Is a Montana Non-Resident Permit Valid in Maryland?

Why

• Montana does not issue carry permits to non-residents (permit requires at least 6 months' montana residency, us citizenship or lawful permanent residence, and montana id (mca 45-8-321; mt doj). no non-resident permits are issued).

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

Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Maryland, these rules replace the ones you know from Montana.

• 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 →

Montana vs Maryland: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Montana into Maryland changes 4 rules: permitless carry (Yes → No); magazine limit (None → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (43 states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → With a permit).

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

Driving on from Maryland

How a Montana 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 a Montana 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 Montana?

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

Does Montana issue non-resident carry permits?

No. Montana issues carry permits to residents only (permit requires at least 6 months' Montana residency, US citizenship or lawful permanent residence, and Montana ID (MCA 45-8-321; MT DOJ). No non-resident permits are issued). 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.