To buy ammo online in California, you order from a retailer that ships to the state, have the shipment sent to a licensed ammunition vendor near you, and pick it up in person after passing a background check run through the California Department of Justice. Ammunition cannot be shipped directly to your home. The process adds steps that other states don’t require, but it is predictable once you know the sequence.
Who Can Buy Ammunition in California
You must be at least 18 to buy rifle or shotgun ammunition and at least 21 for handgun ammunition.1State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Frequently Asked Questions Those age floors apply to every ammunition sale in the state, online or in person.
You also cannot buy or possess ammunition if you fall into a prohibited category. California Penal Code section 30305 bars anyone prohibited from possessing firearms from possessing ammunition as well. That covers people convicted of a felony, people with certain violent-felony convictions, people subject to qualifying restraining orders, and people who have been involuntarily committed for mental health treatment.2California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 30305 Possessing ammunition while prohibited carries up to a year in county jail or time in state prison, a fine up to $1,000, or both. The state’s background check screens against both California and federal prohibited-person records, so a disqualifier under either system blocks the sale.
Find a Licensed Vendor Before You Order
California requires every ammunition sale, including online, to be processed through a licensed ammunition vendor inside the state.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Becoming a Firearm Dealer and/or Ammunition Vendor in California Most Federal Firearms Licensees with a storefront are also licensed ammunition vendors, but not every shop accepts online ammunition transfers. Call first.
Transfer fees are all over the map. Some shops charge $7 or $10 per order; others charge $50 or more, sometimes with a per-box surcharge on top. That fee can easily erase the savings you were chasing online, so get a specific number for ammunition transfers (not firearm transfers, since those rates often differ) before you buy anything. While you have them on the phone, confirm the vendor’s current FFL information. You’ll need it at checkout.
Placing the Online Order
Once a vendor is lined up, the ordering itself is straightforward.
- Choose an online retailer that ships ammunition to California. Some national sellers do; others avoid the state because of the compliance requirements. The checkout should have a field for your receiving FFL.
- Enter the vendor’s business name, physical address, and Federal Firearms License number. Some retailers keep a database of California vendors you can search by zip code. Others require the FFL to send a copy of its license directly.
- Pay for the ammunition and shipping. The order ships to the vendor, not to you.
Do not try to route around this by buying out of state and driving the ammo in yourself. Penal Code section 30314 requires any ammunition obtained outside California to be delivered to a licensed vendor first.4California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 30314 That includes ammunition bought at a gun show in Nevada or ordered from an out-of-state site. The narrow exceptions cover ammunition vendors themselves and sworn peace officers.
Ammunition California Prohibits
California bans armor-piercing handgun ammunition. Under Penal Code section 30315, knowingly possessing handgun ammunition designed primarily to penetrate metal or armor is a criminal offense punishable by up to a year in county jail or state prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both.5State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Firearms Prohibiting Categories Standard self-defense and target ammunition is fine. Anything marketed as armor-piercing or built around a hardened-core penetrator projectile is not. California-facing retailers generally won’t ship prohibited types, but verifying the product is still on you.
The Background Check at Pickup
When your shipment arrives, the vendor contacts you. Bring a valid California driver’s license or state-issued ID. The vendor enters your identifying information into the DOJ’s Dealer Record of Sale Entry System, which triggers one of three background checks depending on your records with the state.6New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 11 CCR 4283 – Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check
Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check
If you’ve previously purchased or registered a firearm in California, your record is already in the Automated Firearms System. The vendor confirms your name, date of birth, address, and ID number against the AFS and cross-references the Armed and Prohibited Persons System. The check typically clears in two to three minutes and costs $5.7State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Ammunition Purchase Fee This is the route most existing California gun owners will use.
Certificate of Eligibility Verification
If you hold a current Certificate of Eligibility issued by the DOJ, the vendor can verify it electronically. The fee is also $5, and turnaround is similarly quick.7State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Ammunition Purchase Fee A COE is typically held by people in specific professions or by buyers who want an ongoing eligibility credential on file.
Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check
If you’re not in the AFS and don’t hold a COE, you’ll need a Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check. It costs $19 and requires a DOJ analyst to review your records manually.6New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 11 CCR 4283 – Basic Ammunition Eligibility Check Because a person handles the file, this check can take several days.8State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Ammunition Purchase Authorization Program If this is your first ammunition purchase and you’ve never bought a firearm in California, plan on coming back after the DOJ finishes reviewing.
One note on those fees: the Standard and COE checks were $1 each until July 1, 2025, when the DOJ raised them to $5 to cover program costs.7State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Ammunition Purchase Fee Those are state background check fees only. The vendor’s transfer fee sits on top.
Before you leave the counter, verify caliber, brand, quantity, and box condition against what you ordered. Fixing a mistake in the shop is much easier than fixing it after you’ve driven home.
What It Actually Costs
The sticker price is only part of the bill. Budget for:
- The ammunition itself, plus shipping from the retailer to the vendor.
- The vendor’s transfer fee, which varies widely from shop to shop.
- The state background check fee: $5 for a Standard or COE check, or $19 for a Basic check.7State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Regulations – Ammunition Purchase Fee
- California sales tax.
For small orders, the transfer fee alone can push the online route past what a local counter would charge. Online buying tends to pay off with bulk orders or when a specific product isn’t stocked locally. Do the full math before you check out.
If Your Background Check Is Denied
Denials happen, and how you find out the reason depends on which check ran. If a Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check is rejected, the vendor gives you an Ammunition Transaction Number. Enter that number in the California Firearms Application Reporting System (CFARS) to see the reason.1State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Frequently Asked Questions If a Basic check is denied, the DOJ mails the reason and also updates your CFARS record.
A denial doesn’t automatically mean you’re permanently barred. Common causes include an address on your ID that no longer matches state records, a name that flags against someone else’s record, or a database entry that hasn’t been updated to reflect a resolved legal matter. If the underlying data is wrong, you can work through CFARS or contact the DOJ’s Bureau of Firearms to correct it. While the issue is being sorted out, the ammunition stays with the vendor. Refund policies for the ammunition itself vary by retailer and by vendor, so read both before you order.