Is an Arkansas Non-Resident Permit Valid in Maryland?

Why

• Arkansas does not issue carry permits to non-residents (requires arkansas residency for 90+ continuous days (§ 5-73-309(2)); exception — active-duty us armed forces members and their spouses are exempt from the residency requirement).

MSP FAQ: 'Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any other state.' Maryland law does not authorize reciprocity agreements with any state.

Carry rules in Maryland

Whatever your permit status, Maryland law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.

• No Maryland statute imposes a proactive duty to tell an officer you are carrying; the permit must be in your possession whenever you carry, wear or transport a handgun (Pub. Safety §5-308).
• Maryland limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
• Maryland is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Maryland recognizes.
• A Wear and Carry Permit allows carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle; without a permit, handguns may only be transported unloaded between enumerated locations under the Crim. Law §4-203 transport exceptions.

Off-limits places in Maryland

Maryland bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Public and private K-12 schools, preschools and child care centers (CR 4-102, CR 4-111(c))
• State and local government buildings and higher-education buildings (CR 4-111(d))

See all 6 places you can't carry in Maryland →

Arkansas vs Maryland: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Arkansas into Maryland changes 5 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → No); duty to inform police (Yes → No); magazine limit (None → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (All states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → With a permit).

Going the other way, a Maryland non-resident permit in Arkansas: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Driving on from Maryland

How an Arkansas non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Maryland:

• Delaware — No such permit issued
• Pennsylvania — No such permit issued
• Virginia — No such permit issued
• West Virginia — No such permit issued
• District of Columbia — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Maryland honor an Arkansas resident permit?

Not recognized. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Maryland treats the two permit types differently.

Can a Maryland non-resident permit holder carry in Arkansas?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Arkansas's law, not Maryland's.

Does Arkansas issue non-resident carry permits?

No. Arkansas issues carry permits to residents only (requires Arkansas residency for 90+ continuous days (§ 5-73-309(2)); exception — active-duty US Armed Forces members and their spouses are exempt from the residency requirement). Non-residents who want multi-state coverage usually obtain a non-resident permit from a state that offers one, such as those listed in our non-resident permit guide.