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West Virginia Open Carry Laws (2026)
Permitted: Open carry of a handgun is legal in West Virginia with no license, at 18 or older, for anyone who may lawfully have a gun.
Open carry of a handgun is legal in West Virginia with no license, at 18 or older, for anyone who may lawfully have a gun. Carrying or brandishing a weapon so as to threaten a breach of the peace is a crime. Guns are banned on school grounds and buses and on court premises. Cities may restrict guns in city-owned buildings and recreation facilities.
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Open Carry in states bordering West Virginia
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- KentuckyPermitted
Open carry of a handgun is legal in Kentucky without a permit for anyone 18 or older who can lawfully possess one.
Verified May 31, 2026 · Source: wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov · Full Kentucky rule →
- MarylandRestricted
Open carry is not allowed. A Maryland Wear and Carry Permit lets you carry a handgun only concealed from view, under clothing or in an enclosed case; brief accidental exposure is not a violation. Without a permit, wearing or carrying a handgun openly or concealed is a crime, apart from listed exceptions such as property you own or lease or a business you own or lease.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: mdsp.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
- OhioPermitted
Open carry of a handgun is legal in Ohio without a license. Ohio's concealed-carry law does not regulate open carry, and federal law bars handgun possession under 18. Openly carrying into a bar or other liquor-permit premises where people are drinking is a felony unless you hold a license and are not drinking. Schools, courthouses and other restricted places are off-limits, and owners can post signs banning firearms.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: ohioattorneygeneral.gov · Full Ohio rule →
- PennsylvaniaConditional
At 18 or older, you may carry a handgun openly on foot in most of Pennsylvania without a license. A License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) is required in a vehicle and on public streets or property during a declared state or local emergency. Philadelphia law also requires an LTCF; a 2025 appeals court ruling held that unconstitutional as applied to one unlicensed carrier, but the law stays on the books and may still be enforced.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: pa.gov · Full Pennsylvania rule →
- VirginiaPermitted
Open carry of a handgun is legal without a permit unless a law bars it. …
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: vsp.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
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