Concealed Weapons Permit

Humboldt County Sheriff William F. Honsal is committed to issuing concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits to all those that qualify under California State Law.  The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is the only licensing authority for all CCW permits for residents whose primary address is within the County of Humboldt. As of January 1, 2024, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued new regulations stemming from Senate Bill 2 which amended various statutes regarding new and renewal CCW applicants.

Pursuant to California Penal Code § 26150, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office shall issue or renew a CCW permit to a person upon proof of all of the following:

1. The applicant is not a disqualified person to receive such a license.
2. The applicant is at least 21 years of age and presents clear evidence of identity and age.
3. The applicant is a resident of the County of Humboldt.
4. The applicant has completed a course of training as described in Penal Code § 26165.
5. The applicant is the recorded owner of the firearms for which the license will be issued.

The California DOJ provides an informational document outlining firearms prohibiting categories, available for review.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office adheres to both California and Federal laws regarding the issuance of CCW permits and the restrictions that apply to applicants. While California legalized the responsible adult use of marijuana through Proposition 64 in 2016 and medicinal use under the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under Federal law. According to federal statute 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), individuals who use or are addicted to any controlled substance, including marijuana, are considered prohibited persons, and are therefore restricted from obtaining a CCW permit.

As a result of this federal regulation, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is unable to grant a CCW license to individuals who have used marijuana in the year preceding their application. All applicants are required to confirm that they have not consumed marijuana for the 365 days prior to applying and must commit to abstaining from marijuana use for the entire duration of their CCW permit.

The California DOJ website contains further details regarding the changes in the State CCW regulations. The revised statutes and regulations are available for review in the California Code of Regulations, Title 11, Division 5, Chapter 14 – “Carry Concealed Weapons Licenses.” Effective January 1, 2024, all new CCW applicants are required to undergo training from a licensed CCW Instructor approved and certified by the State of California. The training programs must adhere to the minimum criteria outlined in Penal Code § 26165 and must be approved by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

Residents of Humboldt County have the option to apply for a CCW permit either through our online portal or by obtaining a paper application from our Records Division at the Humboldt County Courthouse. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office is required to review and make a decision to either approve or deny an application within 120 days from receiving the completed form, as stated in Penal Code § 26205. In the event that a CCW application is denied, the applicant has the right to appeal according to the guidelines outlined in Penal Code § 26206. The appeal process involves completing the "Request for Hearing to Challenge Disqualified Person Determination" form (BOF 1031), which will be provided to those applicants who have been denied.

It should be noted that when filling out the application online there will be additional fees added by Permitium for using your credit/debit card for payment.

 Applicants who fill out a paper application are required to make payment for the fees at the Records Division of the Sheriff’s Office during regular business hours. The only payment options accepted are personal check or cash. Credit/debit cards or virtual payments are not accepted at the Sheriff’s Office Records Division.