Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 9 | Miscellaneous
Section 9.68 | Regulation of Arms Prohibited - Challenging Political Subdivisions.

Effective: September 13, 2022
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 156 - 134th General Assembly
(A) The individual right to keep and bear arms, being a fundamental individual right that predates the United States Constitution and Ohio Constitution, and being a constitutionally protected right in every part of Ohio, the general assembly finds the need to provide uniform laws throughout the state regulating the ownership, possession, purchase, other acquisition, transport, storage, carrying, sale, other transfer, manufacture, taxation, keeping, and reporting of loss or theft of firearms, their components, and their ammunition, and knives. The general assembly also finds and declares that it is proper for law-abiding people to protect themselves, their families, and others from intruders and attackers without fear of prosecution or civil action for acting in defense of themselves or others. Except as specifically provided by the United States Constitution, Ohio Constitution, state law, or federal law, a person, without further license, permission, restriction, delay, or process, including by any ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or other action or any threat of citation, prosecution, or other legal process, may own, possess, purchase, acquire, transport, store, carry, sell, transfer, manufacture, or keep any firearm, part of a firearm, its components, and its ammunition, and any knife. Any such further license, permission, restriction, delay, or process interferes with the fundamental individual right described in this division and unduly inhibits law-abiding people from protecting themselves, their families, and others from intruders and attackers and from other legitimate uses of constitutionally protected arms, including hunting and sporting activities, and the state by this section preempts, supersedes, and declares null and void any such further license, permission, restriction, delay, or process.
(B) A person, group, or entity adversely affected by any manner of ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or other action enacted or enforced by a political subdivision in conflict with division (A) of this section may bring a civil action against the political subdivision seeking damages from the political subdivision, declaratory relief, injunctive relief, or a combination of those remedies. Any damages awarded shall be awarded against, and paid by, the political subdivision. In addition to any actual damages awarded against the political subdivision and other relief provided with respect to such an action, the court shall award reasonable expenses to any person, group, or entity that brings the action, to be paid by the political subdivision, if either of the following applies:
(1) The person, group, or entity prevails in a challenge to the ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or action as being in conflict with division (A) of this section.
(2) The ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or action or the manner of its enforcement is repealed or rescinded after the civil action was filed but prior to a final court determination of the action.
(C) As used in this section:
(1) The possession, transporting, or carrying of firearms, their components, their ammunition, or knives include, but are not limited to, the possession, transporting, or carrying, openly or concealed on a person's person or concealed ready at hand, of firearms, their components, their ammunition, or knives.
(2) "Firearm" has the same meaning as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.
(3) "Reasonable expenses" include, but are not limited to, reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and compensation for loss of income.
(4) "Knife" means a cutting instrument and includes a sharpened or pointed blade.
(5) "Arms" includes firearms and knives.
(D) This section does not apply to either of the following:
(1) A zoning ordinance that regulates or prohibits the commercial sale of knives, firearms, firearm components, or ammunition for firearms in areas zoned for residential or agricultural uses;
(2) A zoning ordinance that specifies the hours of operation or the geographic areas where the commercial sale of knives, firearms, firearm components, or ammunition for firearms may occur, provided that the zoning ordinance is consistent with zoning ordinances for other retail establishments in the same geographic area and does not result in a de facto prohibition of the commercial sale of knives, firearms, firearm components, or ammunition for firearms in areas zoned for commercial, retail, or industrial uses.
Last updated August 5, 2022 at 5:17 PM

Structure Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Revised Code

General Provisions

Chapter 9 | Miscellaneous

Section 9.01 | Official Records - Preserving and Maintaining.

Section 9.02 | Inspection and Review of Financial Institution Records.

Section 9.03 | Newsletters of Political Subdivisions.

Section 9.04 | State Funds for Nontherapeutic Abortion Benefits.

Section 9.041 | Childbirth Preferred Over Abortion.

Section 9.06 | Private Operation and Management of Initial Intensive Program Prison.

Section 9.07 | Correctional Facility to House Out-of-State Prisoners.

Section 9.08 | Improper Internet Access - Private Correctional Facilities.

Section 9.10 | Facsimile Signature Defined.

Section 9.11 | Public Officials Using Facsimile Signature.

Section 9.12 | Validity of Instrument With Facsimile Signature.

