Maryland State and Local Weapons Laws

Maryland State Laws and Regulations

State laws and regulations generally preempt county and other local laws, except for those made under the narrow authority granted to localities by MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-209.

-Maryland Criminal Law, Title 3. Other Crimes Against the Person, § 3-202 Assault in the first degree
-Maryland Criminal Law, Title 4. Weapons Crimes
-Maryland Criminal Law, Title 6. Crimes Against Property, § 6-411 Wearing, carrying, or transporting a firearm; entry or trespass in dwelling of another; entry or trespass on property
-Maryland Public Safety Article, Title 5. Firearms
-Maryland Code, Natural Resources, § 10-408. Regulations relating to weapons and ammunition for hunting
 Region Map (A is the lighter color)
-Maryland Code, Natural Resources, § 10-410(c)(1). Prohibiting the possession of loaded long guns inside vehicles
-Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) - Title 29. Maryland State Police, Subtitle 03. WEAPONS REGULATIONS
-List of prohibitors from firearms possession under Maryland State law
-List of prohibitors from firearms possession under Federal law
-Also see the Maryland page from HandgunLaw.us - Maryland
-MSI Article on Magazines in Maryland
-MSI Maryland Wear and Carry Permit Guide - Places and Times in Which Firearms Can Not be Legally Carried by a Permit Holder

• MD Wear and Carry Permits are not valid where firearms are prohibited by law (see rear of permit). The State Police are continuing to create permits with this restriction and will not remove the text, despite the General Assembly's removal of the statutory authority to restrict when permits are valid when it passed SB 1 and HB 824
  
• On public school property - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-102
• Preschool or prekindergarten facilities and the grounds thereof - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• Private primary or secondary schools and the grounds thereof - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• Health care facilities as defined in § 15-10B-01(G)(1),(2),(3), and (4) of the Insurance Article - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• Any building or any part of a building owned or leased by the state or a local government - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
  Note that a building owned or leased by the State or a local government "must display a clear and conspicuous sign at the main entrance of the building indicating that it is not permissible to wear, carry or transport a firearm" in the building or part of the building.
• Buildings of public or private institutions of higher education, as defined in § 10-101 of the Education Article - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• Electric plants or electric storage facilities, gas plants or nuclear power facilities, as defined in § 1-101 of the Public Utilities Article - - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• CURRENTLY ENJOINED FROM ENFORCEMENT Locations licensed to sell or dispense alcohol for on-site consumption - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• Locations licensed to sell or dispense cannabis for on-site consumption - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• Stadiums - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• Museums - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• Racetracks - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• Video lottery facilities as defined in § 9-1A-01 of the State Government Article (mainly casinos) - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111
• CURRENTLY ENJOINED FROM ENFORCEMENT Private buildings of all kinds unless the owner or owner's agent has posted a "clear and conspicuous sign stating that it is permissible to wear, carry or transport a firearm" on such property or has given a person "express permission" to do so on the property - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 6-411
• Private dwellings, except with "express permission" of the owner (or owner's agent), excluding common areas in a condominium, as defined in § 11-101 of the Real Property Article, property of a cooperative housing corporation other than a unit as defined in § 5-6B-01 of the Corporations and Associations Article, or common areas of a multifamily dwelling as defined in § 12-203 of the Public Safety Article - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 6-411

Exceptions for places off-limits under § 4-111 and § 6-411 (newly enacted in 2023 by SB 1)
Section 4-111 exceptions:
- On private property, by persons authorized by the owner or lessee to wear and carry or transport a firearm for the purpose of employment as (1) a security guard OR (2) for the purpose of protecting any individual or property at the location with an express agreement between the parties, remuneration, or compensation.
- On public property,  at locations being used with the permission of the person or governmental unit that owns, leases, or controls the location for organized shooting activities for educational purposes, historical demonstrations using firearms, or hunting or target shooting
-Firearms that are carried or transported in a motor vehicle if the firearm is locked in a container or handguns worn, carried, or transported in compliance with any limitations imposed under § 5-307 of the Public Safety Article by those who permits to wear, carry or transport handguns have been issued under Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Public Safety Article. This does not affect transport of firearms under current law in areas unaffected by SB 1.
-Law enforcement officials or police officers as defined under § 3-201 of the Public Safety Article
-Members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard, or the Uniformed Services while on duty or traveling to or from duty
-Members of an ROTC program while participating in an activity for an ROTC program
-On-duty employees of a law enforcement agency authorized by the agency to possess firearms on duty or whose duty assignment involves the possession of firearms
-Correctional officers or wardens of a correctional facility in the State
-Railroad police officers appointed under Title 3, Subtitled 4 of the Public Safety Article
-Employees of an armed car company, if acting under the scope of employment and has valid permits to wear, carry, or transport handguns issued under Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Public Safety Article
-Off-duty law enforcement officials or retired law enforcement officials in good standing from the United States, the State or another state, or a local unit in the State or another state who possesses a firearm if their badge or credential is carried in compliance with the requirements of the badge or credential and the firearm is carried or possessed by the official or person is concealed from view. (LEOSA)

