PC 26150:
CCW Permit Issuance Standards (Post-Bruen)

California Penal Code Section 26150^[1] governs the issuance of concealed carry weapon (CCW) permits by county sheriffs. The companion section, PC 26155^[2], governs issuance by city police chiefs in incorporated cities. Together, these sections establish the framework for all CCW permits in California.

The Bruen Decision

In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022)^[3], the U.S. Supreme Court struck down New York's "proper cause" requirement for concealed carry permits, holding that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual's right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home. California's substantially similar "good cause" requirement was immediately invalidated. The California Legislature responded with SB 2 (2023), which removed the good cause requirement from PC 26150 and PC 26155 while adding new restrictions on where CCW holders may carry.

Current Issuance Requirements

Under the post-Bruen version of PC 26150, a county sheriff shall issue a CCW license when the applicant:

• Age: Is at least 21 years of age (no military exception — the age-18 military exception under PC 27510 applies to firearm purchases, not CCW permits)
• Residency: Is a resident of the county or a city within the county, or has their principal place of employment or business in the county
• Training: Has completed a course of training as specified in PC 26165^[4], which includes at least 16 hours of instruction covering firearm safety, law, and live-fire qualification
• Not prohibited: Is not prohibited from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm under state or federal law
• Moral character: Is of good moral character as determined by the issuing authority's background investigation. SB 2 expanded the moral character inquiry to include review of social media accounts and personal references (the social-media review requirement is preliminarily enjoined in the post-May/Carralero good-moral-character challenges; applicants are not currently required to disclose social media accounts)

Processing and Fees

Issuing agencies must process CCW applications within 90 days of receiving a completed application. The initial permit fee is set by each county but may not exceed the actual costs of processing. Permits are valid for two years and must be renewed with updated training. Background checks are conducted through the California DOJ and FBI databases.

Permit Scope

A California CCW permit is valid statewide, regardless of which county issued it. However, SB 2 added PC 26230, which restricts the locations where even a valid CCW holder may carry. The permit authorizes concealed carry only; open carry is not permitted even with a CCW license.

See also: How to Apply for a California CCW Permit