To apply for a CCW, please use the link on this page that says New CCW Applicant.  That link will take you to the online application.  Paper applications are not accepted.  All transactions regarding CCWs are online.

Applicants can submit their renewal application 45 days prior to expiration.

You must take the required safety class and receive the Firearms Safety Proficiency Certificate PRIOR to submitting your application.

All required documents must be submitted at the same time you complete your  application to prevent any delays in processing. 

Documents to submit include:  Firearms Safety Proficiency Certificate, ID/driver's license, and two monthly proofs of residency from different agencies.

Your application will not be assigned to License Staff until all documents are received.

MODIFICATIONS - ADDRESS CHANGE, ADDING/CHANGING A FIREARM 

CCW modifications will be restricted to two firearm modifications per CCW term. For example, a Standard 2-year CCW license may be modified to add/remove firearms no more than twice during that 2-year term. 

After two firearm modifications, CCW holders should wait until it is time to renew their CCW before requesting additional changes. Exceptions may be made for exigent circumstances.

Please note: it is not necessary to apply for a CCW modification if you are only updating your employment information.  This can wait until you renew your CCW.

Applications based on change of address do not count towards this limit. The Sheriff's Department shall amend any license to reflect a licensee's change in residence address.

No matter what you are modifying, please make sure to type in all the firearms that are supposed to be on your CCW. Even if you are only changing your address, type in the firearms also. Same thing for duplicate CCWs. If you lost your CCW and are applying for a duplicate, list everything.

You may choose ONE ITEM from Column A and ONE ITEM from Column B, or TWO items from Column A.  The Column A items must be monthly bills/statements from different providers (no two billings from the same provider, and no annual bills), the billings must also bear your name and provide the service address. 

Rental or Lease Agreements must be current, not expired.  Please, no redactions to the documents submitted.

What should I upload?

Everyone

Your driver's license, two (2) current monthly proofs of residence such as the most current utility bills, cable bill, cell phone bill, bank statements, etc.  See the list of acceptable proofs of residence.

P.O. Boxes are not allowed.

Military

Military Orders stationing you in San Diego, DD-214, valid State ID (out-of-state driver's license is acceptable), military ID

Not Born in The United States of America

If you were not born in the United States, you will be required to upload verification that you are here in the U.S. legally by uploading:

• U.S. Naturalization Certificate
• Resident Alien Card (Must be Permanent Legal Residents.  Be sure to upload the back side showing the expiration date, if applicable).
• Valid U.S. Passport
• Certificate of Birth Abroad

Legal Name Change

Please upload the court order showing your previous and your current legal name.

You may apply for a CCW if you are stationed in San Diego.  Documents to upload include:

Active Military

• Current valid Military ID
• Orders stationing you in San Diego
• Current State ID (Out of State Driver's License must be accompanied with a California Identification Card)
• Two monthly proofs of residence (see list of acceptable documents)

 Discharged

• DD-214 (must show Character of Service ie: Honorable)
• Retired Military ID card (if applicable)

If approved, you will be required to attend the 16-hour Firearm Safety Course, regardless of your job in the military and prior experience.

The application process is several months from when you first apply, until your appointment, background process and final approval/denial stage.  Please consider this if you are only stationed in San Diego for a short time.

If you are having problems using Permitium (uploading documents, moving to the next screen, etc) please contact them directly:

Permitium Help Desk:  (855) 642-2453

Email: help@permitium.com

Word documents cannot be uploaded into Permitium.  Acceptable document formats are .IMG, .PNG, .JPG and .PDF

Max size for each document is 5MB

Any firearm you would like listed on your CCW must be recorded in your name in California.  Please make sure this is taken care of BEFORE you apply for a CCW. 

We cannot list the firearm on the CCW until you've completed the process with the Department of Justice (DOJ).  Please note, it can take several months for DOJ to process your paperwork.

It is your responsibility to complete all paperwork with DOJ before any firearm is listed on your CCW.

We do not expedite appointments.  We understand it is a long process and that can be frustrating but we must follow certain protocol to ensure nothing gets missed while we are processing hundreds of applications. 

You can reschedule yourself by selecting "Reschedule Appointment" in Permitium's Order Tracker (https://sandiegoca.permitium.com/order_tracker).  If someone has cancelled their appointment, that date and time will become available. 

For Order Tracker, you must have your order number and the username (email) and password you used to submit your application.  If you don't know your order number, call our office at (858) 974-2020 during business hours.

If you feel you have a situation that's urgent and must be considered for an earlier appointment, you may email ccw@sdsheriff.org with your situation.  A panel will review, discuss and determine whether or not your circumstance is relevant enough for us to double-book our staff.  Obviously, this is only done in rare instances.

If you have a true emergency and feel like you are in imminent danger, Penal Code PC26045(a) may apply to you.  We cannot give legal advice but provide this simply as a reference.  It reads: 

PC26045.  

(a) Nothing in Section 25850 is intended to preclude the carrying of any loaded firearm, under circumstances where it would otherwise be lawful, by a person who reasonably believes that any person or the property of any person is in immediate, grave danger and that the carrying of the weapon is necessary for the preservation of that person or property.

1. Once your application is approved, an e-mail is generated instructing you to take your required safety course and pay the final fee.

