New California Gun Laws: CCW Limits, Safe Storage, 11% Tax

The new California gun laws now in force reshape five areas at once: where concealed carry permit holders can bring a firearm, how CCW permits are issued, how guns must be stored at home, what buyers pay at the register, and who can ask a court to take someone’s guns away. Senate Bill 2 is the centerpiece, though federal courts have blocked parts of it. An 11% state excise tax has been collected since July 1, 2024, and a statewide safe-storage mandate takes effect January 1, 2026.

Where CCW Holders Can No Longer Carry

SB 2 sharply expanded the list of “sensitive places” where a valid CCW permit does not authorize you to carry. The law was challenged in May v. Bonta, and a Ninth Circuit ruling in September 2024 reversed most of the lower court’s injunctions.1Justia. May, et al. v. Bonta, et al. The result: some prohibitions are being enforced, others are still blocked by court order, and the line between them matters.

Prohibitions Now Enforceable

A 2025 California Department of Justice bulletin confirmed that carry is prohibited at these locations, which were never blocked:2California Department of Justice. Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06

  • K-12 school zones and surrounding areas
  • Preschools and childcare facilities
  • State government buildings controlled by executive or legislative branch officers
  • Court buildings
  • Local government buildings
  • Detention and correctional facilities
  • Colleges and universities
  • Airports and passenger vessel terminals
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission property
  • Police stations
  • Polling places

After the Ninth Circuit reversed the district court’s injunctions, nine more became enforceable:2California Department of Justice. Information Bulletin 2025-DLE-06

  • Bars and restaurants that serve alcohol for on-site consumption
  • Playgrounds and youth centers
  • Parks, athletic areas, and athletic facilities
  • State parks and property controlled by the Department of Parks and Recreation or Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Casinos and gambling establishments
  • Stadiums and arenas
  • Public libraries
  • Amusement parks
  • Zoos and museums

Each prohibition extends to the associated parking areas and, in some cases, adjacent streets and sidewalks.

Prohibitions Still Blocked by Court Order

The Ninth Circuit left several injunctions in place, so CCW holders can still legally carry in these locations:1Justia. May, et al. v. Bonta, et al.

  • Medical facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, urgent care centers, and medical offices
  • Public transit, including buses, trains, and buildings controlled by publicly funded transportation authorities
  • Permitted public gatherings on public property
  • Places of worship
  • Financial institutions

The court also blocked SB 2’s rule that would have flipped the default for private commercial property, prohibiting carry in any business open to the public unless the owner posted a sign permitting it.3California Legislative Information. SB-2 Firearms The traditional rule still applies: a business must post signage to prohibit carry, not to allow it.

This litigation is not finished. Any of these injunctions could be lifted or modified, so permit holders should track court developments before assuming a location remains open.

The New CCW Application Rules

SB 2 replaced the old county-by-county CCW standards with a uniform statewide process, dropping the “good cause” and “good character” tests and substituting objective requirements applied in all 58 counties.4LegiScan. California Senate Bill 2 To qualify, you must:

  • Be at least 21 years old with clear evidence of identity and age5California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 26150
  • Complete at least 16 hours of training for a new permit, or 8 hours for renewal, covering firearm safety, safe storage, legal transportation, and live-fire proficiency4LegiScan. California Senate Bill 2
  • Provide three character references, whom the licensing authority will interview; a cohabitant must be among them if applicable4LegiScan. California Senate Bill 2
  • Be the registered owner of each firearm you intend to carry, as recorded in the Department of Justice’s database5California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 26150
  • Not be a disqualified person under state or federal law

The background investigation goes beyond a criminal records check. Licensing authorities also review publicly available information, including social media, to assess whether the applicant poses a danger to themselves or others. Plan for time and money: the 16-hour training alone typically costs several hundred dollars before range fees and ammunition.

Mandatory Safe Storage at Home Starting January 1, 2026

Beginning January 1, 2026, every firearm in a California home must be securely stored whenever it is not being carried or under the immediate control of an authorized user. Under Penal Code section 25145, “securely stored” means kept in a California-certified lock box or gun safe, or disabled with a certified trigger lock or cable lock.6California Legislative Information. California Penal Code Part 6, Title 4, Division 4, Chapter 2

This is a change in kind, not just degree. California’s existing criminal storage laws, still on the books, operate in three tiers of severity and kick in only when a child or prohibited person actually gains access to an unsecured firearm and causes harm, up to “first degree” when someone is killed or seriously injured.6California Legislative Information. California Penal Code Part 6, Title 4, Division 4, Chapter 2 Section 25145 creates a standalone duty to store securely at all times, whether or not anyone gains access. A loaded handgun left in a nightstand drawer without a lock can now be a violation on its own.

11% Excise Tax on Firearms and Ammunition

Assembly Bill 28 added an 11% state excise tax on the retail sale of firearms, firearm precursor parts, and ammunition, effective July 1, 2024.7California Legislative Information. AB-28 Firearms and Ammunition: Excise Tax It sits on top of regular state and local sales tax and the existing 10-11% federal excise tax, pushing the combined tax burden on a firearm purchase in California toward or past 20%.

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration collects the tax. Two exemptions apply: sales to active or retired peace officers and law enforcement agencies, and sales by any dealer whose quarterly gross receipts from firearms, parts, and ammunition are under $5,000.8LegiScan. California AB28

Who Can Ask a Court to Take Someone’s Guns

California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) law lets a court temporarily bar someone from possessing or buying firearms if they pose a significant danger. The list of people who can petition has grown to include:9California Department of Justice. Model Gun Violence Restraining Order Policy

  • Law enforcement officers on behalf of their agency
  • Immediate family members, including spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, and other close relatives
  • Current or recent roommates and household members
  • Dating partners or people who share a child with the subject
  • Employers
  • Coworkers with at least a year of regular contact, with employer approval
  • Teachers or school employees at a school the person attended within the last six months, with administrator approval

An emergency or temporary GVRO lasts up to 21 days, during which the subject must surrender any firearms, ammunition, and magazines. After a hearing where the subject can respond, the court can extend the order for one to five years if the person still poses a significant danger.10California Courts. Gun Violence Restraining Orders in California A GVRO can also be terminated early or renewed through separate proceedings.

Changes to Purchases, Dealer Records, and Ammunition

Several smaller laws taking effect in 2025 change how firearms and ammunition move through the system:11California Department of Justice. New Firearm/Weapon Laws

  • Private-party transfers now count toward the one-per-30-day purchase limit for handguns and semiautomatic centerfire rifles. AB 1483 closed that exemption effective January 1, 2025. Court-ordered transfers and transfers after a firearm owner’s death remain exempt.
  • AB 574, effective March 1, 2025, requires each dealer record of sale to include the buyer’s acknowledgment that they have confirmed possession of every firearm they own within the past 30 days.
  • AB 1587, effective May 1, 2025, requires payment processors to assign firearms merchants a specific merchant category code for credit and debit card transactions. The Attorney General can enforce $10,000 civil penalties per violation.
  • AB 1598 requires the Department of Justice to produce a multilingual safety pamphlet covering the risks of a firearm in the home, including suicide and unintentional injury, and licensed dealers must give it to every buyer.

California still requires a background check on every ammunition purchase. Buyers already in the Department of Justice’s Automated Firearm System pay $1 for a near-instant eligibility check; buyers who are not in the system pay $19 and can wait several days. Ammunition bought out of state must be shipped to a licensed California vendor for a background check before you can pick it up.