Ohio Gun Control Laws

By John Mascolo, Esq. | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last reviewed April 03, 2024

Federal and state gun control laws place limits on the purchase, use, and possession of firearms throughout the country. State gun control laws vary quite a bit.

With limited gun control legislation coming from a divided Congress, state legislators have the challenge of balancing concerns about gun violence with the rights of law-abiding gun owners. The majority of Ohio lawmakers favor gun rights over increased regulation. As a result, Ohio gun laws contain fewer restrictions compared to other states.

A major limit on gun restrictions appears in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court has found the right to bear arms as an individual right to own guns for self-defense and other lawful reasons.

In weighing the constitutionality of laws that restrict the possession of firearms, it focuses on a historical approach to whether the law in question is consistent with regulations of guns at the time of the Constitution's adoption.

Ohio Gun Control Laws

Ohio gun control laws prohibit certain weapons while restricting gun purchases and ownership by certain individuals. For instance, Ohio prohibits the possession of:

Sawed-off shotguns
Zip guns, which are improvised and often dangerous firearms
Certain weapons and ammunition designed for military use

The state has not banned assault weapons or sought to regulate so-called undetectable firearms known as "ghost guns."

Under Ohio law, the following cannot own or possess firearms:

Certain convicted felons
Individuals with substance abuse problems
Those found mentally incompetent

Ohio does not require a waiting period prior to purchasing a gun. If you purchase a gun from a federally licensed dealer, they will run a criminal background check using the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before delivery of the firearm. If you buy from a private seller or unlicensed dealer, you are not required to undergo a criminal background check to verify whether you fall under a firearm prohibition.

Ohio law does not provide a minimum age for possessing a firearm. Those under 18 cannot legally purchase a firearm. Persons under 21 cannot legally purchase a handgun, with exceptions for police officers and active-duty military who are at least 18.

Ohio Concealed Carry Laws

In 2022, the Ohio General Assembly passed a permitless carry law. Under this law, a qualifying adult is not required to complete firearms training or obtain a concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a concealed handgun in the state.

A qualifying adult must be 21 years of age or older, not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law, and otherwise meet the criteria to obtain a CHL. Whether you are an Ohio resident or a non-resident working in Ohio, you file your license application with your local sheriff's office or the sheriff of a neighboring county.

Ohio keeps its concealed carry permit process to assist permit-holders traveling to states that have a reciprocity agreement with Ohio.

Even with laws that permit open or concealed carry of firearms, state law will prohibit bringing guns into certain locations. States vary in what locations are off-limits. Private property owners can ban guns as they desire from their property but must provide signage. In Ohio, the law prohibits guns in the following locations under most circumstances:

Sheriff, highway patrol, and police stations
Premises controlled by the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
State correctional facilities, jails, workhouses, and other detention facilities
Restricted areas of airports
Institutions governed by state mental health and addiction or developmental disability services
School safety zones
Courthouses and courtrooms
Permit D liquor establishments
Government buildings of the state (including the Statehouse and Capitol in Columbus) and its political subdivisions
Premises owned or leased by public or private colleges and universities
Places of worship
Locations prohibited under federal law

Ohio bans transporting or having a loaded gun in a motor vehicle in a manner that an operator or passenger can access it without leaving the vehicle. There are several exceptions, including one for those with a valid CHL who are not in a prohibited location.

An Overview of Gun Control Laws in Ohio

The main provisions of Ohio gun control laws appear in the table below.

