Maryland Gun Laws

Maryland does not allow permitless or constitutional carry. A Wear and Carry Permit is required before any person carries, wears, or transports a handgun, with narrow statutory exceptions (e.g., on real property the person owns or leases, transport to/from a place of legal purchase or sale, target practice, or hunting — each requiring the handgun to be unloaded in an enclosed case or holster).

"A person shall have a permit issued under this subtitle before the person carries, wears, or transports a handgun."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-303; Criminal Law § 4-203 statute

Maryland requires a Wear and Carry Permit (WCP) before any person carries, wears, or transports a handgun, subject to the statutory exceptions in Criminal Law § 4-203(b).

"A person shall have a permit issued under this subtitle before the person carries, wears, or transports a handgun."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-303 statute

WCP applicants must be at least 21 (or a member of the uniformed services or National Guard), not disqualified by criminal, drug, mental-health, or protective-order history, and must complete 16 hours of in-person instruction by a qualified handgun instructor (8 hours for renewal). Post-Bruen amendments (Chapter 680 of 2023) removed the prior 'good and substantial reason' requirement and added training on de-escalation, anger management, and suicide prevention.

"an applicant... has successfully completed... a firearms training course approved by the Secretary that includes a minimum of 16 hours of in-person instruction by a qualified handgun instructor."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-306 statute

MSP administers the WCP through an online licensing portal. Initial application fee is $125 and the initial permit is valid until the last day of the holder's birth month two years after issuance; renewals are valid for three years and require 8 hours of refresher training. Maryland does not recognize any out-of-state carry permits.

"Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any state."

Maryland State Police — Wear & Carry Permit ag

The HQL is required to purchase, rent, or receive a handgun in Maryland. Applicants must be at least 21, a Maryland resident, not federally or state-prohibited, complete an MSP-approved 4-hour firearms safety training course (including a live-fire component) within three years of application, submit fingerprints for a state and national criminal-history check, and pay a $50 application fee. The HQL is valid for 10 years and is separate from the Wear and Carry Permit.

"a dealer or any other person may not sell, rent, or transfer a handgun [unless the recipient presents a valid HQL]... A handgun qualification license issued under this section expires 10 years from the date of issuance."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-117.1 (Handgun Qualification License) statute

Open carry is not generally allowed in Maryland. A Wear and Carry Permit is required to carry a handgun in public, and Chapter 680 of 2023 added a statutory concealment requirement: a WCP holder must carry the handgun concealed under or within an article of clothing or within an enclosed case (with carve-outs for momentary, inadvertent exposure).

"a permit issued under this subtitle shall restrict the wearing, carrying, and transporting of a handgun by the person to whom the permit is issued to wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun concealed from view: (i) under or within an article of the person's clothing; or (ii) within an enclosed case."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-307(b) statute

Without a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit, a person may transport a handgun in a vehicle only when the handgun is unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or enclosed holster, AND the transport is between specifically enumerated locations (place of legal purchase or sale, bona fide repair shop, between residences, between residence and place of business owned by the person, or to/from a target shoot, hunting, or formal/informal target practice).

"the carrying of a handgun on the person or in a vehicle while the person is transporting the handgun to or from the place of legal purchase or sale, or to or from a bona fide repair shop, or between bona fide residences of the person, or between the bona fide residence and place of business of the person... if each handgun is unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or an enclosed holster."

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 4-203(b)(3) statute

Within a vehicle, the SB1 (2023) sensitive-places restrictions do not apply to a firearm that is locked in a container, or to a handgun worn, carried, or transported in compliance with § 5-307 of the Public Safety Article by a person to whom a WCP has been issued.

"A FIREARM THAT IS CARRIED OR TRANSPORTED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE IF THE FIREARM IS: (I) LOCKED IN A CONTAINER; OR (II) A HANDGUN WORN, CARRIED, OR TRANSPORTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY LIMITATIONS IMPOSED UNDER § 5–307 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE, BY A PERSON TO WHOM A PERMIT TO WEAR, CARRY, OR TRANSPORT THE HANDGUN HAS BEEN ISSUED."