    

2. The applicant shall complete a firearm course of training approved by San Diego Sheriff's Department. (Penal Code 26165). The applicant shall not be required to complete or pay for any training courses prior to a conditional approval.

    

3. Verification that the firearm(s) the applicant qualified with are recorded with the Department of Justice in the applicant's name.

    

4. The applicant's firearm(s) is/are subject to inspection at the discretion of the Sheriff's Department.  The Sheriff's Department reserves the right to deny a license for any firearm that has been altered from the manufacturer's specifications or is deemed unsafe. (Penal Code Section 31910).  The approved firearm(s) must be capable of being concealed upon a person.

1. Any applicant whose application is denied or revoked will receive a letter which states the basis for the decision as well as information detailing the Sheriff's Department appeals process. An applicant will have 21 days to file an appeal with the Sheriff's Department.
2. Appeals will be resolved within 60 days of when the appeal is filed.
3. An applicant who is denied or revoked for being a disqualified person pursuant to Section 26206 must first file an appeal with the Sheriff's Department prior to requesting a hearing from a court to review the denial or revocation. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the applicant will have 30 days to request a hearing from a court to review the denial or revocation using the “Request for Hearing to Challenge Disqualified Person Determination” form prescribed by the California Department of Justice.

SB2 - Firearms Safety Course hours increased 

A CCW application is not considered complete until all documents, including the Firearms Safety Course is successfully completed and the Safety Proficiency Certificate is uploaded.  All applications completed after January 1, 2024 are subject to the new extended class hours.

Penal Code 26165 reads in part:  

(a) For new license applicants, the course of training for issuance of a license under Section 26150 or 26155 may be any course acceptable to the licensing authority that meets all of the following minimum criteria:

(1) The course shall be no less than 16 hours in length.

(6) (d) For license renewal applicants, the course of training may be any course acceptable to the licensing authority, shall be no less than eight hours, and shall satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (2)  to (6) inclusive, of subdivision (a). No course of training shall be required for any person certified by the licensing authority as a trainer for purposes of this section, in order for that person to renew a license issued pursuant to this chapter.

CCW Firearm Course of Training and Live Firearm Qualification

The California Penal Code §26165. (b), requires the licensing authority to establish and make available to the public, the standards it uses when issuing licenses with regards to the live fire shooting exercises it requires.

For any new license applicant the course of training for issuance of a license is 16-hours of instruction on firearm safety, firearm handling, shooting technique and laws regarding the permissible use of a firearm.

For license renewal applicant the course of training for issuance of a license is 8-hours of instruction on firearm safety, firearm handling, shooting technique and laws regarding the permissible use of a firearm.

Practical Qualifications

100 rounds will be required for the course, however, out of the 100 rounds, the qualification rounds and practice rounds are included. (70 rounds class practice, 15 rounds practice qualification, 15 rounds qualification=100 rounds)

50 rounds for the renewal class.  (20 rounds class practice, 15 rounds practice qualification and 15 rounds qualification =50 rounds)

Each additional firearm would require a minimum of 30 rounds, 15 rounds practice qualification and 15 rounds qualification.

Both the new applicant and the renewal applicant course of training shall include live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range and shall include a demonstration by the applicant of safe handling of, and shooting proficiency with, each firearm that the applicant is applying to be licensed to carry. The course of fire qualification requirements are as follows:

In order to pass the qualification course of fire, applicants must have 13 of the 15 Rounds fired either hit on the line of or inside of the target. If applicant cannot demonstrate proficiency, then the license cannot be granted.

January 6, 2024

On January 6, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit dissolved the administrative stay issued on December 30, 2023. The district court order issued on December 20 is reinstated. The court's order bans enforcement of the following SB 2 Penal Code sections: 26230(a)(7-13); 26230(a)(15-17); 26230(a)(19-20); 26230(a)(22-23); 26230(a)(26); and 26230 as it pertains to parking areas.  The court's order only modifies the identified sections and will remain in effect until further order from the court.

January 1, 2024   

California Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) goes into effect on January 1, 2024. SB 2 establishes new statewide standards for issuing concealed weapons licenses (CCW) and public carry regulations by amending and adding multiple Penal Code sections relating to firearms.

December 30, 2023

On December 30, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an administrative stay of the District Court's order. As such, all provisions of SB 2, including all "sensitive places" provisions, are in effect as of January 1, 2024, and will remain in effect until further court order.

December 20, 2023

On December 20, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued an order in two companion cases, May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta.  The court order prohibited enforcement of specific SB 2 provisions that forbid the carrying of concealed weapons in certain "sensitive places". 

Firearms Prohibiting Categories (BOF 8018), pdf

There is no wait list or cancellation list.  If you would like to reschedule your appointment, please go to Permitium's website: https://sandiegoca.permitium.com/entry 

Click on the Order Tracker at the top of the page.  

You will need your order number (established when you submitted your application) and your username/password.

Scroll down and find your appointment information and click on the reschedule button.  

If a better date/time is available, you can choose it and reschedule.  If you don't find a better date/time, you may exit without losing your original appointment.

We recommend trying this several times, especially near the weekend, as many of our applicants have successfully been able to move their appointment up by several months using this method.