To renew your Ohio CCW permit, take your current concealed handgun license, a valid Ohio ID, a recent color photo, a signed certification that you have reread the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission pamphlet, and a $50 fee to the sheriff’s office in your county of residence or an adjacent county. You’ll be fingerprinted, your records will be checked, and the renewed license is good for another five years. No new training course is required.
When to Renew
Your CHL is valid for five years from the date it was issued.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process Ohio law lets you submit a renewal application any time before or after that expiration date, and there is no late fee. The catch is straightforward: while the license is expired, it isn’t valid, so you lose the benefits of holding one (reciprocity, faster firearm purchases, and lawful carry in school safety zones outside the building) until the renewal is approved.
Since Ohio became a constitutional carry state in 2022, you no longer need a permit to carry concealed as a qualifying adult.2Ohio Legislature. Senate Bill 215 – 134th General Assembly Renewing still matters if you travel: an Ohio CHL is honored in many other states that don’t recognize Ohio’s constitutional carry, and the Ohio Attorney General maintains the current reciprocity list.3Ohio Attorney General. Concealed Carry Reciprocity Agreements A valid CHL can also shorten the federal background check when you buy a firearm.
Who Qualifies to Renew
Renewal applicants must meet the same core criteria as first-time applicants:
- At least 21 years old
- A U.S. resident who has lived in Ohio for at least 45 days, or in the county of application (or an adjacent county) for at least 30 days
- No disqualifying criminal history, including felony convictions, drug offenses, or misdemeanor crimes of violence within the past three years
- No disqualifying mental health adjudications
The one meaningful difference from the initial application is training. Renewal applicants do not have to complete a new firearms course. Instead, you certify that you have reread the OPOTC pamphlet covering firearms safety, dispute resolution, and use of deadly force.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process
What to Bring
Gather everything before you go to the sheriff’s office:
- Your current CHL, even if it has expired
- A valid Ohio driver’s license or state ID to prove residency
- A completed renewal application form, available from the Ohio Attorney General’s website or your local sheriff’s office
- A color photograph taken within 30 days (some offices photograph you on-site, but bring one anyway)4Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process
- Your signed certification that you have reread the OPOTC pamphlet
- The renewal fee
Renewal Fees
The fee depends on how long you have lived in Ohio:
- Ohio resident for five or more years: $50
- Ohio resident for less than five years, or a non-resident employed in Ohio: $50 plus the actual FBI background check cost
Because the shorter-residency fee is set by statute at $50 plus whatever the FBI charges, totals can vary slightly between sheriff’s offices.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process The fee is nonrefundable whether or not your application is approved. Most sheriff’s offices take cash, money orders, or certified checks; personal checks and credit cards are often not accepted. Call to confirm before your appointment.
Military Fee and Training Waivers
Active duty service members, reservists, military retirees, and honorably discharged veterans can have both the license fee and the training requirement waived. Bring documentation of your service and of firearms experience equivalent to the standard training course. A DD214, valid military ID, or similar service record works.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process
One thing to be aware of: the state caps total military fee waivers at $1.5 million per year statewide. Once that cap is reached, sheriffs stop waiving fees for military applicants for the rest of the year. Applying earlier in the calendar year reduces the risk of hitting that limit.
Where to Submit the Application
Renewals must be submitted in person to the sheriff’s office in the county where you live or an adjacent county. Non-residents who hold an Ohio CHL must return to the county that issued the original license. Most offices require an appointment, so call ahead or check the office’s website.
At the appointment, staff will fingerprint you electronically through Ohio’s WebCheck system for a criminal records check and an incompetency records check.5Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 311.41 Fingerprinting is required for renewals, not just new applications. If the office doesn’t have electronic capture, they’ll take ink impressions on a card. Your renewal photo will be taken then if you didn’t bring one, and staff will verify your documents and have you sign forms. Do not bring any firearms with you to the sheriff’s office.
After You Apply
The sheriff has up to 45 days to process your renewal. During that window, the office runs the criminal and incompetency records checks.1Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 2923.125 – Application and Licensing Process Approved licenses are usually mailed to your home address, though some counties offer in-person pickup. The renewed license is valid for five years from its date of issuance.
If you haven’t received either your license or a denial letter after 45 days, contact the sheriff’s office. Your old license is not valid during the waiting period if it has already expired.
If Your Renewal Is Denied
A denied applicant receives a written explanation. You can appeal by filing in the court of common pleas in the county served by the sheriff who denied the application, following the administrative appeal process under ORC 119.12. The court reviews whether the sheriff’s decision was supported by the evidence. If the denial was based on outdated or incorrect records, correcting those records before you appeal can save time.
Keeping Your License Current After Renewal
Address and Name Changes
If you move or legally change your name, notify the sheriff’s office that issued your CHL within 30 days. An address change can usually be handled by mail or in person with a simple form. A name change requires you to appear in person with legal documentation such as a marriage certificate or court order. If you want the license reissued with the updated information, the reissue fee is $15. Failing to report a change of address doesn’t automatically invalidate your license, but carrying with outdated information can create complications during a law enforcement encounter.
Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Licenses
If your renewed CHL is lost, stolen, or damaged, get a replacement through the sheriff’s office that issued it. First, obtain a police report documenting the loss or theft. Bring that report and your valid state ID to the issuing sheriff’s office. The replacement fee is $15, and the new card is typically mailed to you. If the lost license came from a different county than where you now live, contact the original issuing county, unless the license has already expired, in which case you can simply renew through your current county of residence.