CCW Applications

To qualify for a CCW in Ohio, you must:

1. Be at least 21 years of age
2. Be a legal resident of the United States and Ohio resident in the county of application or adjacent county, or resident of another state and employed in the county of application or adjacent county (employment proof required; i.e. current paystub, letter from employer)
3. Not be a fugitive from justice and not be prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm
4. Complete an eight (8) hour certified weapons proficiency training (must present certification with application within 3 years of course completion) UNLESS waived because of active military service, previous military service (honorable discharge), or proof of Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) Certification

For more information please review the Ohio Concealed Carry Laws Manual.

To obtain a CCW permit, first time applicants must:

1. Complete the required eight (8) hours of weapons proficiency training. The training must include a minimum of two (2) hours of in-person training that consists of range time and live-fire training. This training is NOT OFFERED BY THE GEAUGA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. Check with local sporting goods stores, gun clubs, or gun stores for available training courses. Insure the instructor(s) offering the weapons proficiency training have a certificate of training from the National Rifle Association or the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and are certified to teach firearms training.
2. Upon successful completion of the weapons proficiency training and receipt of a firearms training certificate from the training entity, the applicant must complete a CCW Application Form and review the Ohio Concealed Carry Law Pamphlet as prepared by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. These documents should be made available to you where you obtained your weapons proficiency training or online at http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Law-enforcement/Concealed-Carry. The application form is available in the lobby of the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office. The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office no longer carries the Concealed Carry Law Pamphlet.
3. You must appear in person and have the following items with you when applying for a Carrying Concealed Weapons Permit:
   • A completed CCW Application Form
   • A copy of your firearms training certificate
   • A current photo identification (i.e. driver’s license, state ID)
4. One of the following methods of payment for the NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE must be presented at the time of application: money order, personal check, or EXACT AMOUNT CASH . If you have lived in the State of Ohio for five (5) or more years, the application fee is $67.00 . If you have lived in Ohio less than five (5) years, there is an additional $10.00 fee for the FBI background check. Payment must be made payable to the “Geauga County Sheriff’s Office”. The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office does NOT accept credit/debit cards!
5. Each applicant’s completed application will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy. During your processing, fingerprints will be obtained electronically through the WebCheck System. Fingerprints will be sent to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation & Identification (BCI&I) and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for a background check.
6. If your application is approved, your CCW license will be mailed to you within forty five (45) days, or you will receive a phone call to pick up your license. If your application has been denied, a certified letter will be sent to explain the reason(s) for the denial. The appeal process will also be explained in the certified letter. PLEASE DO NOT CALL to check on the status of your application unless you fail to hear from us or do not receive your CCW license in the mail within 45 days.

To renew a CCW permit:

1. All CCW licenses expire five (5) years after the issue date. Effective November 5, 2018, you may renew your CCW license any time prior to the expiration date and at any time after the expiration date. If your CCW license expires, you can carry a concealed handgun for an additional 30 days after the expiration date. After this 30-day grace period, you may not carry a concealed handgun until you have reapplied and received a new CCW license. There is no additional training required to renew your license, regardless of how long ago it expired.
2. You must complete a new CCW Application Form and review the current Ohio Concealed Carry Law Pamphlet as prepared by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. These documents are available online at http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Law-enforcement/Concealed-Carry. The application form is available in the lobby of the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office. The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office no longer carries the Concealed Carry Law Pamphlet.
3. You must appear in person and have the following items with you when renewing your Concealed Carry Weapons Permit:
   • A completed CCW Application Form
   • A current CCW license
   • A current photo identification (i.e. driver’s license, state ID)
4. One of the following methods of payment for the NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE must be presented at the time of application: money order, personal check, or EXACT CASH AMOUNT. The fee for renewing your Concealed Carry Weapons Permit is $50.00. If you have not lived in Ohio for the past five (5) years, there will be an additional $10.00 fee for the FBI background check. Payment must be made payable to the “Geauga County Sheriff’s Office”. The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office does NOT accept credit/debit cards!
5. Each applicant’s renewal application will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy. During processing, fingerprints will again be obtained electronically through the WebCheck System. Fingerprints will be sent to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation & Identification (BCI&I) and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for a background check.
6. Your new CCW license will be mailed to you within forty-five (45) days, or you will receive a phone call to pick up your license. PLEASE DO NOT CALL to check on the status of your renewal application unless you fail to hear from us or do not receive your new CCW license in the mail within 45 days.

********** EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 5, 2018 *********

If you are an active member, reserve member, retired, or honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces, you can apply for a new Ohio concealed carry permit or renew an Ohio concealed carry permit without completing an eight (8) hour certified weapons proficiency training course or paying an application fee. To receive these benefits, you must present an active military ID or qualifying DD214.

Law Enforcement Officers, Active and Retired are eligible to receive the CCW License with the application fees waived.

NOTE: The Ohio Attorney General monitors the number of application fees waived statewide and caps the total amount allowed to be waived at 1.5 million dollars each year. When funds are depleted statewide, the application fee can no longer be waived until November 5th of the following year.

Out of State applicants residing in the State of Ohio for a period of six months or less wishing to obtain a New Ohio Concealed Carry Weapon’s Permit, and the previous was issued by another state must to the following:

1. Provide proof of prior CCW or firearms competency certification course which meets or exceeds State of Ohio training requirements: six hours of in person or on-line training, and a minimum of two hours of in person training that consists of range time and live firing training, given by instructors that are certified by a national gun advocacy organization.
2. Obtain a CCW Application Form and the Ohio Concealed Carry Law Pamphlet prepared by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.You can obtain the needed Application form only, at the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, on-line at http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Law-enforcement/Concealed-Carry.
3. You need a completed application form, one (1) current passport size photo, a copy of your training certificate(s), your Ohio State ID with photo or Ohio Driver’s License, the fee is $77.00 if not a resident for five years. (Cash, money order or personal check. No business checks, debit or credit cards accepted.).

Persons wishing to renew their Concealed Carry Weapons permit and the previous license was issued by a county other than the Geauga County, must present a State of Ohio issued picture identification, provide a completed application form, the current or expired permit and a 2×2 passport sized color photograph. The fee is $50.00.

Senate Bill 81: Effective November 5, 2018, the fee to obtain your license will be waived. (There is a cap of $1.5 million per year. Once that is reached, the fee will apply.)

Eligibility:

1. The fee will be waived for “an active or reserve member of the armed forced of the United States” or a person who “has retired from or was honorably discharged from military service in the active or reserve armed forces of the United States”. This applies to both the initial and renewal license applications.
2. Other changes due to the Bill:
   • Retirees of, or persons honorably discharged from, the U.S. armed forces may forgo firearms training no matter when their retirement or discharge occurred. (Previously, it was only if your retirement or discharge was within the last ten years.)
   • A person may apply for a renewal license at any time before expiration. (This removes the 90 day time frame.)

Required documents

• CCW Application
• Copy of DD-214 for Retired and Discharged – Military ID for Active Duty
• Ohio Photo ID or Driver License
• Passport photo (2”x2”) if new application

Law Enforcement Officers – Active or Retired

• Department ID
• Competency Certification