DOJ Sues Glendale Over Permit Costs, Part of Wider CA Crackdown

The DOJ is suing Glendale, California, arguing the city's concealed-carry permit process is so expensive and discretionary that it effectively undoes the state's shall-issue law.

Snapshot

Filed Nov. 9 in federal court, the suit says Glendale's permit costs and screening requirements create unreasonable barriers for ordinary applicants. DOJ argues the city's fees and discretion-heavy review process amount to a de facto may-issue system, something it says runs afoul of the Supreme Court's reasoning in Bruen.

Key points

• The cost: DOJ calculates a new permit runs roughly $2,000 once you add the $1,078 city fee, fingerprinting, training, range qualification, and a required psych evaluation; renewals run about $1,300.
• The city's own numbers: DOJ notes Glendale's stated fee was only $100 for new applicants and $25 for renewals last fiscal year, far below what applicants actually pay.
• The screening complaint: The suit targets reference checks, interviews, social media review, residency verification, and psych exams, which DOJ says turn a shall-issue system into one where police have too much discretion.
• What DOJ wants: An injunction against the fees and screening steps, plus a requirement that Glendale notify everyone previously denied and offer them a chance to reapply.
• The pattern: This follows DOJ suits against LA County (settled 2026) and San Jose over similar permit-cost complaints, suggesting a broader enforcement push in California.

Quick take

Nothing's been decided yet, and Glendale hasn't responded in court as of Nov. 10, so current fees and rules still apply. But for California permit holders and applicants, this is worth watching, since a ruling here could set precedent for what counts as an "exorbitant fee" under Bruen.

Read the full story: thefirearmblog.com