Carrying a firearm for self-defense comes with a lot of responsibility. Knowing the laws where you carry is just one important task you must undertake as an armed American. To help with that, we provide a comprehensive overview of Ohio gun laws. Learn about the most important things to know when carrying in the Buckeye State below.
Can You Carry a Gun in Ohio?
On March 14, 2022, Gov. Mike DeWine signed SB 215, or the constitutional carry bill, into law. Gun owners 21 years old or older legally permitted to own a gun no longer need to obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon. It went into effect on June 12, 2022.
Ohio Concealed Carry Permit
The minimum age for an Ohio Concealed Handgun License is 21 years old, and applicants must be Ohio residents or work in the state. Eight hours of firearms training is generally required, although current and former members of the military may be exempt from the training class as well as license fees. In addition, active-duty military with a valid military identification card and documentation of successful firearms training that meets or exceeds that required in Ohio do not need to obtain an Ohio license.
Open Carry Gun Laws in Ohio
Open carry is legal in Ohio without a permit except in vehicles or businesses that sell alcohol.
Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground
Ohio law provides that a person is justified in using force if he or she “reasonably believed that the force was necessary to prevent injury, loss, or risk to life or safety.” Ohio adheres to the Castle Doctrine, meaning that you don’t have a duty to retreat.
House Bill 228 — Ohio’s Castle Law — went into effect on March 28, 2019, presuming that the homeowner/vehicle owner acted in defense of another or themselves when applying deadly force to an intruder. Therefore, if the homeowner is charged, the prosecution would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused person did not use the force in self-defense, defense of another or defense of that person’s residence.
Gun Purchase and Handgun Registration Requirements
Permits are not required when buying a handgun, and there is no firearms registration in Ohio. No background check is required when buying a handgun from a private individual. (The purchaser must be at least 21 years old.) The minimum age to purchase a handgun from a federally licensed dealer is 21 (or 18 years of age for active-duty members of the military). There is also no mandatory waiting period for handgun purchases or magazine-capacity restrictions.
Less-Lethal Legal Self-Defense Weapons
Stun guns, Tasers and pepper spray are legal to purchase and possess without a license.
Where Can One Carry in Ohio?
Understanding where you can and cannot carry a firearm is crucial for staying compliant with Ohio’s gun laws. The state has specific locations where carrying a concealed handgun is allowed and places where it is strictly prohibited, even for permit holders. Familiarize yourself with these regulations to ensure you are always carrying legally and responsibly.
- Restaurants that serve alcohol (unless posted and provided no alcohol is consumed)
- State/national parks
- State/national forests
- Wildlife Management Areas
Locations where concealed carry is prohibited, even for permit holders, include:
- School safety zones and school buses
- Child day care centers and family day care homes
- Any premises owned or leased by any public or private college, university, or other institution of higher education (Ohio State University now allows the storage of firearms in locked vehicles on campus.)
- Law enforcement offices and stations
- Courthouses and courtrooms
- State capitol buildings
- State correctional institutions and detention facilities
- Secure areas of an airport passenger terminal
- State institutions for the care and treatment of mentally ill persons or persons with intellectual disabilities
- Any premises that sell liquor or open-air arenas for which a Class D liquor permit has been issued, if you are consuming beer or intoxicating liquor, are under the influence or if posted
- Any place of worship (unless the place of worship posts or permits otherwise)
- Any property (including vehicles) owned by private employers that prohibit firearms
- Any state government buildings, unless the governing body permits otherwise
- Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal or state law or regulation
Can You Carry a Gun in Your Car in Ohio?
Since constitutional carry passed, those without a license can carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle as long as they are legally eligible to have a firearm. When SB 215 went into effect on June 12, 2022, carriers are no longer required to inform a law enforcement officer that he or she is carrying unless an officer asks. Ohio law requires the licensee to remain in the vehicle and with hands in plain sight at all times. He or she must have no contact with the firearm while interacting with law enforcement. Any valid concealed carry license holder can concealed carry at roadside rest areas
Can You Carry a Gun in a Church in Ohio?
Per Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.126(B), even individuals with concealed carry permits may not carry a concealed handgun onto the premises of any church, synagogue, mosque or another place of worship, unless the place of worship posts or permits otherwise. Therefore, if not posted on the property or in a bulletin, a permittee would need to inquire with the leadership of the place of worship for permission to carry.
Ready to Learn More About Ohio Gun Laws?
It’s your responsibility as a gun owner to know and understand the laws regarding your concealed carry rights. The USCCA’s Concealed Carry Reciprocity & Gun Laws Map is the ultimate tool for armed citizens like you to stay informed. To learn more about Ohio’s permit application process, concealed carry restrictions and training requirements, visit Ohio’s gun laws page now…
The information contained on this website is provided as a service to USCCA, Inc. Members and the concealed carry community, and does not constitute legal advice. Although we attempt to address all areas of concealed carry laws in all states, we make no claims, representations, warranties, promises or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information disclosed. Legal advice must always be tailored to the individual facts and circumstances of each individual case. Laws are constantly changing, and as such, nothing contained on this website should be used as a substitute for the advice of a lawyer.
