Ohio CHL permits down thanks to permitless carry laws
Attorney General Dave Yost on March 3 issued Ohio’s annual report on concealed handgun licensing, showing that a total of 73,552 new or renewed permits were issued in the state in 2024.
According to the statistics reported to the Attorney General’s Office, county sheriffs issued 14,440 new licenses (down 7.3% from 2023) and 59,112 renewals (down 21.2%).
Changes to state law went into effect in June 2022 that allowed qualifying Ohioans to carry a concealed handgun without a permit while also preserving the permitting system.
"The change in law, of course, did not eliminate the permitting system," Yost said. "Although there has been a predictable decrease in the number of concealed-carry licenses since the law took effect in June 2022, more than 14,000 new licenses were issued by Ohio’s 88 county sheriffs in 2024 and nearly 60,000 licenses were renewed."
Answers to common questions about Ohio’s permitless carry law
Under Ohio law, county sheriffs are responsible for issuing concealed-carry licenses and renewing them, as well as suspending and revoking licenses.
Ohio county sheriffs began issuing concealed-carry licenses in 2004.
The top year for new licenses was 2016, with 117,953. The top renewal year was 2021, with 108,622. Renewals are due every five years.
License suspensions in 2024 totaled 1,439 (down 22% from 2023), and license revocations totaled 339 (down 16.3%). License denials totaled 377 (down 13.3%).
Lake County led license suspensions with 125, followed by Franklin with 2023. Franklin led revocations with 77, followed by Clermont with 46. Lucas County led denials with 44, followed by Franklin with 39.
The top 5 counties issuing news licenses:
- Franklin, 1,154
- Lake, 890
- Hamilton, 700
- Montgomery, 467
- Summit, 461
The top 5 counties issuing renewals:
- Franklin, 3,489
- Lake, 3008
- Clermont, 2,177
- Montgomery, 2,020
- Butler, 1,947
See the full report at ohioattorneygeneral.gov/2024-Concealed-Carry-Annual-Report.
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