Ohio Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

Ohio is a shall-issue state.

[Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.125(D)(1)]

The minimum age to carry concealed handguns in Ohio is 21.

Yes, since open carry is not addressed in state statutes, any person who is at least 18 years old and legally entitled to possess a firearm can open carry.

STUN GUNS and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a license.

PEPPER SPRAY - Legal for self-defense purposes. Ohio imposes no restrictions on size or concentration. Prohibited in schools, government buildings, and other restricted areas.

TEAR GAS - Legal for self-defense but subject to general misuse laws.

BEAR SPRAY - Legal for self-defense against wildlife. No specific state restrictions but misuse against humans could lead to legal consequences. 

BLUDGEONS AND BATONS - Expandable batons are legal to own and carry in Ohio. Batons are not classified as "dangerous weapons," so they can be carried openly or concealed without a permit.

Items such as billy clubs, slapjacks, and nightsticks are also legal unless used with criminal intent.

BRASS KNUCKLES - Legal under Ohio law. There are no explicit bans on possession, sale, or use.

Yes, with a valid concealed carry license, unless posted and provided you are not consuming beer or intoxicating liquor or are under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse.

[Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2923.121(B)(1)(e) and 2923.126(B)(4)]

Yes. Ohio allows concealed carry at roadside rest areas with a valid concealed carry license.

A business entity, property owner, or public or private employer may not have a policy that prohibits a person who has been issued a valid concealed handgun license from transporting or storing a firearm or ammunition when both of the following conditions are met:

• Each firearm and all of the ammunition remains inside the person's privately owned motor vehicle while the person is present inside the motor vehicle, or each firearm and all of the ammunition is locked within the trunk, glove box, or other enclosed compartment or container within or on the person's privately owned motor vehicle; and
• The vehicle is in a location where it is permitted to be.

[Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.1210]

Yes. Your Ohio driver’s license is linked to your Ohio concealed handgun license. Therefore, a law enforcement officer will be notified immediately that you are a concealed carry license holder if they run your driver’s license.

No. The public has no access to Ohio's concealed carry registry.

Yes, the state has preemption. The authority to regulate firearms is reserved to the state, except municipalities may restrict the discharge of firearms. Anyone adversely affected by a local ordinance in conflict with state firearms laws may bring a civil suit against the locality.

[Ohio Rev. Code § 9.68]

Not while consuming beer or intoxicating liquor or under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse.

[Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.121(d)]

As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgement, slow your reaction times, or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences.

Yes. A concealed carry license is not required for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm to carry a handgun in the person's own home for any lawful purpose.

[Ohio Rev. Code 2923.12(C)(1)(d)]

No. Ohio has no waiting period for handgun purchases.

As there is no state law regarding the minimum age for possession of a handgun, the Federal minimum of 18 years of age applies. The minimum age to purchase a handgun is generally 21 years old, although there are exceptions for law enforcement officers and active or reserve member of the armed services of the United States or the Ohio national guard that are at least 18 years old.

[Ohio Rev. Code 2923.21 & 2923.211]

Moving to Ohio and interested in applying for a resident license? How soon can you apply?Ohio issues licenses to residents and only non-residents who are employed in Ohio. You can apply for your license to a county sheriff once you have been an Ohio resident for at least 45 days or, if you live in another state, once employed in Ohio. An Ohio resident may carry a concealed handgun under the license of another state within Ohio as long as there is a valid reciprocity agreement with that state. However, an Ohio resident carrying the license of another state without a reciprocity agreement must obtain an Ohio license within 6 months of becoming an Ohio resident.  

Moving from Ohio and have an Ohio resident license? Does that license transfer to your new state? Is there a grace period during which your Ohio license remains valid?If a person with an Ohio concealed handgun license establishes residency in another state, the license expires upon the establishment of residence in the other state. For out-of-state license holders, licenses cannot be renewed once you are no longer employed in the state. 

An applicant must:

• Be at least 21 years old;
• Be an Ohio resident for at least 45 days and a resident of the county in which you are applying, or the adjacent county, for at least 30 days;
• Be employed in Ohio If you live in another state;
• Be legally living in the United States;
• If not a U.S. citizen, must not have been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa, as defined in the "Immigration and Nationality Act," 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(26);
• Certify that the applicant has not renounced the applicant's United States citizenship, if applicable; 
• Have completed an approved firearms training class (training is waived for active duty military and retired and honorably discharged veterans with proof of military firearms experience);
• Certify that you have read the firearms safety pamphlet prepared by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission;
• Not be a fugitive from justice;
• Not have had a suspended concealed carry license from Ohio or another state;
• Not be under indictment for or otherwise charged with: 
  • a felony; 
  • An offense under ORC Chapters 2925, 3719, or 4729 that involves the illegal possession, use, sale, administration, or distribution of or trafficking in a drug of abuse; 
  • A misdemeanor offense of violence; or 
  • A violation of ORC Sections 2903.14 or 2923.1211.
• Not have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony or an offense under ORC Chapters 2925, 3719, or 4729 that involves the illegal possession, use, sale, administration, or distribution of or trafficking in a drug of abuse; 
• Not have been adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that if committed by an adult would be a felony or would be an offense under ORC Chapters 2925, 3719, or 4729 that involves the illegal possession, use, sale, administration, or distribution of or trafficking in a drug of abuse; 
• Not have been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or adjudicated a delinquent child for:
  • Committing a violation of ORC Section 2903.13 when the victim of the violation is a peace officer; or
  • Committing any other offense that is not previously described that is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year.
• Not have been within 3 years of the date of the application:
  • Convicted of, or pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense of violence other than a misdemeanor violation of ORC Section 2921.33 or a violation of ORC Section 2903.13 when the victim of the violation is a peace officer; 
  • Convicted of, or pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of ORC Section 2923.1211; 
  • Adjudicated a delinquent child for committing an act that if committed by an adult would be a misdemeanor offense of violence other than a misdemeanor violation of ORC Section 2921.33; or
  • A violation of ORC Section 2903.13 when the victim of the violation is a peace officer or for committing an act that if committed by an adult would be a misdemeanor violation of ORC Section 2923.1211.
• Not have been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or adjudicated a delinquent child for committing two or more violations of ORC Sections 2903.13 or 2903.14 within 5 years of the date of the application;
• Not have been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or adjudicated a delinquent child for committing a violation of ORC Section 2921.33 within 10 years of the date of the application;
• Not have been adjudicated as a mental defective, committed to any mental institution, under adjudication of mental incompetence, been found by a court to be a mentally ill person subject to court order, and is not an involuntary patient other than one who is a patient only for purposes of observation (as used in this division, "mentally ill person subject to court order" and "patient" have the same meanings as in ORC Section 5122.01);
• Not currently subject to a civil protection order, a temporary protection order, or a protection order issued by a court of another state;
• Not be an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance as defined in 21 U.S.C. 802;
• Not have been discharged from the armed forces of the United States under dishonorable conditions; 
• Not have been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or adjudicated a delinquent child for committing a violation of ORC Section 2919.25 or a similar violation in another state; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

Note: 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. They may also transport a loaded firearm in a vessel under the same circumstances as a concealed carry License holder.

*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Ohio.

Ohio law requires you to notify the county sheriff’s office at which you obtained your concealed carry license within 45 days after a change of address. This process, required by law, modifies the record held by our agency in the event you need to be contacted regarding suspension, revocation, or administrative purpose. If you wish to obtain a CCW license with your new address and/or name change you may do so by scheduling an appointment. Some counties have a change of address form, but that varies. A $15 fee is required.

5 years

• A school safety zone which includes a school, school building, school premises, school activity (except for a concealed handgun license holder in a motor vehicle while immediately in the process of picking up or dropping off a child) and school buses;
• A child day care center and Type A or B family day-care home, if posted;
• Any premises owned or leased by any public or private college, university or other institution of higher education (based on a settlement agreement, Ohio State University now allows the storage of firearms in locked vehicles on campus);
• A police station, sheriff’s office or state highway patrol station or premises controlled by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; 
• A courthouse or another building or structure in which a courtroom is located;
• The state capitol buildings [Ohio Admin. Code § 128-4-02(G)(9)]; 
• A state correctional institution, jail, workhouse or other detention facility; 
• Any secure areas of an airport passenger terminal; 
• Any state institutions for the care and treatment of mentally ill persons or state institutions for the care, treatment and training of persons with intellectual disabilities;
• Any premises that sells liquor or open-air arena for which a Class D liquor permit has been issued, if you are consuming beer or intoxicating liquor, if you are under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse, or if posted;
• Any church, synagogue, mosque or other 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; and
• Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law or state law or regulation.

Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.126(B)

Based on SB 140, which took effect on April 12, 2021, any knife or cutting instrument is defined as a weapon only if it is used as a weapon. The legislation no longer categorizes a concealed knife, razor or cutting instrument as a "deadly weapon" or "weapon" as long as it's not used as a weapon. So, Ohio law now allows for the ownership and open carry and concealed carry of any type of knife other than ballistic knives, which are forbidden. Knives are restricted in "School Safety Zones" which include, schools, school buildings, school premises, school activities and school buses; and courthouses or other structures in which a courtroom is located. Ohio municipalities may have additional restrictions. For example, both Akron and Cleveland prohibit the possession in public places of any knife with a blade 2 ½ inches or longer.

[Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2923.11(A), 2923.12, 2923.122, 2923.123 & 2923.20]

Yes, with a valid Ohio Concealed Handgun License, a concealed handgun license from a state that Ohio honors or LEOSA.

[Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-15-11v1(C)(1)]