Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Reduces Concealed Carry Permit Delays Following DOJ Lawsuit

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) has reduced delays in processing concealed carry permit applications after a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ) claimed that thousands of applications were pending for extended periods, with some gun owners waiting nearly three years. The DOJ announced on Thursday that the LASD is now meeting California's permitting deadlines due to the addition of personnel and new processing software. The lawsuit, filed in September 2025, was the first affirmative lawsuit by the DOJ in support of gun owners' rights. Prior to the lawsuit, applicants were reportedly waiting an average of over nine months for decisions on their permits. The DOJ stated that LASD has significantly decreased these wait times and is now compliant with California's statutory deadlines. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon noted that the sheriff's department had acknowledged the issue and allocated resources to address it. The DOJ's investigation began in March 2025, prompted by complaints regarding the handling of concealed carry applications. The lawsuit alleged that between January 2024 and March 2025, LASD received 3,982 applications but approved only two by May 2025, with many applicants facing delays of up to 1,030 days. California law mandates that licensing authorities provide applicants with an initial decision within 90 days. The settlement reached will ensure that LASD processes concealed carry applications under objective standards and without excessive delays.