YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. GUN FREE ZONES WITHOUT SERIOUS SECURITY SCREENING ARE WORTHLESS. LAWS AND SIGNS CANNOT PROTECT YOU. YOU MAY CHOOSE TO CARRY ANYWAY, BUT YOU DO AT YOUR OWN (LEGAL) RISK.
Highlights
- You cannot carry while consuming any alcoholic beverage or under the influence of any medication or drug, whether prescribed or not.
- You cannot be in a place having a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption.
General firearm prohibited areas
Federal Law
Federal buildings and courthouses
It is illegal to carry a firearm into any federally owned building or courthouse.
- You may not carry a firearm in a federal building or courthouse.
- You may not carry a firearm into a post office.
- You may not carry at a VA hospital, facility, veteran's home, or a cemetery.
Federal buildings and courthouses
It is illegal to carry a firearm into any federally owned building or courthouse.
18 USC § 930. [omissions made]
(a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to--
(3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.
(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal court facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
(f) Nothing in this section limits the power of a court of the United States to punish for contempt or to promulgate rules or orders regulating, restricting, or prohibiting the possession of weapons within any building housing such court or any of its proceedings, or upon any grounds appurtenant to such building.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) The term “Federal facility” means a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.
(2) The term “dangerous weapon” means a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2½ inches in length.
(3) The term “Federal court facility” means the courtroom, judges’ chambers, witness rooms, jury deliberation rooms, attorney conference rooms, prisoner holding cells, offices of the court clerks, the United States attorney, and the United States marshal, probation and parole offices, and adjoining corridors of any court of the United States.
(h) Notice of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal facility, and notice of subsection (e) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal court facility, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection (a) or (e) with respect to a Federal facility if such notice is not so posted at such facility, unless such person had actual notice of subsection (a) or (e), as the case may be.
Note: this section applies to all buildings owned or operated by the federal government whether it is an actual “Federal Building” or a federal courthouse. This includes small federal government agency offices and ones at National Parks.
Note: unless you are carrying a weapon to commit a crime (see omitted (b) and (c)), notices must be posted for you to be convicted. Subsection (h) does not mean that you can carry in those places if they aren’t posted, but rather that the government has to post them as “no weapons” in order to successfully prosecute you or prove that you had “actual notice” (which is undefined).
Note: unless you are carrying a weapon to commit a crime (see omitted (b) and (c)), notices must be posted for you to be convicted. Subsection (h) does not mean that you can carry in those places if they aren’t posted, but rather that the government has to post them as “no weapons” in order to successfully prosecute you or prove that you had “actual notice” (which is undefined).
Post Office
39 CFR 232.1(l). Weapons and explosives. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation, no person while on postal property may carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, or store the same on postal property, except for official purposes.
Note: This includes the parking lot, but not post-office windows in stores (contract stations).
Veteran’s Administration (VA)
Hospitals, cemeteries, and other facilities
Hospitals, cemeteries, and other facilities
38 CFR § 1.218. (a) [...] the following rules and regulations apply at all property under the charge and control of VA (and not under the charge and control of the General Services Administration) [...]
(13) Weapons and explosives. No person while on property shall carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, except for official purposes.
Note: The VA owns 131 out of 147 veteran’s cemeteries nationwide.
Military bases
Military bases would be considered a federal facility. Please consult your local military base for further details.
Federal prisons
28 CFR Subpart B et seq. allow searched of non-inmates for prohibited items, which include firearms. Weapons are prohibited under 18 USC § 930 and supplying contraband is a separate crime.
Airports/Aircraft
See: 49 CFR 1540.111 and 49 USC § 46505
Under federal law, firearms are prohibited beyond the TSA checkpoints. You also cannot attempt to enter a TSA checkpoint while armed, even by mistake. Check your bags! Even loose ammunition, empty magazines, spent cases, and miscellaneous gun parts have caused problems and prosecutions for travelers. Learn more about the TSA regulations.
Military bases would be considered a federal facility. Please consult your local military base for further details.
Federal prisons
28 CFR Subpart B et seq. allow searched of non-inmates for prohibited items, which include firearms. Weapons are prohibited under 18 USC § 930 and supplying contraband is a separate crime.
Airports/Aircraft
See: 49 CFR 1540.111 and 49 USC § 46505
Under federal law, firearms are prohibited beyond the TSA checkpoints. You also cannot attempt to enter a TSA checkpoint while armed, even by mistake. Check your bags! Even loose ammunition, empty magazines, spent cases, and miscellaneous gun parts have caused problems and prosecutions for travelers. Learn more about the TSA regulations.
