Oregon Concealed Carry Laws: The Concealed Handgun License Explained

By Michael G. Romano, Managing Attorney

Oregon’s concealed carry laws are set out in the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS), and they’ve been shaped by decisions from municipal courts, circuit courts, the Oregon Court of Appeals, and the Oregon Supreme Court. The short version: carrying a concealed handgun in Oregon requires an Oregon Concealed Handgun License (CHL), and even with a license, there are places you can’t carry and local rules you need to know.

Oregon concealed carry laws and the concealed handgun license

Carrying a Concealed Firearm in Oregon Without a License

Under ORS 166.250, it’s a crime to carry any firearm concealed upon your person, or to possess a handgun that is concealed and readily accessible to you within a vehicle. Both are unlawful possession of a firearm, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $6,250 fine. A concealed handgun license is the exception (ORS 166.260). For the rules on vehicles specifically, see our guide to guns in cars in Oregon.

How to Get an Oregon Concealed Handgun License

Oregon concealed handgun licenses are issued by the county sheriff where you live, and a license is valid statewide for four years (ORS 166.292). Oregon is a “shall issue” state: if you meet the requirements in ORS 166.291, the sheriff must issue the license. There is one important qualification. A sheriff may deny a license if there are reasonable grounds to believe the applicant has been or is reasonably likely to be a danger to self or others (ORS 166.293).

To qualify, you must be at least 21, a resident of the county where you apply, and a U.S. citizen or a qualifying legal resident. You must also prove competence with a handgun, usually by completing an approved firearms safety or hunter safety course. You’ll be fingerprinted and photographed. The fee is $100 for a new license plus $15 for the State Police fingerprint check, and $75 to renew. Your county sheriff’s office will have its own application process. In Portland, start with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.

What Disqualifies You From an Oregon CHL

ORS 166.291 lists the disqualifications. The ones we see most often in our practice:

Any felony conviction, ever.
Any misdemeanor conviction within the four years before you apply.
An outstanding warrant, or being on pretrial release on a pending charge.
A conviction for an offense involving controlled substances, or participation in a court-supervised drug diversion program, subject to limited exceptions.
Being subject to a restraining order under the Family Abuse Prevention Act, or a stalking protective order.
A mental health commitment or a court order prohibiting you from possessing firearms.
A juvenile adjudication for a felony or a violent misdemeanor, until four years after discharge from juvenile court.
A dishonorable discharge, or a requirement to register as a sex offender.

Some of these can be fixed. A conviction that can be set aside, reduced, or relieved by court order may put a license back within reach. Our page on how to restore firearm rights in Oregon explains the options.

Where You Can’t Carry, Even With a License

An Oregon CHL lets you carry in most public places, including most public buildings. The exceptions matter:

Courthouses. Possessing a firearm in a court facility is a Class C felony, and the license is not a defense (ORS 166.370).
The Capitol and large airport terminals. Carrying in the State Capitol or the passenger terminal of an airport with over one million boardings a year, such as PDX, is a crime even for license holders.
Schools and colleges with a posted policy. Public universities, community colleges, and school districts can adopt policies that remove the license holder’s defense on their grounds, and must post signs at entrances (ORS 166.377).
Local government meeting buildings with a posted policy. Since 2025, cities, counties, and special districts can do the same for buildings they use for official meetings.
Federal buildings and private property. Federal facilities, including post offices, follow federal law, and private businesses and property owners can prohibit firearms on their premises.

Concealed Carry in Portland and Multnomah County

With a CHL, you can carry concealed in Portland and throughout Multnomah County, subject to the limits above. Without one, local law is stricter than state law. Oregon allows cities and counties to ban loaded firearms in public places (ORS 166.173), and Portland has. Its ordinance makes it a crime to knowingly carry a firearm in a public place, including in a vehicle, while recklessly failing to remove all the ammunition from the gun or its magazine. Carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle in violation of the ordinance carries a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail.

License holders are exempt, along with hunters, people traveling to and from a target range, and a few other groups. The Oregon Supreme Court upheld Portland’s ordinance in State v. Christian (2013).

