Ohio Gun Laws - NRA-ILA

News Get the Facts Gun Laws Hunting Legal & Legislation Take Action Grassroots About Grassroots Alerts Candidate Grades & Endorsements Sign Up For Alerts Donate Leave a Legacy Why Gun Control Doesn’t Work What Is The Second Amendment And How Is It Defined Become an NRA-ILA Campaign Field Rep Today! NRA Media Inquiries Contact NRA-ILA

News

Articles In the News Press Releases From the Director Armed Citizen®

Get the Facts

Ammunition "Assault Weapons" | "Large" Magazines Background Checks | NICS What is the Charleston "Loophole" BATFE/Federal Firearms Law Reform Crime | Criminal Justice Emergency Powers Law Waiting Periods Gun Safety Firearm Transportation Gun Shows Handguns International & United Nations Gun Control Micro-Stamping | Ballistic "Fingerprinting" National Firearms Act (NFA) Firearm Preemption Laws Gun Registration | Gun Licensing Concealed Carry | Right-to-Carry Second Amendment & Right to Keep and Bear Arms "Smart" Guns | Personalized Firearms Public Health Care Bias Terrorist Watchlist | No-Fly List

Gun Laws

Armed Citizen® State Gun Laws LEOSA

Hunting

Alerts Articles News

Legal & Legislation

Federal Legislation State Legislation Legal Articles Current Litigation

Grassroots

Donate Contact Your FrontLines Activist Leader Promote NRA-ILA Register to Vote Sign-Up for Alerts Write Your Lawmakers Find an Event Second Amendment Activist Center NRA on Campus Campaign Field Rep Application

About

Election Center Privacy Policy Join | Renew | Donate | |

Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

CLOSE

Quick Links

• NRA.ORG
• Manage Your Membership
• NRA Near You
• Friends of NRA
• State and Federal Gun Laws
• NRA Online Training
• Politics, Policy and Legislation

• Clubs and Associations
  • Affiliated Clubs, Ranges and Businesses
• Competitive Shooting
  • NRA Day
  • Competitive Shooting Programs
  • Collegiate Shooting Programs
  • America's Rifle Challenge
  • Competitor Classification Lookup
  • Shooting Sports USA
  • Adaptive Shooting
  • Great American Outdoor Show
  • NRA Whittington Center
• Events and Entertainment
  • Women's Wilderness Escape
  • NRA Whittington Center
  • Friends of NRA
  • Great American Outdoor Show
  • NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits
  • NRA Day
  • NRA Country
  • Competitive Shooting Programs
  • NRA Gun Gurus
• Firearms Training
  • NRA Gun Safety Rules
  • Firearm Training
  • Become An NRA Instructor
  • Become A Training Counselor
  • NRA Range Safety Officers
  • Shooting Sports Coach Development
  • Adaptive Shooting
  • NRA Gunsmithing Schools
  • NRA Online Training
  • NRA Program Materials Center
  • NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program
  • Find A Course
  • NRA CCW
  • NRA Training Course Catalog
• Giving
  • The NRA Foundation
  • Friends of NRA
  • Ring of Freedom
  • Institute for Legislative Action
  • NRA Whittington Center
  • NRA Firearms For Freedom
• History
  • History Of The NRA
  • NRA Museums
  • I Have This Old Gun
  • NRA Gun Gurus
• Hunting
  • Hunter Education
  • Youth Hunter Education Challenge
  • NRA Whittington Center
  • NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum
  • Great American Outdoor Show
  • Hunters for the Hungry
  • American Hunter
  • Hunting Legislation Issues
  • State Hunting Resources
  • NRA Institute for Legislative Action
  • American Rifleman
  • Adaptive Hunting Database
  • Outdoor Adventure Partner of the NRA
• Law Enforcement, Military, Security
  • Law Enforcement, Military, Security
• Media and Publications
  • NRA Blog
  • American Rifleman
  • America's 1st Freedom
  • American Hunter
  • Shooting Illustrated
  • NRA Family
  • Shooting Sports USA
  • NRA All Access
  • NRA Gun Gurus
  • NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum

