Section 26230.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26230.
in effect(a)
A person granted a license to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person pursuant to Section 26150, 26155, or 26170 shall not carry a firearm on or into any of the following:
(1)
A place prohibited by Section 626.9.
(2)
A building, real property, or parking area under the control of a preschool or childcare facility, including a room or portion of a building under the control of a preschool or childcare facility. This paragraph does not prevent the operator of a childcare facility in a family home from owning or possessing a firearm in the home if no child under childcare at the
home is present in the home or the firearm in the home is unloaded, stored in a locked container, and stored separately from ammunition when a child under childcare at the home is present in the home so long as the childcare provider notifies clients that there is a firearm in the home.
(3)
A building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of the state government, except as allowed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 171c.
(4)
A building designated for a court proceeding, including matters before a superior court, district court of appeal, or the California Supreme Court, parking area under the control of the owner or operator of that building, or a building or portion of a building under
the control of the Supreme Court, unless the person is a justice, judge, or commissioner of that court.
(5)
A building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of a unit of local government, unless the firearm is being carried for purposes of training pursuant to Section 26165.
(6)
A building, real property, and parking area under the control of an adult or juvenile detention or correctional institution, prison, or jail.
(7)
A building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public or private hospital or hospital affiliate, mental health facility, nursing home, medical office, urgent care facility, or other place at which medical services are customarily provided.
(8)
A bus, train, or other form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds, and a building, real property, or parking area under the control of a transportation authority supported in whole or in part with public funds, unless the firearm is unloaded and is locked in a lock box, as defined in subdivision (y) of Section 4082 of, and subdivision (b) of Section 4094 of, Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations, which is a firearm safety device, as defined in Section 16540, and that is listed on the department’s Roster of Firearm Safety Devices Certified for Sale pursuant to Sections 23650 and 23655, for the purpose of transporting the firearm.
(9)
A building, real property, and parking area under the control of a vendor or an establishment where
intoxicating liquor is sold for consumption on the premises.
(10)
A public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires the issuance of a permit from a federal, state, or local government and sidewalk or street immediately adjacent to the public gathering or special event but is not more than 1,000 feet from the event or gathering, provided this prohibition shall not apply to a licensee who must walk through a public gathering in order to access their residence, place of business, or vehicle.
(11)
A playground or public or private youth center, as defined in Section 626.95, and a street or sidewalk immediately adjacent to the playground or youth center.
(12)
A park, athletic
area, or athletic facility that is open to the public and a street or sidewalk immediately adjacent to those areas, provided this prohibition shall not apply to a licensee who must walk through such a place in order to access their residence, place of business, or vehicle.
(13)
Real property under the control of the Department of Parks and Recreation or Department of Fish and Wildlife, except those areas designated for hunting pursuant to Section 5003.1 of the Public Resources Code, Section 4501 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, or any other designated public hunting area, public shooting ground, or building where firearm possession is permitted by applicable law.
(14)
An area under the control of a public or private community college, college, or university,
including, but not limited to, buildings, classrooms, laboratories, medical clinics, hospitals, artistic venues, athletic fields or venues, entertainment venues, officially recognized university-related organization properties, whether owned or leased, and real property, including parking areas, sidewalks, and common areas.
(15)
A building, real property, or parking area that is or would be used for gambling or gaming of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, casinos, gambling establishments, gaming clubs, bingo operations, facilities licensed by the California Horse Racing Board, or a facility wherein banked or percentage games, any form of gambling device, or lotteries, other than the California State Lottery, are or will be played.
(16)
A stadium, arena, or the
real property or parking area under the control of a stadium, arena, or a collegiate or professional sporting or eSporting event.
(17)
A building, real property, or parking area under the control of a public library.
(18)
A building, real property, or parking area under the control of an airport or passenger vessel terminal, as those terms are defined in subdivision (a) of Section 171.5.
(19)
A building, real property, or parking area under the control of an amusement park.
