SB 2 Sensitive Places — Where Can CCW Holders Carry in California?

What Is SB 2?

Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 26, 2023, is California's legislative response to the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The Bruen ruling struck down New York's "proper cause" requirement for concealed carry permits, holding that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. Because California had a nearly identical "good cause" requirement, Bruen effectively invalidated it.

SB 2 did two things simultaneously. First, it converted California's concealed carry permit system from may-issue (where issuing authorities had broad discretion) to shall-issue (where permits must be issued to any applicant who meets objective criteria). Second, it created an extensive list of 26 "sensitive places" where concealed carry is prohibited, even with a valid CCW permit.

The effect was to give with one hand and take with the other. While more Californians can now obtain CCW permits, the places where those permits are actually useful were dramatically curtailed. Critics immediately labeled SB 2 as an attempt to create a de facto ban on public carry by declaring nearly every public space a "sensitive place."

SB 2 is codified primarily in Cal. Penal Code § 26230.

The Full List of 26 Sensitive Places

Below is every sensitive place category defined in SB 2, along with its current legal status after the 9th Circuit's September 2024 ruling in May v. Bonta. The 20 enforceable categories are marked accordingly. The 6 blocked categories were found to likely lack sufficient historical support under the Bruen test.

The "Can I Carry Here?" Table

The Court Rulings: May v. Bonta

The sensitive places provisions were immediately challenged in May v. Bonta, filed in the Central District of California. The litigation has produced several key rulings.

December 2023: The TRO

Just days before SB 2 was set to take effect on January 1, 2024, Judge Cormac Carney issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking most of the sensitive places provisions. Judge Carney found that the majority of the listed locations lacked historical support under Bruen and that the law was likely unconstitutional.

January 2024: The 9th Circuit Partial Stay

The state immediately appealed to the 9th Circuit, which partially stayed the TRO. This meant some provisions took effect while others remained blocked, creating confusion about where CCW holders could legally carry.

September 2024: The 9th Circuit Panel Ruling

The 9th Circuit issued a more comprehensive ruling on the preliminary injunction, conducting a location-by-location analysis under Bruen. The panel found that:

• Schools, government buildings, courthouses, and similar traditional government spaces have clear historical support as "sensitive places" and were upheld
• Public parks, places of worship, and financial institutions lacked historical analogues and the ban on carry in those locations was blocked
• Parking lots associated with sensitive places were blocked — the court found no historical support for extending the sensitive-place concept to adjacent parking areas
• Permitted gatherings and broadly defined "gatherings" were blocked as unconstitutionally vague and lacking historical support
• The private property default-no-carry rule was upheld, but with significant implications (see below)

Parking Lot Rules

One of the most practically important aspects of the court's ruling concerns parking lots. Under SB 2 as written, the parking lot of any sensitive place was itself a sensitive place, which would have meant you could not have a firearm in your car in the parking lot of a hospital, school, or government building — even if the firearm was locked in your trunk.

The court blocked this provision, finding no historical basis for it. As of February 2026:

• YES — You can have your firearm secured in your vehicle in the parking lot of a sensitive place
• NO — You cannot carry the firearm on your person once you exit the vehicle and enter the sensitive place itself
• Best practice: keep the firearm locked in a secure container in your trunk or vehicle safe when visiting sensitive places

Note that this only applies to the SB 2 sensitive places framework. Separate federal law 18 USC § 922(q) (the Gun-Free School Zones Act) still prohibits firearms within 1,000 feet of a school, with exceptions for CCW permit holders — but only if the permit was issued by the state in which the school is located. California CCW holders are exempt from the federal school zone law while in California.

Private Property Rules

SB 2's most controversial provision may be its default private property rule. Under the law, concealed carry is prohibited on all private property that is open to the public unless the property owner has given express consent for firearms to be carried on the premises.

This flips the traditional presumption. Under prior law, you could carry on private property unless the owner posted a no-firearms sign or otherwise told you not to. Under SB 2, you cannot carry on private property unless the owner affirmatively permits it.

What This Means in Practice

• Retail stores, malls, grocery stores: You cannot carry unless the business has posted a sign or provided notice that firearms are welcome
• Private offices and workplaces: Same rule — no carry unless the employer/owner expressly permits it
• Your own home or the home of someone who invites you: This rule does not apply to your own property. Visiting a friend's home falls outside the "open to the public" definition
• Gas stations, car washes, laundromats: No carry unless owner permits

The 9th Circuit upheld this provision (for now), finding some historical support in the common law tradition of property owners controlling what happens on their property. However, the court noted this was a close question, and the provision is still being challenged on the merits.

