Failure to follow instructions can result in delays in the handling of applications.

The applicant must either be a full-time resident or show proof their principal place of employment or business is in the county or a city within the county and the applicant spends a substantial period of time in that place of employment or business.   Applicant must be at least 21 years of age.

You will need to provide the names and contact information of three persons willing to serve as references.  One of the three must be a person described in Penal Code section 273.5, subdivision (b) (your spouse, or former spouse, your cohabitant or former cohabitant, your fiancée, or someone with whom you have, or previously had, an engagement or dating relationship, or the mother or father of your child), if applicable.  At least one of the three must be your cohabitant, if applicable.

1. Complete the California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms Standard Initial & Renewal Application for License to Carry a Concealed Weapon (BOF 4012).  Applications are accepted electronically via the website.
   
   The application form is a California Department of Justice (DOJ) form. It is not a form maintained by the Office of the Sheriff.  State law requires issuing authorities to use the DOJ form for concealed weapons permit applications.
   
   
2. You will be asked to upload:

• A copy of your California Driver’s License or California Identification Card that contains your current Contra Costa County residential address that matches the address that you have listed on your application or copy of notification that your current address has been updated with CA DMV.
• Proof of Residency: Copies of Two (2) Consecutive statements that reflect your name and your Contra Costa County residence address from one of the following service providers (Upload entire first page of invoice so that we can view service location and address where bill is mailed. Statements must be dated within the last 90 days. We DO NOT accept past-due statements. We DO NOT accept any items other than those listed):

• Gas/Electric
• Water
• Garbage
• Home Internet
• Cable/Satellite
• Home Phone

If you do not have utility bills in your name, please include other documents which show your name and address such as:

• Cell phone
• Bank or Credit Card statements
• Auto Loan Statement
• W-2 (As long as it shows your residential address)
• Medical Bills
• Tax documents
• We will NOT accept Mortgage Account Statements, Property Tax Statements, documents from DMV, and/or Hunting/Fishing Licenses.

Note: If you choose to submit a document which includes financial information, e.g., credit card statement, you may redact or black out any financial information.

Prohibitions applicable to certain aliens. Federal law makes it unlawful for aliens who are illegally or unlawfully in the United States to receive or possess firearms. In addition, subject to certain exemptions, aliens who are in a non-immigrant status are prohibited from possessing or receiving firearms in the United States.

A non-immigrant alien is not subject to this prohibition if the alien:

• is in possession of a valid hunting license or permit lawfully issued in the United States;
• is an official representative of a foreign government who is accredited to the United States Government or his or her government’s mission to an international organization having its headquarters in the United States; or
• has received a waiver from the prohibition from the Attorney General of the United States.
  
  See 18 USC 922(y)(2) for additional exceptions.
  
  A copy of Permanent Resident Card must be provided with application.

Residency or employment in the jurisdiction of the issuing authority is a legal requirement for the issuance of a permit.  Your submission of documents which list your name and address aids in the verification of residency.

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff collects a fee at the time of application submission for initial or "new" permits. Upon permit issuance, the Office of the Sheriff will charge the remaining balance of the permittees fee.

Renewing permittees will pay a fee at the time of application submission; if the application is denied, a refund will not be issued.

Information developed during a CCW background investigation, unless specifically waived by the applicant or subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act, is confidential except in cases where evidence of unreported criminal activity surfaces.

The Office of the Sheriff conducts background investigations of CCW applicants in accordance with statutory provisions (CA Penal Code 26202).

The CCW applicant is responsible for payment of the Live Scan fees. Live Scan fees include the fees charged by the DOJ and any fee the Live Scan provider charges for their service.  Live Scan fees are separate from fees charged by the Office of the Sheriff for issuance of a permit.

Live Scan fingerprinting is required. Applicants for initial or "new" permits will receive instructions regarding fingerprinting via e-mail with an instructional letter that includes the California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General’s website address. This website will allow you to find the location that is most convenient for you to make an appointment.

Note: Renewing permittees are not required to submit additional Live Scan fingerprints until after September 1, 2026, per CA Penal Code section 26185(b)(2).

Applicants do not need to contact the Office of the Sheriff to arrange fingerprinting. Applicants will arrange their own Live Scan appointments.

Live Scan service can be provided by any Live Scan provider.

A permit cannot be issued until after the issuing authority is in receipt of the fingerprint results and the notification you are eligible to possess a firearm.

Applicants who have submitted to Live Scan fingerprinting for other applications, e.g., professional licenses, volunteering, etc., must still undergo Live Scan fingerprinting for a concealed weapons permit.

The “Request for Live Scan Service” form must be given to the Live Scan service provider, as it includes the necessary routing information that will direct the response to the Office of the Sheriff.  Your Live Scan results will be sent to the Office of the Sheriff by the DOJ. 

After the Office of the Sheriff receives your Lives Scan results, you will be moved to the interview process. You will be notified via email to schedule an in-person interview.

TRAINING

CCW applicants must successfully pass a CCW training course (Penal Code 26165) recognized by the Office of the Sheriff prior to the issuance of the license.  The Office of the Sheriff staff will not arrange training for applicants or recommend training providers. Applicants will arrange their own training and must provide proof of completion of training to the Office of the Sheriff. 

Online and remote training are not acceptable forms of training.  All training must be done in person.

Training vendors are wholly responsible for the fees charged to applicants for training. The Office of the Sheriff does not provide input to vendors on training fees. 

Fees incurred by applicants for training are separate from the fees charged by the Office of the Sheriff for permit issuance.

The Office of the Sheriff is not responsible for any fees incurred by applicants who are denied permit issuance for any reason, including insufficient training, unsatisfactory training, or failure to qualify for the cost of training and any related costs.

