In 2022, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 215 into law, allowing Ohioans 21 years of age or older to carry concealed handguns without a permit. Ohio still allows open carry of handguns as well.
Yost’s determination comes after a St. Paris police chief was arrested in 2024 for openly carrying a firearm while off-duty at the Champaign County Fair, which banned firearms on the premises.
An attorney general’s opinion doesn’t carry the weight of law, but it gives local governments legal guidance that carries weight in court.
The Champaign County Fair this year runs Aug. 1-8. This year, there will be no signage prohibiting people from bringing weapons onto the grounds or into the buildings at the fair, according to Champaign County Fair President Wayne Cook.
Cook said the fair wanted guidance from the state regarding what it could and couldn’t do regarding firearms at the fair.
Cook also said the incident in 2024 is the only problem the Champaign County Fair has had with weapons and that he trusts local law enforcement to keep the fair safe.
“I have all the faith in the world in them that they’re going to take care of anything that would come about,” Cook said.
Champaign County Sheriff Chad Burroughs said the fair board plans to comply with Yost’s decision and will be enforcing it at the fair.
Other county fairs, state fair
Ohio law handles buildings and grounds differently, and allows for more restrictions in buildings than on grounds.
The Clark County Fair this year required attendees to go through metal detectors to enter the fair and asked people to leave metal items in their cars. This was done after a large fight last year closed down the fair.
The entrance to the fair is through a building that doesn’t allow firearms.
Jess West, public relations and marketing director for the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds, said that firearms, concealed or open, are permitted at the Ohio State Fair on the outside portions only.
“If any patron carrying a firearm would like to enter a building, the patron will be given the option to return the firearm to his or her vehicle and return to the fair with an admission handstamp,” West said.
West also ensured that all buildings at the fair will have signs posted prohibiting any weapons from being brought into buildings at the fair.
The Greene County Fair follows the same rules with firearms only permitted on outside portions of the fair, not in buildings.
Greene County Sheriff Scott Anger said this is a policy that’s been in place for many years at the fair.
“It’s very similar to what fairgrounds do around the region,” Anger said, “It’s one of those things that people will continuously look at.”
Kala Stadham, who works in public relations for the fair, said they have never had issues with weapons.
Items that are still prohibited include, but are not limited to:
- Weapons like knives and bats
- Illegal substances
- Non-permitted vehicles like bicycles or skateboards
