To buy ammo online in California, you order from a retailer that ships to a licensed California ammunition vendor near you, then pick it up in person after passing a Department of Justice background check. Direct-to-door ammunition shipments are not allowed. The process adds a couple of steps and some fees, but it’s workable once you line up a vendor and know which background check applies to you.
Who Can Legally Buy
You must be at least 18 for rifle or shotgun ammunition and at least 21 for handgun ammunition.1State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Frequently Asked Questions
California Penal Code section 30305 bars anyone prohibited from possessing firearms from possessing ammunition. That covers people with felony convictions, certain violent-felony convictions, qualifying restraining orders, and involuntary mental health commitments. Possessing ammunition while prohibited is punishable by up to a year in county jail or time in state prison, a fine up to $1,000, or both.2California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 30305
Federal law layers on top. Under 18 U.S.C. ยง 922(g), you’re also barred from possessing ammunition if you’ve been convicted of any crime punishable by more than a year in prison, are a fugitive, use controlled substances unlawfully, have been adjudicated mentally defective, are subject to certain domestic-violence restraining orders, or have a misdemeanor domestic-violence conviction, among other categories.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts California screens against both state and federal lists, so a disqualifier under either will block the sale.
Find a Licensed Vendor Before You Order
California requires all ammunition sales, including online ones, to be processed through a licensed ammunition vendor.4State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Becoming a Firearm Dealer and/or Ammunition Vendor in California Most Federal Firearms Licensees with a storefront are also licensed as ammunition vendors, but you still need to confirm that a specific shop will accept online ammunition transfers. Not every dealer offers the service.
Transfer fees vary a lot. Some shops charge $7 or $10 per order; others charge $50 or more, sometimes with a per-box surcharge. Call ahead and get a number before placing the order. Ask specifically about ammunition transfers rather than firearm transfers, since some shops price them differently. The same call lets you confirm the vendor’s current FFL information, which you’ll need at checkout.
Placing the Order
Once you’ve locked in a vendor, the ordering itself is straightforward:
- Pick an online retailer that ships ammunition to California. Some national sellers avoid the state because of the compliance requirements, so check before you fill a cart.
- Enter your vendor’s business name, physical address, and Federal Firearms License number at checkout. Some retailers maintain a California vendor database you can search by zip code; others ask the FFL to send a copy of their license directly.
- Pay for the ammunition and shipping. The retailer ships the order to the vendor, not to your home.
Do not try to bring the ammunition in yourself from out of state. Penal Code section 30314 requires any ammunition obtained outside California to be delivered to a licensed vendor first, with narrow exceptions for vendors themselves and sworn peace officers.5California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 30314 That applies to ammunition bought at an out-of-state gun show as well as to online purchases shipped elsewhere.
The Background Check at Pickup
When the shipment arrives, the vendor contacts you. Bring a valid California driver’s license or state-issued ID. The vendor enters your information and runs one of three Department of Justice checks. Which one applies depends on what the state already has on file for you.
Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check
If you’ve previously purchased or registered a firearm in California, your record is in the Automated Firearms System. The vendor matches your name, date of birth, address, and ID number against the AFS and cross-references the Armed and Prohibited Persons System. The check runs in about two to three minutes and costs $5.6State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Ammunition Purchase Fee Most California gun owners use this route and walk out the same visit.
Certificate of Eligibility Verification
If you hold a current Certificate of Eligibility from the DOJ, the vendor can verify it electronically. The fee is also $5, and turnaround is similarly quick.6State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Ammunition Purchase Fee
Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check
If you’re not in the AFS and don’t hold a COE, you’ll need a Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check. It costs $19 and requires a DOJ analyst to manually review your records.7New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 11 CCR 4283 – Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check Because a person handles the file, the check can take several days.8State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Ammunition Purchase Authorization Program If this is your first ammunition purchase and you’ve never bought a firearm in California, plan to come back on a second trip once the DOJ approves. The ammunition stays with the vendor until approval comes through.
Before you leave the counter, verify that the caliber, brand, quantity, and condition match what you ordered. Mistakes are easier to fix in person than after you’ve driven home.
If Your Check Is Denied
Denials happen, and how you find out why depends on the check. If a Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check is rejected, the vendor hands you an Ammunition Transaction Number. You use that number in the California Firearms Application Reporting System (CFARS) to look up the reason.1State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Frequently Asked Questions If a Basic check is denied, the DOJ mails the reason and updates your CFARS record.
A denial is not always permanent. Common causes are an address on your ID that doesn’t match state records, a name collision with someone else’s record, or a database entry that hasn’t been updated after a legal matter was resolved. If the denial comes from bad data, you can work through CFARS or contact the DOJ’s Bureau of Firearms to get the record corrected. In the meantime, the ammunition sits with the vendor. Refund policies on the ammunition itself depend on the online retailer and the vendor, so read both before you order.
What It Actually Costs
The price on the retailer’s website is only the start. Budget for all of this:
- The ammunition price plus shipping to the vendor.
- The vendor’s transfer fee, which varies widely by shop.
- The state background check fee: $5 for a Standard or COE check, or $19 for a Basic check.6State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Ammunition Purchase Fee
- California sales tax on the ammunition.
For small orders, the transfer fee alone can wipe out any savings over a local shop. Online buying tends to pay off on bulk orders or when a specific product isn’t on local shelves. Do the full math before checking out.
Ammunition You Can’t Buy
California bans armor-piercing handgun ammunition. Under Penal Code section 30315, knowingly possessing handgun ammunition designed primarily to penetrate metal or armor is a criminal offense punishable by up to a year in county jail or state prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both.9State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Firearms Prohibiting Categories Standard self-defense and target loads are fine. Products marketed as armor-piercing or built around a hardened-core projectile designed for penetration are not. California-facing retailers generally won’t ship prohibited types, but confirming before you order is on you.