A local government in Ohio may not add its own license, permission, restriction, delay, or process to the state's gun rules. Ohio preempts local...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
A local government in Ohio may not add its own license, permission, restriction, delay, or process to the state's gun rules. Ohio preempts local regulation of firearms, their components, ammunition, and knives under R.C. 9.68(A). A conflicting local ordinance is null and void by the statute itself. The same holds whether you carry with a concealed handgun license or under permitless carry.
The preemption binds any political subdivision whose ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or other action conflicts with state firearm and knife law, under R.C. 9.68(B). The section does not separately define or exclude bodies such as school districts.
The statute protects a person, group, or entity adversely affected by a conflicting local action. You do not need a concealed handgun license to rely on it.
The state reserves to itself the uniform regulation of firearms, their components, their ammunition, and knives in these areas:
No political subdivision may impose any further license, permission, restriction, delay, or process on owning, possessing, purchasing, transporting, storing, carrying, selling, transferring, manufacturing, or keeping a firearm or knife. The bar reaches any ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or other action, and any threat of citation, prosecution, or other legal process.
A political subdivision may not require you to carry firearm liability insurance. It also may not charge a fee for possessing a firearm, its parts, its components, its ammunition, or a knife.
The preemption section does not apply to these local zoning ordinances:
The hours and areas exception applies only if the ordinance matches zoning for other retail establishments in the same area, under R.C. 9.68(D)(2). The ordinance also may not result in a de facto prohibition of the commercial sale of firearms, components, ammunition, or knives in areas zoned commercial, retail, or industrial. Both exceptions concern the commercial sale of arms, not carry by an individual.
| Topic | What the statute says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Conflicting local rules | Declared null and void by the statute itself | R.C. 9.68(A) |
| Added local burdens | No further license, permission, restriction, delay, or process on ownership, possession, purchase, transport, storage, carrying, sale, transfer, manufacture, or keeping | R.C. 9.68(A) |
| Insurance and fees | No firearm liability insurance requirement and no possession fee | R.C. 9.68(A) |
| Who is bound | Any political subdivision | R.C. 9.68(B) |
| Your remedy | Civil action for damages, declaratory relief, injunctive relief | R.C. 9.68(B) |
| Expenses | Reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and lost income, awarded to a prevailing plaintiff | R.C. 9.68(B) |
None of the facts we verified for this rule tie state preemption to a concealed handgun license or to completed training.
No. Carrying is within the field the state reserves, and a conflicting local rule is null and void.
No. A political subdivision may not require firearm liability insurance or charge a fee for possessing a firearm, its parts, its components, its ammunition, or a knife.
If you are adversely affected, you may sue the political subdivision for damages, declaratory relief, injunctive relief, or a combination. The court must award you reasonable expenses, paid by the political subdivision, if you prevail. The same award applies if the political subdivision repeals or rescinds the challenged action before final judgment. Those expenses include attorney's fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and lost income.
Yes, through zoning, within limits. A rule on sale hours or areas must match zoning for other retail establishments and may not be a de facto prohibition of commercial sale.
State law already says a concealed handgun license does not authorize carry into a state or political-subdivision government building, under R.C. 2923.126(B)(7). The governing body with authority over the building may enact a statute, ordinance, or policy permitting licensees to carry inside. Buildings used primarily as a shelter, restroom, parking facility, or rest facility are not covered by that rule. Courthouses and buildings with a courtroom fall under a separate rule.
The section binds any political subdivision and does not separately define or exclude bodies such as school districts. Separately from preemption, R.C. 2923.122 bars knowingly conveying a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance into a school safety zone and knowingly possessing one there, with the exceptions listed in division (D).
Yes. The state's uniform regulation extends to knives as well as firearms, their components, and their ammunition.
This page covers one part of our Ohio concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Ohio guideBrowse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.