Subscribe to Our Newsletter
State of California Department of Justice
Rob Bonta
Attorney General
Attorney General
Thank you for your interest in becoming a firearm dealer and/or ammunition vendor in California. Gun laws in California regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of California. The following will provide you with important information about the statutory requirements for becoming a firearm dealer and/or ammunition vendor, and other requirements for doing business in California.
It is unlawful for a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) with a FFL Type 01, 02, 07, 08, 09, 10, or 11 to obtain a firearm in accordance with their status as an FFL unless they are on one of the Centralized Lists: Centralized List of Firearms Dealers (CL), Centralized List of Exempted Federal Firearms Licensees (CLEFFL), or Centralized List of Firearm Manufacturers (CLM). To conduct firearm business, the FFL shall apply with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to be listed on the Centralized List. A firearm dealer and/or manufacturer may be listed on more than one of the Centralized Lists. An Ammunition Vendor is not required to obtain an FFL to be an Ammunition Vendor, but is required to be licensed through the DOJ. The DOJ's Licensing staff will conduct a background eligibility check on applicants to determine whether they are prohibited from possessing and/or having access to firearms/ammunition.
Firearms initially enter the consumer market through gun dealers who are the critical link between manufacturers or distributors and the general public. The sale of all firearms, including Private Party Transfers, must be processed through a licensed firearm dealer in California. The CL dealer conducts retail sales, internet sales, pawn broker/consignment transactions, accepted for auction, or manufacturing.
Penal Code sections 26700 – 27140
Business & Professions Code section 21628.2
DOJ Certified Instructors have an important role in the sales and delivery of firearms in California. Their primary roles and responsibilities are described below in the Firearm Safety Certificate requirements and Safe Handling Demonstration requirements.
Penal Code sections 31610 – 31670
California state law prohibits all FFL holders (other than FFL Type 03 or Type 06) from delivering, selling, or transferring a firearm to an FFL in California unless, prior to delivery, the Licensee intending to deliver, sell, or transfer the firearm obtains a verification number from the DOJ. The CFLC program allows the FFL to obtain firearms shipment verification numbers via the Internet prior to shipping firearms to any FFL in California.
California state law requires a licensee to report electronically any secondhand /pawned firearms to the DOJ daily. This includes any firearms taken in trade, taken in pawn, accepted for sale on consignment, or accepted for auction. This does not include a licensee purchasing a firearm from an individual as a "buy/acquisition" for the business inventory. The firearm dealer must obtain a license through the local licensing authority in the city/county in which the business resides. Once the license has been issued, you must submit a copy to the Centralized List Unit at CL-AVL@doj.ca.gov.
Business & Professions Code section 21628.2
Any firearms dealership licensed pursuant to Penal Code section 26700 may apply for a DOJ Large-Capacity Magazine Permit (LCMP) to engage in the lawful importation and exportation of large-capacity magazines pursuant to Penal Code sections 32310 and 32315.
Penal Code sections 32310 – 32390
An applicant must have an FFL Type 09, 10, or 11 to apply for a Dangerous Weapons (DW) License/Permit through the DOJ. In addition to the DW license/permit they may also have a FFL Type 01, 02, 07, or 08. The applicant, through a statement of "Good Cause" must provide clear and convincing evidence that there is a bona fide market or public necessity for the issuance of the license/permit and that the applicant can satisfy that need without endangering public safety. Additionally, the applicant shall provide documentation as outlined in the California Code of Regulations, title 11, sections 4125 through 4153. DOJ staff will conduct an in-depth background investigation on the applicant to determine whether they are suitable to hold a DW License/Permit. Suitability is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, financial and criminal history, honesty, and character.
California Code of Regulations, title 11, sections 4125 – 4153
Pursuant to Penal Code section 30342, subdivision (a), commencing January 1, 2018, a valid ammunition vendor license shall be required for any person, firm, corporation, or other business enterprise to sell more than 500 rounds of ammunition in any 30-day period. However, pursuant to Penal Code section 16151, subdivision (b), firearms dealers licensed pursuant to Penal Code sections 26700 through 26915, shall automatically be deemed licensed ammunition vendors.
Penal Code sections 16151
Penal Code sections 30342
Commencing January 1, 2018, a firearm dealer shall require any agent or employee who handles, sells, delivers, or has under their custody or control any firearms or ammunition to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the DOJ.
Commencing January 1, 2008, Penal Code section 28450 requires the DOJ to establish and maintain a centralized list of persons who are federally licensed as dealers, manufacturers, or importers, with a licensed business premise within this state and who declare to the DOJ an exemption from the firearm dealer licensing requirements of Penal Code section 26700. The CLEFFL dealer does not conduct firearm sales to the public. The dealer may complete internet sales (firearms are shipped to a FFL to complete the sale), gunsmith, or manufacturer (manufacture less than 50 per year).
Penal Code sections 28450 – 28490
California state law prohibits all FFL holders (other than FFL Type 03 or Type 06) from delivering selling, or transferring a firearm to an FFL in California unless, prior to delivery, the Licensee intending to deliver, sell, or transfer the firearm obtains a verification number from the DOJ. The CFLC program allows the FFL to obtain firearm shipment verification numbers via the Internet prior to shipping firearms to any FFL in California.
No person, firm, or corporation licensed to manufacture firearms pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code may manufacture more than three firearms within this state in a calendar year unless that person, firm, or corporation is licensed pursuant to Penal Code section 29050 and recorded in the centralized list specified in section 29060. In addition to other requirements, becoming a licensee (as defined in Penal Code section 29030) requires a FFL Type 07; additional FFL Types are optional. Penal Code sections 29010 through 29185 outline additional requirements relating to the manufacturing of firearms. For example, under Penal Code section 29185, only a licensee may use a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine or three-dimensional printer to manufacture a firearm.
Under Penal Code section 32000, no handgun may be manufactured within California, imported into California for sale, lent, given, kept for sale, or offered/exposed for sale unless that handgun model has passed firing and drop safety tests by a certified laboratory, meets other requirements specified in Penal Code section 31910, and is certified for sale in California by the Department of Justice. For more information about the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale, please visit https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/certified-handguns/search.
Penal Code sections 29010 – 29184
California Code of Regulations title 11, sections 4046 – 4075
Effective January 1, 2018, a valid ammunition vendor license shall be required for any person, firm, corporation, or other business enterprise (if the vendor is not on the Centralized List of Firearm Dealers) to sell more than 500 rounds of ammunition in any 30-day period. The Ammunition Vendor may be federally licensed.
Penal Code sections 30342 – 30365
California Code of Regulations title 11, section 4260 – 4265
An ammunition vendor shall require any agent or employee who handles, sells, delivers, or has under their custody or control, any ammunition, to obtain and provide to the vendor a Certificate of Eligibility from the DOJ issued pursuant to Penal Code section 26710.