California's ammunition purchase laws are among the most restrictive in the nation. Proposition 63, approved by voters in November 2016, established the framework, and subsequent legislation refined the implementation. Since July 1, 2019, ammunition purchases or transfers through a vendor generally require California Department of Justice approval at the time of purchase or transfer, except as otherwise specified [1].
Licensed Vendor Requirement
Except for exempt transactions under PC 30312(c), ammunition sales in California must be conducted by or processed through a licensed ammunition vendor [2]. For nonexempt transactions, this includes in-store purchases at gun shops and sporting goods stores, online orders (which must initially be received and processed by a licensed vendor), and sales at gun shows. Private party ammunition sales must also go through a licensed vendor unless an exemption applies, including purchases or receipts from a spouse, registered domestic partner, or immediate family member. Unless an exception under PC 30314(b) applies, a California resident must have ammunition acquired outside the state delivered first to a licensed ammunition vendor before bringing or transporting it into California [9]. PC 30314 provides no quantity-based personal-use exception. Its specified exemptions include qualifying licensed collectors with a current certificate of eligibility and people who acquired the ammunition from a spouse, registered domestic partner, or immediate family member.
Point-of-Sale Background Check
When you purchase ammunition, the vendor submits your identifying information to the DOJ for a background check. There are two types of checks:
Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check ($5 fee, increased from $1 effective July 1, 2025): This automated check is available to purchasers who already have a record in the DOJ's Automated Firearms System (AFS), which may come from a firearm purchase through a DROS or a voluntary firearm ownership report. A long-gun purchase before January 1, 2014 may not have created an AFS record. The system verifies your identity against the AFS database and checks for prohibiting factors. Results typically come back within minutes [1].
Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check ($19 fee): If you do not have a record in the AFS (for example, you inherited firearms, moved to California before registration was required, or simply have never purchased through a DROS), the standard check will return a "not in system" result. You may use the basic check, which is a more thorough background review similar to a firearm purchase background check. Other eligibility routes include a current Certificate of Eligibility or an approved firearm eligibility check when ammunition is delivered in the same transaction as the firearm. Processing can take several days [3].
Possible Results
- Approved: The transaction may proceed
- Denied: The purchaser is prohibited from possessing ammunition (felony conviction, domestic violence restraining order, mental health hold, etc.)
- Delayed: Additional review is needed (you must wait for the DOJ to issue a determination)
Who Is Prohibited
Persons prohibited from owning or possessing firearms under Penal Code Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 29800), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29900), or Welfare and Institutions Code Section 8100 or 8103 may not own, possess, or have ammunition under their custody or control [4]. This includes people whose felony convictions impose a firearm prohibition, persons convicted of certain misdemeanors, persons subject to a domestic violence restraining order, persons subject to a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO), and persons adjudicated as mentally ill.
Excise Tax (AB 28)
Since July 1, 2024, AB 28 (the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act) imposes an 11% excise tax on the retail sale of ammunition, in addition to the standard California sales tax [5]. This applies to retail ammunition sales in California unless an exemption applies. For a $30 box of ammunition, the excise tax adds approximately $3.30 on top of regular sales tax. The tax is administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). Exemptions exist for sales to law enforcement agencies and active or retired peace officers, and for retailers with less than $5,000 per quarter in total covered sales.
Legal Challenge: Rhode v. Bonta
The constitutionality of California's ammunition background check system is under active legal challenge. On July 24, 2025, a Ninth Circuit three-judge panel struck down the ammunition background check system in Rhode v. Bonta, holding it violates the Second Amendment under the framework from NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022) [6].
On December 1, 2025, the Ninth Circuit granted California's petition for rehearing en banc, vacating the panel opinion [7]. The U.S. Department of Justice and a 25-state coalition filed amicus briefs supporting the challenge in January 2026 [8]. En banc oral arguments were held on March 25, 2026, and a decision is pending as of July 2026.
The ammunition background check system remains fully in effect during the en banc proceedings. Regardless of the legal challenge, you must comply with all existing purchase requirements until a court orders otherwise.
Practical Tips
- Ensure your firearms are registered in the AFS to qualify for the faster $5 Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check
- Bring a valid California ID that matches your current address
- Unless an exemption applies, online ammunition orders must initially be received and processed by a licensed vendor in California
- Budget extra time if you expect to need the $19 basic eligibility check
- Budget for the 11% AB 28 excise tax on top of standard sales tax
- Keep receipts as proof of legal purchase
See also: Rhode v. Bonta: Ammunition Background Check Challenge