Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26000. Section 26000.
Section 25850 does not apply to members of the military forces of this state or of the United States engaged in the performance of their duties.
ARTICLE 4. Other Exemptions to the Crime of Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public [26000. - 26060.]
Cal. Penal Code - PEN 4.
in effectCal. Penal Code - PEN § 26005. Section 26005.
Section 25850 does not apply to either of the following:
(a)
Persons who are using target ranges for the purpose of practice shooting with a firearm.
(b)
Members of shooting clubs while hunting on the premises of those clubs.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26010. Section 26010.
Section 25850 does not apply to the carrying of any handgun by any person as authorized pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 26150) of Division 5.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26015. Section 26015.
Section 25850 does not apply to any armored vehicle guard, as defined in Section 7582.1 of the Business and Professions Code, if either of the following conditions is satisfied:
(a)
The guard was hired prior to January 1, 1977, and is acting within the course and scope of employment.
(b)
The guard was hired on or after January 1, 1977, has received a firearms qualification card from the Department of Consumer Affairs, and is acting within the course and scope of employment.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26020. Section 26020.
(a)
Upon approval of the sheriff of the county in which the retiree resides, Section 25850 does not apply to any honorably retired federal officer or agent of any federal law enforcement agency, including, but not limited to, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the United States Customs Service, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Border Patrol, and any officer or agent of the Internal Revenue Service who was authorized to carry weapons while on duty, who was assigned to duty within the state for a period of not less than one year, or who retired from active service in the state.
(b)
A retired federal officer or agent shall provide the sheriff with certification from the agency from which the officer or agent retired certifying that person’s service in the state, stating the nature of that person’s retirement, and indicating the agency’s concurrence that the retired federal officer or agent should be accorded the privilege of carrying a loaded firearm.
(c)
Upon approval, the sheriff shall issue a permit to the retired federal officer or agent indicating that the retiree may carry a loaded firearm in accordance with this section. The permit shall be valid for a period not exceeding five years, shall be carried by the retiree while carrying a loaded firearm, and may be revoked for good cause.
(d)
The sheriff of the county in which the retired federal officer or agent resides may require
recertification prior to a permit renewal, and may suspend the privilege for cause. The sheriff may charge a fee necessary to cover any reasonable expenses incurred by the county.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26025. Section 26025.
Section 25850 does not apply to any of the following who have completed a regular course in firearms training approved by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training:
(a)
Patrol special police officers appointed by the police commission of any city, county, or city and county under the express terms of its charter who also, under the express terms of the charter, satisfy all of the following requirements:
(1)
They are subject to suspension or dismissal after a hearing on charges duly filed with the commission after a fair and impartial trial.
(2)
They are not less than 18
years of age or more than 40 years of age.
(3)
They possess physical qualifications prescribed by the commission.
(4)
They are designated by the police commission as the owners of a certain beat or territory as may be fixed from time to time by the police commission.
(b)
Animal control officers or zookeepers, regularly compensated in that capacity by a governmental agency, when carrying weapons while acting in the course and scope of their employment and when designated by a local ordinance or, if the governmental agency is not authorized to act by ordinance, by a resolution, either individually or by class, to carry the weapons.
(c)
Persons who are authorized to carry the weapons pursuant to Section 14502 of the Corporations Code, while actually
engaged in the performance of their duties pursuant to that section.
(d)
Harbor police officers designated pursuant to Section 663.5 of the Harbors and Navigation Code.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26030. Section 26030.
(a)
Section 25850 does not apply to any of the following who have been issued a certificate pursuant to subdivision (d):
(1)
Guards or messengers of common carriers, banks, and other financial institutions, while actually employed in and about the shipment, transportation, or delivery of any money, treasure, bullion, bonds, or other thing of value within this state.
(2)
Guards of contract carriers operating armored vehicles pursuant to California Highway Patrol and Public Utilities Commission authority, if they were hired prior to January 1, 1977.
(3)
Guards of
contract carriers operating armored vehicles pursuant to California Highway Patrol and Public Utilities Commission authority, if they were hired on or after January 1, 1977, and they have completed a course in the carrying and use of firearms that meets the standards prescribed by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
(4)
Private investigators licensed pursuant to Chapter 11.3 (commencing with Section 7512) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, while acting within the course and scope of their employment.