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 4-111(B)(11) (as amended by Ch. 680, 2023) statute

Maryland has no 'guns-in-trunks' or 'parking-lot' statute protecting employees who store a firearm in a personal vehicle on employer property. Employers may set workplace firearm policies. Under SB1 (2023) Ch. 680, government parking lots and many private 'sensitive-place' parking lots are now treated as part of the prohibited location for purposes of carrying a firearm.

"Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any state."

Md. Code — no employer parking-lot protection statute ag

Maryland does not honor any out-of-state carry permits. A non-resident may apply for a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit, but no other state's CCW/CHL/LTC is valid in Maryland. The Maryland State Police does not publish a list of states that honor the Maryland WCP; reciprocity from other states is determined by each receiving state's own statutes.

"Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any state."

Maryland State Police — Wear & Carry Permit ag

Maryland's castle doctrine is a common-law rule: a person attacked in their own dwelling is not required to retreat and may stand their ground and use necessary force, including deadly force, to repel an unlawful felony or forcible entry. Any member of the household (and even a lodger) is within its protection.

"A man is not bound to retreat from his house. He may stand his ground there and kill any person who attempts to commit a felony therein, or who attempts to enter by force for the purpose of committing a felony, or of inflicting great bodily harm upon an inmate."

Crawford v. State, 231 Md. 354 (1963) (common-law castle doctrine) court

Maryland is not a stand-your-ground state. Outside the home, a person must retreat or avoid danger if such means are within their power and consistent with their safety before resorting to deadly force in self-defense. The castle-doctrine exception applies only inside the dwelling.

"the duty to retreat or avoid danger if such means were within his power and consistent with his safety."

DeVaughn v. State, 232 Md. 447 (1963) (general duty to retreat) court

Maryland law does not impose a general statutory duty on a Wear and Carry Permit holder to proactively inform a law enforcement officer that they are armed during an encounter. WCP holders must, however, carry the permit while carrying a handgun and display it on lawful demand of a peace officer.

"Wear & Carry Permit"

Md. Code, Public Safety Title 5, Subtitle 3 (no statutory duty to inform) ag

Chapter 680 of 2023 added a sensitive-places framework prohibiting any person — including WCP holders — from wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm in three categories: (1) areas for children and vulnerable individuals (preschools, primary/secondary schools, certain health-care facilities); (2) government or public infrastructure areas (state/local government buildings, higher-education buildings, polling places, electric/gas/nuclear plants); and (3) special-purpose areas (locations licensed to sell alcohol or cannabis for on-site consumption, stadiums, museums, amusement parks, racetracks, video lottery facilities).

"A PERSON MAY NOT WEAR, CARRY, OR TRANSPORT A FIREARM IN AN AREA FOR CHILDREN OR VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS... A PERSON MAY NOT WEAR, CARRY, OR TRANSPORT A FIREARM IN A GOVERNMENT OR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AREA... A PERSON MAY NOT WEAR, CARRY, OR TRANSPORT A FIREARM IN A SPECIAL PURPOSE AREA."

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 4-111 (added/amended by Ch. 680, 2023) statute

It is a misdemeanor to carry or possess a firearm or other deadly weapon on public school property in Maryland, punishable by up to three years' imprisonment and a fine up to $1,000. Limited exceptions exist for law enforcement, authorized personnel, and certain sanctioned activities.

"A person may not carry or possess a firearm, knife, or deadly weapon of any kind on public school property."

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 4-102 (deadly weapons on school property) statute

The Insurance Article definition of 'health care facility' that Criminal Law § 4-111 incorporates by reference. Subsections (g)(1)-(4) cover general hospitals, special hospitals, related institutions, and outpatient surgical facilities — the categories that count as sensitive places for SB1 (2023) carry-prohibition purposes.

