August 31, 2025 – In a significant win for firearms-friendly states with defiant cities, a Franklin County judge ruled that Ohio’s Firearms-Uniformity Law preempts municipalities from passing certain local firearm regulations.
Ohio’s Firearms-Uniformity Law, which went into effect in 2006, was designed to ensure consistent firearm laws statewide, by prohibiting municipal ordinances imposing additional requirements regarding the ownership, possession, purchase, transport, storage, and sale of firearms, components, and ammunition.
In 2022, the City of Columbus enacted an ordinance to “effectuate common sense gun reform” by banning magazines with a capacity of thirty rounds or more, prohibiting the purchase of firearms on behalf of persons prohibited by Ohio law from acquiring firearms, imposing mandatory firearm storage requirements if the firearm could be accessed by a minor, and authorizing City officials to prohibit the sale of firearms during an emergency.
The City filed a lawsuit against the State seeking a determination that the above ordinance is valid and that the Firearms-Uniformity Law violates the Ohio Constitution’s “home rule” provision (i.e., a constitutional provision allowing municipalities to exercise powers of local self-government).
On August 19, in response to competing motions for summary judgment, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Mark Serrott held that the City’s ordinance was invalid based on the Firearms-Uniformity Law. His decision noted that the “Supreme Court of Ohio has held twice now that the Firearms-Uniformity Law is a general law that is constitutional and does not violate the home rule amendment of the Ohio Constitution.” He also held that the City’s ordinance conflicts with the Firearms-Uniformity Law, and that the City’s ordinance is an exercise of police power, rather than local self-government. The City of Columbus has indicated that it may appeal Judge Serrott’s decision.
Renzulli Law Firm will continue to monitor the challenges to this law, related litigation, and its potential impacts. If you have any questions about laws regulating firearms and ammunition, please contact John F. Renzulli or Christopher Renzulli.