• Membership
  • Join The NRA
  • NRA Member Benefits
  • Manage Your Membership
  • NRA Store
  • NRA Whittington Center
  • NRA Endorsed Member Insurance
  • NRA Membership Recruiting
  • NRA State Associations
  • NRA Membership For Women
  • NRA Life Membership
  • Renew or Upgrade Your Membership
  • NRA Junior Membership
  • NRA Business Alliance
  • NRA Industry Ally Program
• Politics And Legislation
  • NRA Institute for Legislative Action
  • NRA-ILA Gun Laws
  • Register To Vote
  • Candidate Ratings
  • Write Your Lawmakers
  • America's 1st Freedom
  • NRA-ILA FrontLines
  • NRA Political Victory Fund
  • NRA State Associations
• Recreational Shooting
  • America's Rifle Challenge
  • NRA Whittington Center
  • Women's Wilderness Escape
  • NRA Day
  • The NRA Range
  • Home Air Gun Program
  • Adaptive Shooting
  • Range Services
  • NRA Member Benefits
  • Great American Outdoor Show
  • NRA Springfield M1A Match
  • Shooting Illustrated
  • Firearm Training
  • NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program
  • NRA Training Course Catalog
  • Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics
• Safety and Education
  • NRA Gun Safety Rules
  • Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program
  • Eddie Eagle Treehouse
  • NRA School Shield
  • Whittington University
  • Firearm Training
  • NRA Online Training
  • Become An NRA Instructor
  • Hunter Education
  • NRA Gunsmithing Schools
  • Refuse To Be A Victim®
• Scholarships, Awards and Contests
  • Scholarships, Awards & Contests
• Shopping
  • NRA Store
  • NRA Country Gear
  • NRA Program Materials Center
  • NRA Member Benefits
  • NRA Whittington Center Store
• Volunteering
  • Volunteer For NRA
  • Get Involved Locally
  • Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show
  • Institute for Legislative Action
  • Volunteer at the NRA Whittington Center
• Women's Interests
  • NRA Membership For Women
  • Women's Wilderness Escape
  • NRA Women's Network
  • Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics
  • Women's Programs Endowment
  • Sybil Ludington Women's Freedom Award
  • Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship
  • Become An NRA Instructor
• Youth Interests
  • Eddie Eagle Treehouse
  • Scholarships, Awards & Contests
  • NRA Day
  • NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program
  • Youth Education Summit
  • Adventure Camp
  • Youth Hunter Education Challenge
  • National Junior Shooting Camps
  • Youth Wildlife Art Contest
  • Home Air Gun Program
  • NRA Junior Membership
  • NRA Family
  • Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program
  • NRA Gun Safety Rules
  • Collegiate Shooting Programs
  • National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program
  • Request for Eagle Scout Certificate

Menu ×

GUN LAWS

Last Updated: Friday, October 31, 2025

Ohio Gun Laws

STATE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION - Article 1, Section 4.

“The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be kept up; and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.”

Gun Laws Overview

RIFLES & SHOTGUNS	HANDGUNS
Permit to Purchase	No	No
Registration of Firearms	No	No
Licensing of Owners	No	No
Permit to Carry	No	No*
The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information.  We have made every effort to report the information correctly; however, reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change.  The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition.  RECIPROCITY NOTES:  Colorado, Florida, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire. North Dakota, Pennsylvania and South Carolina recognize Ohio’s RESIDENT permit only.  For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation.  YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL.

STATE STATUS
Castle Doctrine	Enacted
Right to Carry Confidentiality	Enacted
Right to Carry in Restaurants	Legal
Right To Carry Laws	No Permit Required
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition	Outright Recognition
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions	With Provisions

Concealed Carry Reciprocity Select Map These States recognize Ohio's permit Ohio recognizes these State's permits Click on a State to see the Gun Law Profile These States recognize Ohio's permit

