← Ohio knife laws›Local Knife-Law Preemption

Ohio Local Knife-Law Preemption (2026)

Permitted: ORC 9.68 (amended by SB 58, eff. 4/9/2025) mandates uniform statewide laws for 'arms' — expressly defined to include knives — voiding conflicting local knife ordinances.

PermittedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: codes.ohio.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Local Knife-Law Preemption in states bordering Ohio

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

IndianaConditional
No statewide knife preemption — IC 35-47-11.1 preempts only firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories, so cities and counties may regulate knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: iga.in.gov · Full Indiana rule →
KentuckyPermitted
KRS 237.104 bars any unit of government from impairing the right to carry or use 'any deadly weapon,' which includes non-ordinary knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · Full Kentucky rule →
MichiganConditional
MCL 123.1102 preempts local regulation only of pistols, firearms, pneumatic guns and ammunition — not knives; Michigan has no statewide knife preemption.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legislature.mi.gov · Full Michigan rule →
PennsylvaniaConditional
PA's only weapons preemption (18 Pa.C.S. 6120) bars local regulation of firearms and ammunition only; it never mentions knives, so cities like Philadelphia restrict knives locally.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legis.state.pa.us · Full Pennsylvania rule →
West VirginiaPermitted
Municipalities may not restrict the purchase, possession, ownership or carrying of any 'deadly weapon' — defined by 61-7-2 to include knives — except in limited municipal buildings/rec facilities (8-12-5a).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: code.wvlegislature.gov · Full West Virginia rule →

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