Oregon Has No Permit to Carry Concealed Knives or Other Weapons

Contrary to popular belief, Oregon has no general concealed weapons permit. The CHL covers handguns only. Carrying a concealed switchblade, dirk, dagger, ice pick, slungshot, metal knuckles, “or any similar instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person” is a Class B misdemeanor under ORS 166.240, and no license covers it. The same statute is why we recommend carrying a Taser or stun gun openly.

DUI Charges and Your Concealed Handgun License

A DUII arrest can cost you your license before you’re ever convicted. A police officer can seize a CHL from someone arrested or cited for a crime that would disqualify them, and the sheriff holds it while deciding whether charges will be filed. Being on pretrial release is itself a disqualification, and any act or condition that would prevent issuing a license is grounds to revoke one (ORS 166.293). A DUII conviction is a misdemeanor, which bars a new license for four years.

How a DUII diversion affects your license depends on the facts, especially if drugs were involved. If you carry and you’ve been arrested for DUI in Oregon, talk to a lawyer about both the criminal case and the license before you enter a plea.

Choosing a Holster

How you carry has legal consequences. Under ORS 166.250, a firearm carried openly in a belt holster isn’t concealed. Cover that same holster with a jacket and it is, and you need a license. Three common options:

Outside-the-waistband holster. The Rounded by Concealment Express OWB Kydex paddle holster is American made, with adjustable retention and cant. Worn openly, it’s open carry. Worn under a cover garment, it’s concealed carry.
Belly band holster. The ComfortTac belly band holster fits a wide range of pistols and revolvers and works well with athletic or business clothes. It’s concealed carry, so you need a CHL.
Off-body carry. Some people prefer a bag, such as this Tuwubi crossbody sling bag. Treat it as concealed carry, and use a holster inside the bag that covers the trigger guard. Remember that a bag you set down and walk away from is no longer under your control, and Oregon’s storage law (ORS 166.395) then requires the gun to be locked up.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oregon a shall-issue state for concealed carry?

Yes. If you meet the requirements in ORS 166.291, your county sheriff must issue a concealed handgun license. A sheriff may still deny a license if there are reasonable grounds to believe the applicant has been or is reasonably likely to be a danger to self or others (ORS 166.293).

What disqualifies you from an Oregon concealed handgun license?

Common disqualifications include any felony conviction, a misdemeanor conviction within the past four years, an outstanding warrant or pending charge with pretrial release, a controlled substance conviction or drug diversion, a restraining or stalking order, a mental health commitment or firearm prohibition order, and sex offender registration. You must also be at least 21 and live in the county where you apply.

Can I carry concealed in Portland with an Oregon CHL?

Yes. License holders are exempt from Portland’s ban on loaded firearms in public places. You still can’t carry in court facilities, the PDX passenger terminal, federal buildings, school grounds or local government meeting buildings with a posted policy, or private property where the owner prohibits firearms.

Will a DUI affect my Oregon concealed handgun license?

It can. An officer may seize your license when you’re arrested or cited for a disqualifying crime, being on pretrial release is a disqualification that can lead to revocation, and a DUII conviction is a misdemeanor that bars a new license for four years. How a diversion affects your license depends on the facts.

Does Oregon issue concealed carry permits to nonresidents?

Generally no. Applicants must live in the county where they apply, and Oregon doesn’t honor other states’ permits. A sheriff may waive the residency requirement for a resident of a neighboring state with a compelling business interest or other legitimate need, but it’s discretionary.

Talk to an Oregon Gun Rights Attorney

Michael Romano as a young child in a cowboy hat holding two cap guns — Michael G. Romano, long before his first concealed handgun license.

If your license was denied, seized, or revoked, or you’ve been charged with carrying without one, talk to a lawyer before you talk to the police. Michael Romano has over 25 years of Oregon trial experience, began his career as a prosecutor, and is an avid target shooter and collector. Call 503-208-5529 or schedule a consultation. Visitors should also read our guide to traveling to Oregon with a firearm, and our Oregon gun rights section covers the rest of Oregon firearms law.

Last updated: September 27, 2026 | Reviewed by Michael G. Romano, Managing Attorney. This page provides general information about Oregon law, not legal advice for your specific situation.