◆ OHIO · CARRY LAW
Ohio.
Information, not legal advice. Confirm with the state before you carry.
Kept in this browser only. Never sent to us.
◆ THE SHORT ANSWEREvery tile below is one of the answers further down this page, with its citation.
Concealed, no permit
Yes
Open, no permit
Yes
In a vehicle, no permit
Only in some cases
Getting a permit
Yes, shall-issue
- You must produce your permit if an officer asks for it.
◆ CARRYING HERE
What Ohio requires
The state's permit is the Concealed Handgun License, issued by your county sheriff.
Carrying without a permit3
Can I carry concealed here without a permit?
Permitless or "constitutional" carry. "Limited" means some adults qualify and others do not. Read the qualifier.
Yes
No license needed if you are a “qualifying adult”. 21 or older and not prohibited under federal law or Ohio’s own bar. You may then carry anywhere a license holder could.
In force since June 13, 2022.
Can I carry openly here without a permit?
Yes
Can I keep a loaded handgun in my car without a permit?
Only in some cases
The safe route without a license: UNLOADED and in a closed case, or in a compartment you must leave the vehicle to reach. Whether a permitless “qualifying adult” may instead keep one loaded and to hand is not settled here, if you do not hold a license, take the unloaded route.
Permits and age3
If I want this state's permit, will they issue one?
Shall-issue means the state must issue to any qualified applicant. May-issue leaves it to an official's discretion.
Yes, shall-issue
Issued by your county sheriff. The license still matters after permitless carry. It is what other states recognize, and what Ohio’s own vehicle rule turns on.
Can I get this state's permit if I live somewhere else?
Only in some cases
How old do I have to be to carry here?
The floor for the least restrictive lawful route. Where permitless and permit ages differ, the qualifier says so.
21
21, both for the license and to carry without one.
If an officer stops you1
Do I have to tell an officer I am armed?
"Required" means you must volunteer it on contact. "On request" means only when asked.
Only if asked
You must disclose that you are carrying before or at the moment the officer asks, so never volunteer it, but do not wait to be asked twice.
Buying and owning2
Do I need a state-issued card just to own or buy a firearm here?
Illinois' FOID is the main example. Distinct from a carry permit.
Not required
Is there a limit on magazine capacity here?
No limit
How the state governs guns2
Can a city here write its own gun rules on top of the state's?
Full preemption means state law is the only law. Partial means some cities may go further. Check locally.
No, state law is the only law
Does this state have a red-flag law?
An extreme risk protection order lets a court order firearms surrendered temporarily.
No, none in this state
Ohio has protection orders for domestic violence and stalking, but nothing that lets a court order firearms surrendered on a risk finding.
No extreme risk protection order statuteRead at the Ohio Attorney General ↗Checked 11 days ago
How we checked there is no such law
Searched codes.ohio.gov for "extreme risk protection order" and "risk protection order" on 2026-09-05. The Revised Code returns protection orders for domestic violence (2919.26, 3113.31), stalking and sexual violence (2903.214) and juveniles (2151.34), and no extreme-risk order. The related hits are what make this a real check rather than a failed query.◆ RECIPROCITY
Permits Ohio honors
If you are visiting Ohio, this is whether your permit counts here.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Honored54
◆ RECIPROCITY, THE OTHER WAY
Where Ohio permits are honored
If you live in Ohio, this is where your permit travels.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Honored35
Honored, with a condition3
Not honored16
◆ NFA ITEMS
Suppressors and NFA legality
Federal registration is required everywhere these are legal. A state can prohibit them regardless, and several do.
Can I possess a suppressor here?
Federal NFA registration is required everywhere it is legal. State law can prohibit it regardless.
Legal
Lawful when registered under the NFA.
Can I possess a short-barreled rifle here?
Legal
Lawful when registered under the NFA.
Can I possess a short-barreled shotgun here?
Legal
Lawful when registered under the NFA.
Can I possess a machine gun here?
Federally, civilian possession is limited to pre-1986 registered transferables.
Legal
Pre-1986 registered transferables only, under federal law.
Can I possess an AOW here?
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork, with one exception worth knowing: a ZIP GUN is dangerous ordnance in Ohio regardless of registration.
Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2923.11(K), 2923.17(A)Read at the Ohio Revised Code ↗Checked 11 days ago
How we checked there is no such law
Read § 2923.11(K)(1) through (6) and the (L) exceptions on 2026-09-07. The only AOW-adjacent item named is the zip-gun, which the qualifier calls out.◆ SOURCES
Where this comes from
This is information, not legal advice. Gun law changes often and the penalty for getting it wrong is criminal. Confirm every answer with the state before you carry there.
- The authority
- your county sheriff ↗
- ATF’s index
- Ohio firearm statutes ↗ (PDF)