Section 9.13 | Highway Project Not Located Within Subdivision Boundaries.

Section 9.14 | Loss of Funds Occasioned by Use of Duly Adopted Facsimile Signature.

Section 9.15 | Burial or Cremation of Body at Expense of Township or Municipal Corporation.

Section 9.16 | Governmental Use of Distributed Ledger Technology.

Section 9.20 | Receipt of Gift, Devise, or Bequest Moneys, Lands, or Other Properties by Public Authority.

Section 9.21 | Policies Regarding Political Subdivisions That Hold Credit Card Accounts.

Section 9.22 | Use of Debit Card Accounts.

Section 9.23 | Disbursements by Government Entities Definitions.

Section 9.231 | Disbursements Over $25,000 - Contract Required - Exceptions.

Section 9.232 | Contract for Disbursements.

Section 9.233 | Recipient of Disbursements Entitled Only to Contract Payment Earned.

Section 9.234 | Records and Reports by Recipient - Financial Review - Financial Audit.

Section 9.235 | Records Open to Government Inspection.

Section 9.236 | Recipient to Repay Excess Payment - Civil Action to Recover.

Section 9.237 | Rules Governing Terms of Disbursement Contracts.

Section 9.238 | Form for Financial Reviews and Rules for Audit Reports.

Section 9.239 | Allocation of Federal Energy Efficient Building Deduction.

Section 9.24 | Findings for Recovery.

Section 9.241 | Civil Action for Recovery of Money.

Section 9.242 | Debarred Vendors; Participation in State Contracts.

Section 9.25 | Purchase of Surplus Commodities From Federal Government.

Section 9.26 | Gifts or Grants of Federal Property.

Section 9.27 | State Contracts - Invalid Terms and Conditions.

Section 9.28 | Competitive Solicitation as Public Record.

Section 9.29 | Multi-Year Asset Management Professional Service Contracts.

Section 9.30 | Public Utility Service Without Bidding and Notice.

Section 9.31 | Erroneous Bids.

Section 9.311 | Bonds Accompanying Bid to Be Executed by Approved Surety.

Section 9.312 | Factors to Determine Whether Bid Is Responsive and Bidder Is Responsible.

Section 9.313 | Reduction of Performance Bond After Substantial Performance.

Section 9.314 | Purchasing Services or Supplies by Reverse Auction.

Section 9.315 | Requiring Particular Surety or Insurance Company or a Particular Agent or Broker on Public Bids Prohibited.

Section 9.316 | Injunctive Relief.

Section 9.317 | Purchase of Supplies or Services by Reverse Auction.

Section 9.32 | Notification of Surety and Agent of Construction Contract Award.

Section 9.33 | Construction Management Services Definitions.

Section 9.331 | Notice of Accepting Bids for Construction Manager or Construction Manager at Risk.

Section 9.332 | Selection of and Contract With Construction Manager.

Section 9.333 | Financial Assurance to Be Provided by Construction Manager.

Section 9.334 | Evaluation of Most Qualified Proposals; Pricing Proposals; Contract Negotiations.

Section 9.335 | Construction of Statutes With Other Code Provisions.

Section 9.34 | Fiscal Year and Period of State and Political Subdivisions.

Section 9.35 | Contracts for Ministerial Duties by Public Officials.

Section 9.36 | Contract for Services of Fiscal and Management Consultants.

Section 9.361 | Payroll Deduction Benefit Program.

Section 9.37 | Direct Deposits.

Section 9.38 | Deposit of Public Moneys.

Section 9.39 | Liability for Public Money Received or Collected - Unclaimed Money.

Section 9.40 | Payroll Deduction for United States Savings Bonds.

Section 9.41 | Payroll Accounts.

Section 9.42 | Municipal Income Tax Deductions.

Section 9.43 | Savings in Share Accounts in Chartered Credit Unions Deductions.

Section 9.44 | Prior Public Service Counted in Computing Vacation Leave.

Section 9.441 | Continuing Rights or Benefits for Prior Service.

Section 9.45 | Nonprofit Debt Pooling Company Deductions.

Section 9.46 | u.s. Olympic Participation Leave.

Section 9.47 | Certificate of Compliance With Affirmative Action Programs.

