Learning the laws regulating the use of firearms is a must for responsible ownership. Local regulations differ and laws vary from state to state. Citizens must check with the jurisdiction where the firearm is to be used.
In California, the Sheriff and his staff are required to follow strict state and local guidelines when performing the necessary background checks for issuing Concealed Carry Weapon licenses. Due to the detailed nature involved with conducting these background checks, appointment times and processing times can take multiple weeks. During the application process, the applicant will be asked to schedule an appointment for a new Concealed Carry Weapon license.
If the applicant is RENEWING a Concealed Carry Weapon license in San Diego County, they may not apply until 45 days before the expiration date listed on their current Concealed Carry Weapon license.
Pricing:
Type of Permit | Standard 2 Year | Judicial 3 Year | Reserve 4 Year |
Initial Fee |
$120.60 Includes: Filing fee: $27.60 DOJ Livescan fee: $93.00 |
$142.60 Includes: Filing fee: $27.60 DOJ Livescan fee: $115.00 |
$164.60 Includes: Filing fee: $27.60 DOJ Livescan fee: $137.00 |
Issuance Fee Paid upon the approval of the application |
$110.40 | $110.40 | $110.40 |
Renewal Fee | $77.00 | $99.00 | $121.00 |
Duplicate/Modification Fee | $10.00 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
Please visit the below website for further information regarding a Concealed Carry Weapon License in San Diego County:
Gaining competency with firearms is like learning to drive a car or fly an airplane. You need expert instruction and practice. There is no shortcut. If you are not willing to invest the time and effort to become competent, then having a firearm and trying to use it can, in many instances, be more hazardous than any impending threat.
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Completing the Application
California Penal Code sections 26150 and 26155 provide that a sheriff of a county or the chief or other head of a municipal police department of any city or city and county may issue a license to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person (CCW license). Penal Code section 26175 requires the Attorney General to prescribe a statewide standard application form for a CCW license. Answering all the questions on the Application does not guarantee the issuance of a Concealed Weapon Permit. The determination whether to issue the license is at the discretion of the licensing authority. Pursuant to California Penal Code section 26160, each licensing authority will have a written policy summarizing their requirements for issuance of a Concealed Weapon Permit. In addition, prior to issuing a Concealed Weapon Permit, the California State Statutes require proof that:
The Application includes standardized questions to determine whether a Concealed Weapon Permit shall be issued. The applicant will certify under penalty of perjury that all answers provided in the application are true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief. The applicant will also acknowledge that information disclosed on this application may be subject to public disclosure. Information provided in the application is subject to investigation and any false, dishonest, or incomplete answer to any question on the application may be grounds for denial or subsequent revocation of a Concealed Weapon Permit. WARNING: IT IS A CRIME TO KNOWINGLY PROVIDE FALSE INFORMATION ON AN APPLICATION TO CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON.
DMV
Your home address must be current with the California DMV and you must be a resident of San Diego County. We are required to check DMV’s database to ensure your home address is updated and current. You cannot update your home address simply by registering a vehicle or updating your vehicle registration. It can take over 72 hours for the DMV database to reflect the changes. It is not required that your actual driver’s license reflect your current address as the DMV does not normally issue you a new license simply because you update your address. We will check the DMV database to make sure it matches your current home address.
Military
If you served in the US Military you will need to upload a copy of your DD-214 that displays the type of discharge you received. For active military personnel, please provide a current Command letter and a copy of your current military orders showing duty status/location to establish residence.
US Residency
If you were not born in the United States you will be required to upload verification that you are here in the US legally by uploading to your application:
Proof of Residency
When submitting an application for a NEW, RENEWAL or Address MODIFICATION, all applicants will be required to upload the following:
Firearms
Be sure that each firearm you are listing on your Concealed Carry Weapon permit is recorded in your name in the State of California. The firearm cannot be recorded in any other family member's name. You may not add rifle caliber weapons (AR-Pistol, AK-Pistol, etc.) to your CCW permit.
Order Number and Password
After you submit a NEW, RENEWAL, MODIFICATION or DUPLICATE application and pay your fees, you will receive an email providing you with your Order Number. Please print this email out and save it for your records because you will be required to access your Order throughout various stages of the CCW process. Also, please do not forget your password. To access your Order go to the top of the page on this website, click on ORDER TRACKER, then type in your Order Number and password.
Failure to complete all steps in the CCW process thirty (30) days from the date of the Approval email will result in the withdrawal of the CCW Application, as will inactivity on the application for six months.
Please click on this link to view the CCW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
APPLICATIONS
NEW Applicant – prior to completing a NEW Application please be prepared to upload the following:
Please DO NOT take your training and qualification courses or get fingerprinted until instructed to do so. Please do not jump ahead in the process as your training and qualification courses will not be accepted. You may list the handguns you initially wish to list on your permit; however, the final handguns listed on your CCW permit will be based upon the information provided on the Training and Qualification verification documents your Firearms and Qualification Instructor will provide to you to upload later in the process.
