COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has released the state’s 2025 concealed handgun licensing report, showing that 77,159 permits were issued across Ohio last year.
According to data compiled by the Attorney General’s Office, county sheriffs issued 13,876 new licenses and processed 63,283 renewals in 2025. Under Ohio law, concealed-carry licenses must be renewed every five years.
Sheriffs in each of Ohio’s 88 counties are responsible for issuing, renewing, suspending and revoking concealed handgun licenses. They are required to submit quarterly statistics to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, which operates within the Attorney General’s Office. The office then compiles and publishes the annual statewide report as required by law.
Ohio first began issuing concealed-carry licenses in 2004. In June 2022, the legislature authorized “constitutional carry,” allowing qualifying Ohioans to carry a concealed handgun without obtaining a permit, while keeping the existing licensing system in place for those who choose to maintain a permit for reciprocity or other purposes.
In remarks accompanying the report, Yost referenced the state’s shift to permitless carry, noting the legislature’s authorization of constitutional carry and expressing continued support for Second Amendment rights.
The full 2025 concealed carry report, along with additional statistics and information about Ohio’s concealed-carry laws, is available on the Attorney General’s website at OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/ConcealedCarry.
