California · Penal Code

PEN §26710: (a) A person may request a certificate of eligibility from the Department of Justice.

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

A person may request a certificate of eligibility from the Department of Justice to confirm they are not prohibited by law from possessing firearms. The department issues certificates based on background check records and may charge fees to cover program costs.

Read the full statutory text

(a) A person may request a certificate of eligibility from the Department of Justice. (b) The Department of Justice shall examine its records and records available to the department in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in order to determine if the applicant is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, receiving, owning, or purchasing a firearm. (c) The department shall issue a certificate to an applicant if the department’s records indicate that the applicant is not a person who is prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms. (d) The department shall adopt regulations to administer the certificate of eligibility program and shall recover the full costs of administering the program by imposing fees assessed to applicants who apply for those certificates.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

Start your matter free Ask Law Link about this code

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.