ARTICLE 6. Firearms Permits and Permits for Other Deadly and Nonlethal Weapons [7596. - 7596.13.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 6.
in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596. Section 7596.

(a) Every person licensed, registered, or designated under this chapter, who in the course of their employment carries a firearm, shall complete a course of training in the carrying and use of firearms and shall receive a firearms qualification card prior to the carrying of such a firearm and shall complete a course in the exercise of the power to arrest and the appropriate use of force. A registration card issued by the bureau pursuant to Section 7598.14 may also serve as a firearms qualification card if so indicated on the face of the card. (b) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2023.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.3. Section 7596.3.

The director shall issue a firearms permit when all of the following conditions exist: (a) The applicant is a licensee, a qualified manager of a licensee, a designated branch office manager of a licensee, or a registered alarm agent. A firearms permit may only be associated with the following: (1) A sole owner of a sole ownership licensee. (2) A partner of a partnership licensee. (3) A qualified manager of a licensee. (4) A designated branch office manager of a licensee. (5) A registered alarm agent. (b) The applicant has filed with the bureau a classifiable fingerprint card, a completed application for a firearms permit on a form prescribed by the director, dated and signed by the applicant, certifying under penalty of perjury that the information in the application is true and correct. In lieu of a classifiable fingerprint card, the applicant may submit fingerprints into an electronic fingerprinting system administered by the Department of Justice. An applicant who submits their fingerprints by electronic means shall have their fingerprints entered into the system through a terminal operated by a law enforcement agency or other facility authorized by the Department of Justice to conduct electronic fingerprinting. The terminal operator may charge a fee sufficient to reimburse it for the costs incurred in providing this service. (c) (1) A bureau-certified firearms training instructor certifies that the applicant has successfully completed a written examination prepared by the bureau and a training course in the carrying and use of firearms approved by the bureau. (2) An applicant who is a bureau-certified firearms training instructor is prohibited from self-certifying as having successfully carried out the requirement of paragraph (1) and shall instead carry out the requirements under another bureau-certified firearms training instructor. (d) The applicant has provided the bureau with evidence that the applicant has completed a course in the exercise of the power to arrest and the appropriate use of force. (e) The applicant is at least 21 years of age and the bureau has determined, after investigation, that the carrying and use of a firearm by the applicant, in the course of their duties, presents no apparent threat to the public safety, or the carrying and use of a firearm by the applicant is not in violation of the Penal Code. (f) The applicant has produced evidence to the firearm training facility that the applicant is a citizen of the United States or has permanent legal immigration status in the United States. Evidence of citizenship or permanent legal immigration status shall be that deemed sufficient by the bureau to ensure compliance with federal laws prohibiting possession of firearms by persons unlawfully in the United States and may include, but not be limited to, Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service Form I-151 or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-551 (Permanent Resident Card), naturalization documents, or birth certificates evidencing lawful residence or status in the United States. (g) The application is accompanied by the fee prescribed in this chapter. (h) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2023.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.4. Section 7596.4.

(a) (1) If a firearms permit is denied, the denial of the permit shall be in writing and shall describe the basis for the denial. The denial shall inform the applicant that if he or she desires a review by the Alarm Company Operator Disciplinary Review Committee, the review shall be requested within 30 days of the issuance of the denial. (2) A review or hearing shall be held pursuant to Section 7591.19. However, no review or hearing shall be granted to an individual who is otherwise prohibited by law from carrying a firearm. (b) (1) If a firearms permit is denied on the basis of the results of an assessment required for a permit associated with a security guard registration pursuant to Section 7583.47, the denial shall be in writing and shall describe the basis for the denial. The denial shall inform the applicant that if he or she desires to contest the denial, the applicant shall request a hearing within 30 days of the issuance of the denial. (2) Appeals of denials pursuant to this subdivision shall be in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.6. Section 7596.6.

A firearms qualification card does not authorize the holder thereof to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person in a concealed manner pursuant to Section 26150, 26155, 26170, or 26215 of the Penal Code.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.7. Section 7596.7.