State law
Firearms banned in public buildings, generally
171b. (a) Any person who brings or possesses within any state or local public building or at any meeting required to be open to the public pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of, or Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, any of the following is guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or in the state prison:
(1) Any firearm.
[(2)-(6) omitted; basically any weapon, lethal or not]
(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to, or affect, any of the following:
(1) [evidence permitted, omitted]
(2) (A) [peace officers, omitted]
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), subdivision (a) shall apply to any person who brings or possesses any weapon specified therein within any courtroom if he or she is a party to an action pending before the court.
(3) A person holding a valid license to carry the firearm pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 26150) of Division 5 of Title 4 of Part 6 who possesses the firearm within a building designated for a court proceeding, including matters before a superior court, district court of appeal, or the California Supreme Court, and is a justice, judge, or commissioner of the court.
(4) A person who has permission to possess that weapon granted in writing by a duly authorized official who is in charge of the security of the state or local government building.
(5) A person who lawfully resides in, lawfully owns, or is in lawful possession of, that building with respect to those portions of the building that are not owned or leased by the state or local government.
(6) [security and private investigators, omitted]
(7) (A) A person who, for the purpose of sale or trade, brings any weapon that may otherwise be lawfully transferred, into a gun show conducted pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 27200) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 27300) of Chapter 3 of Division 6 of Title 4 of Part 6.
(B) A person who, for purposes of an authorized public exhibition, brings any weapon that may otherwise be lawfully possessed, into a gun show conducted pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 27200) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 27300) of Chapter 3 of Division 6 of Title 4 of Part 6.
(c) As used in this section, “state or local public building” means a building that meets all of the following criteria:
(1) It is a building or part of a building owned or leased by the state or local government, if state or local public employees are regularly present for the purposes of performing their official duties. A state or local public building includes, but is not limited to, a building that contains a courtroom.
(2) It is not a building or facility, or a part thereof, that is referred to in Section 171c, 171d, 626.9, 626.95, or 626.10 of this code, or in Section 18544 of the Elections Code.
(3) It is a building not regularly used, and not intended to be used, by state or local employees as a place of residence.
As of 2024, licensees can no longer carry in courthouses (even though it was de facto prohibited by security, not illegal, prior) unless a judge, etc.
Capitol and special Capitol Complex offices
Capitol and special Capitol Complex offices
171c. (a) (1) Any person who brings a loaded firearm into, or possesses a loaded firearm within, the State Capitol, any legislative office, any office of the Governor or other constitutional officer, or any hearing room in which any committee of the Senate or Assembly is conducting a hearing, or upon the grounds of the State Capitol, which is bounded by 10th, L, 15th, and N Streets in the City of Sacramento, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than one year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both such imprisonment and fine, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(2) Any person who brings or possesses, within the State Capitol, any legislative office, any hearing room in which any committee of the Senate or Assembly is conducting a hearing, the Legislative Office Building at 1020 N Street in the City of Sacramento, or upon the grounds of the State Capitol, which is bounded by 10th, L, 15th, and N Streets in the City of Sacramento, any of the following, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, if the area is posted with a statement providing reasonable notice that prosecution may result from possession of any of these items:
(A) Any firearm.
[(B)-(H) omitted; basically any weapon, lethal or not]
(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to, or affect, any of the following:
(1) [peace officers; omitted]
(2) A person holding a valid license to carry the firearm pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 26150) of Division 5 of Title 4 of Part 6, and who has permission granted by the Chief Sergeants at Arms of the State Assembly and the State Senate to possess a concealed weapon upon the premises described in subdivision (a).
(3) A person who has permission granted by the Chief Sergeants at Arms of the State Assembly and the State Senate to possess a weapon upon the premises described in subdivision (a).
(c) [penalties, omitted]
Note: firearms are not permitted on the grounds of the Capitol, not just in the building. Licensed carriers are highly unlikely to gain permission; this exemption is intended only for Legislators and powerful state officers/staffers, not the average person. This bill dates from the Mulford Act is a direct result of the Black Panther protest.
State Gun-Free School-Zone Act
626.9. (b) Any person who possesses a firearm in a place that the person knows, or reasonably should know, is a school zone, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (e), shall be punished as specified in subdivision (f).
(c) Subdivision (b) does not apply to the possession of a firearm under any of the following circumstances:
(1) Within a place of residence or place of business or on private property, if the place of residence, place of business, or private property is not part of the school grounds and the possession of the firearm is otherwise lawful.
