California Concealed Carry Under SB 2

California rewrote its concealed carry law with SB 2, which took effect on January 1, 2024. The good-cause test is gone, but the paperwork, training and restricted-places list are heavier than before, and parts of the statute are blocked by court order. This guide explains how the process works as of September 2026. General information, not legal advice, and the sensitive-places rules in particular are in active litigation.

Who issues the licence

You apply either to the sheriff of the county where you live or to the police chief of the city where you live. Both are licensing authorities under the Penal Code and both apply the same statutory standards, but their forms, fee schedules, interview scheduling and processing times differ a great deal. Some agencies take months. Check your own {county} County Sheriff or city police department website for the current packet before you start, because local instructions change more often than the statute does.

Basic requirements

• You are at least 21 and can show clear evidence of identity and age.
• You live in, or have your principal place of employment or business in, the county or city you are applying to. Voter registration and a homeowner property tax exemption count as prima facie evidence of residency.
• You are not a disqualified person under Penal Code 26202.
• You complete the required training course.

The disqualified-person standard

SB 2 replaced the old good-cause and good-moral-character language with a list in Penal Code 26202. The headline test is whether the applicant is reasonably likely to be a danger to self, others or the community at large. The list then adds specific bars: certain contempt of court convictions, being subject to a restraining or protective order, hate crime or firearm-related convictions within ten years, unlawful or reckless use, display or brandishing of a firearm, certain substance-related convictions or probation within five to ten years, being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance, and failing to report a lost or stolen firearm. AB 1078, signed in October 2025, tightened several of these and added reporting duties for existing licensees.

Investigation, interview and references

The licensing authority must investigate before it decides. That includes an interview with the applicant, which may be in person or virtual for a new licence and is optional on renewal, interviews with at least three character references including anyone you live with, a review of publicly available information about you, and checks of Department of Justice records and the restraining order databases. The authority has 90 days to give you written notice of its initial determination. Some agencies also require a psychological assessment, and the statute now allows virtual assessments or a provider within a set distance of the applicant's home.

Training

A new applicant must complete a course of at least 16 hours from an instructor certified by the Department of Justice. It has to include live fire on a range and a demonstration that you can safely handle and shoot each firearm you want listed on the licence. The syllabus covers firearm safety, handling, shooting technique, safe storage, transportation law, where carry is and is not permitted, lawful use of a firearm and the law on lethal force in self-defence, plus at least one hour on mental health and mental health resources. Renewal courses run at least eight hours. A licensing authority may require more hours than the statutory minimum.

Term and fees

A standard licence issued by a sheriff or police chief is valid for up to two years. Judges and magistrates, and certain officers, get longer terms, and an employment-based licence issued for a specific reason can run as little as 90 days and is valid only in the issuing county. Fees are split between the state and the local agency and vary by jurisdiction, so ask your licensing authority for the current total, including fingerprinting.

Sensitive places

Penal Code 26230 lists more than two dozen categories of property where a licensee may not carry. The list includes schools, childcare facilities, government and court buildings, jails and prisons, medical facilities, public transit, premises where alcohol is consumed on site, permitted public gatherings, playgrounds and youth centres, parks and athletic facilities, state park and Fish and Wildlife land other than designated hunting areas, college campuses, gambling establishments, stadiums and arenas, libraries, airports and ferry terminals, amusement parks, museums and zoos, nuclear facilities, places of worship, financial institutions, police stations, polling places, and private commercial premises open to the public unless the owner posts a sign allowing carry.

Which parts are blocked

The sensitive-places list was immediately challenged. A federal district court enjoined much of it in December 2023. On September 6, 2024 the Ninth Circuit decided the consolidated appeals in May v. Bonta, Carralero v. Bonta and Wolford v. Lopez, affirming the injunction in part and reversing it in large part. The mandate issued in January 2025, and the California Department of Justice then published an information bulletin telling agencies which subdivisions could be enforced.

The categories that came back into force include bars and restaurants that serve alcohol and their parking areas, playgrounds and youth centres, and parks, athletic areas and athletic facilities. Reporting on the Department's bulletin indicates that six categories remain enjoined: hospitals and medical facilities, public transit, places of worship, financial institutions, gatherings requiring a permit, and the default rule barring carry on private property open to the public unless a sign allows it. Because that list rests on a preliminary injunction rather than a final judgment, it can change with a further ruling. Confirm the current position with your licensing authority or the Department of Justice bulletin before you rely on it, and remember that federal law and local ordinances add their own restrictions.

Carrying, storing and transporting

Your licence lists specific firearms; carrying one that is not listed is not covered. A handgun in a vehicle must be unloaded and in a locked container, and the glove compartment and utility compartment do not qualify. If you are not licensed, transport rules rather than carry rules are what apply to you, and those are covered in our California gun laws overview.

Gear and next steps

Bring the handgun you actually intend to carry to the course, since you will be qualifying with it. Holsters, belts, sights and lights are in our online shop, and handgun pickup options by city are on our California gun shop pages. If you are still choosing a handgun, check the Roster of Certified Handguns first, as explained in our online buying guide. Everything here is current as of September 2026.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.