Generally 10 days, whether it’s a dealer sale or a private party transfer, and no matter how many guns you already own. The dealer holds the firearm the whole time, and the clock doesn’t shorten just because your background check cleared early. California law does list waiting-period exemptions for specific categories (the DOJ publishes them), and a delayed background check can hold things up longer.
Sources
- The full detail: The 10-day wait, explained
- CA DOJ: Firearms FAQs (waiting period exemptions) (retrieved 2026-10-04)
More answers
- What happens if my check comes back “undetermined”?
- Can I buy ammo online and have it shipped to my house?
- Do I get checked every single time I buy a box of ammo?
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