"'Health care facility' means... a hospital as defined in § 19-301 of the Health - General Article... [and] a home health agency as defined in § 19-401 of the Health - General Article."

Md. Code, Insurance § 15-10B-01 (health care facility definitions) statute

Maryland requires a firearm application (Form 77R) to be submitted to the Maryland State Police before any regulated-firearm purchase, rental, or transfer — including private transfers between non-licensed individuals. This effectively creates a universal background-check requirement for regulated firearms (handguns and listed assault weapons).

"A person must submit a firearm application in accordance with this subtitle before the person purchases, rents, or transfers a regulated firearm."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-117 (regulated firearm application) statute

Long-gun sales (rifles and shotguns that are not regulated assault weapons) are not subject to the regulated-firearm application process. Private long-gun transfers between non-licensed Maryland residents are not subject to a state background check, though FFL sales still require federal NICS clearance.

"A person may not possess a rifle or shotgun if the person... has been convicted of a disqualifying crime."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-204.1 (private sale of rifles and shotguns through dealer) statute

Maryland prohibits the sale or offer for sale within the state of any handgun manufactured after January 1, 1985, that is not on the Handgun Roster maintained by the Handgun Roster Board. The Maryland State Police publish and periodically update the approved list.

"A person may not sell or offer for sale in the State a handgun manufactured after January 1, 1985, that is not included on the handgun roster."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-406 (Handgun Roster) statute

Maryland prohibits any person under 21 from possessing a regulated firearm (handguns and listed assault weapons), with narrow exceptions for supervised use, military service, employment-related permits, and home defense.

"a person who is under the age of 21 years may not possess a regulated firearm."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-133(d) statute

Federal law sets the minimum age for FFL handgun purchases at 21 and FFL long-gun purchases at 18. Maryland's purchase age for regulated firearms is 21 by state statute (§ 5-133(d)); long guns from a Maryland FFL track the federal 18-year minimum.

"Federal Firearms Eligibility"

18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal floor) atf

Maryland does not maintain a general firearm registry, but the regulated-firearm application process under § 5-117 creates a per-transaction record of every handgun and assault-weapon transfer. Privately made (unserialized) firearms must be marked with a unique personal identification number and serialized by an FFL per the 2022 ghost-gun law.

"Firearm Registration"

Maryland State Police — Firearm Registration ag

Maryland's Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) law, effective October 1, 2018, allows interim, temporary, and final civil protective orders requiring a respondent to surrender firearms and ammunition when a court finds the person poses a danger. Petitioners include law enforcement, health-care providers (physicians, psychologists, clinical social workers), spouses, intimate partners, family members, and current/former guardians.

"'Extreme risk protective order' means a civil interim, temporary, or final protective order issued in accordance with this subtitle."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-601 et seq. (Extreme Risk Protective Order) statute

Maryland's assault-weapons ban (enacted as part of the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, Chapter 427) prohibits the transport, possession, sale, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, or receipt of an 'assault weapon' as defined in § 4-301 (including AK-47, AR-15, Bushmaster, UZI, and 'copycat' variants). Limited grandfathering applies to assault pistols registered by August 1, 1994 and to long guns lawfully possessed before October 1, 2013.

"a person may not: (1) transport an assault weapon into the State; or (2) possess, sell, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, or receive an assault weapon."

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 4-303 statute

Section 4-301 defines the terms used in Maryland's assault-weapons ban (§ 4-303). 'Assault weapon' means an assault long gun, an assault pistol, or a copycat weapon. The section enumerates 45 specifically named assault long guns (including the AK-47, AR-15, Bushmaster, and UZI patterns) and lists the features that make a firearm a 'copycat weapon,' such as a folding stock, flash suppressor, grenade launcher mount, or a detachable magazine of more than 10 rounds.

"'Assault weapon' means: (1) an assault long gun; (2) an assault pistol; or (3) a copycat weapon."