The steps in the NEW Application process are as follows:
1. Submit a New Application (click on the appropriate link/type of application you are filing on the left side of the webpage). If you select the wrong type of application we cannot convert it over to the proper type for you (your application will be denied and you will have to start the process over). To submit a New Application, please follow these steps:
a. Type your personal information into the online Application (be sure to select the appropriate type of application from the selections on the left side of this web page). Please be sure to answer all of the Application questions truthfully because it is a crime to provide false information on the application. Once you complete your Application it cannot be revised. The only method you can use to correct incorrect information or mistakes is to write or type the information on a separate piece of paper and upload it to your completed CCW Application by following the ADDING FILES/ DOCUMENTS procedures outlined below.
b. Upload all required documents. Please BE SURE to review the Proof of Residency section above regarding acceptable proof of residency.
c. Schedule your appointment for LiveScan fingerprinting. All appointments are conducted at 9621 Ridgehaven Court, San Diego, CA 92123. The appointment calendar is entirely client operated. If you desire an earlier appointment, please check the appointment calendar regularly because a rescheduled or cancelled appointment will open up that appointment slot. By accessing your Order and selecting a new appointment date, the other appointment will automatically be cancelled once you confirm this decision (see instructions below regarding how to access your Application Order). You can view your appointment details at any time by accessing your Application Order
d. Pay initial fees (follow online instructions).
e. Once you have successfully completed all steps in the application process you will receive an email providing you with your ORDER NUMBER. Please be sure to retain this ORDER NUMBER and remember your password because you will be required to access your Application Order in the future to upload additional documents.
ACCESSING your submitted CCW Application Order and ADDING FILES/DOCUMENTS:
At the top of the website click on the ORDER TRACKER button [if using an iPad or smart phone, or any device with a screen smaller than a standard computer monitor you will click on the MORE button which is often shown with three dots (…)].
Once you access the ORDER TRACKER you will need to type in your Order number and password to access your application and add documents. Scroll to the bottom of your Order and click on ADD FILES (you have to save the document(s) you want to upload to your Order Tracker by first saving them to your desktop or device). When you click on ADD FILES, you go to the stored documents on your computer, and select the document you want to upload, and then click on ADD FILES. Once this is completed there will be a list of the documents displayed so you can confirm they were successfully uploaded. It is advisable to specifically name each document you save to your desktop so it will be much easier for you to verify which document(s) were uploaded and make it easier for CCW staff to access specific documents by name.
2. All remaining steps and the uploading of all remaining required documents must be completed within thirty (30) days of the date on the Approval email.
3. Once all required documents have been uploaded and the DOJ/FBI background clearances have been received (typically received within one week), your application will be approved and you will receive an email notification. Please DO NOT come to the CCW Office to pick up your CCW permit.
4. Staff will process your application in order by date/time of submission and finalize your application. You will receive an email advising you that your application has been approved. We will reach out to you to collect your final CCW fee. Please make sure we have your current phone number and email address. Call us right away if you need to change this information.
DENIALS
If your CCW Application is denied, you will receive an email to advise you of this action. You may appeal the denial by mailing or hand-delivering a letter address to CCW APPEALS, ATTN: ASSISTANT SHERIFF BROWN, PO Box 939062, San Diego, CA 92123. The Appeal must be dated or hand-delivered to the Sheriff's Office within 21 days of the date of the Denial. Please attach or include in your appeal any information you wish to have considered when your Appeal is reviewed.
RENEWAL – CCW Permit Holders may renew their CCW permits 45 days prior to the permit’s expiration.
NOTICE TO ALL CCW PERMIT HOLDERS: Pursuant to Penal Code Section 26210 and CCW Bureau Policies and Procedures, all CCW Permit Holders are required to notify the CCW Bureau of any change in residency, temporary or permanent, within 10 days of the date they move by submitting an online Modification Application for an address change (note: please upload only the documents associated with a change of address; it is not necessary to upload training and qualification documents for an address change only). Please follow the instructions for submitting a Modification Application for an address change (see instructions below). FAILURE TO DO SO RENDERS YOUR CCW PERMIT INVALID!!
Prior to completing a RENEWAL Application, please be prepared to upload the following:
PLEASE NOTE: Renewal Applicants must answer all questions on the application truthfully and honestly, even if the information has previously been disclosed.
MODIFICATION Applications are submitted to change your home address. They must be submitted within 10 days of the day that you move and you are also required per California State law to change your home address with the California DMV. We will check the DMV database to ensure you have done so. Modification Applications can also be submitted to add/delete firearms on your permit.
Prior to Completing a MODIFICATION Application, be prepared to upload the following:
All Modification applications will be processed in order by date/time of submission and they will not take priority over New and Renewal applications.
DUPLICATE Applications are submitted to request a duplicate copy of a lost/stolen permit. Prior to Completing a DUPLICATE Application, be prepared to upload the following:
Gaining competency with firearms is like learning to drive a car or fly an airplane. You need expert instruction and practice. There is no shortcut. If you are not willing to invest the time and effort to become competent, then having a firearm and trying to use it can, in many instances, be more hazardous than any impending threat.
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
Address: 9621 Ridgehaven Court
San Diego, CA 92123
Telephone: (858) 974-2020
Fax: (858) 974-2093
Email: ccw@sdsheriff.org
Permitium Software
Email: help@permitium.com
Phone: (855) 642-2453