Ohio issues gun permit for the possession of firearms in the state,

To apply, you must meet all the requirements provided by the gun laws of the state.

Ohio Gun Permit Summary

Ohio is a shall-issue state for the possession of firearms, and a local county sheriff processes the permit application.

The state does not issue a purchase permit to buy firearms, but pistol license holders do not have to complete a criminal record check before buying guns.

How To Get A Gun Permit In Ohio?

The age requirement to apply for a gun permit in Ohio is twenty-one years old. Ohio issues gun permits for only concealed carry of firearms.

Ohio Gun Permit Laws

Ohio permits open carry of firearms, and you do not need a gun license to possess firearms. However, you must meet the age requirement of eighteen years old and still have intact legal rights to possess firearms.

But there are off-limit places for the possession of firearms. It is a prohibition to open carry firearms in these places.

Ohio restricts the use of assault weapons like machine guns and large-capacity firearms in the state.

The only exception to this are law enforcement officers, military members posted to the state, and federally licensed individuals.

Ohio Pistol License Requirements

All the requirements provided by Ohio pistol license law for the application of a permit include the following:

  • You must be at least twenty-one years old.
  • You must be a resident of Ohio for a minimum of forty-five days and a resident of the local county where you are applying, for a minimum of thirty days. For a non-resident permit, you must be working in Ohio.
  • You must be a legal citizen of the United States of America.
  • You must complete an Ohio firearm training except you are a member of the military, retired, or honorably discharged, with gun training experience proof.
  • You must not be under suspension from using a permit in another state.
  • You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name.
  • You must not be a convict of any felony case, or under any indictment whatsoever.
  • You must not be a convict, or plead guilty to any domestic violence or assault.
  • You must not be a convict or charged with drug trafficking or related crimes, misdemeanor violence crimes, or the assault of a law officer.
  • You must not be a convict or guilty of any of the above crimes for three years before Ohio gun permit application.
  • You must not be under arrest for falsifying a pistol permit.
  • You must not have any protection order from a court in Ohio or any other state in the USA.
  • You must not be guilty for a multiple delinquent assault charge five years before the permit application.
  • You must not be guilty of resisting arrest that has to do with a criminal charge for ten years before Ohio concealed carry permit application.
  • You must meet all other federal laws for gun permit applications.

Different Types Of Gun Permits In Ohio

A summary of firearms permits in Ohio includes the following:

  • State permit to purchase long guns: Ohio does not issue a state permit to buy long guns.
  • State permits to purchase handguns: Ohio does not issue a state permit to purchase handguns.
  • State permit to open carry: Ohio is a permissive state, so no license required to open carry.
  • State permits to conceal carry long guns: Ohio does not issue a state permit to conceal long guns.
  • State permits to conceal carry handguns: Ohio issues a pistol permit to conceal carry handguns in the state.

Gun Permits Application And Renewal Law In Ohio

The process to apply for gun permit Ohio include the following:

Complete A Firearm Training Course

Make sure that you enrol for an Ohio licensed firearm training first, and a certified instructor in the state conducts it.

Download And Complete Application

Download the application from an online portal and complete it.

Submit The Necessary Documents

Submit the following documents to your local sheriff’s office:

  • The completed application form.
  • Proof of firearm training certificates.
  • Your recently taken passport photograph of not more than thirty days.
  • Provide your fingerprint and pay the required fee.

Receive Notification Mail

You will receive an approval or denial mail after the processing period.

For an Ohio permit renewal process, you can begin the application at least ninety days before the expiry date and also after the date elapses.

If you are a non-resident that wants to apply for a renewal application, you must still have an employment status in Ohio.

If you are no longer an employee in Ohio, your permit will only be valid until its expiry date.

Note that after your Ohio gun license expires, you can no longer carry firearms in the state until you get a renewal permit.

Veterans and retirees can apply at no cost.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A Gun License In Ohio?

The price for initial permit application and renewal application in Ohio is ninety-one dollars and seventy-four dollars, respectively.

Gun Permit Reciprocity With Ohio

Ohio will accept gun licenses issued by a jurisdiction in the United States.

Other aspects of its reciprocity include the following:

States That Recognize Ohio Gun License

You can open carry firearms in these states if you have an Ohio gun license. But you must possess the guns according to their gun laws. They include the following:

  • Alabama
  • Delaware
  • Georgia
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Louisiana
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
  • Puerto Rico

States That Have Restricted Reciprocity With Ohio

These states will accept a gun license issued by Ohio, but you must meet other individual requirements before you can open carry. They are:

  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Michigan
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina

States That Do Not Require A Gun Permit To Possess Firearms

In these states, you do not need a gun license to open or conceal carry firearms. But the state may have age requirements or any other type of provision for the possession of weapons. They are:

  • Arizona
  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia

FAQs About Gun Permits In Ohio

Some of the most frequently asked questions about the pistol permit application, its renewal, and other important details include the following:

Do I Need A Permit To Conceal Carry Firearms In Ohio?