Course of Training must meet the following minimum criteria (CA Penal Code 26165):

1. For new license applicants:
   
   • The course shall be no less than 16 hours in length.
   • The course shall include instruction of firearm safety, firearm handling, shooting technique, safe storage, legal methods to transport firearms and securing firearms in vehicles, laws governing where permitholders may carry firearms, laws regarding the permissible use of a firearm, and laws regarding the permissible use of lethal force in self-defense.
   • The course shall include a component, no less than one hour in length, on mental health and mental health resources.
   • Except for the component on mental health and mental health resources, the course shall be taught and supervised by firearm instructors certified by the Department of Justice pursuant to Section 31635, or in a manner to be prescribed by regulation.
   • The course shall require students to pass a written examination to demonstrate their understanding of the covered topics.
   • The course shall include live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range and shall include a demonstration by the applicant of safe handling of, and shooting proficiency with, each firearm that the applicant is applying to be licensed to carry.
     
     The live-fire shooting exercises should minimally include the course of fire    components listed in the Office of the Sheriff qualification below.
     
     
2. For renewal applicants the course of training shall be no less than 8 hours and shall satisfy the requirements of paragraphs 1(b) to (f) above.  Renewing permittees will provide proof of training dated within the permittee’s current permit term and contemporaneous with the permit expiration.

CCW Instructors must be certified by the CA Department of Justice as a Firearms Instructor or Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certified (PC 31635).

Upon completion of training, the applicant must provide the following to the Office of the Sheriff:

1.  CCW Proof of Training. Applicant attestation of completion of the training class, hours of training, and date.
2. Instructor information and attestation form
3. Certificate of Training

The forms will be provided with the request for training.

Note: Failure to complete your training (3) months from the date of receiving the request for training will result in the withdrawal of the CCW Application, as will inactivity on the application.

WEAPONS

The Office of the Sheriff allows a CCW license holder to list two weapons on the permit.  The applicant must be the recorded owner of the weapon(s).  Permits are issued to a person but only for specific firearms. The weapons on a permit are reported to the DOJ.

The following are the parameters regarding approved weapons:

Prohibited firearms include any single action only firearms. This includes any semi-automatic handgun made by any manufacturer built on the Colt 1911 configuration.

In contrast, semi-automatics which fire the first-round double action but successive rounds in single action are acceptable.

Firearms with the striker fire mechanism, e.g., Glocks, and decocking levers, e.g. some Sig Sauer models, are also acceptable.

Prohibited firearms include derringers and any derringer variant.

Firearms with attached laser sights, flashlights, red dots, and sighting systems are not acceptable. Glow in the dark or luminescent sights are acceptable.

The firearm must have been commercially manufactured and of sufficient quality to safely fire. The applicant must be the recorded owner of the firearm in CA Department of Justice records.

Firearms which have been modified, including modifications to triggers, slides, safety mechanisms, conversions, and magazine releases are not approved.

Any modifications to firearms after issuance of a permit may result in revocation.

Acceptable firearms include:

• Revolvers or semi-automatics with a caliber of not less than .32 or greater than .45
• No barrel lengths less than 1.875” and no longer than 6”
• Minimum of 5 rounds
• Fixed or adjustable sights. Luminescent sights are acceptable. Add on optics are not permitted.

Weapons will be inspected for suitability by an Office of the Sheriff Range Master at the time of qualification.

RANGE QUALIFICATION

Applicants must complete a qualification course conducted by Office of the Sheriff staff at the Office of the Sheriff range.  Applicants shall adhere to all range safety requirements.  Any violations will result in immediate removal from the range and removal from the CCW application process.  Applicants will be contacted to arrange the qualification date and time.

Applicants who attempt to schedule their qualification at the Office of the Sheriff range will not be accommodated. Only applicants who have been approved for a permit will be scheduled for the qualification.

Applicants who fail to pass the initial qualification will be rescheduled for a remediation qualification. You will be contacted to schedule the date and time for the remediation.  Applicants who fail to pass the remediation qualification will be withdrawn from the CCW process.  Applicants will not be able to apply for a CCW for two years.

Applicants’ firearms will be inspected for compliance with Office of the Sheriff requirements at the time of the range qualification.  Applicants who are not the recorded owner of a firearm or possess a non-compliant firearm will not be allowed to qualify with the weapon.  Applicants who violate any range safety rules will be removed from the range and withdrawn from the CCW process. 

Following is information on the qualification course:

• B-27 type target; shots which count towards score must land within outer ring.
• Minimum passing score 126 (105 for five shot firearms).
• 5 yards: 6 rounds in five seconds, 7 yards: 6 rounds in 10 seconds, 10 yards: 6 rounds in 15 seconds.
• Reload after each string of fire.
• All shooting done from hip holster.

Applicants must demonstrate safe firearm handling during the qualification.

Applicants must possess the following items for the qualification course:

• A hip-worn holster designed for, and which fits the firearm. Shoulder holsters, ankle holsters, and cross-draw holsters are not allowed on the range for qualifications.
• 18 rounds of commercially manufactured ammunition for each firearm.
  (15 rounds for five shot weapons)
• Ear protection and eye protection

Note: Failure to schedule your range qualification (2) months from the date of receiving notification will result in the withdrawal of the CCW Application, as will inactivity on the application.

After approval, completion of training, successful qualification, and payment, Office of the Sheriff staff will provide the license to the permittee.

Fees are listed on the application website.  Fees are paid electronically by credit or debit card.

APPEAL

The appeal of a permit denial or revocation will be handled per CA Penal Code sections 26202 and 26206.

The Office of the Sheriff adheres to statutory provisions regarding the retention of fingerprint information (CA Penal Code 11105.2); persons who are approved for a permit after a denial or revocation shall be required to undergo fingerprinting before a permit can be issued.