How Much Is a CCW in Ohio? Application Fee, Training, and Renewal

Getting a concealed handgun license in Ohio runs most applicants between $125 and $285 all in. That total combines a sheriff’s office application fee, a mandatory training course, and a passport-style photo. The training course is the biggest swing, ranging from about $90 to over $200 depending on the instructor. So the short answer to how much a CCW in Ohio costs is: budget around $200 if you want a realistic middle-of-the-road figure, and read on for where your number will actually land.

Sheriff’s Application Fee

You file at the sheriff’s office in the county where you live or work. What you pay depends on how long you’ve been an Ohio resident.

  • Five or more years in Ohio: $67, which covers the state background check through the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.
  • Fewer than five years, or a non-resident employed in Ohio: $67 plus the actual cost of an FBI background check. Sheriff’s offices generally report this total at roughly $78, depending on the current FBI fee.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process

Both amounts are non-refundable, even if your application is denied. The sheriff cannot charge you separately for the BCI check on top of the application fee.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process

Training Course

Ohio requires at least eight hours of firearms training before you can apply, including a minimum of two hours of live-fire range time.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process Some instructors let you complete the classroom portion online, but the range hours have to be in person.

Prices vary. An in-person course at an established range typically runs about $125. Other training centers price anywhere from $90 to more than $200, depending on class size, location, and whether ammunition and range fees are included. This is usually the single largest cost of getting licensed, so it pays to compare a few local options. Confirm any course you’re weighing meets the statutory minimums and is taught by an instructor who qualifies under Ohio law.

Passport Photo

Your application requires one passport-sized color photo. Some sheriff’s offices will take it on-site for a small fee; Fairfield County, for example, charges $10. Others require you to bring your own. Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS typically charge between $7 and $17 for a set of two. Either way, this is a minor line item.

Fee Waivers for Military and Law Enforcement

Ohio waives the entire application fee, initial or renewal, for:

  • Active or reserve members of the U.S. armed forces
  • Honorably discharged veterans
  • Retired peace officers
  • Retired federal law enforcement officers who were authorized to carry a firearm before retirement

One detail catches applicants off guard: the state budgets $1.5 million per year to reimburse sheriffs for military waivers. Once that pool is exhausted, sheriffs can no longer waive fees for active-duty members and veterans for the rest of that year. Retired peace officers and retired federal law enforcement aren’t subject to that cap.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process If you’re a veteran applying late in the fiscal year, call your sheriff’s office first to confirm the waiver is still available.

Renewal Costs

An Ohio CHL is valid for five years from issuance, with a 30-day grace period after expiration during which the license remains valid.2Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.126 – Duties of Licensed Individual Renewal fees follow the same residency split as the initial application:

The same military and law enforcement waivers apply at renewal, subject to the same annual funding cap for military members and veterans. No additional training course is required to renew.

Replacement and Temporary Emergency Licenses

Replacement License

If your CHL is lost, stolen, or destroyed, the sheriff who issued the original will produce a duplicate for $15. Some offices require a police report first.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process

Temporary Emergency License

If you can demonstrate imminent danger, a sheriff may issue a temporary emergency concealed handgun license. Every applicant pays for a BCI background check regardless of residency:

Replacing a lost or destroyed temporary emergency license also costs $15. Waivers on the temporary emergency license are available to retired peace officers and retired federal law enforcement, but not to active military or veterans.

Is a CHL Worth Paying For Under Constitutional Carry?

Since June 2022, any qualifying adult in Ohio can carry a concealed handgun without a license under Senate Bill 215.4Ohio Legislature. Senate Bill 215, 134th General Assembly The license still buys you things permitless carry doesn’t:

  • Reciprocity. Constitutional carry only protects you inside Ohio. A CHL is honored by dozens of other states through reciprocity agreements, which matters if you cross state lines while armed.
  • Faster firearm purchases. A valid CHL can speed up the background check when buying from a licensed dealer.
  • Smoother traffic stops. Ohio still requires you to tell an officer you’re armed during a stop, and handing over a CHL alongside your license makes that interaction cleaner.

Whether those benefits justify the $125 to $285 upfront is a personal call. For anyone who regularly drives through neighboring states while carrying, the reciprocity alone tends to be the deciding factor.