• Permit-Issuing State

• Recognizing States

• Non-Recognizing States

Ohio recognizes these State's permits

• Current State

• Permits Ohio Recognizes

• Permits Ohio Does Not Recognize

Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms

Hardware Restrictions/Bans Ohio does not regulate “assault weapons” as a class, “large capacity” magazines, or bump stocks/forced reset triggers. Ohio regulates a class called “dangerous ordnance.” MORE “Dangerous ordnance” includes any automatic or sawed-off firearm, a “zip-gun,” any “firearm… designed and manufactured for military purposes, and the ammunition for that weapon,” a firearm suppressor, and “any combination of parts that is intended by the owner for use in converting any firearm or other device into a dangerous ordnance.” The law exempts several types of weapons. Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.11(K), exemptions at subs. (L).  A “zip gun” means (1) any firearm of crude and extemporized manufacture; (2) any device, including without limitation a starter’s pistol, that is not designed as a firearm, but that is specially adapted for use as a firearm; and (3) any industrial tool, signaling device, or safety device, that is not designed as a firearm, but that as designed is capable of use as such, when possessed, carried, or used as a firearm. Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.11(G). A “sawed-off firearm” is defined as a shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches long, or a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches long, or a shotgun or rifle less than 26 inches long overall, but does not include any firearm with an overall length of at least 26 inches that is approved for sale by the BATFE under the Gun Control Act of 1968, but that is found by the bureau not to be regulated under the National Firearms Act. Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.11(G).   Ohio law exempts from “dangerous ordinance” all the things listed at Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.11(L), including any firearm (regardless of its actual age) that employs a percussion cap or other obsolete ignition system, or that is designed and safe for use only with black powder; any pistol, rifle, or shotgun, designed or suitable for sporting purposes, including a military weapon as issued or as modified, and the ammunition for that weapon, unless the firearm is an automatic or sawed-off firearm.  With limited exceptions, state law prohibits any person from knowingly having, acquiring, carrying, or using any dangerous ordnance, Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.17(A), but this exempts owners of dangerous ordnance registered in the NFA registration and transfer record; persons who own a suppressor in compliance with federal law that is attached to a gun that is authorized to be used for hunting by state hunting law, and others. See Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.17(C) for all exceptions. LESS

Ammunition Ohio doesn’t regulate ammunition or require background checks for ammunition purchases. It is a crime to knowingly solicit, persuade, encourage, or entice a federally licensed firearms dealer or private seller to transfer ammunition to any person in a manner prohibited by state or federal law; Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.20(A)(3).

Licensing or Permitting of Possession/Acquisition No state permit or license is required to possess or acquire a handgun, rifle, or shotgun other than what falls within the definition of “dangerous ordnance” (which includes explosives but also automatic or sawed-off firearms, “zip-guns,” and suppressors). Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.18 provides that a license or temporary permit to possess dangerous ordnance is available on application to the sheriff of the county or safety director or police chief of the municipality where the applicant resides or has a principal place of business, and may be issued for a number of reasons, including dangerous ordnance “lawfully acquired, possessed, carried, or used for a legitimate research, scientific, educational, industrial, or other proper purpose.”

Registration Ohio does not require registration of firearms or firearm owners. A 2025 law, Ohio Rev. Code § 1349.85(A), specifically prohibits any government entity or official, or agent or employee of a governmental entity, from knowingly keeping or causing to be kept “any list, record, or registry of privately owned firearms or the owners of those firearms,” except for those records kept during the regular course of a criminal investigation and prosecution, or as otherwise required by law.

Possession Standards Ohio prohibits persons under indictment for or convicted of specified violent felonies or drug crimes, those with drug or alcohol dependency, anyone committed to a mental institution or otherwise adjudicated for a mental illness, or any fugitive from justice from acquiring, having, or using a firearm or dangerous ordnance.  MORE Specifically, Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.13 bars those under indictment for or convicted of a felony “offense of violence” or felony offense involving the illegal possession, use, sale, administration, distribution, or trafficking in any drug of abuse (including any adjudication for such crimes as a juvenile); anyone with a drug dependency, in danger of drug dependence, or who is a chronic alcoholic; anyone under adjudication of mental incompetence, or committed to a mental institution, or who has been found by a court to be a person with a mental illness subject to court order, or who is an involuntary patient other than one who is a patient only for purposes of observation, from acquiring, having, carrying or using a firearm or dangerous ordnance. This does not apply to those who have had the firearm disability removed and rights restored under operation of law or through legal process. “Offense of violence” is defined at Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.01(A)(9). A separate law, Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.131, prohibits a person under detention at a detention facility from possessing a deadly weapon. It is a crime to carry or use a firearm while intoxicated due to alcohol or a drug of abuse; Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.15. Minors: Ohio has no minimum age for the possession of firearms, but Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.211 establishes age-based restrictions on minors purchasing or attempting to purchase a firearm. No person under 18 may purchase or attempt to purchase a firearm, and no one under 21 may purchase or attempt to purchase a handgun, although the handgun ban doesn’t apply to individuals aged at least 18 who are either law enforcement officers, or active or reserve member of the armed forces or the Ohio national guard, or former but honorably discharged members. LESS

