This is not legal advice.Concealed-carry reciprocity changes frequently and carries serious legal consequences. Verify current law with the destination state's official source before you carry.
OhioConcealed Carry Permit & Reciprocity
Ohio is a permitless (constitutional) carry state as of June 13, 2022 (SB 215). Any "qualifying adult" — a person 21 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm — may carry a concealed handgun anywhere in Ohio without a license (O.R.C. §2923.111). The Ohio Concealed Handgun License (CHL) remains available and is worth holding for reciprocity, since many other states honor an Ohio CHL but not permitless carry. Ohio issues a single license class through the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence (or an adjacent county) and requires an 8-hour training course. SB 215 also relaxed Ohio's notify rule: there is no longer an affirmative duty to proactively inform an officer you are armed — a person carrying concealed must disclose only when an officer asks (O.R.C. §2923.12(B)(2)). Ohio recognizes the valid concealed handgun license of any non-resident from any other state while that person is temporarily in Ohio, regardless of any formal reciprocity agreement (O.R.C. §109.69).
Ohio Ohio Concealed Handgun License (CHL)
- Issuing authority
- Ohio County Sheriffs (concealed-carry reciprocity maintained by the Ohio Attorney General)
- Carry regime
- constitutional
- Minimum age
- 21
- Fee
- $67
- Training
- Required (8 hrs)
- Validity
- 5 years
Carry practicalities
Permitless carry
Allowed — minimum age 21
Ohio has permitless (constitutional) carry since June 13, 2022 (SB 215). A "qualifying adult" — a person 21 or older who is not legally prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or Ohio law — may carry a concealed handgun anywhere in Ohio without a license (O.R.C. §2923.111). Residency is not required to carry as a qualifying adult.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Open carry
Permitless
Open carry of a firearm is lawful in Ohio without a license for any person who may lawfully possess a firearm; Ohio imposes no licensing requirement for openly carrying, and SB 215 confirmed the right of a qualifying adult (21+) to carry openly or concealed (O.R.C. §2923.111). Open carry remains subject to the prohibited-place restrictions of O.R.C. §2923.126.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Duty to inform
Not required
As of SB 215 (eff. June 13, 2022), Ohio imposes NO affirmative duty to proactively notify a law enforcement officer that you are carrying. A person carrying a concealed handgun who is stopped for a law enforcement purpose must, however, disclose that fact when — and only when — the officer asks whether the person is carrying a concealed handgun; knowingly failing to disclose upon that inquiry is an offense (O.R.C. §2923.12(B)(2)). This replaced the pre-2022 rule that required the licensee to promptly inform the officer proactively.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Off-limits locations
- K-12 school safety zones
- police stations, sheriff's offices, and state highway patrol stations
- premises controlled by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
- jails, workhouses, correctional institutions, and other detention facilities
- courthouses and other buildings containing a courtroom
- public or private colleges and universities (institutions of higher education)
- certain state mental health institutions
- premises holding a Class D liquor permit (bars) where §2923.121 applies
- government buildings, unless the governing body permits carry
- places of worship, unless the place of worship permits carry
- secured (past-screening) areas of airports
- places where federal law prohibits carrying handguns
Curated key categories, not exhaustive. Prohibited places are enumerated in O.R.C. §2923.126(B) (cross-referencing §§2923.121–2923.123 for liquor-permit premises, school safety zones, and courthouses). Federal facilities and private property where the owner or occupant prohibits carry are also off-limits.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Ohio reciprocity summary
Ohio honors 49 states' permits · honored by 38 states
Last verified 2026-07-09 against Ohio Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity Agreements.
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Get notified when your state's reciprocity changes.
Ohio FAQ
- Does Ohio have constitutional carry?
- Yes. Ohio is a constitutional (permitless) carry state — eligible adults may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The CHL remains available and is still worth holding for reciprocity in states that don't recognize permitless carry.
- How much does a Ohio CHL cost?
- The CHL application fee in Ohio is $67. The license fee is $67 for an applicant who has been an Ohio resident for five or more years; applicants who are newer residents or out-of-state (employed in Ohio) pay $67 plus the cost of an FBI criminal-records check (O.R.C. §2923.125(B)).
- Does Ohio honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?
- Ohio honors concealed-carry permits from 49 other states, subject to the qualifiers (resident-only or permit-class restrictions) noted on each reciprocity pair. See the full inbound list on the "who Ohio honors" page.
- Where is a Ohio CHL honored?
- A Ohio CHL is honored by 38 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.
- How long is a Ohio CHL valid?
- A Ohio CHL is valid for 5 years before renewal is required.