Concealed Carry Laws in Ohio: Permit and Open Carry Rules
Short answer
Yes. Ohio adults 21 and older who are not legally barred from having a gun may carry a concealed handgun without a license (ORC 2923.111), and open carry needs no permit either. A license is optional and mainly helps when you travel. When an officer stops you, you must say you are carrying.
Last verified: November 1, 2026 against Ohio Revised Code Sections 2923.111, 2923.12, 2923.125, 2923.126, 2923.16 and 109.69
The concealed carry laws in Ohio changed on June 13, 2022, when Senate Bill 215 took effect and made a license optional for most adults. The rules that still catch people out are not about getting a permit. They are about what you must tell police, where a gun is banned and how a loaded handgun can ride in a car.
Key facts
- Permitless concealed carry: allowed for a “qualifying adult” 21 or older since June 13, 2022.
- Open carry: no Ohio permit is required, but the gun must not be even partly hidden.
- Traffic stops: you must tell the officer you are carrying and keep your hands in plain sight.
- Optional license: $67 for most Ohio residents, a decision within 45 days, valid five years.
- Cities cannot add their own carry rules. State law controls in every Ohio city and county.
- Pending bill: Senate Bill 392 would lower the carry age to 18, but it has not passed.
Concealed carry laws in Ohio: do you need a permit?
No, not if you are a qualifying adult. Under ORC 2923.111, that means you are at least 21, you are not barred from having a firearm under federal law or the Ohio Revised Code, and you meet most of the background criteria that apply to a license holder.
The law gives you the same right, with the same limits, as a person who holds a concealed handgun license. It applies to handguns that are not “restricted firearms,” such as dangerous ordnance. The right ends on its own if you become a prohibited person, for example after a felony conviction.
Is open carry legal in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio has no statute that bans carrying a visible firearm, and no permit is needed to do it. The Columbus Division of Police tells residents that no concealed carry permit or other license is needed to open carry in Ohio.
Open carry stops being open carry once the gun is partly concealed, because ORC 2923.12 then treats it as a concealed weapon. Pointing a gun at someone or threatening harm is a separate crime. You also cannot carry while drunk or high, because ORC 2923.15 makes carrying a firearm under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse a first-degree misdemeanor.
What must you do if police stop you while carrying?
Tell the officer you are carrying, keep your hands in plain sight and do not touch the gun. A qualifying adult is treated like a license holder for these duties (ORC 2923.12).
- Not telling the officer when you are asked, or before, is a second-degree misdemeanor.
- Not keeping your hands in plain sight, or ignoring a lawful order, is a first-degree misdemeanor. A repeat is a fifth-degree felony.
- Removing, grasping or touching a loaded handgun after the officer starts to approach, unless the officer directs you to, is a fifth-degree felony.
Real-world example: You are pulled over for a broken taillight in Dayton with a loaded handgun in the glove box. Say it right away, for example, “Officer, I have a handgun in the glove box,” then keep both hands on the wheel until you are told what to do.
Is an Ohio concealed handgun license still worth getting?
It can be, mainly for travel. Ohio still issues the concealed handgun license (CHL) through your county sheriff under ORC 2923.125, and some other states honor it.
| License detail | What Ohio requires |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 21 |
| Training | At least eight hours, including two hours of in-person range and live-fire work |
| Fee | $67 for residents of five years or more, plus the FBI check cost for newer residents |
| Timing | The sheriff has 45 days after a complete application |
| Term | Five years, with a $50 renewal fee |
| Fee waivers | Active, reserve and honorably discharged military, and most retired peace officers |
Ohio recognizes a valid out-of-state license for people who are visiting. A person who moves to Ohio with a license from a state that has a reciprocity agreement keeps the same carry right, and one from another state is recognized for six months before an Ohio application is needed (ORC 109.69). Other states decide for themselves whether they honor an Ohio license, so check the destination state before you travel.
Where is carrying a gun banned in Ohio?
Permitless carry does not reach every place. ORC 2923.126 lists locations where a licensee, and so a qualifying adult, may not carry a handgun.
- Police, sheriff and Highway Patrol stations, jails and prisons, and airport areas past security.
- School safety zones, courthouses and liquor permit premises such as bars, when carrying there would violate the related Ohio law.
- College and university property, unless the gun stays in a locked vehicle or the school allows carry in writing.
- A church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship, unless it posts or permits otherwise.
- Government buildings, except shelters, restrooms and parking areas, unless the governing body allows carry.
- Any place where federal law bans handguns.
A private owner can post a sign banning firearms. Knowingly ignoring that sign is criminal trespass, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. If the property is mainly a parking lot, the matter is civil only. A landlord cannot bar a licensed tenant from carrying inside the tenant’s home.
Can you carry a loaded gun in your car in Ohio?
Yes, if you are a license holder or qualifying adult carrying a handgun, and you follow the stop rules above. Otherwise a loaded gun that you can reach without leaving the vehicle is a fourth-degree felony under ORC 2923.16.
