California Gun Laws 2026

To buy a firearm in California you need a valid California ID and a Firearm Safety Certificate. The dealer enters the sale into the Dealer's Record of Sale system, the Department of Justice runs the eligibility check, and the firearm cannot be released until a 10-day waiting period has passed. Carry is shall-issue under Senate Bill 2, which took effect January 1, 2024. Carry licenses come from the county sheriff or, inside a city, the police chief.

Buying a gun

A buyer needs a valid California ID and a Firearm Safety Certificate before the sale can start. For a handgun, the buyer also performs a safe handling demonstration at the counter. Handguns sold by a dealer must be a make and model on the Department of Justice Roster of Certified Handguns. Dealers may not sell any firearm to a person under 21, with narrow exemptions for long guns. Private sales also go through a licensed dealer.

California has no permit to purchase. The waiting period is ten days. The dealer submits the Dealer's Record of Sale, the Department of Justice runs the eligibility check, and the firearm cannot be released before ten 24-hour periods have passed, even when the check clears early.

Buying online and shipping to a California dealer

Cal Guns Depot ships rifles, handguns and ammunition from Sacramento. Every firearm is sent to a licensed California dealer that the buyer selects at checkout. That dealer confirms roster status where it applies, runs the background check and releases the firearm after the 10-day wait.

Ammunition bought for a California address has to be delivered through a licensed California ammunition vendor, who runs a state eligibility check before handing it over. Optics, cases and most parts ship directly to the buyer's address.

Carrying a gun and permits

California has been a shall-issue state since Senate Bill 2 took effect on January 1, 2024. The county sheriff issues carry licenses to county residents, and a city police chief may issue a license inside that city. An applicant must be at least 21, pass a background check and an interview, and complete at least 16 hours of approved training. Renewal requires 8 hours of refresher training. A license runs two years and lists up to three handguns.

Senate Bill 2 also added a long list of places where licensed carry is barred. Federal courts have narrowed parts of that list, so confirm the current rules for any location before carrying.

Hunting rules

California sells deer tags by lettered zone, not by county. For 2026 the Fish and Game Commission approved these deer seasons: zone A general season August 8 to September 20; B zones September 19 to October 25 for most of the group; C zones opening September 19, with closing dates from October 4 to October 25; and the D-3, D-4 and D-5 foothill zones from September 26 to November 1. Rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders and handguns are all legal for deer within the zone rules.

Every round used on game in California must be nonlead. Check your zone boundary on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife map before you buy a tag.

Wild pigs do not need a per-animal tag. A wild pig validation on the hunting license covers them, the season is open all year with no bag limit, and take is reported through the license system. For waterfowl, the requirements are a hunting license, the California duck validation, HIP certification and a federal duck stamp, plus an area permit on most public ground.

What is required, at a glance

Requirement	Buying a firearm	Carrying a firearm
Issued or confirmed by	Licensed dealer, with a Department of Justice eligibility check	County sheriff, or city police chief inside that city
Minimum age	21 for most sales, with narrow exemptions for long guns	21
Training	Firearm Safety Certificate, plus a handgun safe handling demonstration at the counter	At least 16 hours of approved training, with 8 hours of refresher training before each renewal
Background check	Department of Justice eligibility check through the Dealer's Record of Sale	Background check and interview
Handgun rule	Make and model must be on the DOJ Roster of Certified Handguns	Up to three handguns listed on the license

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to buy a gun in California?

California has no permit to purchase, but a buyer needs a valid California ID and a Firearm Safety Certificate before the dealer can start the sale. A handgun also has to be a model on the Department of Justice roster.

How long is the waiting period?

Ten days. The dealer submits the Dealer's Record of Sale, the Department of Justice runs the eligibility check, and the firearm cannot be released before ten 24-hour periods have passed, even when the check clears early.

Who issues carry licenses in a county?

The county sheriff, and in many cities the police chief as well. Since Senate Bill 2 took effect in January 2024, the license is shall-issue for qualified applicants, with at least 16 hours of training and a two-year term.

Can ammunition be shipped to a California home?

No. Ammunition for a California address has to be delivered through a licensed California ammunition vendor, who runs a state eligibility check before handing it over. Optics, cases and most parts still ship to the buyer's door.

This guide reflects California law as of September 2026. Laws change, so confirm current rules with the California Department of Justice and the Department of Fish and Wildlife before you buy, carry or hunt.