California permit requirements

Official-source summary. Values we could not confirm are labelled, never filled with assumptions.

At a glance

Permit required to carry

Yes

Permit currently issued

Yes

Issuance structure

Shall Issue

Issuing level

County

Minimum age

Training

16 hours

Live fire

Required

Application fee

Reported: Varies by issuing agency (capped by state statute plus DOJ fees); typically $200-$400+ total ($43.00 DOJ background fee + local processing fee + final issuance fee). Confirm at the source

Permit term

Reported: 2 years (3 years for judicial officers; 4 years for reserve peace officers). Confirm at the source

Residency required

Yes. Resident of the issuing city or county, or your main place of work or business is there. Non-residents are excluded. Confirm with the issuing agency

Processing time

Reported: Within 90 days, counted from the application or from the background check result (sources differ). Confirm at the source

Some current details are not fully confirmed. Verify dates, fees, and requirements on the official page before relying on them.

Issuing agency: County Sheriff's Department or Municipal Police Department in applicant's jurisdiction of residence

Source: California Department of Justice — last checked 2026-10-04

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What to know in California

California is listed as a shall-issue state, and its permit is the Concealed Carry Weapons License (CCW): county offices handle permits, so the office you use depends on where you live. The issuing agency is County Sheriff's Department or Municipal Police Department in applicant's jurisdiction of residence.

The minimum age to apply is 21. The required training course in California is 16 hours. Live-fire shooting is part of the course.

We found no California rule that lets you keep carrying on an expired permit while a renewal is pending, so renew before the date on your card. To replace a lost or stolen California permit, expect to provide a police report. After a move or name change, tell the issuing agency within 10 days. Confirm with the issuing agency

Official page: California Department of Justice · Reciprocity: where a California permit is honored

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