Stun Gun Laws
Is Stun Gun Legal In California?
Stun Gun in CA is Legal with Restrictions.
Legal with Restrictions Stun guns are legal to purchase, possess, and use in California under Cal. Penal Code Section 22610, and no state permit or licence is required. Age: A minor may be sold, or may possess, a stun gun only if the minor is at least 16 years of age AND has the written consent of a parent or legal guardian (Section 22610(c)(1) and (d)). A minor under 16 may not be sold one under any circumstances. Written consent alone is not sufficient below age 16. Prohibited persons: Section 22610(a)-(b) bar any person convicted of a felony or of any crime involving an assault, any person convicted of misuse of a stun gun under Section 244.5, and any person addicted to a narcotic drug. Restricted locations, regardless of eligibility: state and local public buildings and meetings required to be open to the public (Section 171b); the grounds of any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 through 12 (Section 626.10); and the sterile area of an airport or passenger vessel terminal (Section 171.5). Product requirements: Each stun gun sold must bear the manufacturer's name and a serial number (Section 22615) and must be accompanied by an instruction booklet (Section 22625). Penalties: Unless otherwise specified, a violation of the stun gun provisions is a misdemeanour (Section 22620). Assault with a stun gun under Section 244.5 is punishable by up to one year in county jail or by 16 months, two, or three years of imprisonment, and by two, three, or four years where the victim is a peace officer or firefighter engaged in official duties. Device classification note: Section 17230 defines a stun gun as an item "except a less lethal weapon" capable of temporarily immobilising a person by the infliction of an electrical charge. A device that propels probes or projectiles to deliver the charge may fall outside that definition and instead under the less lethal weapon provisions at Sections 16780 and 19400-19405, which apply a different age rule. Confirm the classification of a specific device before purchase. Statute date: Section 22610 - "Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. (SB 1080) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711." These sections are the successors to former Penal Code Sections 12650 and 12651, recodified by the Deadly Weapons Recodification Act of 2010. Official source (California Legislative Information): https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=22610. Verified against that source: August 26, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and local ordinances change. Confirm current requirements with California authorities or your own counsel before purchasing or carrying.