UPDATES

 

JANUARY 2026: CCW “SENSITIVE PLACES”

As a result of a recent decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California law prohibiting carry concealed weapon (CCW) license holders from carrying firearms in various sensitive places (Cal. Pen. Code §26230, subd. (a)) is now enforceable in the following nine additional locations:

  • Bars and restaurants that serve alcohol (and related parking areas);

  • Playgrounds and youth centers (and adjacent streets and sidewalks);

  • Parks, athletic areas, and athletic facilities (and adjacent streets and sidewalks);

  • Most real property under the control of the Department of Parks and Recreation or Department ofFish and Wildlife;

  • Casinos and similar gambling establishments (and related parking areas);

  • Stadiums and arenas (and related parking areas);

  • Public libraries (and related parking areas);

  • Amusement parks (and related parking areas); and

  • Zoos and museums (and related parking areas).

(Cal. Pen. Code § 26230, subds. (a)(9), (11)‐(13), (15)‐(17), (19), (20).) The above provisions had previously been enjoined by a December 20, 2023 preliminary injunction issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California in May v. Bonta (No. 23‐4354) and Carralero v. Bonta (No. 23‐4356). Effective January 23, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed that preliminary injunction in multiple respects, making Penal Code section 26230, subdivision (a) now enforceable as to the nine locations listed above.

The nine locations above are in addition to the following eleven sensitive places listed in section 26230, which were never enjoined:

  • School zones;

  • Preschool and childcare facilities;

  • Buildings under the control of an officer of the state executive or legislative branch;

  • Court buildings;

  • Local government buildings;

  • Adult and juvenile detention centers;

  • Colleges and universities;

  • Airports and passenger vessel terminals;

  • Property controlled by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission;

  • Police stations; and

  • Polling Places.

(Cal. Pen. Code § 26230, subds. (a)(1)‐(6), (14), (18), (21), (24), (25).) Accordingly, 20 out of 26 of the sensitive places identified in section 26230 are now in effect.

Six Provisions Remain Enjoined: The following six locations in section 26230 remain subject to the preliminary injunction entered on December 20, 2023:

  • Hospitals and Medical Facilities: “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.” (Cal. Pen. Code § 26230, subd. (a)(7).)

  • Public Transit: “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.” (Cal. Pen. Code § 26230, subd. (a)(8).)

  • Public Gatherings: “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.” (Cal. Pen. Code § 26230, subd. (a)(10).)

  • Places of Worship: “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 license holders 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.” (Cal. Pen. Code § 26230, subd. (a)(22).)

  • Financial Institutions: “A financial institution or parking area under the control of a financial institution.” (Cal. Pen. Code § 26230, subd. (a)(23).)

  • Private Property Open to the Public: “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.” (Cal. Pen. Code § 26230, subd. (a)(26).)

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