Yes. In almost every situation, you need a permit to carry a gun in California — specifically a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license issued by your county sheriff or city police chief. California bans both open carry and concealed carry of firearms in public without a license, with only narrow exceptions for places like your own home or business and activities like licensed hunting. Getting a CCW license takes a background investigation, a 16-hour training course, an in-person interview, and several months of processing time.
When a Permit Is Required
Two separate laws make carrying a gun in public without a license illegal. Openly carrying an unloaded handgun on your person in any public place within an incorporated city is prohibited.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 26350 Carrying a concealed firearm of any kind without a valid CCW license is separately banned.2California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 25400 Carrying a loaded firearm in public without a license is also illegal. Taken together, there is essentially no lawful way to carry a handgun on you in public in California without a CCW.
A handful of exceptions exist. Peace officers, active military members, licensed hunters in designated areas, and people on their own residential or business property can carry without a CCW. A rarely used provision also lets sheriffs in counties with fewer than 200,000 residents issue licenses for open carry of a loaded handgun, but few counties use it.
Transporting a Gun Without a Permit
You do not need a CCW to transport a handgun in your vehicle, but the rules are strict and this is not the same as carrying. The handgun must be unloaded and stored in a locked container, defined as a fully enclosed container secured by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar device.3State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Transporting Firearms in California The trunk counts as a locked container. The glove compartment and center console do not.
Rifles and shotguns must be unloaded during transport but do not need to be in a locked container. If you walk a handgun to or from your vehicle, it has to be in the locked container during that walk as well.
Who Qualifies for a CCW License
To be eligible, you must meet all of the following:4California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 26150
- Be at least 21 years old.
- Live in the county where you apply, or have your primary workplace there.
- Be of good moral character, as evaluated by the issuing agency.
- Pass a background check and not fall into any prohibited category.
Specific disqualifiers are spelled out in state law. You will be denied if you have been convicted of any felony, are subject to a restraining order or protective order, have certain misdemeanor convictions including domestic violence, or are found to be a likely danger to yourself or others.5California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 26202 The list also includes contempt of court and narcotics convictions. A psychological assessment may be part of the evaluation.
California no longer requires applicants to demonstrate “good cause.” After the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, the state removed that requirement.6Supreme Court of the United States. New York State Rifle and Pistol Association Inc v Bruen A desire for personal protection is now sufficient reason.
How to Apply
You apply through your county sheriff’s office, or through the chief of police if you live in a city with its own department.7State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Uniform Carry Concealed Weapons Licenses Each agency handles its own applications, fees, and background investigations. The process typically includes:
- Filing the standard state application with your local sheriff or police chief along with initial fees.
- Completing Live Scan fingerprinting for state and federal background checks, with a separate fee paid to the fingerprinting provider.
- A background investigation that may include criminal history, mental health records, and reference checks.
- An in-person interview with a representative from the issuing agency.
- Completing the required firearms training course and submitting your certificate.
The state-set initial license fee is $93. Live Scan runs roughly $70 or more depending on the provider, and some agencies charge additional local fees when the license is issued. Add training, ammunition, and any required psychological evaluation, and total costs typically reach several hundred dollars.
By law the issuing agency has 90 days to approve or deny the license after receiving your background check results, but the full process from application to license in hand often takes six months or longer.7State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Uniform Carry Concealed Weapons Licenses
Training and Renewal
First-time applicants must complete at least 16 hours of training from an instructor approved by the issuing agency. The course covers firearm safety, handling, shooting fundamentals, and California carry laws, and it includes live-fire exercises in which you qualify with each handgun you want listed on your license.7State of California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Uniform Carry Concealed Weapons Licenses Expect to pay roughly $150 to $250 for the course, not counting ammunition or range fees.
A standard CCW is valid for two years. There is no grace period. If your license expires before you submit a renewal application, you have to start over as a new applicant with the full 16-hour course and full fees. On-time renewals require a shorter 8-hour refresher that includes classroom and live-fire components. Start the renewal process well before your expiration date.
Where a CCW Still Doesn’t Let You Carry
Holding a CCW does not mean you can carry everywhere. California designates many “sensitive places” where firearms remain prohibited for license holders. Senate Bill 2, which took effect in 2024, substantially expanded that list. The law has faced federal court challenges and a preliminary injunction against portions of it, so the enforceable scope has been in flux. Locations historically restricted or targeted by SB 2 include:
- K-12 schools and college campuses
- Government buildings and courthouses
- Sterile areas of airports
- Public transit vehicles and facilities
- Bars and establishments primarily serving alcohol
- Public parks, playgrounds, and recreation areas
- Stadiums, amusement parks, zoos, and libraries
Because the litigation around SB 2 is ongoing, some of these restrictions may be temporarily enjoined. Check with your issuing agency or a California firearms attorney for the current list. Private property owners can also prohibit firearms on their premises regardless of your license, and ignoring posted restrictions can lead to trespassing charges.
Out-of-State Permits and Interstate Travel
California does not honor concealed carry permits issued by any other state. If you hold an out-of-state CCW, it has no effect here, and carrying on it is treated the same as carrying without a permit. A 2025 federal court ruling established that California must at least let non-residents apply for a California CCW, but the state is not required to recognize other states’ permits.
Going the other direction, a California CCW gets limited recognition elsewhere. Some states honor every state’s permit and would accept yours; at least ten states and the District of Columbia honor no out-of-state permit at all. Verify your destination’s rules before you travel with a firearm.
Federal law offers a narrow safe harbor for passing through. Under the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act, you can transport a firearm through a state where you lack a permit, provided you could legally possess it at both your origin and destination. The firearm must be unloaded, and neither the gun nor ammunition can be readily accessible from the passenger compartment. In a vehicle without a separate trunk, the firearm must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 US Code 926A – Interstate Transportation of Firearms This protection covers continuous travel only; it does not let you stop and carry.
Penalties for Carrying Without a Permit
Carrying a concealed firearm without a valid CCW is a crime under Penal Code 25400, chargeable as either a misdemeanor or a felony.2California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 25400 A misdemeanor conviction carries up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The charge rises to a felony if any of the following apply:
- You have a prior felony conviction.
- The firearm is stolen and you knew or should have known.
- You are an active participant in a criminal street gang.
- You are otherwise legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
- You have a prior conviction for certain crimes against persons, property crimes, or drug offenses.
A felony conviction carries 16 months, two years, or three years in county jail, plus a lifetime ban on firearm ownership in California. Carrying a loaded firearm in public without a license is a separate offense with similar misdemeanor-or-felony penalty ranges. If you want to carry in California, the CCW process is long and detailed, but it is the only legal way to do it.