(2) (A) When the firearm is an unloaded pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed on the person is within a locked container in a motor vehicle or is within the locked trunk of a motor vehicle at all times.
(B) This section does not prohibit or limit the otherwise lawful transportation of any other firearm, other than a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed on the person, in accordance with state law.
(3) When the person possessing the firearm reasonably believes that they are in grave danger because of circumstances forming the basis of a current restraining order issued by a court against another person or persons who has or have been found to pose a threat to their life or safety. This subdivision does not apply when the circumstances involve a mutual restraining order issued pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 6200) of the Family Code absent a factual finding of a specific threat to the person’s life or safety. Upon a trial for violating subdivision (b), the trier of a fact shall determine whether the defendant was acting out of a reasonable belief that they were in grave danger.
(4) When the person is exempt from the prohibition against carrying a concealed firearm pursuant to Section 25615, 25625, 25630, or 25645.
(5) When the person holds a valid license to carry the firearm pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 26150) of Division 5 of Title 4 of Part 6, who is carrying that firearm in an area that is within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of the public or private school, but is not within any building, real property, or parking area under the control of a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or on a street or sidewalk immediately adjacent to a building, real property, or parking area under the control of that public or private school. Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a person holding a valid license to carry the firearm pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 26150) of Division 5 of Title 4 of Part 6 from carrying a firearm in accordance with that license as provided in subdivisions (b), (c), or (e) of Section 26230.
(e)(4) “School zone” means an area in, or on the grounds of, a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of the public or private school.
(h) Notwithstanding Section 25605, any person who brings or possesses a loaded firearm upon the grounds of a campus of, or buildings owned or operated for student housing, teaching, research, or administration by, a public or private university or college, that are contiguous or are clearly marked university property, unless it is with the written permission of the university or college president, his or her designee, or equivalent university or college authority, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for two, three, or four years. […]
(h) Notwithstanding Section 25605, any person who brings or possesses a loaded firearm upon the grounds of a campus of, or buildings owned or operated for student housing, teaching, research, or administration by, a public or private university or college, that are contiguous or are clearly marked university property, unless it is with the written permission of the university or college president, their designee, or equivalent university or college authority, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for two, three, or four years. Notwithstanding subdivision (k), a university or college shall post a prominent notice at primary entrances on noncontiguous property stating that firearms are prohibited on that property pursuant to this subdivision.
(i) Notwithstanding Section 25605, any person who brings or possesses a [unloaded] firearm upon the grounds of a campus of, or buildings owned or operated for student housing, teaching, research, or administration by, a public or private university or college, that are contiguous or are clearly marked university property, unless it is with the written permission of the university or college president, their designee, or equivalent university or college authority, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for one, two, or three years. Notwithstanding subdivision (k), a university or college shall post a prominent notice at primary entrances on noncontiguous property stating that firearms are prohibited on that property pursuant to this subdivision.
(q) (1) This section does not apply to the activities of a program involving shooting sports or activities, including, but not limited to, trap shooting, skeet shooting, sporting clays, and pistol shooting, that are sanctioned by a school, school district, college, university, or other governing body of the institution, that occur on the grounds of a public or private school or university or college campus.
(2) This section does not apply to the activities of a state-certified hunter education program pursuant to Section 3051 of the Fish and Game Code if all firearms are unloaded and participants do not possess live ammunition in a school building.
Prisons and jails
4574. (a) Except when otherwise authorized by law, or when authorized […], any person, who knowingly brings or sends into, or knowingly assists in bringing into, or sending into, any state prison or prison road camp or prison forestry camp, or other prison camp or prison farm or any other place where prisoners of the state prison are located under the custody of prison officials, officers or employees, or any jail or any county road camp in this state, or within the grounds belonging or adjacent to any such institution, any firearms, deadly weapons, or explosives, and any person who, while lawfully confined in a jail or county road camp possesses therein any firearm, deadly weapon, explosive, tear gas or tear gas weapon, is guilty of a felony and punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for two, three, or four years.
Gun show
27330. No person at a gun show or event, other than security personnel or sworn peace officers, shall possess at the same time both a firearm and ammunition that is designed to be fired in the firearm. Vendors having those items at the show for sale or exhibition are exempt from this prohibition.
