Maryland Carry Laws

Magazine Limit - 10 Rounds (Sale/Transfer Only; Possession Legal)

Maryland bans manufacturing, selling, purchasing, receiving, or transferring detachable magazines over 10 rounds (Md. Crim. Law § 4-305) but does NOT ban possession — travelers may lawfully possess larger magazines brought from home, though they cannot buy, sell, or transfer them in Maryland.

MAGAZINE CAPACITY
MARYLAND

Maryland bans manufacturing, selling, purchasing, receiving, or transferring detachable magazines over 10 rounds (Md. Crim. Law § 4-305) but does NOT ban possession — travelers may lawfully possess larger magazines brought from home, though they cannot buy, sell, or transfer them in Maryland.

Authority: Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-305(b) — bans manufacture/sale/offer/purchase/receipt/transfer only; possession is not among the prohibited acts.

Prohibited Places - Where You Cannot Carry

Maryland: Carry prohibited (misdemeanor, up to 1 yr/$1,000; Md. Crim. Law 4-111) in preschools, private K-12 schools and health-care facilities; posted state/local government buildings, college buildings, polling places, and electric/gas/nuclear plants; and in on-site alcohol or cannabis venues, stadiums, museums, amusement parks, racetracks and casinos — categories upheld by the Fourth Circuit, Jan. 2026 (Kipke v. Moore).

PROHIBITED PLACES - WHERE YOU CANNOT CARRY
Maryland

Maryland: Carry prohibited (misdemeanor, up to 1 yr/$1,000; Md. Crim. Law 4-111) in preschools, private K-12 schools and health-care facilities; posted state/local government buildings, college buildings, polling places, and electric/gas/nuclear plants; and in on-site alcohol or cannabis venues, stadiums, museums, amusement parks, racetracks and casinos — categories upheld by the Fourth Circuit, Jan. 2026 (Kipke v. Moore).
Authority: Md. Code, Crim. Law 4-111 (SB1 2023); Kipke v. Moore / Novotny v. Moore, 4th Cir. Nos. 24-1799 et al. (Jan. 20, 2026).

Wear and Carry Permit Required

Maryland requires a Wear and Carry Permit (shall-issue post-Bruen); magazines over 10 rounds may not be manufactured, sold, purchased, received, or transferred within the state (Md. Crim. Law 4-305), but simple POSSESSION of them is not prohibited - travelers may bring and keep magazines they already own.

WEAR AND CARRY PERMIT REQUIRED
Maryland

Maryland requires a Wear and Carry Permit (shall-issue post-Bruen); magazines over 10 rounds may not be manufactured, sold, purchased, received, or transferred within the state (Md. Crim. Law 4-305), but simple POSSESSION of them is not prohibited - travelers may bring and keep magazines they already own.

Authority: Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-305(b) (magazine sale/transfer ban, possession omitted); Md. Code, Pub. Safety § 5-303 (permit required).

Duty to Retreat - Castle Doctrine Only

Maryland: Castle Doctrine applies (home defense). In public, you may have a duty to retreat if safe before using force.

DUTY TO RETREAT - CASTLE DOCTRINE ONLY
Maryland

Maryland: Castle Doctrine applies (home defense). In public, you may have a duty to retreat if safe before using force.

Authority: Maryland common law (no SYG statute): Porter v. State, 455 Md. 220 (2017) (quoting the classic formulation); restated in Maryland Criminal Pattern Jury Instruction MPJI-Cr 5:07.

Red Flag Law - ERPO in Effect

Maryland: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-601 et seq.).

RED FLAG / EXTREME RISK LAW
Maryland

Maryland: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-601 et seq.).

Authority: Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-601 et seq. (Extreme Risk Protective Orders, 2018).

Vehicle Transport - Handgun Prohibited Except Permit or Point-to-Point Transport

Maryland: Carrying or transporting a handgun in a vehicle is a crime (Md. Crim. Law 4-203(a)) unless you hold a Maryland wear/carry permit, or the handgun is unloaded and in an enclosed case or enclosed holster AND you are traveling between enumerated points — place of purchase/sale, repair shop, your residences, residence and your own business, or an organized target-shooting event (4-203(b)); the statute imposes NO requirement to store ammunition separately, and general road-trip transport that is not between the listed points is not covered.

VEHICLE TRANSPORT - HANDGUN PROHIBITED EXCEPT PERMIT OR POINT-TO-POINT TRANSPORT
Maryland

Maryland: Carrying or transporting a handgun in a vehicle is a crime (Md. Crim. Law 4-203(a)) unless you hold a Maryland wear/carry permit, or the handgun is unloaded and in an enclosed case or enclosed holster AND you are traveling between enumerated points — place of purchase/sale, repair shop, your residences, residence and your own business, or an organized target-shooting event (4-203(b)); the statute imposes NO requirement to store ammunition separately, and general road-trip transport that is not between the listed points is not covered.

Authority: Md. Code, Crim. Law 4-203(a), (b)(2)-(4).

Default No-Carry in Others' Buildings - Permission Required

Maryland: carrying a firearm into another person's building is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year / $1,000) unless the owner gives express permission or posts a clear and conspicuous sign that carry IS permitted (Crim. Law 6-411; dwellings always require express permission) — but after Wolford v. Lopez (U.S. 2026), which struck down default carry bans on private property open to the public, this reversed default is likely unenforceable for businesses open to the public; treat posted-sign and dwelling rules as fully binding.

DEFAULT NO-CARRY IN OTHERS' BUILDINGS - PERMISSION REQUIRED
Maryland

Maryland: carrying a firearm into another person's building is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year / $1,000) unless the owner gives express permission or posts a clear and conspicuous sign that carry IS permitted (Crim. Law 6-411; dwellings always require express permission) — but after Wolford v. Lopez (U.S. 2026), which struck down default carry bans on private property open to the public, this reversed default is likely unenforceable for businesses open to the public; treat posted-sign and dwelling rules as fully binding.

Authority: Md. Code, Crim. Law § 6-411 (2023 Gun Safety Act); Wolford v. Lopez, No. 24-1046 (U.S. June 25, 2026) (caveat).

Duty to Inform - No Statutory Duty; Carry Permit While Armed

Maryland: No statute requires you to volunteer that you are carrying or to display the permit on demand; Md. Pub. Safety § 5-308 requires only that you carry the wear/carry permit in your possession whenever you carry, wear, or transport a handgun.

DUTY TO INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT
MARYLAND

Maryland: No statute requires you to volunteer that you are carrying or to display the permit on demand; Md. Pub. Safety § 5-308 requires only that you carry the wear/carry permit in your possession whenever you carry, wear, or transport a handgun.

Authority: Md. Code, Public Safety § 5-308.