(20)
A building, real property, or parking area under the control of a zoo or museum.
(21)
A street, driveway, parking area,
property, building, or facility, owned, leased, controlled, or used by a nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
(22)
A church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship, including in any parking area immediately adjacent thereto, unless the operator of the place of worship clearly and conspicuously posts a sign at the entrance of the building or on the premises indicating that licenseholders are permitted to carry firearms on the property. Signs shall be of a uniform design as prescribed by the Department of Justice and shall be at least four inches by six inches in size.
(23)
A financial institution or parking area under the control of a financial institution.
(24)
A police, sheriff, or highway patrol station or parking area under control of a law enforcement agency.
(25)
A polling place, voting center, precinct, or other area or location where votes are being cast or cast ballots are being returned or counted, or the streets or sidewalks immediately adjacent to any of these places.
(26)
Any other privately owned commercial establishment that is open to the public, unless the operator of the establishment clearly and conspicuously posts a sign at the entrance of the building or on the premises indicating that licenseholders are permitted to carry firearms on the property. Signs shall be of a uniform design as prescribed by the Department of Justice and shall be at least
four inches by six inches in size.
(27)
Any other place or area prohibited by other provisions of state law.
(28)
Any other place or area prohibited by federal law.
(29)
Any other place or area prohibited by local law.
(b)
Notwithstanding subdivision (a), except under paragraph (21) or (28) of subdivision (a), a licensee may transport a firearm and ammunition within their vehicle so long as the firearm is locked in a lock box, as defined in subdivision (y) of Section 4082 of, and subdivision (b) of Section 4094 of, Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations, which is a firearm safety device, as defined in Section 16540, and that is listed on the department’s Roster
of
Firearm Safety Devices Certified for Sale pursuant to Sections 23650 and 23655. This subdivision does not preempt local laws placing more restrictive requirements upon the storage of firearms in vehicles.
(c)
Notwithstanding subdivision (a), except under paragraph (21) or (28) of subdivision (a), a licensee prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm into the parking area of a prohibited location specified in subdivision (a) shall be allowed to:
(1)
Transport a concealed firearm or ammunition within a vehicle into or out of the parking area so long as the firearm is locked in a lock box.
(2)
Store ammunition or a firearm within a locked lock box and out of plain view within the vehicle in the parking
area. This paragraph does not preempt local laws placing more restrictive requirements upon the storage of firearms in vehicles.
(3)
Transport a concealed firearm in the immediate area surrounding their vehicle within a prohibited parking lot area only for the limited purpose of storing or retrieving a firearm within a locked lock box in the vehicle’s trunk or other place inside the vehicle that is out of plain view.
(d)
For purposes of subdivision (c), a lock box is an item as defined in subdivision (y) of Section 4082 of, and subdivision (b) of Section 4094 of, Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations, which is a firearm safety device, as defined in Section 16540, and that is listed on the Department’s Roster of Firearm Safety Devices Certified for Sale pursuant to
Sections 23650 and 23655.
(e)
For purposes of subdivisions (b) and (c), a lock box that was listed on the Department’s Roster of Firearm Safety Devices Certified for Sale at the time it was purchased by the licensee shall be deemed to be a compliant lock box.
(f)
Except in the places specified in paragraph (14) of subdivision (a), a licensee shall not be in violation of this section while they are traveling along a public right-of-way that touches or crosses any of the premises identified in subdivision (a) if the concealed firearm is carried on their person in accordance with the provisions of this act or is being transported in a vehicle by the licensee in accordance with all other applicable provisions of law. This section does not allow a person to loiter or remain in a place
longer than necessary to complete their travel.
(g)
This section does not prohibit the carrying of a firearm where it is otherwise expressly authorized by law.
References
referencesCal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5003.1.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 26150.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 626.9.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 171c.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 26165.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 4082.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 4094.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 16540.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 23650.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 626.95.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 171.5.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026