Polling places
18544 ELC. (a) Any person in possession of a firearm or [peace officers, security guards, omitted] who is stationed in the immediate vicinity of, or posted at, a polling place without written authorization of the appropriate city or county elections official is punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(b) This section shall not apply to any of the following:
(1) An unarmed uniformed guard or security personnel who is at the polling place to cast his or her vote.
[(2)-(4) omitted as not applicable to private citizens]
Note: there is no exemption for licensees.
State Hospitals
9 CCR § 4353 [omissions made]
(b) All persons entering the secured area are subject to searches of their person, including but not limited to metal detectors, wand searches, K-9, X-ray, cell phone detecting devices, devices to detect controlled substances, and pat-down searches.
(d) Contraband considered illegal pursuant to Penal Code provisions shall be confiscated. Persons with contraband specific to DSH or the hospital shall be instructed to return the item to the car or officers may agree to hold the item for person to retrieve when exiting the secured facility.
(e) Persons refusing searches are not permitted within the secured facility.
Juvenile justice facilities
9 CCR § 30945 [omissions made]
To enforce conformity with the rules governing contraband the superintendent shall:
(d) Prohibit the entrance of contraband including weapons, firearms or explosives into the security area unless there is an extreme emergency.
Cal Expo properties (State Fair)
No person shall carry or transport, in any manner, dangerous weapons or articles in or upon the buildings or grounds of Cal Expo. Such weapons or articles shall include, but not be limited to, any instrument commonly known as a blackjack, sling shot, billy, sandclub, sandbag, metal knuckles, any dirk, dagger, a pistol, revolver, or any other firearm, any knife having a blade longer than four inches, any razor with an unguarded blade and any metal pipe or bar, and any substance which can be exploded or burned in a manner which might produce bodily injury or damage to Cal Expo properties. The prohibitions of this section do not apply to persons carrying or transporting such items in connection with their duties as State employees or to persons conducting any other legitimate business, or service on Cal Expo premises.
Game lands
CA Fish & Game Code § 10500
Except under a permit or specific authorization, it is unlawful to do any of the following:
(b) To use or have in possession in a game refuge, a firearm, BB device as defined in Section 16250 of the Penal Code, crossbow, bow and arrow, or a trap or other contrivance designed to be, or capable of being, used to take birds or mammals, or to discharge a firearm or BB device or to release an arrow or crossbow bolt into a game refuge.
(d) To take or possess a bird, discharge a firearm or BB device, or release an arrow or crossbow bolt, within or into a waterfowl refuge.
Restricted Areas for Licensees
Formerly, restricted areas and behaviors were conditions suggested by the application and made effective by the issuing sheriff/chief, though the legal effectiveness was dubious. Penalty for violation was often revocation of the license. However, state law has now codified these restrictions.
If you violate these restrictions you may lose your license or even be charged with a concealed firearm violation under the theory your license is only valid if you obey the conditions
If you violate these restrictions you may lose your license or even be charged with a concealed firearm violation under the theory your license is only valid if you obey the conditions
26200. (a) While carrying a firearm as authorized by a license issued pursuant to this chapter, a licensee shall not do any of the following:
(1) Consume an alcoholic beverage or controlled substance as described in Sections 11053 to 11058, inclusive, of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) Be in a place having a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption.
(3) Be under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, medication, or controlled substance as described in Sections 11053 to 11058, inclusive, of the Health and Safety Code.
(4) Carry a firearm not listed on the license or a firearm for which they are not the recorded owner. This paragraph does not apply to a licensee who was issued a license pursuant to Section 26170, in which case they may carry a firearm that is registered to the agency for which the licensee has been deputized or appointed to serve as a peace officer, and the licensee carries the firearm consistent with that agency’s policies.
(5) Falsely represent to a person that the licensee is a peace officer.
(6) Engage in an unjustified display of a deadly weapon.
(7) Fail to carry the license on their person.
(8) Impede a peace officer in the conduct of their activities.
(9) Refuse to display the license or to provide the firearm to a peace officer upon demand for purposes of inspecting the firearm.
(10) Violate any federal, state, or local criminal law.
(b) In addition to the restrictions and conditions listed in subdivision (a), a license issued pursuant to this chapter may also include any reasonable restrictions or conditions that the licensing authority deems warranted, including restrictions as to the time, place, manner, and circumstances under which a licensee may carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person.
(c) Any restrictions imposed pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be indicated on any license issued.
(d) A licensee authorized to carry a firearm pursuant to this chapter shall not carry more than two firearms under the licensee’s control at one time.
Note that you must obey any additional locally imposed restrictions on your license and you cannot carry more than two listed firearms at once.