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 4-301 (assault weapon definitions) statute

Maryland prohibits the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, purchase, receipt, or transfer of a detachable magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Possession of magazines lawfully acquired before October 1, 2013 was not retroactively criminalized, but transfer or new sale is. Limited exception for .22 caliber rifles with tubular magazines and law-enforcement personnel.

"A person may not manufacture, sell, offer for sale, purchase, receive, or transfer a detachable magazine that has a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a firearm."

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 4-305 statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration. Maryland does not separately prohibit suppressor or SBR possession for individuals lawfully registered under the NFA, but machine guns face an additional state registration requirement under Public Safety § 4-401 et seq.

"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."

26 U.S.C. ch. 53 (National Firearms Act) — ATF atf

Maryland requires registration of each machine gun owned or possessed within the state with the Secretary of State Police within 24 hours of acquisition, in addition to federal NFA compliance.

"Each manufacturer, seller, or owner of a machine gun in the State shall register the machine gun with the Secretary."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 4-403 (machine gun registration) statute

Public Safety Title 4, Subtitle 4 (§§ 4-401 through 4-405) is Maryland's stand-alone machine-gun regulation framework. It contains the subtitle's definitions, registration requirement, transfer/possession rules, and penalties that operate in addition to federal NFA compliance. The state registration mandate is in § 4-403; the subtitle's defining and penalty provisions sit alongside it in §§ 4-401, 4-402, 4-404, and 4-405.

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 4-401 et seq. (machine gun subtitle) statute

Maryland preempts counties, municipal corporations, and special taxing districts from regulating the purchase, sale, taxation, transfer, manufacture, repair, ownership, possession, and transportation of handguns, rifles, shotguns, and their ammunition and components. Narrow exceptions allow local regulation of sales/possession by minors, locations within 100 yards of parks/churches/schools/public buildings/places of public assembly (excluding firearms-safety training), and discharge of firearms outside established ranges.

"The State preempts the right of a county, municipal corporation, or special taxing district to regulate the purchase, sale, taxation, transfer, manufacture, repair, ownership, possession, and transportation of: (1) a handgun, rifle, or shotgun; and (2) ammunition for and components of a handgun, rifle, or shotgun."

Md. Code, Criminal Law § 4-209 statute

Maryland's regulated-firearm subtitle expressly preempts local regulation of the sale of regulated firearms (handguns and listed assault weapons).

"This subtitle supersedes any restriction that a local jurisdiction in the State imposes on a sale of a regulated firearm, and the State preempts the right of any local jurisdiction to regulate the sale of a regulated firearm."

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-104 (preemption of regulated-firearm sale) statute

Chapter 680 of 2023 restructured Maryland's carry framework post-Bruen: it added Criminal Law § 4-111 establishing sensitive-place restrictions for all carry (children's areas, government and public infrastructure, special-purpose areas including alcohol-serving locations, stadiums, museums, amusement parks); added a default 'permission required' rule for firearms inside another person's dwelling; and amended Public Safety § 5-307 to require WCP holders to keep handguns concealed under clothing or in an enclosed case. Effective October 1, 2023.

"AN ACT concerning Criminal Law – Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting Firearms – Restrictions (Gun Safety Act of 2023)"

Public Chapter 680 of 2023 (SB 1) — Gun Safety Act of 2023 statute

Chapter 427 of 2013 enacted the Firearm Safety Act: created the Handgun Qualification License (HQL) requirement for handgun purchases, designated 45 named long guns plus copycats as 'assault long guns' prohibited from new sale, capped detachable magazines at 10 rounds, expanded prohibited-person categories tied to mental health, and required lost/stolen firearm reporting within 72 hours.

"Firearm Safety Act of 2013"

Chapter 427 of 2013 (SB 281) — Firearm Safety Act of 2013 statute

Effective June 1, 2022, Maryland required all 'privately made firearms' (PMFs) and unfinished frames or receivers to bear a unique personal identification number applied by a Federal Firearms Licensee. Sales, purchases, or transfers of unserialized firearms or unfinished frames/receivers on or after June 1, 2022 are punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine per firearm. Owners of pre-existing PMFs had until March 1, 2023 to serialize.

