California Concealed Carry Permit Renewal Guide

California CCW Permit Renewal Process

California concealed carry weapon (CCW) permits are issued by the county sheriff or local police chief. The renewal process varies slightly by issuing county but follows general statewide requirements under California Penal Code.

General Renewal Requirements

• Permit Duration: California CCW permits are valid for a set period (typically 2 years), after which they must be renewed through the issuing authority.
• Renewal Application: Applicants must complete the California Department of Justice Standard Initial and Renewal Application.
• Training Requirement: Renewal applicants must complete a CCW renewal course. In Placer County, for example, this is an 8-hour CCW renewal course provided by an approved instructor. Proof of completion must be dated within 90 days of the renewal application to be valid.
• Firearms Qualification: Proof of qualification must be submitted for each weapon the permit holder wishes to have listed on the renewed CCW license.
• Good Standing: Applicants must be current CCW license holders in good standing to qualify for renewal.
• Background Check: Renewal applicants are subject to continued eligibility requirements, including no felony convictions or specified misdemeanors (Penal Code Sections 29900-29905), no restraining orders, no active probation, and no history of disqualifying mental illness.

Expiration and Lapsed Permits

• If a CCW license is expired more than 90 days, the holder must apply as a new applicant rather than renewing (Placer County policy).
• Permit holders should begin the renewal process well before expiration to avoid a lapse in their carry authorization.

Renewal Fees

• Fees vary by county. For example, Placer County charges $77 to renew a CCW license.

Renewal Process by County (Examples)

Placer County

• Renewal is completed online through the county portal.
• Submit proof of completion of an 8-hour renewal course from an approved instructor (dated within 90 days).
• Submit proof of qualification for each firearm.
• Enter all firearms to appear on the renewed license.
• Fee: $77.
• Once completed, the renewed permit is mailed to the applicant.

Shasta County

• Renewal applications are submitted through the Permitium online portal.
• Renewal applicants must complete the online application and wait for an email advising that their permit is approved and ready for pick up.
• Walk-in pickup is available Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00-4:00 PM (no appointment required for renewals).
• Applicants must complete a firearms safety course from a DOJ-certified instructor (per Senate Bill 2 requirements).

Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) Impact on Renewals

• SB 2 introduced new requirements for CCW instructors to become DOJ certified. Renewal applicants must ensure their training course is provided by a DOJ-certified instructor.
• County sheriff's offices are actively working to assist local CCW instructors in meeting the new certification requirements.

Public Records Disclosure

• Per Government Code Sections 6250-6276.48, certain information on CCW applications is subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act. Applicants should carefully review the Public Disclosure Admonition on the DOJ Standard Application.

Modifications During Renewal Period

CCW holders may need to modify their license between renewals for:

• Adding, dropping, or changing a weapon (proof of qualification required for new weapons)
• Change of address (must be done within 10 days of moving; proof of new address and updated California driver's license required)
• Legal name change (updated California driver's license required)
• Modification fee: $10 (Placer County)
• Duplicate license fee (for lost/damaged): $10 (Placer County)

Key Eligibility Requirements (Maintained for Renewal)

Post-SB 2 (eff. Jan 1, 2024), renewal eligibility tracks the objective disqualified-person standard at Penal Code Section 26202. The pre-Bruen "Good moral character" prong is no longer the operative test - it has been REPLACED by Section 26202's enumerated disqualifying categories with 5- and 10-year lookbacks. County renewal application forms may still reference the pre-SB 2 framework; the controlling standard is Section 26202.

• Section 26202 disqualified-person check (federal/state prohibited person, two-or-more DUI convictions within 10 years, prior conviction within 10 years for offenses listed at Penal Code Sections 422.6/422.7/422.75/29805, commitment/incarceration/supervision for mental-health/alcohol/substance issues within 5 years, etc.)
• Resident of the issuing county or a city within it, or whose principal place of employment or business is in the county and who spends a substantial period of time there (Penal Code Section 26150(a)(3) / Section 26155(a)(3))
• Valid California identification
• At least 21 years of age
• Recorded owner (in the DOJ Automated Firearms System) of the pistol listed on the license (Section 26150(a)(5) / Section 26155(a)(5))
• No open criminal cases or pending citations
• No felony convictions or specified misdemeanors (Penal Code Sections 29900-29905)
• Not on active probation
• Not subject to a current restraining order or protection order (Family Code Section 6218 and Section 6389 for domestic-violence restraining orders; Code of Civil Procedure 527.6 and 527.8)

Note: A license is not revoked solely because the licensee's residence has changed to another county, so long as the licensee has not breached the license conditions and has not become prohibited from possessing firearms, but a license issued based on residency in the county of issuance expires 90 days after the licensee moves from that county (Penal Code Section 26210(c) and (d)). CCW holders who have moved from another state must still apply as new applicants, since California does not recognize a permit issued by another state.