Non-Resident permit · GA → MD
Is a Georgia Non-Resident Permit Valid in Maryland?
None issued, so none recognized. Georgia keeps its permits resident-only (georgia.gov requires applicants to be a Georgia resident and apply at the probate court (county of domicile); 18-20 only for military members with basic training completed. Out-of-state residents cannot get a WCL, but under SB 319 they may carry without one if they would otherwise qualify). Your route to carrying in Maryland runs through a permit you are eligible to obtain elsewhere.
Why
- Georgia does not issue carry permits to non-residents (georgia.gov requires applicants to be a georgia resident and apply at the probate court (county of domicile); 18-20 only for military members with basic training completed. out-of-state residents cannot get a wcl, but under sb 319 they may carry without one if they would otherwise qualify).
MSP FAQ: 'Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any other state.' Maryland law does not authorize reciprocity agreements with any state.
The permit (Georgia)
- Permit
- Georgia Weapons Carry License (WCL)
- Issued by
- Judge of the probate court of the applicant's county of domicile
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- No — Georgia.gov requires applicants to be a Georgia resident and apply at the probate court (county of domicile); 18-20 only for military members with basic training completed. Out-of-state residents cannot get a WCL, but under SB 319 they may carry without one if they would otherwise qualify.
The destination (Maryland)
- Recognition policy
- Honors no out-of-state permits
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- 10 rounds
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))
Georgia vs Maryland: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Georgia into Maryland changes 4 rules: permitless carry (Yes (21+) → No); magazine limit (None → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (All states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → With a permit).
| Rule | Georgia | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | 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 Georgia: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Maryland
How a Georgia 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
Frequently asked questions
- Does Maryland honor a Georgia 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 Georgia?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Georgia's law, not Maryland's.
- Does Georgia issue non-resident carry permits?
- No. Georgia issues carry permits to residents only (georgia.gov requires applicants to be a Georgia resident and apply at the probate court (county of domicile); 18-20 only for military members with basic training completed. Out-of-state residents cannot get a WCL, but under SB 319 they may carry without one if they would otherwise qualify). 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.
Official sources
- Maryland State Police — Wear & Carry Permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maryland State Police — Firearms FAQs (reciprocity statement) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maryland State Police — Prohibited Places to Carry a Firearm (incl. Kipke v. Moore status) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Public Safety §5-306 (permit qualifications, no residency or good-and-substantial-reason requirement) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Criminal Law §4-305 (detachable magazines over 10 rounds) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Public Safety §5-308 (permit must be carried) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Criminal Law §4-203 — wearing, carrying or transporting a handgun (concealed or open) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Md. Public Safety §5-309 — permit term and renewal — accessed 2026-09-27
- Georgia Attorney General - Firearms License Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia.gov - Apply for a Firearms License — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia General Assembly House Budget & Research Office - Constitutional Carry in Georgia (SB 319 policy brief) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia Department of Public Safety - Georgia's Firearm Permit Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08