California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 12007

(a) For the purposes of this part, the term “issuing authority” shall mean either the sheriff of a county, or the chief or other head of a municipal police department of any city or city and county, or the chief of a fire department or fire protection agency, and their authorized representatives, provided that, in the event the designated issuing authority is the chief of a fire department or fire protection agency, such fire department or fire protection agency is organized with regularly paid full-time personnel. The governing body of any county, city, or city and county shall designate one of the above as the issuing authority within its jurisdiction and shall notify the State Fire Marshal of the person so designated.

(b) If the governing body of any county, city, or city and county does not designate an issuing authority pursuant to subdivision (a), the State Fire Marshal shall designate the sheriff of the county as the issuing authority.