Oregon Gun Laws: Carry, Permits, and Measure 114

Oregon gun laws combine federal rules with state-specific requirements covering who can own a firearm, how transfers must be handled, where guns can be carried, and how they must be stored. Universal background checks, mandatory safe storage, and a shall-issue concealed handgun license with no out-of-state reciprocity are already in force. A permit-to-purchase system and a ban on magazines over 10 rounds, approved by voters as Measure 114 in November 2022, remain blocked by litigation and are not enforceable as of early 2026.

Who Can Legally Own a Gun in Oregon

Anyone under 18 is barred from possessing any firearm in Oregon, with narrow exceptions for hunting, target practice, or a long gun transferred by a parent or guardian. Federal law adds that handgun purchases from a licensed dealer require age 21, while long guns can be purchased at 18.¹

Several categories of people are prohibited from possessing firearms. Anyone convicted of a felony who possesses a firearm commits a separate Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison.² Others barred from possession include:

People with qualifying misdemeanor domestic violence convictions or subject to active restraining orders.
Anyone a court has found to be a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness under ORS 426.130.³
Juveniles adjudicated for what would be a violent adult offense, for four years after release from court jurisdiction.

Marijuana Use Is a Federal Disqualifier

Recreational and medical marijuana are legal under Oregon law, but federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance. Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), any “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” cannot possess firearms or ammunition.⁴ You do not have to be under the influence at the moment of possession; being a regular user is enough. The ATF Form 4473 that every licensed-dealer buyer signs warns explicitly that marijuana remains unlawful federally regardless of state law. Oregon state and local law enforcement reportedly treat this as a low priority, but the federal prohibition still applies.

Background Checks on Every Sale

Oregon requires a background check for virtually every firearm transfer. Private sellers cannot complete a sale on their own; they must route the check through a licensed dealer.⁵ The Oregon State Police Firearms Instant Check System runs the check, and the state charges $10 per transaction. Dealers typically add their own transfer fee on top of that.⁶

The family exemption is broader than most owners realize. You can transfer a firearm without a dealer to a spouse, domestic partner, parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, first cousin, niece, nephew, or the spouse or domestic partner of any of those relatives. Transfers after the owner’s death also qualify when handled by a personal representative or trustee and going to a qualifying family member.⁷

Skipping a required check is a Class A misdemeanor on a first offense and a Class B felony on a second.⁷

If Oregon State Police cannot complete the check within three business days, current state and federal rules let the dealer release the firearm. Measure 114 would remove that default-proceed provision, but the change is not in effect.⁶

Concealed Handgun License

Oregon is a shall-issue state. The sheriff must grant a concealed handgun license (CHL) if you meet the statutory requirements. Applications are filed in person at the sheriff’s office in your county of residence. The statutory fee is $50 for initial issuance and for renewal, though counties may add fingerprinting and processing costs. A CHL is valid for four years.⁸⁹

To qualify you must:

Be at least 21 years old.
Reside in the county where you apply.
Demonstrate handgun competence through an approved safety course, hunter education, law enforcement training, or an equivalent program.
Have no disqualifying convictions, outstanding warrants, or pending charges.
Not be subject to a restraining order or a mental health finding that prohibits firearm possession.

The Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association offers an online safety course accepted by all 36 county sheriffs. The course is free; the completion certificate costs $60. Carrying a concealed handgun without a valid license is a Class A misdemeanor and can be elevated with prior convictions.¹

Oregon does not honor concealed carry permits from any other state. An Idaho, Washington, or Utah permit has no legal effect once you cross the state line. Non-residents from California, Idaho, Nevada, or Washington may apply for an Oregon CHL through a bordering county sheriff’s office, but residents of other states cannot.

Open Carry and Where Local Rules Apply

Open carry is generally lawful in Oregon without a permit. Cities and counties can, however, restrict the carrying of loaded firearms in public places under ORS 166.173, and several larger municipalities have done so.¹⁰

Here is the detail that catches people off guard: CHL holders are exempt from those local loaded-firearm ordinances. If a city bans carrying loaded firearms on its streets, that ban does not reach someone with a valid CHL. Outside of loaded-carry restrictions, ORS 166.170 preempts local governments from regulating almost any other aspect of firearm ownership, sale, or possession, so ordinances that try to go further are void.¹¹

Places Where Firearms Are Off-Limits

Possessing a firearm in a public building is a Class C felony under ORS 166.370. Public buildings include the State Capitol, courthouses, and court facilities.¹²

CHL holders get a partial exemption worth understanding. In most public buildings a CHL holder is not subject to the prohibition at all. The exceptions are the State Capitol, commercial airport terminals serving more than one million passengers a year, and school grounds where the school board has adopted a firearms policy under ORS 166.377. In those locations a CHL holder who carries is still committing a crime, but the charge drops to a Class A misdemeanor instead of a Class C felony. A narrow carve-out permits an unloaded firearm locked inside a motor vehicle on school property, provided the person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing it.¹²

Federal facilities follow their own rules. Post offices, federal courthouses, and Social Security offices maintain firearms bans that no state permit overrides. Private property owners can also prohibit firearms; Oregon does not require any specific signage format, and a verbal request is enough. Refusing to leave while armed is a Class A misdemeanor for criminal trespass while in possession of a firearm under ORS 164.265.