(5)
Uniformed employees of private investigators licensed pursuant to Chapter 11.3 (commencing with Section 7512) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, while acting within the course and scope of their employment.
(6)
Private patrol operators licensed pursuant to Chapter 11.5 (commencing
with Section 7580) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, while acting within the course and scope of their employment.
(7)
Uniformed employees of private patrol operators licensed pursuant to Chapter 11.5 (commencing with Section 7580) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, while acting within the course and scope of their employment.
(8)
Alarm company operators licensed pursuant to Chapter 11.6 (commencing with Section 7590) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, while acting within the course and scope of their employment.
(9)
Uniformed security guards or night watch persons employed by any public agency, while acting within the scope and course of their employment.
(10)
Uniformed security guards, regularly
employed and compensated in that capacity by persons engaged in any lawful business, and uniformed alarm agents employed by an alarm company operator, while actually engaged in protecting and preserving the property of their employers, or on duty or en route to or from their residences or their places of employment, and security guards and alarm agents en route to or from their residences or employer-required range training.
(b)
Nothing in paragraph (10) of subdivision (a) shall be construed to prohibit cities and counties from enacting ordinances requiring alarm agents to register their names.
(c)
A certificate under this section shall not be required of any person who is a peace officer, who has completed all training required by law for the exercise of the person’s power as a peace officer, and who is employed while not on duty as a peace officer.
(d)
The Department of Consumer Affairs may issue a certificate to any person referred to in this section, upon notification by the school where the course was completed, that the person has successfully completed a course in the carrying and use of firearms and a course of training in the exercise of the powers of arrest, which meet the standards prescribed by the department pursuant to Section 7583.5 of the Business and Professions Code.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26035. Section 26035.
Nothing in Section 25850 shall prevent any person engaged in any lawful business, including a nonprofit organization, or any officer, employee, or agent authorized by that person for lawful purposes connected with that business, from having a loaded firearm within the person’s place of business, or any person in lawful possession of private property from having a loaded firearm on that property.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26040. Section 26040.
Nothing in Section 25850 shall prevent any person from carrying a loaded firearm in an area within an incorporated city while engaged in hunting, provided that the hunting at that place and time is not prohibited by the city council.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26045. Section 26045.
(a)
Nothing in Section 25850 is intended to preclude the carrying of any loaded firearm, under circumstances where it would otherwise be lawful, by a person who reasonably believes that any person or the property of any person is in immediate, grave danger and that the carrying of the weapon is necessary for the preservation of that person or property.
(b)
A violation of Section 25850 is justifiable when a person who possesses a firearm reasonably believes that person is in grave danger because of circumstances forming the basis of a current restraining order issued by a court against another person who has been found to pose a threat to the life or safety of the person who possesses the firearm. This subdivision may 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. It is not the intent of the Legislature to limit, restrict, or narrow the application of current statutory or judicial authority to apply this or other justifications to a defendant charged with violating Section 25850 or committing another similar offense. Upon trial for violating Section 25850, the trier of fact shall determine whether the defendant was acting out of a reasonable belief that the defendant was in grave danger.
(c)
As used in this section, “immediate” means the brief interval before and after the local law enforcement agency, when reasonably possible, has been notified of the danger and before the arrival of its assistance.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26050. Section 26050.
Nothing in Section 25850 is intended to preclude the carrying of a loaded firearm by any person while engaged in the act of making or attempting to make a lawful arrest.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26055. Section 26055.
Nothing in Section 25850 shall prevent any person from having a loaded weapon, if it is otherwise lawful, at the person’s place of residence, including any temporary residence or campsite.
Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 26060. Section 26060.
Nothing in Section 25850 shall prevent any person from storing aboard any vessel or aircraft any loaded or unloaded rocket, rocket propelled projectile launcher, or similar device designed primarily for emergency or distress signaling purposes, or from possessing that type of a device while in a permitted hunting area or traveling to or from a permitted hunting area and carrying a valid California permit or license to hunt.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026