Right to Carry Ohio does not restrict open carry. Ohio has enacted a permitless carry law that allows any “qualifying adult” to carry a concealed handgun (other than a “restricted firearm”) without a license. Ohio honors all other states’ resident and non-resident permits/licenses. A valid concealed handgun license (including a temporary emergency license) issued by Ohio qualifies as a NICS-exempt permit; see ATF Brady Chart (as of Oct. 2025). MORE Permitless carry: Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.111 allows a “qualifying adult” to carry a handgun (other than a “restricted firearm”) concealed without a license. “Qualifying adult” means a person at least 21 years old, who is not legally prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under specified federal or state law and who satisfies the listed criteria that is otherwise necessary to obtain a concealed handgun license, being (D)(1)(a) to (j), (m), (p), (q), and (s) of Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.125 (these generally prohibit anyone who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to the listed criminal offenses, including certain adjudications as a juvenile; anyone committed to any mental institution, under adjudication of mental incompetence, found by a court to be a person with a mental illness subject to court order, or an involuntary patient; those currently subject to a civil protection order or a temporary protection order; those whose carry license is subject to suspension in Ohio or elsewhere; anyone discharged from the armed forces of the United States under dishonorable conditions, and others). A “restricted firearm” is a firearm that is “dangerous ordnance” or a firearm that any law of Ohio prohibits the person from possessing, having, or carrying. Military Carry: An active-duty member of the armed forces of the United States who is carrying a valid military ID and documentation of successful completion of firearms training that meets or exceeds the training requirements described in § 2923.125 (G)(1) has the same right to carry a concealed handgun as a person who was issued a concealed handgun license. Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.126(E)(2). Other special rules on carrying without a license for law enforcement, retired law enforcement and other professionals are found in § 2923.126(E). Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.111(C)(1)(c) generally states that if the Revised Code provision in specified circumstances requires a concealed handgun licensee to engage in specified conduct, or prohibits a concealed handgun licensee from engaging in specified conduct, the provision shall be construed as applying in the same circumstances to a person who is a qualifying adult in the same manner as if the person was a concealed handgun licensee. Concealed Handgun Licenses: Ohio is a “shall issue” jurisdiction. In addition to standard carry licenses, state law authorizes the issuance of a license on a “temporary emergency basis” under Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.1213 (see Special Provisions, below). Issuing agency/official: Sheriff of the county in which the applicant resides or the sheriff of any county adjacent to the county in which the applicant resides Minimum age: 21 State residency required: No; non-residents who are employed in Ohio are eligible to apply with proof of in-state employment Objective disqualifications: State law disqualifies applicants under 21; those not legally living in the United States; fugitives from justice; those convicted of, under indictment for or otherwise charged with a felony or specified offenses involving the illegal possession, use, sale, administration, or distribution of or trafficking in a drug of abuse, a misdemeanor offense of violence, negligent assault, or a crime of possessing a false, revoked or suspended carry license, or convicted of any other crime that is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. There are other disqualifying convictions that time-out or expire unless they date to within ten years, five years, or three years prior to the date of the application; see Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.125(D)(1)(e) to (h). Other disqualifications are persons committed to any mental institution or otherwise under adjudication of mental incompetence or mental illness; anyone subject to an active civil protection order or a temporary protection order, whether in Ohio or not; anyone whose carry license is currently under suspension; unlawful users of or addicted to any controlled substance; those discharged from the armed forces of the United States under dishonorable conditions; anyone who has renounced their United States citizenship; and anyone convicted of domestic violence. Non-objective disqualifications: None Training /Familiarity requirement: Applicants must provide a competency certification within the three years immediately preceding the application that shows completion of a training class or program of at least 8 hours (including 2 hours of in-person training that consists of range time and live-fire training) and that otherwise meets the curriculum requirements in Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.125(G) and (B). For active/reserve members of the armed forces, those retired from or honorably discharged from military service, and retired law enforcement officers, the training element may be met through experience with handling handguns or other firearms, if equivalent to training that the applicant could have acquired in a qualifying course, class, or program. Applicants must certify that they have read the pamphlet prepared by the Ohio peace officer training commission on firearms, dispute resolution, and use of deadly force matters. Fingerprints required: Yes Maximum processing time: 45 days Fees: For the initial license: applicants who have been Ohio residents for at least five years, $67; applicants resident for less than five years or who are non-residents employed in Ohio pay $67 plus the actual cost of the NICS background check. Sheriffs must waive the fees for applicants who are active/reserve or honorably discharged members of the U.S. armed forces, and certain retired peace officers Duration of permit: Five years. The license of a licensee who is no longer a resident of Ohio or no longer employed in Ohio remains valid until the date of expiration on the license, and