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Concealed Carry Map

State profile · CA

California Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Where Your Permit Works

A California resident permit (California Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) License) is honored in 28 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 6 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, California recognizes no out-of-state carry permits. California is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit California recognizes.

Open the interactive map for a California permit →

Where a California permit is honored

Click any destination for the full rules — duty to inform, magazine limits, off-limits places, and official sources.

DestinationResident permitNon-resident permit
AlabamaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
AlaskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
ArizonaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
ArkansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
ColoradoNot recognizedNo such permit issued
ConnecticutNot recognizedNo such permit issued
DelawareNot recognizedNo such permit issued
District of ColumbiaNot recognizedNo such permit issued
FloridaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
GeorgiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
HawaiiNot recognizedNo such permit issued
IdahoRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
IllinoisNot recognizedNo such permit issued
IndianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
IowaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
KansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
KentuckyRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
LouisianaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
MainePermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
MarylandNot recognizedNo such permit issued
MassachusettsNot recognizedNo such permit issued
MichiganRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
MinnesotaRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
MississippiRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
MissouriRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
MontanaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
NebraskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
NevadaNot recognizedNo such permit issued
New HampshireRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
New JerseyNot recognizedNo such permit issued
New MexicoNot recognizedNo such permit issued
New YorkNot recognizedNo such permit issued
North CarolinaRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
North DakotaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
OhioRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
OklahomaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
OregonNot recognizedNo such permit issued
PennsylvaniaNot recognizedNo such permit issued
Rhode IslandNot recognizedNo such permit issued
South CarolinaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
South DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
TennesseeRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
TexasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
UtahRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
VermontRecognized — and permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
VirginiaRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
WashingtonNot recognizedNo such permit issued
West VirginiaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued
WisconsinRecognized — carry with your permitNo such permit issued
WyomingPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNo such permit issued

* a load-bearing fact could not be fully verified — confirm with the official source before carrying.

Whose permits California honors

California does not recognize any out-of-state concealed-carry permit.

California DOJ: 'CCW licenses/permits issued in other states are not valid in California' (Pen. Code §§ 25400-25700). No out-of-state permit of any kind is honored.

California at a glance

Permit
California Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) License
Issued by
County sheriff or city police chief
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
21
Non-resident permits
Not issued
Permitless carry
No
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
10 rounds

Penal Code § 26150 requires the applicant to be a resident of the issuing county/city OR have a principal place of employment or business there where substantial time is spent; there is no general non-resident path.

Vehicle carry

Without a California CCW license, a handgun in a vehicle must be unloaded and in a locked container or the trunk (Pen. Code § 25610); CCW licensees may carry loaded and concealed.

Off-limits places in California

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor a California carry permit?
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does California recognize out-of-state carry permits?
California DOJ: 'CCW licenses/permits issued in other states are not valid in California' (Pen. Code §§ 25400-25700). No out-of-state permit of any kind is honored.
Can I carry in California without a permit?
California is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit California recognizes.
Do I have to tell police in California that I am carrying?
No statewide statutory duty to proactively inform an officer; individual issuing authorities may attach notification conditions to the license.

Official sources