LA County Sheriff Settles DOJ Lawsuit to Speed Concealed Carry Permits

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, committing to accelerate the processing of concealed carry handgun permits for residents. The agreement, announced on August 14, 2026, resolves a federal lawsuit filed in September 2025 that alleged the department had systematically delayed permit approvals, effectively infringing on Second Amendment rights.

The settlement stems from a DOJ complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, which accused the Sheriff's Department of a "deliberate pattern of delay" in processing applications. At the time of the lawsuit, the average wait time for an applicant to receive a permit was approximately nine months, far exceeding the statutory deadline of 120 days. The DOJ's complaint highlighted that between January 2024 and March 2025, the department received 3,982 applications for new concealed carry permits but approved only two.

In response to the litigation, the Sheriff's Department implemented significant changes to its procedures. The department established a dedicated Carry Conceal Unit in the summer of 2025, staffed by 16 full-time personnel. It also transitioned from a...