the licensee is prohibited from renewing the concealed handgun license. Mandatory notifications: Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.12 requires that licensees stopped for law enforcement purposes must inform the officer they are carrying concealed “before or at the time a law enforcement officer asks if the person is carrying a concealed handgun,” unless the licensee has already notified another officer of that fact during the same stop. This does not apply if the firearm transported in a vehicle is not on the licensee’s person. A licensee must give notice of any change in the licensee’s residence address to the sheriff who issued the license within 45 days after that change; § 2923.126(A). Temporary Emergency Licenses: A person aged at least 21 and lawfully present in the United states may apply to the sheriff of the county in which the person resides or, if the person usually resides in another state, to the sheriff of the county in which the person is temporarily staying, by providing (a) evidence of imminent danger to the person or a member of the person’s family, (b) a sworn affidavit indicating that the person is otherwise eligible for a license, (c) fingerprints; and (d) a fee of $15 plus the cost of the background check (the fee may be waived for applying retired law enforcement officers). There is no training requirement. This license, if issued, is valid for 90 days and may not be renewed, and the applicant cannot apply for another temporary emergency license until at least 4 years have expired since the first license was issued. Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.1213. Non-resident carry. Ohio’s permitless carry law applies to non-residents of the state who meet the “qualifying adult” requirements. Ohio extends reciprocity to all other states’ resident and non-resident carry permits or licenses. Under Ohio’s concealed handgun license law, non-residents who are employed in Ohio are eligible to apply for an Ohio license.  Ohio’s concealed carry licensing law states that a person who is absent from the United States in compliance with military or naval orders as an active or reserve member of the armed forces is not, solely by reason of that absence, considered to have lost the person’s status as living in the United States for the purposes of license eligibility. Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.12 (D)(1)(a). Places where carrying is prohibited.  Note that Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.111(C)(1)(c) generally states that if the Revised Code provision in specified circumstances requires a concealed handgun licensee to engage in specified conduct, or prohibits a concealed handgun licensee from engaging in specified conduct, the provision shall be construed as applying in the same circumstances to a person who is a qualifying adult on permitless carry in the same manner as if the person was a concealed handgun licensee.   Carrying concealed is prohibited in or at:   A place in which federal law prohibits the carrying of handguns, A police station, sheriff’s office, or state highway patrol station, premises controlled by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation; a state correctional institution, jail, workhouse, or other detention facility; Any area of an airport passenger terminal that is beyond a passenger or property screening checkpoint or to which access is restricted through security measures by the airport authority or a public agency; A state institution that is maintained, operated, managed by the department of behavioral health for the care and treatment of persons with mental illnesses, or the department of developmental disabilities for the care, treatment, and training of persons with intellectual disabilities; A school safety zone, if the carrying violates what is permitted in § 2923.122. A “school safety zone” means a school, school building, school premises, school activity, and school bus, where “school activity” means any activity held under the auspices of a board of education, school district, a governing authority of a community school or an educational service center. A “school” includes everything up to the property boundary; A courthouse or another building or structure in which a courtroom is located, if the carrying the is in violation of § 2923.123; Any premises owned or leased by any public or private college, university, or other institution of higher education, unless the handgun is in a locked motor vehicle or the licensee is in the immediate process of placing the handgun in a locked motor vehicle or unless the licensee is carrying the concealed handgun pursuant to a written policy, rule, or other authorization that is adopted by the institution’s board of trustees or other governing body and that authorizes specific individuals or classes of individuals to carry a concealed handgun on the premises; Any church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship, unless the church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship posts or permits otherwise; Any Ohio state or political subdivision’s government building facility, other than a building used primarily as a shelter, restroom, parking facility for motor vehicles, or rest facility and is not a courthouse or other building or structure in which a courtroom is located, unless the governing body with authority over the building has enacted a statute, ordinance, or policy that permits a licensee to carry a concealed handgun into the building; Licensed Class D liquor permit premises or open-air arenas, if the concealed carry licensee is consuming beer or intoxicating liquor or is under the influence of alcohol or a drug of abuse (Class D permits are generally issued to an establishment that sells alcohol for consumption on the premises); Property that is owned or leased by a private entity and posted to prohibit persons from carrying firearms or concealed firearms on or onto the property, although a landlord may not prohibit or restrict a tenant who is a licensee, or the tenant’s guest while the tenant is present, from lawfully carrying or possessing a handgun on residential premises covered by the rental agreement between the tenant and landlord. Signs posted to prohibit firearms must comply with § 2923.1212.   It is a crime to carry a firearm while intoxicated due to alcohol or a drug of abuse; Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.15. LESS