Safe Storage and Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms

Any firearm not under your direct control must be stored with a trigger lock or inside a locked container under ORS 166.395. This applies inside the home and inside a vehicle: a gun left in a car needs to be secured and out of plain view. A violation is a Class C violation with a maximum $500 fine. If a minor gains access to the unsecured firearm and you knew or should have known that could happen, the charge escalates to a Class A violation with a maximum $2,000 fine.¹³¹⁴

A lost or stolen firearm must be reported to local law enforcement within 72 hours of when you knew or reasonably should have known about the loss. Failing to report is a Class B violation carrying a maximum fine of $1,000.¹⁵

Unserialized Firearms

Since September 2024, Oregon prohibits possessing, selling, or transferring any firearm without a serial number imprinted by a federally licensed manufacturer, importer, dealer, or gunsmith. The rule reaches so-called ghost guns, including firearms built from kits or 3D-printed parts, unless properly serialized. Antique firearms and those made before October 22, 1968 are exempt. A violation of ORS 166.266 results in forfeiture of the firearm.¹⁶

Measure 114: Permit-to-Purchase and Magazine Ban Still on Hold

Voters approved Measure 114 in November 2022, creating a permit-to-purchase requirement for all firearm buyers and a ban on magazines holding more than 10 rounds. Neither is currently enforceable. A Harney County circuit court enjoined the measure shortly after passage. In March 2025 the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed and declared the measure facially constitutional. Opponents appealed, and the Oregon Supreme Court heard oral arguments in November 2025. As of early 2026 no ruling has issued. If the state prevails, the measure could take effect within weeks.¹⁷

If it takes effect, every buyer would need a permit issued by a local police chief or sheriff before purchasing from any source. The permit application requires an approved firearms safety course with a live-fire component, a background check, an application fee, fingerprints, and a photograph. The magazine ban would prohibit manufacturing, importing, purchasing, selling, possessing, using, or transferring any magazine over 10 rounds, with a violation carrying a Class A misdemeanor charge. A separate initiative filed in 2025 seeks to repeal both requirements and could appear on the November 2026 ballot.¹⁸¹⁹

Self-Defense and Deadly Force

Oregon has no duty to retreat. The Oregon Supreme Court confirmed in 2007 that the self-defense statute contains no requirement to retreat or try to escape before using force, making Oregon effectively a stand-your-ground state even though the statute does not use that phrase.²⁰

Under ORS 161.219, deadly force is justified only when you reasonably believe the other person is:

Committing or attempting a felony involving the use or threatened use of physical force against a person.
Committing or attempting a burglary in a dwelling.
Using or about to use unlawful deadly force against a person.

The force used cannot exceed what you reasonably believe is necessary. Once the threat has clearly ended, or if the response escalates beyond what the situation calls for, the justification disappears. The same standards apply inside the home and on a public sidewalk.

Red Flag Orders and Restoring Rights

Oregon’s red flag law lets a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer petition the circuit court for an Extreme Risk Protection Order when someone poses an imminent risk of suicide or violence. There is no filing fee. If the order is granted, the respondent must surrender all firearms and any CHL within 24 hours to law enforcement, a licensed dealer, or an approved third party. The order lasts one year and may be renewed.²¹²²

Someone prohibited from possessing firearms can petition the circuit court in their county of residence for relief under ORS 166.274. Relief is not available to people convicted of person felonies, certain serious offenses listed in ORS 137.700, or anyone currently serving a felony sentence or within one year of completing one. Where the prohibition stems from a mental health commitment handled by the Psychiatric Security Review Board, the petition goes to the PSRB and requires an independent forensic evaluation at the petitioner’s expense. Either path is slow and gives the court or board full discretion to grant or deny.²³²⁴

1
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 166.250 – Unlawful Possession of Firearms
2
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 166.270 – Possession of Weapons by Certain Felons
3
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code Chapter 426 – Persons With Mental Illness
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts
5
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code 166.412 – Definitions; Firearms Transaction Record; Criminal History Record Check
6
Oregon State Police. Firearms Instant Check System
7
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 166.435 – Firearm Transfers by Unlicensed Persons
8
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 166.291 – Issuance of Concealed Handgun License
9
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 166.292 – Procedure for Issuing; Form of License
10
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 166 – Section 166.173
11
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 166.170 – State Preemption
12
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 166.370 – Possession of Firearm or Dangerous Weapon in Public Building or Court Facility
13
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code 166.395 – Securing Firearms; Penalties; Civil Liability
14
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 153.018 – Maximum Fines
15
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code 166.397 – Reporting Loss or Theft of Firearm; Penalties; Civil Liability
16
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 166.266 – Sale, Transfer or Possession of Firearm Without Serial Number
17
Ballotpedia. Oregon Measure 114, Changes to Firearm Ownership and Purchase Requirements Initiative (2022)
18
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 166.412 – Definitions; Firearms Transaction Record; Criminal History Record Check
19
Ballotpedia. Oregon Repeal Firearm Permit Requirement and Magazine Capacity Limit Initiative (2026)
20
Oregon State Legislature. Oregon Code ORS 161.219 – Limitations on Use of Deadly Physical Force in Defense of a Person
21
Oregon Department of Justice. Oregon’s Red Flag Law
22
Oregon Department of Justice. Methods to Prevent Access to Firearms During Times of Increased Risk
23
Oregon Revised Statutes. Oregon Code 166.274 – Relief From Prohibition Against Possessing or Receiving Firearm; Fees
24
State of Oregon. Psychiatric Security Review Board – Gun Rights Restoration