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California's New Ammo Check Fee Posted on 06.26.2025

California's New Ammo Check Fee

California's New Ammo Check Fee: What Shooters Need to Know in 2025

If you’ve been buying ammo in California over the past few years, you’ve probably noticed things aren’t as simple as they used to be. And starting July 1, 2025, it’s about to get just a little more expensive.

Here’s the scoop on the new changes, why they’re happening, and what it means for California gun owners and ammunition buyers.

A Quick History Lesson: Pre-Prop 63

Before 2016, California had virtually no regulation around the sale or transfer of ammunition. If you were legally allowed to own a firearm, you could buy ammo without much fuss.

While Penal Code section 30305 did prohibit certain individuals from possessing ammunition (similar to gun ownership restrictions), the California Department of Justice (DOJ) didn’t have any formal system in place to check or enforce that at the point of sale.

Then Came Proposition 63 and SB 1235

Things changed significantly with the passage of Proposition 63 (The Safety for All Act) and Senate Bill 1235 in 2016. These laws gave the DOJ the authority to:

  • Run ammunition eligibility checks
  • Verify a purchaser’s Certificate of Eligibility (COE) when ammo is bought through a licensed vendor

This created a system where anyone purchasing ammunition had to either:

  • Undergo a Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check (SAEC), or
  • Present a valid COE for verification

The $1 Fee That Didn’t Go Far

For several years, California charged just $1.00 per check—whether it was a SAEC or a COE verification. It seemed simple and inexpensive, but the reality was different.

That small fee wasn’t enough to support the administrative and enforcement costs of the statewide ammo eligibility program. As the system expanded, the need for a fee adjustment became clear.

The Big Change: Fees Going Up

As of January 1, 2024, California law allows the DOJ to raise the fees to better reflect the actual costs of operating the system.

On May 12, 2025, the Office of Administrative Law approved a fee increase, which becomes effective on July 1, 2025.

Here’s what’s changing:

  • The Standard Ammunition Eligibility Check (SAEC) fee will increase from $1.00 to $5.00
  • The COE Verification Check fee will also increase from $1.00 to $5.00

These adjustments are intended to cover reasonable regulatory and enforcement costs—not to generate profit.

Need More Details?

The DOJ has published regulatory documents detailing the changes, including markups (like underlines and strikethroughs) to show what’s been added or removed.

If you require a more accessible version, the DOJ can provide one by request. Just contact:

Email: [email protected]
Full Information: https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/regs/ammofee

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a hunter, a recreational shooter, or someone who just wants to stay on the right side of California law, it’s important to be aware of these changes. A $5 fee per ammo transaction may not break the bank, but it's one more thing to factor into your budget and compliance efforts.

This fee hike marks another chapter in California's evolving firearms and ammunition regulations. Stay informed, follow the rules, and plan ahead when stocking up.