Yes, open carry of firearms is legal in Ohio for individuals who are at least 18 years old and not prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law. Ohio Revised Code § 2923.110 explicitly permits open carry without a permit, aligning with the state’s constitutional carry framework. Local municipalities retain limited authority to regulate firearm discharge but cannot outright ban open carry.
Key Regulations for Open Carry in Ohio
- Age and Eligibility: Only individuals 18+ may openly carry, provided they are not convicted felons, subject to domestic violence restraining orders, or adjudicated mentally defective.
- Prohibited Locations: Open carry is banned in government buildings, schools, courthouses, and private properties with posted “no firearms” signs, per Ohio’s concealed carry reciprocity statutes.
- Local Ordinance Limits: While cities like Cleveland or Columbus cannot prohibit open carry outright, they may regulate firearm discharge in public spaces under Ohio’s preemption law (ORC § 9.68).
Recent 2026 compliance shifts require firearm owners to verify updated local signage, as municipalities increasingly enforce signage-based restrictions in response to state preemption challenges. The Ohio Attorney General’s office has issued advisory opinions clarifying that open carry remains lawful in most public spaces absent specific statutory prohibitions. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922) further restricts firearm possession in sensitive areas, such as federal facilities, regardless of state permissiveness.