Ohio permit requirements

Official-source summary. Values we could not confirm are labelled, never filled with assumptions.

At a glance

Permit required to carry

Permit currently issued

Yes

Issuance structure

Constitutional

Issuing level

County

Minimum age

Training

8 hours

Live fire

Required Confirm with the issuing agency

Application fee

Reported: Ohio resident >5 years: $67.00 total ($47 BCI + $20 FBI/Sheriff fee). Ohio resident <5 years: $91.00 total (additional FBI fee component). Fee waived for active military and honorably discharged veterans. Confirm at the source

Permit term

5 years

Residency required

Yes. Ohio resident for 45 days and a resident of the county for 30 days. Non-resident permits are open to military and people employed in Ohio. Confirm with the issuing agency

Processing time

45 days Confirm with the issuing agency

Some current details are not fully confirmed. Verify dates, fees, and requirements on the official page before relying on them.

Issuing agency: County Sheriff of applicant's county of residence or an adjacent county

Source: Ohio Attorney General — last checked 2026-10-04

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What to know in Ohio

Ohio is listed as a permitless carry state, so a permit is optional for eligible adults; the card is the Concealed Handgun License (CHL). For the optional permit, county offices handle permits, so the office you use depends on where you live. The issuing agency is County Sheriff of applicant's county of residence or an adjacent county.

The minimum age to apply is 21. The required training course in Ohio is 8 hours. A new permit lasts 5 years.

We found no Ohio rule that lets you keep carrying on an expired permit while a renewal is pending, so renew before the date on your card. To replace a lost or stolen Ohio permit, expect to provide a police report and a sworn statement. After a move or name change, tell the issuing agency within 45 days. Confirm with the issuing agency

Official page: Ohio Attorney General · Reciprocity: where a Ohio permit is honored

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