Yes, you can only conceal carry in Ohio if you have a pistol permit issued by the state.

For How Long Is Ohio Concealed Weapon Permit Valid?

The permit is valid for five years, after which you have to apply for a new one.

Can Non-Residents Apply For Ohio Pistol Permits?

Only non-residents employed in Ohio can apply for its gun license, and the process is similar to that of resident permits.

How Can I Change The Name And Address On My Ohio Gun License?

You must notify the local county of the sheriff that issued your current permit, at least forty-five days before applying for a pistol license in Ohio.

In some counties, you have to complete a change of address form. For an updated permit with your new address, you will pay a fee of fifteen dollars.

What Can I Do If I Lost My Ohio Permit Or It Gets Stolen?

As soon as you realize that your permit is missing, report to a police station, and after that, the county sheriff.

You will need a replacement permit that costs fifteen dollars.

How Soon Can I Apply For Ohio Gun Permit After Moving To The State?

You must live in Ohio for at least forty-five days before applying for its gun permit license. If you are moving from a neighboring state, you must live in Ohio for at least thirty days.

Can I Make Use Of Ohio Pistol Permit After Moving To Another State In The Country?

As soon as you establish residency in another state in the country, your Ohio gun license automatically becomes invalid.

Do I Need An Ohio Gun Permit To Open Carry In The State?

No, Ohio does not issue a gun license for open carry in the state.

It is a permissive open carry state, and you must be at least eighteen years old with legal rights to possess firearms to open carry in the state.

What Is The Minimum Age Requirement To Apply For An Ohio Permit?

You must be at least twenty-one years old to apply for pistol licenses in Ohio.

Do I need A Permit To Purchase Firearms In Ohio?

No, Ohio does not issue a purchase permit to buy firearms in the state.

Does My Firearm Permit Exempt Me From Completing A Criminal Record Background Check Before Buying Firearms In Ohio?

Yes, if you have a gun license issued after the twenty-third of March, twenty-fifteen, you do not need to complete a background check to buy firearms.

Do I Need An Ohio Gun Permit To Possess Firearms In My Private Property?

No, as long as you are in your dwelling place, personal property or workplace, you do not need a pistol permit to carry firearms.

Do I Need To Complete A Firearm Training Before Applying For Ohio Concealed Weapon Permit?

Yes, you must complete a firearm training with a duration of at least eight hours, two hours of which is a live-fire session.

The training must be state-approved.

What Is The Processing Period For Firearm Permits In Ohio?

The processing period for a pistol permit application in Ohio is forty-five days.

Is Ohio A Preemption Gun Law State?

Yes, the state government reserves rights to regulate the use of firearms in all political subdivisions except that Municipalities can control the discharge of firearms.

What Is The Age Requirement To Possess Firearms In Ohio?

You must be at least eighteen years old to possess firearms in Ohio.

Relevant Gun Permit Laws And Legislature In Ohio

Some of Ohio pistol license laws relating to the possession of firearms in the state include the following:

Possession Of Firearms In Private Vehicles

You can possess firearms in private cars with an Ohio concealed carry license. If you do not have a permit, make sure that the gun is not loaded, and it is in a compartment unreachable from inside the vehicle, like the trunk.

[Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2923.125 and 2923.16]

Possession Of Firearms In Roadside Areas

You can possess firearms in roadside areas of Ohio as long as you are a permit holder.

Possession Of Firearms In State Parks, Forests, And Wildlife Management Areas

Permit holders can possess firearms in state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas. However, carrying it in buildings situated in these places is a prohibition. It is also illegal to shoot firearms in any state park.

For more information, visit websites of parks situated in Ohio.

Possession Of Firearms In Restaurant And Bar Areas

According to the statute, [Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.121], you can possess firearms in restaurant and bar areas of the state as long as there is no post prohibiting this, and you are not under the influence of alcohol.

Possession Of Firearms In Hotels

Ohio allows property and business owners to prohibit the possession of firearms on their premises with a post or signage that carries a message communicating this.

Therefore, hotels can come up with gun policies regulating firearms in their premises, regardless of whether the visitor is a permit holder or not.

Visit their websites for more information.

[Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.126(C)(3)]

Possession Of Firearms In Employees Parking Lots

It is a prohibition for employers and landowners to come up with gun laws prohibiting the possession of firearms by an Ohio gun licensee that meets the following conditions:

  • The firearms and ammunition are in the licensee’s car while he or she is in the vehicle or the gun and ammunition are locked away in the car trunk, or any other compartment within the car.
  • The licensee parks the vehicle in a place designated for it on the property.

Additional Resources

Ohio Gun Laws
Ohio Concealed Carry Laws
Ohio Open Carry Laws

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