Cal. Health and Safety Code § 12640

In any case in which this chapter requires that a permit be obtained from the State Fire Marshal, or in any case in which the public agency having local jurisdiction requires pursuant to this chapter that a permit be obtained, a licensee shall possess a valid permit before performing any of the following: (a) Manufacturing, importing, exporting, storing, possessing, or selling dangerous fireworks at wholesale. (b) Manufacturing, importing, exporting, storing, or selling at wholesale or retail safe and sane fireworks or transporting safe and sane fireworks, except that a transportation permit shall not be required for safe and sane fireworks possessed by retail licensees. (c) Manufacturing, importing, exporting, possessing, storing, transporting, using, or selling at wholesale or retail, those fireworks classified by the State Fire Marshal as agricultural and wildlife fireworks. (d) Manufacturing, importing, exporting, possessing, storing, or selling at wholesale or retail, model rocket motors. (e) Discharging dangerous fireworks at any place, including a public display. (f) Using special effects.