A firearms qualification card expires two years from the date of issuance, if not renewed. A person who wishes to renew a firearms qualification card shall file an application for renewal at least 60 days prior to the card’s expiration. A person whose card has expired shall not carry a firearm until the person has been issued a renewal card by the bureau. The director shall not renew a firearms qualification card unless all of the following conditions exist: (a) The cardholder has filed with the bureau a completed application for renewal of a firearms qualification card, on a form prescribed by the director, dated and signed by the applicant under penalty of perjury certifying that the information on the application is true and correct. (b) The application is accompanied by a firearms requalification fee as prescribed in this chapter. (c) (1) The applicant has requalified on the range and has successfully passed a written examination based on course content as specified in the firearms training manual approved by the department and taught at a training facility approved by the bureau. (2) An applicant who is a bureau-certified firearms training instructor is prohibited from self-certifying as having successfully carried out the requirements of paragraph (1) and shall instead carry out the requirements under another bureau-certified firearms training instructor. (d) The applicant has produced evidence to the firearm training facility, either upon receiving an original qualification card or upon filing for renewal of that card, that the applicant is a citizen of the United States or has permanent legal immigration status in the United States. Evidence of citizenship or permanent legal immigration status is that deemed sufficient by the bureau to ensure compliance with federal laws prohibiting possession of firearms by persons unlawfully in the United States and may include, but not be limited to, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-551 (Permanent Resident Card), naturalization documents, or birth certificates evidencing lawful residence or status in the United States. (e) An expired firearms qualification card may not be renewed. A person with an expired firearms qualification card is required to apply for a new card in the manner required of persons not previously registered. A person whose card has expired shall not carry a firearm until the person has been issued a new firearms qualification card by the bureau.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.8. Section 7596.8.

(a) The bureau shall not issue a firearm permit if the applicant is prohibited from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm pursuant to state or federal law. (b) Before issuing an initial firearm permit the bureau shall provide the Department of Justice with the name, address, social security number, and fingerprints of the applicant. (c) The Department of Justice shall inform the bureau, within 60 days from receipt of the information specified in subdivision (b), of the applicant’s eligibility to possess, receive, purchase, or own a firearm pursuant to state and federal law. (d) An applicant who has been denied a firearm permit based upon subdivision (a) may reapply for the permit after the prohibition expires. The bureau shall treat this application as an initial application and shall follow the required screening process as specified in this section. (e) The bureau shall not issue a firearm permit pursuant to this chapter to an applicant who, within the past 12 months, has been found incapable of exercising appropriate judgment, restraint, and self-control, for the purposes of carrying and using a firearm during the course of his or her duties, pursuant to the assessment required under Section 7583.47 for a permit associated with a security guard registration.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.12. Section 7596.12.

Every person licensed, registered, or designated under this chapter, who in the course of his or her employment carries tear gas, or any other nonlethal chemical agent, shall complete the course required pursuant to Section 22835 of the Penal Code.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.13. Section 7596.13.

A licensee shall not permit any employee to carry tear gas, or any other nonlethal chemical agent, prior to ascertaining that the employee is proficient in the use of tear gas or other nonlethal chemical agent. Evidence of proficiency shall include a certificate from a POST-approved or Department of Justice-approved training facility that the person is proficient in the use of tear gas or other nonlethal chemical agent.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.81. Section 7596.81.

(a) The bureau shall not renew a firearm permit if the applicant is prohibited from possessing, receiving, purchasing, or owning a firearm pursuant to state or federal law. (b) Before renewing a firearm permit, the bureau shall provide the Department of Justice with the information necessary to identify the renewal applicant. (c) The Department of Justice shall inform the bureau, within 30 days of receipt of the information specified in subdivision (b), of the renewal applicant’s eligibility under state and federal law to possess, receive, purchase, or own a firearm. (d) An applicant who is denied a firearm permit renewal based upon subdivision (a) may reapply for the permit after the prohibition expires. The bureau shall treat this as an initial application and shall follow the screening process specified in Section 7596.8.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.82. Section 7596.82.

(a) The Department of Justice may charge the bureau a fee sufficient to reimburse the department’s costs for furnishing firearm eligibility information upon submission of the application for issuance or renewal of a firearm permit. The fee charged shall not exceed the actual costs for system development, maintenance, and processing necessary to provide this service. (b) The bureau shall collect the fee described in subdivision (a) for all initial and renewal applications for firearm permits.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 7596.83. Section 7596.83.

(a) A firearm permit may be automatically revoked if at any time the Department of Justice notifies the bureau that the holder of the firearm permit is prohibited from possessing, receiving, or purchasing a firearm pursuant to state or federal law. Following the automatic revocation, an administrative hearing shall be provided upon written request to the bureau in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (b) The bureau may seek an emergency order pursuant to Article 13 (commencing with Section 11460.10) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code against the holder of the firearms permit if, after the bureau’s investigation relating to any of the following events, the bureau determines that the holder of the firearms permit presents an undue hazard to public safety that may result in substantial injury to another: (1) Receipt of subsequent arrest information of an arrest for any of the following: (A) Assault. (B) Battery. (C) Any use of force or violence on any person committed by the permitholder. (2) A report from a bureau-approved firearms training facility or instructor made pursuant to Section 7585.18. (3) A report from the permitholder’s employer or former employer that the permitholder may be a threat to public safety. (4) A complaint filed by any member of the public that the permitholder may be a threat to public safety. (5) If the permitholder has been determined incapable of exercising appropriate judgment, restraint, and self-control pursuant to the assessment required under Section 7583.47 for a permit associated with a security guard registration.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

Starting a business in California? California LLC guide: costs and requirements