Generally, all firearms purchases and transfers, including private party transactions and sales at gun shows, must be made through a California licensed dealer under the Dealer’s Record of Sale (DROS) process. California law imposes a 10-day waiting period before a firearm can be released to a purchaser or transferee. A person must be at least 21 years of age to purchase a firearm. If you are under 21 years old and have a valid California hunting license, you may purchase a rifle or shotgun. As part of the DROS process, the purchaser must present “clear evidence of identity and age” which is defined as a valid, non-expired REAL ID-California Driver’s License or REAL ID-Identification Card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A military identification accompanied by permanent duty station orders indicating a posting in California is also acceptable.

If the purchaser is not a U.S. Citizen, then he or she is required to demonstrate that he or she is legally within the United States by providing the firearms dealer with documentation containing his or her Alien Registration Number or I-94 Number.

Purchasers of handguns must provide proof of California residency, such as a utility bill, residential lease, property deed, or government-issued identification (other than a REAL ID), and either (1) possess a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) plus successfully complete a safety demonstration with their recently purchased handgun or (2) qualify for an FSC exemption. The handgun purchased must be on the California Handgun Roster (http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/safeguns.asp). Private Party Transfers are exempt from the California Handgun Roster.

Purchasers of rifle or shotgun must either (1) possess a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) plus successfully complete a safety demonstration with their recently purchased rifle or shotgun or (2) qualify for an FSC exemption.

FSC exemptions: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/hscfaqs#c6

Updated 03/20/25