Preemption Ohio has a strong preemption law. It reserves to the state legislature the right to regulate the ownership, possession, purchase, other acquisition, transport, storage, carrying, sale, other transfer, manufacture, taxation, keeping, and reporting of loss or theft of firearms, their components, and their ammunition, and “preempts, supersedes, and declares null and void” any license, permission, restriction, delay, or process, other than those in state or federal law, that interferes with the fundamental individual right to self defense and defense of others and from other legitimate uses of constitutionally protected arms. Ohio Rev. Code § 9.68 was amended to add a reference against firearm liability insurance or fees for the possession of a firearm, part of a firearm, its components, its ammunition, or a knife.   MORE Ohio Rev. Code § 9.68(A) begins by recognizing the individual right to keep and bear arms as a “fundamental individual right that predates the United States Constitution and Ohio Constitution,” that is “a constitutionally protected right in every part of Ohio.” The general assembly “also finds and declares that it is proper for law-abiding people to protect themselves, their families, and others from intruders and attackers without fear of prosecution or civil action for acting in defense of themselves or others.” The exceptions to the preemption law are two kinds of zoning ordinances; Ohio Rev. Code § 9.68(D). Remedies for any persons affected by a violation of the preemption law: state law allows any person, group or entity that is adversely affected by any manner of ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or other action enacted or enforced by a political subdivision in conflict with the preemption law to bring a civil action against the political subdivision for damages, declaratory relief, and injunctive relief. A court must also award reasonable expenses (“reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and compensation for loss of income”) to any person, group, or entity that brings the action, to be paid by the political subdivision, if the person, group, or entity prevails in the lawsuit or the ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or action or the manner of its enforcement is repealed or rescinded after the lawsuit was filed but prior to a final court determination of the action. Ohio Rev. Code § 9.68(B), (C) (definitions). LESS

