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Concealed Handgun Licence Free — Until the State Has Waived $1.5 Million of Them

An Ohio sheriff waives the concealed handgun licence fee for an active or reserve member of the armed forces, and for anyone retired from or honorably discharged from active or reserve service. It applies to INITIAL AND RENEWAL applications alike. The unusual condition is a statewide budget: ONCE WAIVERS TOTAL $1.5 MILLION IN A YEAR THEY PAUSE FOR THE REST OF THAT YEAR. So this is a benefit where applying earlier in the year is materially better than applying later, which is not true of anything else in Ohio's records.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

An Ohio sheriff waives the concealed handgun licence fee for an active or reserve member of the armed forces, and for anyone retired from or honorably discharged from active or reserve service. It applies to INITIAL AND RENEWAL applications alike. The unusual condition is a statewide budget: ONCE WAIVERS TOTAL $1.5 MILLION IN A YEAR THEY PAUSE FOR THE REST OF THAT YEAR. So this is a benefit where applying earlier in the year is materially better than applying later, which is not true of anything else in Ohio's records.

What it's worth: The licence fee waived, on initial and renewal applications

  • The SHERIFF waives the licence fee — of your county or an adjoining county.
  • It applies to INITIAL AND RENEWAL applications.
  • Covers active and reserve members, and those RETIRED FROM OR HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM active or reserve service.
  • STATEWIDE WAIVERS PAUSE FOR THE REST OF A YEAR ONCE THEY TOTAL $1.5 MILLION.
  • So applying earlier in the year is materially better than applying later.
  • The ordinary competency, background and suitability requirements are unaffected.
  • Statutory basis: Ohio Rev. Code §2923.125.

Who is entitled to it

  • You serve or served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • Your service meets the test.
  • Ohio concealed handgun licensing.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Apply EARLY IN THE YEAR. The statewide waiver budget is $1.5 million and it pauses once spent.
  2. 2Apply to the sheriff of your county or an adjoining county.
  3. 3Take your DD-214, retirement paperwork or military ID.
  4. 4Claim the waiver at renewal too — it is not limited to the first licence.
  5. 5Ask the sheriff's office whether the statewide cap has been reached before paying.
Form
Application to your county sheriff
File with
Your county sheriff
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingA capped waiver is a queue. Nothing else in Ohio's veterans benefits works this way, so the habit of applying whenever you get round to it costs money here.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.