California Carry Laws

Assault Weapons Ban

California bans assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and large-capacity magazines over 10 rounds (possession of large-capacity magazines has been banned since July 1, 2017, regardless of when acquired). 'Assault weapon' includes a semiautomatic centerfire RIFLE that lacks a fixed magazine and has features such as a pistol grip, thumbhole stock, folding/telescoping stock, flash suppressor, or forward pistol grip; a semiautomatic centerfire rifle with a fixed magazine holding more than 10 rounds; and a semiautomatic centerfire rifle under 30 inches overall. Separate feature tests apply to semiautomatic pistols and shotguns (Penal Code § 30515). Handguns sold by dealers must be on the CA DOJ roster of approved handguns (Penal Code §§ 32000-32015).

ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN
California

California bans assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and large-capacity magazines over 10 rounds (possession of large-capacity magazines has been banned since July 1, 2017, regardless of when acquired). 'Assault weapon' includes a semiautomatic centerfire RIFLE that lacks a fixed magazine and has features such as a pistol grip, thumbhole stock, folding/telescoping stock, flash suppressor, or forward pistol grip; a semiautomatic centerfire rifle with a fixed magazine holding more than 10 rounds; and a semiautomatic centerfire rifle under 30 inches overall. Separate feature tests apply to semiautomatic pistols and shotguns (Penal Code § 30515). Handguns sold by dealers must be on the CA DOJ roster of approved handguns (Penal Code §§ 32000-32015).
Authority: Cal. Penal Code § 30515(a) (assault weapon definitions), § 32310(a),(c) (large-capacity magazines incl. possession since 7/1/2017), § 30610(a) (.50 BMG possession), § 32000(b)(1) (DOJ roster of handguns that may be sold).

CCW Permit Required

California requires a CCW license to carry concealed (shall-issue post-Bruen/SB 2: Pen. Code 26150(a) 'the sheriff of a county shall issue or renew a license'). Open carry prohibited in most areas. No out-of-state permits honored, but under Penal Code 26150(b) (AB 1078, eff. Jan 1, 2026) a sheriff shall issue a license to a qualifying non-resident 21+ who attests under oath that the county is their primary California location and completes the required training including live-fire exercises. Licenses are valid for a period not to exceed 2 years (Pen. Code 26220(a); employment-based licenses only 90 days).

CCW PERMIT REQUIRED
California

California requires a CCW license to carry concealed (shall-issue post-Bruen/SB 2: Pen. Code 26150(a) 'the sheriff of a county shall issue or renew a license'). Open carry prohibited in most areas. No out-of-state permits honored, but under Penal Code 26150(b) (AB 1078, eff. Jan 1, 2026) a sheriff shall issue a license to a qualifying non-resident 21+ who attests under oath that the county is their primary California location and completes the required training including live-fire exercises. Licenses are valid for a period not to exceed 2 years (Pen. Code 26220(a); employment-based licenses only 90 days).
Authority: Cal. Penal Code § 26150(a)-(b) (shall-issue; non-resident licensing as amended by AB 1078, eff. Jan. 1, 2026) and § 26220(a) (licenses valid up to two years) — both fetched from official leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

Magazine Limit - 10 Rounds Maximum

California: Max 10 rounds. Large-capacity magazines prohibited (Penal Code 32310) Possessing large-capacity magazines may be a crime.

MAGAZINE LIMIT - 10 ROUNDS MAXIMUM
California

California: Max 10 rounds. Large-capacity magazines prohibited (Penal Code 32310) Possessing large-capacity magazines may be a crime.
Authority: Cal. Penal Code § 16740 (large-capacity magazine defined as >10 rounds); § 32310(a),(c) (ban incl. possession).

Prohibited Places - Where You Cannot Carry

As of mid-2026 a private 'no firearms' sign in California has no independent criminal force — SB2's reversed default for privately owned commercial establishments open to the public (Pen. Code § 26230(a)(26), which barred licensed carry UNLESS the operator posted a DOJ-uniform sign at least 4x6 inches permitting it) is unenforceable after the U.S. Supreme Court held the identical flipped-default rule unconstitutional in Wolford v. Lopez (June 25, 2026); a business can still exclude armed patrons, with liability attaching through trespass (Pen. Code § 602) after notice/refusal to leave, and the statutory prohibited places in § 26230(a)(1)-(25) apply regardless of signage.

WHERE CONCEALED CARRY IS PROHIBITED IN CALIFORNIA (Penal Code section 26230)

Even with a carry license, California law prohibits carrying a firearm in the locations listed in Penal Code section 26230, including:
• Schools and school zones (Penal Code section 626.9)
• State and local government buildings and courthouses
• Jails, prisons, and other detention facilities
• Hospitals, mental health facilities, nursing homes, and medical offices
• Buses, trains, and other transportation paid for with public funds
• Establishments where liquor is sold for consumption on the premises
• Playgrounds and public or private youth centers
• Parks and athletic facilities
• Public gatherings that require a permit
• College and university campuses
• Casinos and gambling establishments
• Stadiums and arenas
• Libraries
• Amusement parks, zoos, and museums
• Places of worship, unless the operator allows firearms
• Banks and other financial institutions
• Polling places
• Airports and passenger terminals

Federal law separately prohibits firearms in federal facilities, federal courthouses, and post offices.

