California Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

No.

Partial, with a California Concealed Weapons License (CCWL) and valid only in a county with a population of less than 200,000 persons. Otherwise California law prohibits any person from carrying an exposed and loaded or unloaded handgun upon his or her person outside of a vehicle in a public place. 

May Issue.

The minimum age is 18 years old, although a licensing authority has the discretion to require applicants to be older than 18 years of age. Some issuing authorities require licensees to be 21.

Pistols, revolvers and other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person.

Yes. Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a license. The minimum age to purchase is 19 years old with no felony convictions. Stun guns and Tasers are not permitted on the property of any state universities, upon the grounds of, or within any K-12 public or private school or within the sterile area of an airport. A CCWL is required for concealed carry within the State Capitol, legislative office, any state or local public building or at any meeting required to be open to the public. 

Yes, pepper spray that contains no more than 2.5 ounces net weight of aerosol spray is legal provided the spray is used solely for self-defense purposes. However, individuals convicted of a felony or any crime involving an assault, addicted to any narcotic drug and minors are banned from possession or use of chemical sprays. There are requirements for labeling, expiration dates and instructions for use.

Yes. No more than 10 rounds.

As of late December, 2021, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a 150-day stay in the case of Duncan v. Bonta, blocking the state of California from enforcing its firearm magazine prohibition law. If the backers in the lawsuit file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court on the matter during that 150-day period, the stay will continue until the case's final disposition with the nation's highest court.

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on November 30, 2021, to uphold California’s ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines. Therefore, the ban on owning large-capacity magazines will stay in place for now. Attorney General Rob Bonta has indicated that there still needs to be another order to officially put the ban in place. So, it technically could go into effect in as soon as a few days unless it’s fought again and goes up to the supreme court, which is very likely. 

It is not yet known whether enforcement of the ban will continue to be blocked until the Supreme Court decides whether to weigh in.

An August 14, 2020, an appellate court decision affirmed the district court’s judgment that California Government Code § 32310, which bans possession of large capacity magazines (“LCMs”) that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition violated the Second Amendment. The state of California now has the option of asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision and may seek a delay on implementation of the decision to prevent a surge in purchases.

On April 4, 2019, Judge Benitez issued a stay, and the law criminalizing the importation or sale of the high-capacity magazines  was reinstated on April 5, 2019, pending the attorney general’s appeal to the Ninth Circuit. Those who have imported LCMs into California in the week since he declared the state’s ban on the weapons unconstitutional do not have to give up their weapons or be criminalized for owning them.

On March 29, 2019, a federal judge upheld his earlier decision blocking a California law barring gun owners from possessing LCMs. The judge struck down both the latest ban on possessing the magazines by those who are grandfathered in, but also indicated that everyone has a right to acquire one. Until legal challenges are exhausted, the following historical information regarding PC 32310 will be maintained on the site.

__________________________

Prior to this ruling, >10 round magazines owned prior to January 1, 2000 are still allowed pending a decision by the district court on whether to grant a permanent injunction and the Ninth Circuit’s resolution of an appeal of that decision.

Any person who possesses any LCM (defined as >10 rounds), regardless of the date the magazine was acquired, is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $100 per LCM, or is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $100 per LCM, by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year or by both that fine and imprisonment.

The statute required that prior to July 1, 2017, any person who may not lawfully possess a LCM do one of three things:

• Remove the LCM from the state;
• Sell the LCM to a licensed firearms dealer; or
• Surrender the LCM to a law enforcement agency for destruction.

On February 7, 2018 the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California ruled that PC 32310 is constitutional and does not violate gun owners' equal protection rights.

Yes. Armor-piercing ammunition and the purchase of .50 Browning Machine Gun (BMG) ammunition is prohibited. You must be legally eligible to purchase and/or own a firearm and be at least 21 years old to purchase ammunition. 

Purchase/Transport of Ammunition

• Ammunition may not be purchased out of state and then brought into California. Doing so would be a misdemeanor.
• Non-residents may not purchase ammunition in California.
• Non-residents may bring ammo with them for personal use without a background check.

Destructive Devices
California also prohibits the possession, sale, offer for sale, or knowing transportation of a “destructive device,” The definition of “destructive device” includes:

• Any projectile containing any explosive or incendiary material or any other chemical substance, including, but not limited to, tracer or incendiary ammunition, except tracer ammunition manufactured for use in shotguns; and
• Any weapon of a caliber greater than 0.60 caliber which fires fixed ammunition, or any ammunition therefor, other than a shotgun.

Municipalities may also have restrictions. For instance, Winchester Black Talon, Federal Premium "Law Enforcement Ammunition Tactical" and Hornady "TAP (Tactical Application Police) Law Enforcement Ammunition" are prohibited in San Francisco county.

Background Check Update

On April 27, 2020, An appeals court has reinstated a California law requiring background checks for people buying ammunition, reversing the April 23, 2020, federal judge’s decision to stop the checks that he said violate the constitutional right to bear arms.
*******************

Until this case is completely resolved this information will be maintained on this page. As of  July 1, 2019, ammunition sellers are required to conduct point of sale background checks (which should take only 60-90 seconds) with $1 paid by the consumer. (Phase 2 of Prop 63). For those who don't currently have a gun registered, there is a one-time $19 "eligibility check" that may take up to 10 days. The law requires all ammunition sales, including mail order sales and sales between unlicensed parties, to be processed by a licensed ammunition vendor who will conduct the background check.

Only California residents can purchase ammunition. There is no restriction on the amount or type of ammunition that can be purchased, although there are restrictions on how much a person can sell in a 30-day period without being a licensed vendor. State law authorizes people to sell or share ammunition with their spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren without the participation of a licensed vendor.