Exceptions to the Sensitive Places Restrictions

SB 2 includes several exceptions that allow certain individuals to carry in otherwise restricted locations. These exceptions are codified in Cal. Penal Code § 26230(e):

• Active and retired law enforcement officers qualified under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) 18 USC § 926B–926C
• Active military personnel in the performance of their duties
• Security guards licensed under the Private Investigator Act, while on duty
• Persons authorized by the entity controlling the sensitive place (e.g., a courthouse that authorizes specific individuals)
• Armored vehicle guards in the course of their employment
• Persons transporting a firearm in a locked container through a sensitive place (i.e., driving through but not stopping and entering)

Regular CCW holders do not have a blanket exception. The permit allows you to carry in public spaces that are not designated as sensitive places, and on private property where the owner has given express permission.

Penalties for Carrying in a Sensitive Place

Carrying a concealed firearm in a designated sensitive place, even with a valid CCW permit, is a crime under California law. The penalties depend on whether you have a CCW permit or not:

Beyond criminal penalties, carrying in a sensitive place can result in the revocation of your CCW permit. California issuing agencies have broad discretion to revoke permits for violations of any firearms law, and carrying in a prohibited location is a clear violation of the terms of your permit.

Where You CAN Carry with a California CCW

Given all the restrictions, where can you actually carry? Here is a summary of locations where CCW carry is generally permitted as of February 2026:

• Public sidewalks and streets (unless a permitted event is occurring — though that restriction is currently blocked)
• Public parks and recreational areas (restriction blocked by court)
• Your own vehicle (with or without a CCW, as long as the firearm is properly stored if you do not have a CCW)
• Parking lots of sensitive places (restriction blocked by court — keep the firearm secured in your vehicle)
• Places of worship (restriction blocked by court)
• Banks and financial institutions (restriction blocked by court)
• Private property where the owner expressly permits carry
• Your own home and property
• Hiking trails and open spaces (public land managed by BLM or USFS may have separate federal rules)
• General public areas not on the enforceable sensitive places list

What to Do If You Are a CCW Holder

If you hold or are applying for a California CCW permit, follow these practical steps:

1. Know the 20 enforceable sensitive places by heart. Print out the list above and keep it in your wallet or on your phone. When in doubt, do not carry.
2. Assume private property is off-limits unless you see a "firearms welcome" sign. The default-no-carry rule means silence from the property owner equals no carry.
3. Invest in a quality vehicle safe. Since you will frequently need to secure your firearm when entering sensitive places, a vehicle safe bolted to your car allows you to store the firearm securely.
4. Carry your CCW permit and government-issued ID at all times when carrying concealed. You must present both upon request by law enforcement.
5. Follow your issuing agency's guidelines. Your county sheriff or police chief may have additional conditions on your permit beyond state law.
6. Stay updated on court rulings. The May v. Bonta case is ongoing. Court orders could expand or narrow the list of enforceable sensitive places at any time.
7. Do not carry in federal buildings regardless of state law. Federal law 18 USC § 930 prohibits firearms in federal facilities, and a state CCW does not override this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol?

NO. Bars and restaurants that serve alcohol are on the enforceable sensitive places list. This applies to any restaurant that has a liquor license, even if you are not drinking. This is one of the most practically impactful restrictions because it covers a vast number of dining establishments.

What about the parking lot of my child's school?

In your vehicle, YES (restriction blocked). The parking lot restriction was blocked by the court. You may keep your firearm secured in your vehicle in the parking lot. However, you absolutely cannot exit the vehicle with the firearm on school grounds. The school campus itself remains an enforceable sensitive place under both state and federal law.

My church wants to allow CCW holders to carry. Can they?

YES. The restriction on places of worship was blocked by the court. Additionally, even if the restriction were enforceable, SB 2 has an exception for persons authorized by the entity controlling the property. Many churches in California have established security teams composed of CCW holders.

Can I carry while jogging in a public park?

YES. The restriction on public parks and athletic facilities was blocked by the court. Concealed carry in public parks is currently permitted with a valid CCW.

What if a store has no signs about firearms at all?

NO carry. Under SB 2's default private property rule, the absence of signage means no carry is permitted. You need affirmative express consent from the property owner to carry on private commercial property. No sign equals no carry.

Does SB 2 affect my ability to transport firearms?

SB 2 is primarily about carrying concealed with a CCW permit. Transporting an unloaded firearm in a locked container (as required by Cal. Penal Code § 25610) is a separate activity with its own rules. You may transport firearms through sensitive places as long as they are properly stored — unloaded and in a locked container separate from ammunition.