California CCW County Lookup
Since the Supreme Court's Bruen decision in 2022, California is a shall-issue state. Every county must issue CCW permits to qualified applicants. Requirements, processing times, and costs vary significantly by county.
Protect Yourself After Getting Your CCW
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Compare Protection PlansCCW Permits in California After Bruen
What Changed
Before the Supreme Court's NYSRPA v. Bruen ruling (June 2022), California was a may-issue state. County sheriffs had broad discretion to deny CCW applications even when applicants met all objective criteria. Applicants needed to demonstrate "good cause" beyond self-defense. Urban counties like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Santa Clara issued very few permits.
After Bruen, California transitioned to shall-issue. Sheriffs must issue permits to applicants who meet statutory requirements. The "good cause" requirement was eliminated, replaced by an objective criteria test: age 21+, complete training, pass background check, demonstrate good moral character.
What You Need
All California CCW applicants must complete a Department of Justice-approved training course of at least 8 hours (most counties require 16 hours), including live-fire qualification. Applicants must pass a standard background check through the California DOJ. The application fee varies by county, typically ranging from $150 to $600. Processing times range from 60 days in rural counties to over 365 days in the largest urban counties.
SB 2 (effective January 2024) established a list of "sensitive places" where concealed carry is prohibited even with a valid permit, including government buildings, schools, places of worship, parks, public transit, bars, stadiums, and certain businesses unless the owner posts permission.