Concealed Carry in Los Angeles (2026): CCW Permits, Metro, and California’s Sensitive Places
Getting a carry license in Los Angeles used to be close to impossible. Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, it’s a real process with a real outcome. The catch is what happened next: California passed one of the broadest sensitive-places laws in the country, and the courts have been sorting out which parts stick. Here’s where Los Angeles concealed carry stands in 2026.
At a glance
| License required? | Yes. A California CCW license: LAPD for City of Los Angeles residents, the Sheriff or your local police elsewhere |
| LAPD fee | $268 for new applicants, plus Live Scan fingerprinting |
| Training | At least 16 hours for new applicants |
| Out-of-state permits | Not honored, from any state |
| Metro | The state ban on transit is on hold under a court order |
| Tell police you’re armed? | No statewide duty to volunteer, but show your license on demand |
| Last checked | September 2026 |
Legal note
This is general legal education, not legal advice. Carry laws change, often through court rulings, so confirm current law with the official sources listed at the bottom before relying on anything here. Facts on this page were checked against primary sources in September 2026.
Who can carry in Los Angeles
You need a California license to carry a concealed weapon (CCW). If you live in the City of Los Angeles, you apply to the LAPD, which only accepts city residents 21 and older. New applicants need at least 16 hours of training, and LAPD charges $268 (20% when you apply, the rest on approval), plus fingerprinting. LAPD processes applications first come, first served and warns that waits can be long.
Your license may come with conditions set by the issuing agency. Read yours, because violating a condition is its own problem.
Visitors
California honors no out-of-state permits. A 2025 federal ruling (Hoffman v. Bonta) struck down California’s refusal to license non-residents, but so far the relief covers members of the organizations that brought the case, so check with the issuing agency. Driving in from out of state, a handgun has to be unloaded and locked in the trunk or a locked container (Penal Code § 25610). See our reciprocity guide.
Which sensitive places are enforced
California’s SB 2 (Penal Code § 26230) listed more than two dozen places off-limits to CCW holders. In September 2024 the Ninth Circuit let some take effect and kept others blocked, and that split is still in place:
| Place | Status, September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, including their parking areas | Enforced |
| Parks, playgrounds, athletic areas and most state park and wildlife land | Enforced |
| Public libraries, museums, zoos, stadiums, arenas, amusement parks and casinos | Enforced |
| Government buildings, courts, schools, colleges and child care | Enforced |
| Public transit vehicles and facilities | Blocked by court order |
| Hospitals and medical facilities | Blocked by court order |
| Places of worship | Blocked by court order |
| Banks and financial institutions | Blocked by court order |
| Public gatherings and special events | Blocked by court order |
| Private property open to the public, unless the owner posts permission | Struck down (Wolford v. Lopez, June 2026) |
The one that surprises people most: in California, a CCW holder can’t carry into a restaurant that serves alcohol. That covers a big share of LA’s restaurants.
“Blocked by court order” means a preliminary injunction, not a final ruling. The underlying cases (May v. Bonta and Carralero v. Bonta) were paused for the Supreme Court’s Wolford decision, and the status could change once they move again.
Metro
The state’s transit ban for CCW holders is one of the provisions currently blocked, so state law isn’t being enforced against licensed carry on Metro trains and buses right now. That’s the least settled item on this page. Compare other cities in our public transit guide.
If you get stopped
California has no statewide duty to volunteer that you’re armed, but refusing to show your license to a peace officer on demand is a violation, and some agencies write notification into the license conditions. See our duty to inform guide.
Los Angeles concealed carry gotchas
- Magazines: California bans magazines over 10 rounds (Penal Code § 32310). The Ninth Circuit upheld the ban, and a Supreme Court petition in Duncan v. Bonta is pending.
- Dinner plans: check whether the restaurant serves alcohol before you walk in.
- Car without a CCW: unloaded and locked in the trunk or a locked container. The glove box doesn’t count.
FAQ
Who issues CCW licenses in Los Angeles?
LAPD for City of Los Angeles residents. Residents of other cities and unincorporated areas apply to the Sheriff’s Department or their local police.
Can I carry on the LA Metro with a CCW?
Right now, the state ban is blocked by a court order, so it isn’t being enforced against CCW holders. That could change, so check before you ride.
Can I carry into a restaurant that serves alcohol?
No. That restriction is in effect.
Does California honor my out-of-state permit?
No. California honors no out-of-state permits.
Sources
- LAPD: CCW license
- Ninth Circuit opinion in the SB 2 cases (amended Jan. 15, 2025)
- CRPA: May v. Bonta status (Jan. 23, 2025)
- Wolford v. Lopez, No. 24-1046 (U.S. June 25, 2026)
- California DOJ: Transporting firearms
- San Diego County Sheriff: CCW legal updates (Hoffman v. Bonta)
- Handgunlaw.us: California summary (updated Sept. 1, 2026)
- AmmoLand: Duncan v. Bonta at the Supreme Court (Aug. 2026)
Related guides
Carrying somewhere else? Check the other city guides:
Baltimore · Washington, DC · Philadelphia · New York City · Chicago · Atlanta · Houston
Build a setup that works here
Knowing the law is half of carrying in the city. The other half is a setup that disappears under your normal clothes. Start with our carry clothing guide and our leather vs. Kydex holster comparison.
Carry off-body or haul a laptop to work? Our guide to concealed carry bags and packs for urban use covers packs built for the city, and our urban EDC essentials covers the rest of what rides along. (Quick reminder: every no-carry rule on this page applies to what’s in your bag too.) Want it all in one spot? Browse the gear we recommend in our Urban Carry Shop.
There’s no holy grail setup, and what works for one carrier won’t work for everybody. Learn the rules where you live and travel, find the gear that fits your body and your day, and carry with confidence.