California's non-lead ammunition law is now fully in effect as of July 1, 2019, phased in over several years. Originally intended largely to regulate ammunition used for taking (hunting) wildlife within the California Condor range, the implementing regs are broader, and there's a fair amount of confusion out there. For example, while in a LGS last week the counter guy, a retired LE now working part time retail for a few extra bucks, told me that this law also covered defense ammo. Great marketing angle for his store, except it's not true.
So here's a summary of the new law, mostly taken from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/nonlead-ammunition although as I'll note below the website descriptions are, to be generous, a little over-simplified.
"In October 2013, Assembly Bill 711 was signed into law requiring the use of nonlead ammunition when taking any wildlife with a firearm in California. This law required the California Fish and Game Commission to adopt regulations that phased-in the statute’s requirements by July 1, 2019."
Info on enforcement (first-offense fine is $500):
"All ammunition in a hunter’s possession may be inspected by wildlife officers. In some cases, if a wildlife officer suspects a hunter is in possession of lead ammunition and cannot prove otherwise in the field, he or she may seize a cartridge or bullet for further analysis. Hunters are encouraged to assist in confirming compliance by retaining and carrying in the field ammunition boxes or other packaging."
Non-hunting uses:
"The regulations do not require use of nonlead ammunition when target shooting. Use of lead projectiles for target shooting is legal unless CDFW or another government entity has determined otherwise for lands they administer. The regulations do not prohibit the possession of concealable firearms containing lead ammunition, provided the firearm is possessed for personal protection and is not used to take or assist in the take of wildlife. With the exception of ammunition for concealable firearms possessed for personal protection, hunters may not possess lead ammunition along with a firearm capable of firing that ammunition."
So by my reading, use of traditional self-defense ammo is fine as long as it isn't used for hunting. It's not certain that every game warden understands this, so for now I'm carrying solid copper loads whenever in rural areas in hunting season.
The link below is to Assembly Bill 711, and a quick read will show that it's more limited than what's described above. That suggests that, as often happens, CDFW wrote implementing regs with broader coverage than the enabling legislation.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/f...201320140AB711