Private Transfers Ohio doesn’t mandate background checks for private transfers between unlicensed individuals; however, state law on unlawful transactions in weapons prohibits recklessly selling, lending, giving, or furnishing any firearm to a prohibited person, or possessing any firearm or dangerous ordnance with the purpose of disposing of it in violation of the foregoing prohibition. It is a crime to knowingly solicit, persuade, encourage, or entice a private seller to transfer a firearm or ammunition to any person in a manner prohibited by state or federal law; Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.20(A)(1), (2), and (3). MORE State law at § 2923.21 prohibits (a) with some exceptions, the sale or furnishing of any firearm to a person under 18 years old and the sale or furnishing of a handgun to a person who is under 21; (b) the sale or furnishing of any firearm/handgun to persons who meet these age limits if the seller/transferor knows, or has reason to know, that the person purchasing or receiving the gun intends to sell or furnish the gun to a minor in violation of state law.   Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.211 prohibits persons under the age of 18 from purchasing or attempting to purchase a firearm, and anyone under 21 from purchasing or attempting to purchase a handgun (the handgun ban doesn’t apply to individuals aged at least 18 who are either law enforcement officers, or active or reserve member of the armed forces or the Ohio national guard, or former but honorably discharged members). LESS

Stand Your Ground Ohio’s use of force law states that generally, a person has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of that person’s residence if that person is in a place in which the person lawfully has a right to be. It prohibits a court from considering the possibility of retreat as a factor in determining whether or not a person who used force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of that person's residence reasonably believed that the force was necessary to prevent injury, loss, or risk to life or safety. Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.09. MORE A separate law, Ohio Rev. Code § 2307.601, states that for the purposes of determining potential liability in a civil action related to a person’s use of force alleged to be in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of the person’s residence, the person has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of that person’s residence if that person is in a place in which the person lawfully has a right to be, and likewise prohibits the court from considering the possibility of retreat as a factor. LESS

Red Flag Law Ohio has no red flag law. In April 2024, the Ohio Attorney General and 18 other state attorneys general signed a letter opposing a new federal program that promoted aggressive enforcement of “red flag” gun-confiscation laws, citing the potential of undermining Second Amendment and due process rights, and whether the federal Dept. of Justice had authority to create the program in the first place.

Ohio NEWS

Legal & Legislation

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Ohio: Support Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment

Today, the Senate General Government Committee is holding a hearing on Senate Joint Resolution 8, legislation that would ...

Take Action

Monday, July 14, 2025

Grassroots Spotlight: GunCon 2025

The NRA had a strong presence at GunCon 2025, which was held on June 28th, in Cleveland, Ohio, with NRA-ILA Executive Director John ...

Legal & Legislation

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Ohio: Governor DeWine Signs Financial Privacy and Prohibition of Firearm Liability Insurance Bill

On January 8th, Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 58, a bill prohibiting the state from requiring fees or firearms ...

Legal & Legislation

Monday, January 6, 2025

Ohio: 2025 Legislative Session Convenes Today

Today, January 6th, the Ohio Legislature begins the 2025 legislative session. As in 2024, the Legislature can expect to see both pro and anti-gun agendas ...

Legal & Legislation

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Ohio: Pro-Gun Legislation Passes House Committee, Eligible for Floor Vote

Today, the House Insurance Committee passed Senate Bill 58, a bill to prohibit the state from requiring fees or ...

Legal & Legislation

Monday, December 9, 2024

Ohio: Take Action and Support Prohibition of Firearm Liability Insurance Today!

On Tuesday, December 10th, the House Insurance Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 58, a bill to ...

Take Action

Monday, July 29, 2024

Grassroots Spotlight: NRA 2A Days at Fin Feather Fur Outfitters.

This past weekend marks the completion of a series of “NRA 2A Day” events that were organized by the Ohio ...

News

Second Amendment

Monday, July 15, 2024

NRA Applauds President Trump’s Selection of Senator J.D. Vance as His Running Mate

Following President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of his selection of U.S. Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, ...

Legal & Legislation

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Legal Update: Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Ohio Preemption Statute

The State of Ohio successfully defended the State’s preemption statute in an important appellate court win yesterday.

Legal & Legislation

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Ohio: Gun Owner Credit Card Privacy Bill Passes the Senate

Yesterday, the Senate Veterans and Public Safety Committee passed Senate Bill 148, The Second Amendment Privacy Act. The ...

1

2345...87NEXT RELATED Ohio: Support Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendment New Mexico: Senate Committee to Passes Sweeping Gun Control Bill Pennsylvania: House Passes Trojan Gun Control Bill New Jersey: Assembly Committee Advances Gun Control Bills Third Circuit Grants Rehearing En Banc in NRA-Supported Challenge to New Jersey’s Carry Restrictions

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

EXPLORE NRA-ILA

• News
• Gun Laws
• Hunting
• Legal & Legislation
• Take Action
• Grassroots
• About
• Donate
• Corporate Ethics
• Leave a Legacy
• Privacy Policy

FOLLOW NRA-ILA STAY INFORMED

Receive important and timely information in defense of your second amendment rights.

SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

© 2025 National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action. This may be reproduced. This may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. 11250 Waples Mill Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030     1-800-392-8683(VOTE)