Section 9.48 | Joint Purchasing Programs.

Section 9.481 | Residency Requirements Prohibited for Certain Employees.

Section 9.482 | Contracting for Services Between Political Subdivisions.

Section 9.483 | Sale and Leaseback Agreements.

Section 9.49 | Transparency in Contracts Between State and Private Attorneys.

Section 9.491 | Definitions.

Section 9.492 | Contingency Fee Contract With Private Attorney.

Section 9.493 | Contract With Private Attorney Outside Ohio.

Section 9.494 | Publication of Contract.

Section 9.495 | Annual Report.

Section 9.496 | Applicability.

Section 9.497 | Construction.

Section 9.498 | Legislative Intent.

Section 9.50 | Display of the Pow/mia Flag During Normal Business Hours at Public Buildings.

Section 9.54 | Accessibility Signs.

Section 9.55 | Installation of Teletypewriters for Deaf or Hearing-Impaired at State Agencies.

Section 9.56 | Plans and Drawings for Public Buildings Filed With County Recorder.

Section 9.57 | Closure of Places of Worship.

Section 9.58 | Court Settlements That Conflict With the Revised Code.

Section 9.60 | Contracts for Firefighting Agency, Private Fire Company, or Emergency Medical Service Organization.

Section 9.61 | Residency Not Required for Fire Chief.

Section 9.62 | Purchase of Police Dog or Horse.

Section 9.63 | Compliance With Lawful Requests Under Patriot Act.

Section 9.65 | Annuity Program for Volunteer Fire Fighters.

Section 9.66 | Indication of Outstanding Liability Owed to State in Application for Economic Development Assistance.

Section 9.661 | Liens to Secure Performance on Development Loans and Property Tax Incentives.

Section 9.67 | Restrictions on Owner of Professional Sports Team That Uses a Tax-Supported Facility.

Section 9.68 | Regulation of Arms Prohibited - Challenging Political Subdivisions.

Section 9.69 | Duties and Status of Law Enforcement Officer.

Section 9.70 | Permission for Street on Lands of Public Institution.

Section 9.73 | Public Employer Inquiries Regarding Criminal Background.

Section 9.74 | Victims of Dissemination of Image.

Section 9.75 | Requirement for Employment of Local Laborers Prohibited.

Section 9.76 | Boycott Provisions in Certain Contracts.

Section 9.78 | Determination of Effect of Criminal Conviction by Licensing Authority.

Section 9.79 | Limitations on Initial License Refusal.

Section 9.80 | Contribution to Charity Deductions.

Section 9.81 | Payroll Deduction Plans.

Section 9.82 | Risk Management and Insurance Programs Definitions.

Section 9.821 | Office of Risk Management.

Section 9.822 | Insurance and Bonds.

Section 9.823 | Risk Management Reserve Fund.

Section 9.83 | Liability Insurance for Public Employees.

Section 9.833 | Self-Insurance Program for Health Care Benefits.

Section 9.835 | Energy Price Risk Management Contract.

Section 9.84 | Witness Has Right of Counsel - Participation in Hearing Limited.

Section 9.85 | Immunity of Public Officers and Employees Definitions.

Section 9.86 | Immunity of Public Officers and Employees.

Section 9.87 | Indemnification of Public Officers and Employees.

Section 9.871 | Indemnification of Correctional Employee.

Section 9.88 | Immunity of Federal Law Enforcement Officers.

Section 9.90 | Purchase or Procurement of Insurance for Educational Employees.

Section 9.901 | Design and Delivery of Health Care Plans; Authority of Department of Administrative Services.

Section 9.91 | Placement or Purchase of Tax-Sheltered Annuity for Educational Employees.

Section 9.911 | Annuity Contracts and Custodial Accounts.

Section 9.92 | Citizens' Reward Program.

Section 9.94 | Fractionalized Interests in Any One or More Public Obligations.

Section 9.95 | Maximum or Maximum Average Annual Interest Rate on Public Securities.

Section 9.96 | Issue Public Securities.

Section 9.97 | Exemption of Bond Interest From Income Tax.

Section 9.98 | Bond Financing Definitions.

Section 9.981 | Applicability.

Section 9.982 | Bond Proceedings.

Section 9.983 | Costs, Expenses and Fees.