Relevant Ohio Gun Control Statutes (Laws)	Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C.), Title 29 Crimes-Procedure, Sections 2923.11 through 2923.30, Weapons Control Carrying a concealed handgun without a license - Section 2923.111 Carrying concealed weapons; affirmative defenses - Section 2923.12 Possession of firearm in liquor permit premises - Section 2923.121 Conveyance or possession of deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in school safety zone - Section 2923.122 Illegal conveyance, possession, or control of deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a courthouse - Section 2923.123 Application; license - Section 2923.125 License expiration; prohibited places; private employers; immunity; signage; reciprocity - Section 2923.126 Having weapons while under disability - Section 2923.13 Possession of a deadly weapon while under detention - Section 2923.131 Using (or carrying) weapons while intoxicated - Section 2923.15 Improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle - Section 2923.16 Unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance - Section 2923.17 Unlawful transactions in weapons - Section 2923.20 Defacing identification marks of a firearm; possessing a defaced firearm - Section 2923.201 Improper furnishing firearms to a minor - Section 2923.21
Illegal Arms	The following firearms are illegal in Ohio, with limited exceptions that include law enforcement, military, and those licensed under the National Firearms Act: Automatic firearm (firearm designed or specially adapted to fire a succession of cartridges with a single function of the trigger) Sawed-off firearm Zip gun Defaced firearm (with the name of the manufacturer, model, manufacturer's serial number, or other mark of identification altered or removed) Any firearm and ammunition designed and manufactured for military purposes Any firearm muffler or suppressor Any combination of parts that is intended by the owner for use in converting a firearm or device into a dangerous ordnance (See O.R.C. Section 2923.11K)
Waiting Period	Ohio does not require a waiting period to purchase a firearm.
Who May Not Own	The following people may not own or possess a firearm under Ohio law: A fugitive from justice A person who is under indictment for or has been convicted of a violent felony offense or has been adjudicated a delinquent child for an offense that would be a violent felony offense if committed by an adult A person who is under indictment for or has been convicted of any felony drug offense or has been adjudicated a delinquent child for a drug offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult A person who is drug dependent, in danger of drug dependence, or has chronic alcoholism A person who is under adjudication of mental incompetence; has been committed to a mental institution; has been found by a court to be a mentally ill person subject to a court order; or is an involuntary patient other than one who is a patient only for purposes of observation Federal law provides further categories of persons who cannot possess a firearm, including those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence or under certain protection orders. (See 18 U.S.C. Section 922g)
License Required?	No. Ohio does not require a license to own a firearm.
Concealed Carry License Required?	No. Ohio does not require a concealed carry license to carry a concealed handgun. However, there are location prohibitions.
Open Carried Allowed?	Yes. Open carry of firearms is legal in Ohio. However, there are location prohibitions.
Eligibility for Concealed Handgun License	Issuance of a concealed handgun license is based on the following criteria. You must: Be at least 21 years of age Legally living in the U.S. Not be a fugitive from justice (no warrants) Not be under a felony indictment for or charged with a felony, a drug offense, or a misdemeanor offense of violence Have not been convicted of or plead guilty to a felony, a drug offense, an assault on a law enforcement officer, or any other misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment over one year, or have been adjudicated as a delinquent child for any such offenses Have not been convicted or pled guilty to domestic violence, or have been adjudicated as a delinquent child for any such offense Have not been convicted or pled guilty to a misdemeanor offense of violence in the last three years, or have been adjudicated as a delinquent child for any such offenses in that time frame Have not been convicted or pled guilty to two or more violations of assault or negligent assault within the last five years, or have been adjudicated as a delinquent child for any such offenses in that time frame Have not been convicted or pled guilty to a violation of resisting arrest within the last 10 years, or have been adjudicated as a delinquent child for any such offense in that time frame Have not been committed to any mental institution Are not under adjudication of mental incompetence Have not been found by a court to be a person with mental illness subject to court order Are not an involuntary patient (other than one only for observation) Are not currently subject to a civil protection order, a temporary protection order, or a protection order from another state Certify that you desire to carry a concealed firearm for defensive purposes while engaged in lawful activity Submit a competency certification related to gun training and/or information on firearms safety Not be subject to a suspension of a prior CHL Show proof of employment in Ohio if you reside in another state Certify that you are not an unlawful user or addicted to a controlled substance Not have been discharged from the armed forces under dishonorable conditions Certify that you have not renounced U.S. citizenship, if applicable Pass a criminal background check
Machine Gun Laws	Ohio has no specific prohibition against machine guns, but they would likely fall under Ohio's automatic firearm ban. Owning a machine gun also requires registration and compliance with federal law.
Penalties for Illegal Firearm Possession	Ohio has a wide range of penalties for violating its gun control laws. A second conviction of some crimes can increase the severity of the crime. Here are some common offenses and penalties: Having weapons under disability (firearm prohibition) is a third-degree felony, punishable by nine to 36 months in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Using or carrying weapons while intoxicated is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance is a fifth-degree felony, punishable by six to 12 months in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. Unlawful transactions in weapons is most often a fourth-degree felony, punishable by six to 18 months in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises or a courthouse is most often a fifth-degree felony, punishable by six to 12 months in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.
Penalties for Illegal Possession on or Near School Grounds	Under Ohio law, a school safety zone encompasses a school, school building, school premises, school activity, or school bus. Possessing a gun in a school safety zone is a fifth-degree felony, punishable by six to 12 months in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. A second or subsequent offense is a fourth-degree felony, punishable by six to 18 months in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Illegal possession of an object indistinguishable from a firearm in a school safety zone is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. A second or subsequent offense is a fifth-degree felony, punishable by six to 12 months in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.
Red Flag Law?	No. Proposals for a red flag law gained some traction after a mass shooting in Dayton in 2019 that resulted in the deaths of nine persons and injury to 27 others. However, no bill became law.
Universal Background Checks?	No. Ohio does not regulate gun sales or transfers in private transactions to require a criminal background check.
Stand Your Ground Law?	Yes. Ohio adopted a Stand Your Ground law in 2021. It provides that a person claiming self-defense, defense of another, or defense of residence has no duty to retreat if they are in a place they are legally allowed to be before using appropriate force (including deadly force) in such defense. In evaluating the reasonableness of a person's belief in the necessary force to repel an attack, the trier of fact cannot consider the possibility of retreat as a factor.

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher court that include federal decisions, ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the status of any state law(s) you are reviewing.

A Note About Preemption Laws

Like many other states, Ohio has a preemption law that prevents cities and other local governments from passing gun control ordinances that differ from state law. Cities like Cleveland and Cincinnati cannot pass tougher regulations on firearms to combat gun violence in their communities even if the political will is present at the local level to do so.

For gun rights advocates, preemption means that a gun owner only needs to know state law when carrying their gun and not keep track of other local laws that may conflict.

Ohio Gun Control Laws: Related Resources

Gun Laws
State Gun Control Laws - Review the laws of all 50 states and D.C.
Product Liability and Guns
Ohio Law
Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and D.C.
Guns and Domestic Violence

An Attorney Can Help With Your Gun Law Questions

Ohio firearm laws can be complex. Statutes may come with many exceptions. To comply with firearms law, you must follow state and federal gun control laws. If you want to ensure that you comply with the law, you should consider seeking legal advice. You can contact an experienced criminal defense attorney in Ohio today.

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