Summary 

• Permit required? No for most adults: Ohio allows permitless (constitutional) concealed carry for qualifying people 21+.

• Minimum age:  21 for permitless concealed carry (and typically for CHL eligibility). 

• Duty to inform:  Partial, you generally  do not have to proactively inform, but if an officer asks whether you’re carrying, you must answer truthfully.

• Where you can/can’t carry (general): Carry is broadly allowed, but specific “forbidden-carry zones” apply (e.g., courthouses, school safety zones, police/sheriff facilities, secured airport areas, etc.).

• Vehicles and alcohol: You may transport a loaded concealed handgun in a vehicle (but not if impaired), and bars/restaurants are generally allowed only if you do not drink and the business doesn’t prohibit it.

Ohio is apermitless/constitutional carry state for concealed handguns: as ofJune 13, 2022, qualifying adults 21 or older who are not otherwise prohibited may carry a concealed handgun without a license. Ohio still offers an optional Concealed Handgun License (CHL), primarily useful for reciprocity when traveling and other practical benefits. 

CHLs are issued through county sheriffs (you can apply with an Ohio county sheriff). Ohio’s system is widely treated as shall-issue for qualified applicants, with the Attorney General’s materials emphasizing the sheriff “must issue” when requirements are met.

For visitors, Ohio law recognizes manyout-of-state concealed handgun licenses, and non-residents who are temporarily in Ohio may generally carry under a valid license issued by another state, while still following Ohio’s location restrictions and conduct rules. When transporting or storing a firearm during travel (cars, hotels, shared spaces), prioritize unloaded/locked storage where appropriate, keep it inaccessible to unauthorized persons, and consider privacy-focused organization for your everyday-carry items, some travelers use Faraday-protected SLNT bags to help shield and securely manage sensitive electronics like key fobs and phones while moving between vehicles and lodging.

Useful Links

• Ohio Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map
• The Ohio Attorney General's Office