For everyone else, an unloaded firearm must ride in a closed case or package, in a compartment you can reach only by leaving the car, or in plain sight in a rack. A long gun at least 24 inches long with an 18-inch barrel may ride in plain sight with the action open. Missing these steps is a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Carrying a loaded handgun while drunk or high in a car is a felony.
Our Ohio gun laws guide covers buying, background checks and prohibited people in more detail, and our guide on whether suppressors are legal in Ohio covers NFA items.
Myths and facts about carrying in Ohio
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| You need a permit to carry concealed. | Not if you are 21 or older and not barred (ORC 2923.111). |
| Open carry is illegal in Ohio. | There is no state ban, and no permit is needed. Local police may still ask questions. |
| You only have to tell police if they ask. | You must disclose before or when asked, so tell them early. |
| Columbus or Cleveland can ban carry. | State law preempts city rules (ORC 9.68). |
| A 19-year-old can carry concealed. | Not under current law. A bill to change that is pending. |
Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati rules
Carry rules are the same in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and the rest of the state because ORC 9.68 bars local governments from adding their own restrictions on carrying firearms. City police still enforce state law. Under ORC 2923.126, carry in a government building is off limits unless its governing body allows it, and posted private property follows the sign rules above.
Penalties for carrying violations
| Offense | Level | Jail or prison (maximum range) | Fine (maximum) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not telling an officer you carry | M2 | Up to 90 days | $750 |
| Hands not in plain sight or ignoring a lawful order | M1 | Up to 180 days | $1,000 |
| Unloaded gun not stored correctly in a car | M4 | Up to 30 days | $250 |
| Touching a loaded handgun during a stop | F5 | 6 to 12 months | $2,500 |
| Carrying concealed when not allowed (basic) | M1 | Up to 180 days | $1,000 |
| Concealed with a loaded gun or a prior offense | F4 | 6 to 18 months | $5,000 |
| Loaded gun within reach in a car | F4 | 6 to 18 months | $5,000 |
Sources for the ranges: ORC 2929.24, ORC 2929.28, ORC 2929.14 and ORC 2929.18. A judge sets the actual sentence, and some convictions also cost you the right to carry.
Timeline of Ohio carry law
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 6, 2021 | Senate Bill 175 removes the duty to retreat where you have a legal right to be (ORC 2901.09). See our stand your ground guide. |
| June 13, 2022 | Senate Bill 215 takes effect, adding ORC 2923.111 and permitless concealed carry for qualifying adults. |
| March 23, 2026 | Senate Bill 392, the “Freedom to Carry Act,” is introduced. It would rename the license, lower the carry age to 18 and allow loaded guns in vehicles for more people. |
| May 20, 2026 | The Senate General Government Committee schedules the bill’s first hearing. As of November 1, 2026, it has not passed. |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ohio a constitutional carry state?
Yes. Since June 13, 2022, qualifying adults 21 and older can carry a concealed handgun without a license under ORC 2923.111. You must still follow the same place bans, car rules and police notice duties that apply to license holders.
Can you open carry a handgun in Ohio?
Yes. No Ohio permit is required to carry a gun in plain view. The gun must stay fully visible, because partly hiding it can make it a concealed weapon. You still cannot carry in banned places or while intoxicated.
Do you have to tell police you have a gun in Ohio?
Yes, during a stop for a law enforcement purpose. You must disclose that you are carrying before or when the officer asks, and keep your hands in plain sight. Failing to disclose is a second-degree misdemeanor under ORC 2923.12.
Can you carry a gun in a church in Ohio?
Only if the place of worship posts or permits it. Under ORC 2923.126, a license holder, and so a qualifying adult, may not carry into a church, synagogue or mosque unless the congregation allows it.
Can you carry a gun at a bar in Ohio?
You cannot carry while drinking, because ORC 2923.15 bans carrying a firearm while under the influence. Carrying into a liquor permit premises is also barred when it would violate ORC 2923.121, so check the rule before you go.
Is an Ohio license honored in other states?
It depends on the other state. Each state decides whether to honor an Ohio license, and a few do not. Ohio itself recognizes valid out-of-state licenses for visitors. Check the destination state’s rules before you cross the line.
Can an 18-year-old carry a gun in Ohio?
Not concealed under current law, because a qualifying adult and a license holder must be 21. Senate Bill 392 would lower that age to 18, but it was still in committee on November 1, 2026.
What changed on this page
- November 1, 2026: First published. Written against the Ohio Revised Code as of this date, including Senate Bill 215 and the status of Senate Bill 392. See our editorial policy and corrections page.
If this affects you
To apply for a license, contact your county sheriff. For reciprocity questions, see the Ohio Attorney General’s concealed carry pages. If you were charged with a carry offense, talk to an Ohio-licensed criminal defense attorney.
The Ohio State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with an Ohio-licensed attorney. For more topics, see the Guns and Weapons section. This page is general information, not legal advice.
