Is a Montana Non-Resident Permit Valid in Ohio?

Why

• Montana does not issue carry permits to non-residents (permit requires at least 6 months' montana residency, us citizenship or lawful permanent residence, and montana id (mca 45-8-321; mt doj). no non-resident permits are issued).

Since March 23, 2015 Ohio recognizes a valid concealed handgun license issued by ANY other state regardless of reciprocity agreement, but only while the holder is NOT an Ohio resident and is temporarily in Ohio (R.C. 2923.126). The statute does not require the holder to be a resident of the issuing state. Ohio residents must use an Ohio license or permitless carry.

Carry rules in Ohio

Ohio's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.

• SB 215 (2022) removed the duty to promptly notify; a person stopped by law enforcement is no longer required to volunteer that they are carrying but must answer truthfully if the officer asks (R.C. 2923.12).
• Ohio sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Ohio allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• A licensee or qualifying adult (21+) may carry a loaded concealed handgun in a motor vehicle; pre-2022 vehicle notification and handling restrictions were repealed by SB 215.

Off-limits places in Ohio

Ohio bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Police stations, sheriff's offices and highway patrol posts
• Correctional institutions, jails and detention facilities

See all 6 places you can't carry in Ohio →

Montana vs Ohio: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Montana into Ohio changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes → Yes (21+)); out-of-state permits honored (43 states → All states).

Going the other way, an Ohio non-resident permit in Montana: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Permits that do work in Ohio

These non-resident permits are honored in Ohio, ranked by how many states honor each one. They are issued to people who live outside the issuing state, subject to its eligibility rules.

• North Dakota non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
• Idaho non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Texas non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Florida non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• South Carolina non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Arizona non-resident permit · honored in 31 states

Driving on from Ohio

How a Montana non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Ohio:

• Indiana — No such permit issued
• Kentucky — No such permit issued
• Michigan — No such permit issued
• Pennsylvania — No such permit issued
• West Virginia — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Ohio honor a Montana resident permit?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Ohio treats the two permit types differently.

Can an Ohio non-resident permit holder carry in Montana?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Montana's law, not Ohio's.

Does Montana issue non-resident carry permits?

No. Montana issues carry permits to residents only (permit requires at least 6 months' Montana residency, US citizenship or lawful permanent residence, and Montana ID (MCA 45-8-321; MT DOJ). No non-resident permits are issued). Non-residents who want multi-state coverage usually obtain a non-resident permit from a state that offers one, such as those listed in our non-resident permit guide.