Section 6-411 exceptions: 
- Law enforcement officers and police officers, as defined in Section 3-201 of the Public Safety Article (not retired LEOSA),
- Members of the Armed Forces of the United States, while on duty or traveling to and from duty,
- Correctional officers
- The wearing, carrying or transporting on a portion of real property subject to an easement, a right of way, a servitude or any other property interest by (1) the holder of the interest or (2) the guest or assignee of the holder of the interest.

Restrictions, Continued

• When a handgun is not concealed from view - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 5-307(b)(1)
  "Printing" or momentary, incidental display of the handgun is excepted from this requirement under MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-111(h)
• With the deliberate purpose of injuring or killing another person - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-203(a)(1)(iv)
• While in the commission of a crime of violence or felony - MD Code, Criminal Law, § 4-204
• While under the influence of alcohol or drugs - MD Code, Public Safety, § 5-314
• When not in physical possession of the issued Maryland permit - MD Code, Public Safety, § 5-308
• Aboard any vehicle or inside any building under the control of the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) - MD Code, Transportation, § 7-705(b)(6)
• CURRENTLY ENJOINED FROM ENFORCEMENT Within 1,000 feet of a demonstration in a public place after being notified by law enforcement that guns cannot be carried - MD Code, Criminal Law § 4-208
• In or around State-owned and State-leased public buildings and grounds - COMAR 04.05.01.03. See the jurisdiction of the Department of General Services under MD Code, State Finance and Procurement, § 4-601(a)(5)
• Inside State legislative buildings - MD Code, State Government, § 2-1702(e)(2)
• Aboard aircraft engaged in certified air commerce - MD Code, Transportation, § 5-1008
• An innkeeper may refuse to provide lodging or services to or may remove from a lodging establishment an individual where the innkeeper reasonably believes the individual possesses property that may be dangerous to other individuals, such as firearms or explosives - MD Code, Business Regulation, § 15-203(a)(6)
• Maryland Port Administration Property - COMAR 11.05.07.04
• On World Trade Center Baltimore Property defined in COMAR 11.05.05.02 - COMAR 11.05.05.08
• Captain, master or any person on board or having control of any dredge boat may not have or permit to be kept on the dredge boat more than two shotguns not larger than a number ten gauge and using shot not larger than number one - MD Code, Natural Resources, § 4-1013
• Chesapeake Forest lands, except at designated shooting ranges and when legally hunting - COMAR 08.01.07.14
• State Forests, except at designated shooting ranges and when legally hunting - COMAR 08.01.07.04
• State Parks, except at designated shooting ranges and when legally hunting - COMAR 08.07.06.04
• State Highway rest areas - COMAR 11.04.07.12 (the regulation bans display and discharge).
• Any facility under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Racing Commission - COMAR 09.10.03.03(A)(10)
• At a facility under the control of the Maryland Stadium Authority - COMAR 14.25.02.06
  Such facilities are defined in COMAR 14.25.01.01
• At a State museum unless authorized for an exhibition that in the museum director's judgment promotes the purposes of the museum - COMAR 34.04.08.04
• At a Video Lottery Facility as defined by MD Code, State Government, § 9-1A-01(aa) - COMAR 36.03.10.48
• In community adult rehabilitation centers - COMAR 12.02.03.10(h)(9)
• In child care centers, except for small centers located in residences - COMAR 13A.16.10.04
• If under a proclaimed State of Emergency by the Governor when the Governor has issued orders, rules, or regulations controlling the possession, carry, use, and/or sale of firearms - MD Code, Public Safety, § 14-303(b)(8)

Looking for federal laws? Check out the USA page from Handgunlaw.us.