2025 Legal Guide to Selling a Gun in California (CA) for 2026

2026 Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in California

The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is an essential state-level license that certifies the Department of Justice (DOJ) has performed a criminal background check and confirmed the recipient is not legally prohibited from acquiring or possessing firearms at the time of issuance. The COE is a mandatory prerequisite for various firearm-related professionals, including prospective licensed firearms dealers, ammunition vendors, manufacturers, certified instructors, gun show promoters, and any employee who handles, sells, or delivers firearms and ammunition. The initial certificate is valid for one year and requires mandatory annual renewal. A COE can be revoked at any time if the holder becomes legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Since July 1, 2019, all COE applications must be filed electronically via the California Firearms Application Reporting System (CFARS) on the DOJ website (https://cfars.doj.ca.gov/login.do), as mail-in applications are no longer accepted.

2026 Process of Buying a Firearm from a Dealer in California

The purchase of any firearm from a licensed dealer (FFL) nationwide mandates federal compliance: the buyer must complete the ATF Form 4473 and undergo a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check, as required by the permanent provisions of the Federal Brady Law. The NICS check, performed by the FFL, determines the purchaser’s legal eligibility; if a denial is issued for an unwarranted reason, the purchaser retains the right to pursue a formal appeal process to clear their background record and complete the transaction.

In California, while there is no universal registration for all firearms, a purchase record is retained through the state’s Dealer’s Record of Sale (DROS) process, which, for handguns, means the purchase is already on file with the Department of Justice (DOJ). However, because the DOJ was legally prohibited from retaining long gun (rifle/shotgun) DROS information prior to January 1, 2014, owners of long guns purchased before that date, as well as Assault Weapon owners and personal handgun importers, may need to submit a Firearm Ownership Report (FOR) Application (BOF 4542A), pdf. Submitting this voluntary report is crucial for establishing official ownership with the DOJ, which ensures the owner can legally reclaim the firearm if it is ever lost, stolen, or recovered by law enforcement.

California maintains one of the nation’s most restrictive firearm regulatory systems, requiring that all private firearm transfers be conducted through a licensed Federal Firearms Dealer (FFL) to ensure a universal background check is completed, regardless of the type of firearm. Furthermore, all firearms must be reported to the Department of Justice (DOJ), effectively making firearm registration mandatory upon transfer. Sellers must also ensure the handgun being sold is on the state’s Handgun Roster and that the transaction does not involve any prohibited items, such as assault weapons or magazines holding more than 10 rounds, which carry severe penalties. Recent progressive legislation also mandates secure storage when firearms are not in use and has strengthened regulations on “ghost guns”. Looking ahead, a new law will prohibit licensed dealers from selling new semiautomatic machinegun-convertible pistols (often including certain Glock models) starting in July 2026; however, this “Glock ban” will not affect the legal possession of Glocks already owned or the private, dealer-meditated resale of used united, potentially driving up the value of used models. Due to the frequent updates and serious penalties for non-compliance, all sellers must remain highly vigilant and strictly adhere to the FFL-meditated transfer process.

2026 Restrictions on Firearm Ownership in California

In order to purchase a firearm legally, the buyer must be 18 years old to purchase rifles, shotguns and ammunition. Buyers looking to purchase handguns must be at least 21 years old.

Pursuant to California Penal Code section 27510, a licensed firearms dealer is broadly prohibited from selling, supplying, delivering, transferring, or otherwise giving possession or control of any firearm to an individual who is under 21 years of age. However, the law provides specific, limited exemptions to this 21-year-old minimum age requirement, which only apply to the transfer of a firearm that is not a handgun, a semiautomatic centerfire rifle, or a receiver/frame. Under these exemptions, a non-handgun firearm may be sold or transferred to a person aged 18 or older if they meet certain criteria, such as possessing a valid, unexpired hunting license, or providing proper identification of being an active or honorably discharged member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Exemptions Include:

• A person 18 years of age or older who possess a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of his or her employment.
• An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of his or her employment as a reserve peace officer.
• A person who provides proper identification of his or her active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or active reserve components of the United States.
• A Person who provides proper identification that he or she is an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or active reserve components of the United States.

To initiate the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) process in California, a firearm purchaser must present “clear evidence of identity and age,” which is typically satisfied by a valid, non-expired California Driver’s License or Identification Card issued by the DMV. Military identification is also acceptable if accompanied by permanent duty station orders confirming an assignment in California. For non-U.S. Citizens, the buyer must further demonstrate legal presence in the United States by providing the dealer with documentation containing their Alien Registration Number or their I-94 Number.

Additionally, all handgun purchasers face two critical requirements: they must provide a secondary document, such as a utility bill, residential lease, property deed, or government-issued identification (other than their primary DMV card), to prove California residency; and they must either possess a valid Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC), which has been replaced by the Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) for most purchasers, and successfully complete a safe handling demonstration with the newly purchased handgun, or qualify for an applicable exemption.

(Pen. Code, § § 26800-26850.)

In California, an individual is legally prohibited from buying, owning, or possessing any firearm or ammunition if they have a conviction for any felony offense or any of the numerous specific misdemeanors listed in Penal Code section 29805—many of which relate to violence, threats, or illegal weapon possession. Additional broad prohibitions apply to any person who is addicted to the use of any narcotic drug or has been involuntarily held as a danger to self or others pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 8103.

Furthermore, disqualifications can arise from mental health conditions, active domestic restraining or protective orders, certain conditions of probation, and specific offenses committed as a juvenile. A comprehensive list of all prohibited categories that legally prohibit an individual from possessing firearms is maintained and available on the Bureau of Firearms website.

(Pen. Code, §§ 29800, 29805, 29815, 29820, 29825, 29855, 29860, 29900, 29905, 30305; Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 8100-8103; 18 U.S.C. § 922, subd. (g), 27 C.F.R. § 478.22.)

FEDERAL DISQUALIFICATION CATEGORIES

• Conviction (felony or misdemeanor) where the crime has a maximum imprisonment term exceeding 1 year (even if a buyer did not receive actual imprisonment exceeding 1 year).
• Warrant (felony or out-of-state misdemeanor).
• Felony pre-trial release.
• Misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence restraining/stalking/protection order mental health adjudication or commitment.
• Unlawful use or addicted to a controlled substance (including marijuana).
• Dishonorable discharge from the armed forces.
• Renounced U.S. citizenship.
• Illegal alien.

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