Ammo Hub CA

Get Ammo Shipped to Your Door in California: The FFL03 + COE Guide

Last reviewed October 19, 2026

In California, ammo normally has to go through a licensed store, with a background check and a fee every time you buy. There’s a legal way around that: get two documents, and online stores can ship ammo straight to your house.

  1. FFL03: a federal collector’s license from the ATF. $30, good for 3 years.
  2. COE: a Certificate of Eligibility from the California DOJ. About $71 plus a fingerprint fee, renewed every year for $22.

Most people finish both in 3–8 weeks, for about $125–$155 total.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official links before you rely on anything here.

Before you start

You can do this if you:

  • Are 21 or older
  • Are allowed to own firearms under federal and California law
  • Live in California (your home becomes your licensed address)

You’ll need:

  • A printer and an envelope with postage
  • A way to pay $30 to the ATF (check, money order or credit card)
  • About 30 minutes at a Live Scan fingerprint location
  • An email address and a desktop computer (the state’s website works poorly on phones)

Quick start: 6 steps

Step 1. Fill out the ATF form (20 minutes)

  • Download ATF Form 7/7CR: atf.gov/file/61506/download
  • Check Type 03, Collector of Curios and Relics.
  • Type 03 applicants skip items 13–17. You don’t need fingerprints or a photo for this one.
  • For purpose, many people write: “To enhance my personal collection of curios and relics.”
  • Sign it, and make a copy.

Step 2. Mail it, and send a copy to your police chief (10 minutes, $30)

  • Mail the form with $30 to: Federal Firearms Licensing Center, P.O. Box 6200-20, Portland, OR 97228-6200
  • Mail the copy (Copy 2) to your local police chief, or your county sheriff if you live outside city limits. Address it “Attn: Chief of Police” at the main station. They don’t have to do anything; you just have to send it.

Step 3. Get fingerprinted at Live Scan (30 minutes, about $95–$120)

  • Print the DOJ’s Live Scan form for a COE: BOF 4008 (PDF)
  • Find a Live Scan location near you with the DOJ’s Live Scan location finder. Many UPS Stores, shipping centers and police departments offer it. Bring the form and your ID.
  • You pay two fees there:
    • The $71 state fee for your COE.
    • The location’s own “rolling fee,” usually $25–$50. Call ahead to confirm.
  • Keep the ATI number they give you. You’ll need it in the next step.

Step 4. Apply for your COE online (15 minutes)

  • Go to cfars.doj.ca.gov, create an account, and start a Certificate of Eligibility application.
  • Enter your ATI number from Live Scan.
  • For business type, choose Collector.
  • Submit it. You don’t need your FFL03 yet.

Step 5. When your FFL03 arrives, upload it to CFARS (5 minutes)

  • Your license comes by mail, usually within 60 days. Scan or photograph both sides.
  • Upload it to your COE application in CFARS. There’s no “FFL” document type, so pick any type; people report that works. The DOJ has sometimes held COE applications until the FFL03 is uploaded.
  • When your COE is approved, download and save it as a PDF.

Step 6. Send both documents to a retailer and order (10 minutes)

  • Pick a store from our retailer list, which shows only stores that ship to FFL03+COE holders, with each store’s steps.
  • Most stores ask you to upload your documents to your account, or email them after you sign up or order. A few ask you to call for your first order.
  • Once you’re approved, future orders ship straight to your door.

That’s it.

Your timeline at a glance

WeekWhat happens
Week 1Mail the ATF form (Steps 1–2), get Live Scan (Step 3), apply in CFARS (Step 4)
Weeks 2–8Wait. The ATF has up to 60 days; the DOJ says 6–8 weeks, but many people hear back sooner.
When the FFL03 arrivesUpload it to CFARS (Step 5)
When the COE is approvedSend both to a retailer and order (Step 6)
  • Renew your COE every year. In CFARS, up to 60 days before it expires; it’s $22. Wait more than 90 days past expiration and you start over, fingerprints included.
  • Renew your FFL03 every 3 years. The ATF mails you a renewal form about 90 days before it expires. If it hasn’t arrived 30 days before, call them.
  • Send retailers your new COE each year, or they’ll stop shipping to you.

Good to know

At a California gun store, you still go through the state check when you buy ammo in person. Your COE lets you use the cheaper $5 COE check instead of the $19 one.

This isn’t a business license. The FFL03 is for collecting old firearms (“curios and relics,” generally 50 or more years old). It doesn’t let you sell guns or ammo, and it doesn’t change how you buy modern guns.

If you buy C&R firearms with your license, a few extra rules apply:

  • Log them in a bound book.
  • Report out-of-state C&R purchases to the DOJ within 5 days through CFARS.
  • The ATF can inspect your records once a year at most, and you can ask for it to happen at their office.

Taxes.

  • Many big online stores charge California sales tax at your local rate (about 7.75% in much of San Diego County). Some smaller stores don’t.
  • California’s 11% ammo excise tax is written for licensed California dealers and vendors, and out-of-state stores usually don’t charge it.
  • We show exactly what each store charges. If you have questions about what you might owe, ask the CDTFA or a tax professional.

City rules.

  • Some stores won’t deliver inside the City of Los Angeles.
  • San Francisco has extra record-keeping rules for sellers delivering there.
  • Check your city if you’re unsure.

The law could change. California’s ammo background-check law is being challenged in court (Rhode v. Bonta), and the Ninth Circuit hasn’t ruled yet. For now, the DOJ says the law is still in effect. We’ll update this page if that changes.

Common questions

Can I do the FFL03 and COE at the same time? Yes. That’s the fastest way. Do Steps 1–4 in the same week.

Do I need fingerprints for the FFL03? No. Only the COE needs Live Scan fingerprints.

What if my COE expires? Stores can’t ship to you until you renew. Set a reminder about 60 days ahead.

Can I buy modern guns shipped to my house with this? No. It only covers curio and relic firearms. Everything else goes through a dealer as usual.

Which stores accept it? See our retailer list. It shows how each store verifies you, plus its shipping and tax, so you see the real price delivered to your door.

The fine print (for the curious)