enforceability.
• Open carry, including the loaded-firearm rule under Section 25850 and the open-carry rules under Sections 26350 (handguns) and 26400 (long guns): see the Open Carry section.
• Sensitive places where a CCW licensee may not carry under Cal. Penal Code Section 26230 (heavily litigated in May v. Bonta; verify current status): see the Prohibited Places section.
• Vehicle transport without a CCW: see the Transport section.
• Storage at home, including the locked-container and child-access rules: see the Storage section.
• Prohibited persons: see the Overview section.
• CCW application, training, fees, and renewal: see the Application Process, Training Requirements, Fees, and Renewal Process sections.

Key Statutes Reference

Ambiguities and Notes

• The Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale changes over time as makes and models age off (manufacturers must pay annual fees) and as new models are tested. The current roster controls. Confirm a specific model on the DOJ website before relying on its retail availability.
• The microstamping criterion within the Unsafe Handgun Act (Cal. Penal Code Section 31910) has been enjoined in federal litigation (Boland v. Bonta), with the status shifting on appeal. The roster framework as a whole remains in effect, but the enforceability of the microstamping component specifically is contested. Verify before relying on it.
• The large-capacity-magazine ban (Cal. Penal Code Section 32310) and the assault-weapon framework (Cal. Penal Code Sections 30510 and 30515) are the subject of active litigation (Duncan v. Bonta and Miller v. Bonta). These laws have been struck, enjoined, and then stayed pending appeal at different points. Treat them as currently in effect, but verify the latest court status.
• Cal. Penal Code Section 25250 states a 5-day reporting requirement, but the operative trigger is when the owner "knew or reasonably should have known" the firearm was lost or stolen. Document when you discovered the loss and report promptly.
• Response times for the Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check (Cal. Penal Code Section 30370) can be slower because the review is more involved. The Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check (matching an entry in the Automated Firearms System) is electronic and generally immediate.
• These rules continue to evolve. The DOJ Bureau of Firearms publishes Information Bulletins when laws change. Confirm the current state of the law at oag.ca.gov/firearms before relying on this section for a transaction.

Source Information

• California Office of the Attorney General. California Firearms Laws Summary 2021. Source: oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/cfl2021.pdf. Last scraped: 2026-03-08.
• California Office of the Attorney General, Firearms. Public Frequently Asked Questions. Source: oag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs.
• California Office of the Attorney General, Firearms. Becoming a Firearm Dealer and/or Ammunition Vendor in California. Source: oag.ca.gov/firearms/dealer-vendor.
• California Office of the Attorney General, Firearms. Handguns Certified for Sale. Source: oag.ca.gov/firearms/certguns.
• California Office of the Attorney General, Firearms. Firearm Safety Certificate Program FAQs. Source: oag.ca.gov/firearms/fscpfaqs.
• California Legislative Information. California Penal Code Sections 27510, 27545, 30105, 30370, 32310, and related provisions. Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.