Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
This is not a drill. Thanks to a preliminary injunction in CRPA v. LASD, non-California residents can now apply for California CCW permits!
That’s right. After years of unconstitutional gatekeeping, the California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA), with help from powerhouse groups like Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners of California, and the Second Amendment Foundation, has cracked the door wide open.
And the court agreed: your zip code shouldn’t decide whether you get to defend yourself.
CCW permit applications from nonresidents of CA can now be submitted thanks to our preliminary injunction CRPA v. LASD! pic.twitter.com/A1JBVYyBjy
— Kostas Moros (@MorosKostas) April 22, 2025
Here’s the Breakdown:
Effective April 22, 2025, non-residents of California can apply for a CCW permit if they meet two criteria:
- They are members of one of the following:
- California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA)
- Gun Owners of America (GOA)
- Gun Owners of California (GOC)
- Second Amendment Foundation (SAF)
- They are not prohibited under federal or California law from possessing firearms.
Applicants must apply in the California jurisdiction where they plan to spend time in the next 12 months. So if you’re heading to LA County, check first to make sure you fall under LASD jurisdiction.
Everyone else? Apply with the requisite police or sheriff’s department.
👉 Check if you’re in LASD jurisdiction here.
Why This Matters
This ruling blows a hole in the idea that California can treat the 2A like a state-specific privilege. For decades, California politicians and anti-gun bureaucrats have acted like the Bill of Rights ends at the state line. Not anymore.
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By allowing law-abiding Americans from across the country to apply for carry permits, this decision puts real pressure on the rest of California’s bloated and broken permitting system.
It also gives momentum to similar lawsuits across the country challenging arbitrary residency requirements.
I do not encourage anyone to lie. However, if you intend to visit multiple places in CA, I highly suggest you do your research on which department is best to apply with of the places you intend to visit. They vary greatly on wait times and fees, with some process differences too.… https://t.co/c2rIfzB5h7
— Kostas Moros (@MorosKostas) April 22, 2025
Important LA County Details
- Initial application fee: $43
- Issuance fee after approval: $173
- Renewal fee: $86 (standard)
- Processing time: Can take weeks, interviews required
- Appointments: Tuesdays and Thursdays only
- CCWs not issued on holidays
All fees are non-refundable. Double-check jurisdiction and read instructions carefully.
The Bottom Line
This is a big legal victory. The court recognized what we’ve always known: your rights don’t vanish when you cross state lines.
If you’re a member of CRPA, GOA, GOC, or SAF—get ready to apply. If you’re not, now might be the time to join.
Update from SAF Press Release 4/22/2025:
Thanks to a preliminary injunction in CRPA v. LASD, starting today, April 22, non-resident SAF members can apply for a California carry permit.
— SAF (@2AFDN) April 22, 2025
The injunction requires that California accept permit applications from any United States resident outside the state who is a member… pic.twitter.com/BT445I6vuX
United States District Court Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett’s Jan. 22 order sets forth the following criteria for those applying for the newly available non-resident permits:
- Must be a member of SAF or other partner organization included in the lawsuit.
- Applicants must file the application with the sheriff or chief of police in a county in which they plan to visit in the next 12 months.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and not prohibited from possessing firearms.
- Non-residents receiving a California permit can only carry handguns and magazines that are legal to possess in California.
- For complete instructions on how to apply, you can view the order here.
“This case had the appropriate conclusion – non-residents should not have their Second Amendment rights stripped just because they crossed a state line,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Now, thanks to SAF and its partners, all you have to do is be a member and you’ll be allowed to apply for a permit no matter where you live. The best part is you didn’t have to be a member of SAF when the ruling was issued, you can still join today and apply for your non-resident carry permit.”
For more information visit SAF.org or click here to join SAF today.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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As an Arizona resident, I possess a Concealed Carry Permit that makes it legal for me to carry a concealed firearm. I have one placed in our motor home, but don’t carry a firearm otherwise in our private vehicle. We would like to take the motor home to visit our adult children
in California and don’t plan to purchase another permit in California merely to not have to be concerned when visiting our children. I am a Life Member of the NRA and was surprised to see that the organization was not on the list, but not too surprised, since anything is possible in California. I am a native of CA, having been born and raised there, but moved due to the insanity of the Far-Left political situation that has taken place there over which my wife and I had no control. Law-Abiding Citizens have replaced criminals as targets for politicians greedy for votes, and we no longer wish to be concerned about being punished for having lived constructive lives. But, that’s the path Newsom and his Commie supporters have apparently chosen to turn the state into a crime-infested gulag, and my wife and me into “Domestic Terrorists” for having challenged them.
Stop blowing your horn so loud. This is still unconstitutional!
No thanks. I will NEVER set foot in California again- for any reason! I am curious why the plaintiffs would agree to only exempt their members from denial instead of the law abiding public at large. Seems to me that California actually won a victory too. All the plaintiffs should be ashamed of themselves, even though I am a member of SAF.
Approval will be 2% of applicants. Commies will never let it prevail. 1st time an out of stater defends him/herself the law will be revoked. Sorry, thats how Cali rolls.
Gov.Newsom will use this for his advantage in his presidential run to try and get the uneducated gun owners vote.
OK. Nice development. BUT, it’s not time to get giddy about this (yet). This is a Preliminary Injunction. It might (or might not) eventually become permanent. It might (or might not) be reversed on appeal. It might (or might not) ultimately be reviewed by the US Supreme Court and affirmed (or reversed). Nice early step . . . but there’s a very long road still to go before this becomes a practical reality.
Apparently the Republic of Kalifornistan doesn’t have reciprocity with any other states’ CCW permits. Why is that? And why are you required to be a member of one of only those 4 pro-gun organizations to apply for a permit? Why isn’t the NRA one of them? Fat chance you’ll get it, even after applying for it. Who cares? These are the rules and laws passed by the left-wing radical nut-job politicians these libertards continuously vote into office. EFF’EM – let them stew in their own misery.🙄
The NRA isn’t a part of it because they know it is a sham and won’t waste their time or their members money on it. They are supporting things like the Reciprocity Bill winding its way through Congress, which Trump has agreed to sign. This will be progress, not this feel good we’ll take a win at any cost joke.