Oregon concealed carry laws and reciprocity

Oregon's firearms statutes impose no duty to inform an officer; in a public building a licensee may present the license instead of handing over the firearm for examination.

Possessing a handgun that is concealed and readily accessible within a vehicle is unlawful without an Oregon concealed handgun license; a handgun in the passenger compartment is generally treated as readily accessible unless stored as the statute specifies.

Carrying a firearm concealed on the person, or a concealed and readily accessible handgun in a vehicle, is unlawful possession of a firearm unless the person holds an Oregon concealed handgun license or another statutory exception applies.

The county sheriff shall issue a concealed handgun license to an applicant who is at least 21, a resident of the county, and meets the other criteria in ORS 166.291.

Only in limited cases: a sheriff may waive the county-residency requirement for a resident of a contiguous state (CA, ID, NV, WA) who shows a compelling business interest or other legitimate demonstrated need; residents of other states cannot obtain a license.

Firearms carried openly in belt holsters are not "concealed" under state law, but cities and counties may adopt ordinances regulating or prohibiting loaded firearms in public places; those ordinances do not apply to concealed handgun licensees.

Posted signs have force of law only at public bodies that adopt a policy under ORS 166.377: a public university, community college or school district board, or a city, county or district for its official meeting buildings, may remove the concealed handgun licensee exception to ORS 166.370 if it posts clearly visible signs at all normal entry points and a website notice, after which a licensee found with a firearm there is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Chapter 166 attaches no penalty to a private no-firearms sign; a person who enters or remains unlawfully on premises after permission is withdrawn commits criminal trespass in the second degree under ORS 164.245.

ORS chapter 166, which contains Oregon's weapons offenses and the public-building prohibition in ORS 166.370, has no provision on bars or restaurants serving alcohol or on carrying while intoxicated, so this value rests on the absence of a statutory ban; an establishment, as private property, may still exclude firearms.

Not yet verified from an official source.

ORS chapter 166 has no provision on churches or other places of worship, so this value rests on the absence of a statutory ban; a place of worship, as private property, may still exclude firearms.

Colleges and universities are "public buildings" where firearm possession is a felony, but concealed handgun licensees have an affirmative defense unless the institution's board has adopted and posted a policy removing it under ORS 166.377, in which case a licensee faces a misdemeanor.

Possessing a firearm in a court facility or a public building (including schools, colleges and city halls) is a felony; concealed handgun licensees have an affirmative defense to the public-building offense. Licensees still face misdemeanor liability in the State Capitol, large commercial airport passenger terminals, and school grounds or local-government meeting buildings whose governing bodies have adopted and posted ORS 166.377 policies.

Oregon has no stand-your-ground statute, but in State v. Sandoval, 342 Or 506 (2007), the Oregon Supreme Court held that ORS 161.219 contains no duty to retreat: a person who reasonably believes another is about to use deadly physical force against them need not calculate whether retreat is possible before using deadly force in self-defense, and a jury instruction requiring retreat misstates Oregon law.

Enacted, not yet in effect

Ballot Measure 114's ban on making, importing, possessing, using, buying, selling or transferring magazines that hold more than 10 rounds (ORS 166.355) applies only to conduct on or after January 1, 2028, under 2026 HB 4145. That Act states it does not affect the Oregon Supreme Court proceedings on Measure 114's constitutionality.

Oregon's firearms statutes (ORS chapter 166) contain no assault-weapons ban; Measure 114 regulates magazine capacity and firearm purchase permits, not specific rifle types.

Possessing a firearms silencer is a crime under ORS 166.272, with an affirmative defense if the item is registered as required under federal law.

Possessing a short-barreled rifle is a crime under ORS 166.272, with an affirmative defense if the firearm is registered as required under federal law.

Possessing a short-barreled shotgun is a crime under ORS 166.272, with an affirmative defense if the firearm is registered as required under federal law.