Several section 26230 categories have been challenged in federal court (Wolford v. Lopez and related cases) and enforcement of some categories has changed during the litigation. The list above reflects the statute as written; do not assume a listed category is unenforced.

Violating section 26230 can result in criminal charges and license revocation.

No Duty to Retreat (Case Law) - Castle Doctrine Also Applies

California: No duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense anywhere you are lawfully present and not the aggressor, per CALCRIM No. 505 and controlling case law. California has never enacted a 'Stand Your Ground' statute by that name, but reaches the same no-retreat result through case law. Castle Doctrine also applies at home (Penal Code § 198.5).

SELF-DEFENSE LAWS - CALIFORNIA

No duty to retreat: California case law, reflected in the official jury instructions (CALCRIM 505 and 3470), states that a person acting in lawful self-defense "is not required to retreat" and "is entitled to stand his or her ground and defend himself or herself ... even if safety could have been achieved by retreating." California has no stand-your-ground statute; the rule comes from case law and jury instructions.

Castle Doctrine: Penal Code section 198.5 presumes a resident held a reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily injury when using deadly force against someone who unlawfully and forcibly entered the residence.

Limits: force must be based on a reasonable belief in an imminent threat, must be proportional to that threat, and self-defense is generally unavailable to the initial aggressor. Every use of force may be investigated, and civil liability can exist even where force was criminally justified.

Red Flag Law - ERPO in Effect

California: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (Cal. Penal Code 18100-18205).

RED FLAG / EXTREME RISK LAW
California

California: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (Cal. Penal Code 18100-18205).

Authority: Cal. Penal Code 18100-18205 (gun violence restraining orders); operative issuance text verified at 18150.

Vehicle Transport - Unloaded and Locked (Handguns)

California: without a CA carry license, a handgun in a vehicle must be unloaded and in the trunk or a fully locked container - the glovebox or console never qualifies (Pen. Code 25610, 16850); state law does NOT require ammunition to be stored separately; long guns must also be unloaded; CA-issued CCW holders are exempt from the concealed-carry ban (Pen. Code 25655), and California recognizes no out-of-state permits.

VEHICLE TRANSPORT - UNLOADED AND LOCKED (HANDGUNS)
California

California: without a CA carry license, a handgun in a vehicle must be unloaded and in the trunk or a fully locked container - the glovebox or console never qualifies (Pen. Code 25610, 16850); state law does NOT require ammunition to be stored separately; long guns must also be unloaded; CA-issued CCW holders are exempt from the concealed-carry ban (Pen. Code 25655), and California recognizes no out-of-state permits.

Authority: Cal. Penal Code § 25610 (transport exemption, amended by SB 2, Stats. 2023 ch. 249, eff. 1/1/2024); § 16850 (locked-container definition excludes glovebox); § 25655 (CCW licensee exemption from § 25400).

Duty to Inform - Show License on Demand

California: No duty to volunteer that you are carrying, but a CCW licensee must carry the license and, on a peace officer's demand, must display it and provide the firearm for inspection (Penal Code § 26200(a)(7), (9), added by SB 2, effective 2024).

DUTY TO INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT
CALIFORNIA

California: No duty to volunteer that you are carrying, but a CCW licensee must carry the license and, on a peace officer's demand, must display it and provide the firearm for inspection (Penal Code § 26200(a)(7), (9), added by SB 2, effective 2024).

Authority: Cal. Penal Code § 26200(a)(7), (a)(9), as amended by SB 2 (Stats. 2023, ch. 249), effective Jan. 1, 2024.

No-Carry Signs: Trespass Only, But Many Places Off-Limits by Statute

California: a private 'no firearms' sign is not itself a crime to pass (trespass applies only after you refuse to leave), but Penal Code § 26230 bans licensed carry in many sensitive places regardless of signs — and its inverted default rule for businesses (§ 26230(a)(26), carry banned unless the business posts a sign ALLOWING it) is unenforceable for property open to the public after Wolford v. Lopez (U.S. 2026).

NO-CARRY SIGNS: TRESPASS ONLY, BUT MANY PLACES OFF-LIMITS BY STATUTE
California

California: a private 'no firearms' sign is not itself a crime to pass (trespass applies only after you refuse to leave), but Penal Code § 26230 bans licensed carry in many sensitive places regardless of signs — and its inverted default rule for businesses (§ 26230(a)(26), carry banned unless the business posts a sign ALLOWING it) is unenforceable for property open to the public after Wolford v. Lopez (U.S. 2026).

Authority: Cal. Penal Code § 26230(a)(26) (SB 2); Wolford v. Lopez, No. 24-1046 (U.S. June 25, 2026); Pen. Code § 602 (trespass).