California has significant carry restrictions, and the legal landscape has shifted substantially since the 2022 Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. New legislation, court rulings, and injunctions continue to affect what is currently enforceable. This page provides a general overview only — verify the current status of any specific provision with County sheriff or local police chief or a licensed California attorney before relying on it.
California carry status overview
California requires a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) License to carry a concealed handgun, issued by County sheriff or local police chief. Post-Bruen, California moved to shall-issue for qualified applicants under SB 2 (2023), but enacted an extensive list of "sensitive places" where carry remains prohibited even with a permit. Significant litigation is ongoing regarding the scope of these restrictions.
| Concealed carry | Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) License required |
| Governing law | California Penal Code §§ 25400–26050 |
| Issuing authority | County sheriff or local police chief |
| Open carry | Generally prohibited |
| Vehicle carry | Strict requirements — verify current rules |
| Post-Bruen changes | Yes — significant sensitive-location and process changes since 2022 |
Applying for a permit
Apply through County sheriff or local police chief. Be prepared for a more involved process than in most other states — additional documentation, longer processing times, and in some cases an in-person interview may be required. Training requirements are typically more extensive than in shall-issue states.
Application info: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/ccw ↗
Sensitive locations (post-Bruen)
Following the 2022 Bruen decision, California enacted expanded "sensitive location" restrictions that prohibit carry — even with a valid permit — in a substantially wider range of places than before. Categories commonly include:
- Government buildings and courts
- Schools and educational institutions (K–12 and higher ed)
- Healthcare facilities
- Public transit
- Places of worship (unless authorized)
- Bars and establishments serving alcohol
- Public parks and gathering places (varies)
- Polling places
Private property open to the public, without owner authorization— no longer enforceable. Penal Code § 26230(a)(26) was enjoined and is foreclosed by Wolford v. Lopez (June 25, 2026). See the section below.
These categories are illustrative — the specific list and ongoing litigation status varies. Verify the current, enforceable list directly with County sheriff or local police chief before carrying anywhere in California.
SB 2 and May v. Bonta — what is actually enforceable
California's carry rules changed twice in three years, and the second change came from a courtroom rather than the legislature. Getting this right matters because roughly half of SB 2's restrictions are in force and the other half are not.
After Bruen, California enacted SB 2 (effective January 1, 2024). It did what Bruen required — removing the "good cause" requirement, making California shall-issue — and then created Penal Code § 26230, a sensitive-places list so broad that challengers argued it made most of the state off-limits.
SB 2 was challenged immediately in May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta. On December 20, 2023, Judge Cormac Carney enjoined much of it. California appealed, and the Ninth Circuit consolidated the California appeals with Hawaii's Wolford v. Lopez — which is why a Hawaii case decided California's fate.
On September 6, 2024, the Ninth Circuit issued one opinion for all three cases, splitting the difference:
The Ninth Circuit's mandate issued January 23, 2025. May v. Bonta was then stayed in the district court pending the Supreme Court's decision in Wolford.
After Wolford (June 25, 2026): the Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit and held that a private-property default rule violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. That holding forecloses reviving § 26230(a)(26) — California's private-property default is finished. The decision did not resolve the other sensitive-place categories, which return to the district court for final judgment.
One technical point worth knowing: § 26230 carries no criminal penalty of its own. Several listed locations are covered by separate statutes that do — school zones under § 626.9, public buildings under § 171b — and a violation independently exposes a licensee to revocation, plus possible charges under § 25400 (concealed carry) or § 25850 (loaded carry) where the carry falls outside the licence's scope.
Frequently asked questions — California
Is it difficult to get a carry permit in California?
The process in California is generally more involved than in shall-issue states — expect more documentation, training requirements, and processing time. Apply through County sheriff or local police chief for the current specific requirements.
Has California's carry law changed recently?
Yes, likely. Following the 2022 Supreme Court Bruen decision, many restrictive states including California enacted new legislation addressing "sensitive locations" and permit processes. This area of law is actively litigated and continues to change. Always verify the current status before relying on any specific provision described here.
Does California honor permits from other states?
Generally, California does not broadly recognize out-of-state carry permits the way many other states do. Verify the specific current reciprocity status — if any — with County sheriff or local police chief or the state attorney general's office before assuming your out-of-state permit is valid here.