"It is now illegal to possess, sell, transfer, or manufacture any non-serialized firearm or unfinished frame/receiver unless it bears a unique serial number applied by a Federal Firearms Licensee."

Chapter 22 of 2022 (HB 425/SB 387) — Untraceable Firearms; Public Safety § 5-703 ag

On August 23, 2024, the en banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld Maryland's Handgun Qualification License requirement 14-2, reversing a 2-1 panel decision that had held the law unconstitutional. The Supreme Court denied certiorari in January 2025, leaving the HQL in effect.

"Maryland Shall Issue, Inc. v. Moore — en banc Fourth Circuit upholds the Handgun Qualification License requirement against Second Amendment challenge."

Maryland Shall Issue, Inc. v. Moore, 116 F.4th 211 (4th Cir. 2024) (en banc) court

In Novotny v. Moore, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland preliminarily enjoined three SB1 (Ch. 680, 2023) provisions on September 29, 2023 and made the relief final on August 2, 2024: (1) the presumptive ban on permit-holder carry in privately owned buildings open to the public, (2) the categorical ban on firearms in establishments licensed to serve alcohol for on-site consumption, and (3) the existing state law banning firearms within 1,000 feet of a demonstration. Appeals are pending at the Fourth Circuit.

"the court enjoined enforcement of the parts of SB1 that presumptively banned carry by permit holders in privately owned buildings otherwise open to the public; flatly banned firearms in locations licensed to serve alcohol for on-site consumption; and banned firearms within 1000 feet of a demonstration."

Novotny v. Moore, No. 1:23-cv-01295 (D. Md. Aug. 2, 2024) court

The en banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld Maryland's Handgun Qualification License requirement 14-2, reversing the prior panel decision that had found the HQL unconstitutional. The Supreme Court denied certiorari in January 2025, leaving the HQL in effect for handgun purchases.

Maryland Shall Issue, Inc. v. Moore, 116 F.4th 211 (4th Cir. 2024) (en banc)

The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland made permanent the relief first granted on September 29, 2023, enjoining enforcement of three provisions: the presumptive ban on permit-holder carry in privately owned buildings open to the public, the categorical ban on firearms in alcohol-serving establishments, and the ban on firearms within 1,000 feet of a demonstration. Appeals are pending at the Fourth Circuit.

Novotny v. Moore, No. 1:23-cv-01295 (D. Md. Aug. 2, 2024)

Restructured Maryland's post-Bruen carry framework: created Criminal Law § 4-111 establishing three categories of sensitive places (areas for children/vulnerable individuals; government and public infrastructure areas; special-purpose areas including alcohol-serving establishments, stadiums, museums, amusement parks, and racetracks); defaulted entry into another person's dwelling with a firearm to require express permission; and amended Public Safety § 5-307 to require WCP holders to keep handguns concealed under clothing or in an enclosed case.

Chapter 680 of 2023 (SB 1)

Required all privately made firearms and unfinished frames/receivers in Maryland to bear a unique personal identification number applied by a Federal Firearms Licensee. Sales, purchases, and transfers of unserialized firearms on or after June 1, 2022 are punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine per firearm; pre-existing PMF owners had until March 1, 2023 to serialize.

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-703

Public Safety § 5-601 et seq. authorized civil interim, temporary, and final protective orders that require respondents to surrender firearms when a court finds they pose a danger; petitioners include law enforcement, health-care providers, family members, intimate partners, and guardians.

Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-601 et seq.

Created the Handgun Qualification License (HQL) requirement for handgun purchases, designated 45 named long guns plus 'copycat' variants as prohibited assault long guns, capped detachable magazines at 10 rounds, expanded mental-health-tied prohibited-person categories, and required lost/stolen firearm reporting within 72 hours.

Chapter 427 of 2013 (SB 281)