Permit guides › California
California concealed carry permit guide
Permit required Last verified November 1, 2026
Not legal advice. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Carry laws change often and vary by city and county. Verify every requirement with the issuing agency before you apply or carry.
Permitless (constitutional) carry
No. A license is required to carry a concealed handgun.
Permit types
- License to carry a concealed weapon (CCW)
Issuing agency and how to apply
County sheriff or city police chief (licensing authority); forms by California DOJ
Apply to your county sheriff or city police chief on the DOJ standard application (BOF 4012).
Eligibility and minimum age
- Minimum age
- 21
- Eligibility
- Must not be a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202.
Fees
- Resident (new)
- Set by the local licensing authority
- Non-resident (new)
- Not applicable (no non-resident permit)
- Renewal
- Check with County sheriff or city police chief (licensing authority); forms by California DOJ
Fees are set by the local licensing authority.
Training requirements
At least 16 hours for new applicants and 8 hours for renewals, including live fire (Penal Code 26165).
Processing time, validity and renewal
- Processing time
- Decision within 120 days of a complete application or 30 days after DOJ eligibility results, whichever is later (Penal Code 26205)
- Valid for
- Up to 2 years (standard license)
Non-resident permits
Not available to non-residents. Licenses are issued by the applicant's county or city of residence.
Reciprocity
California does not recognize carry permits from other states.
Sources
- oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/bof-4012.pdf
- oag.ca.gov/firearms/regs/ccwl
- oag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs
- oag.ca.gov/firearms/ccwlicfaqs
Last verified November 1, 2026. Where a field says "Check with", we couldn't confirm it from an official source.