Is a Vermont Resident Permit Valid in Maine?

Why

• Vermont does not issue carry permits at all (vermont issues no carry permits to anyone, resident or non-resident — there is no permit system at all. vermont residents who need a permit recognized elsewhere must obtain a non-resident permit from another state that issues them) — there is no Vermont permit to recognize.

Maine recognizes a permit 'issued by another state to its resident' only where that state recognizes Maine's resident permit - non-resident permits are not honored. Extra conditions: permit holders from Alaska, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Virginia must be 21+ (Virginia holders must also carry government-issued photo ID). In practice most visitors 21+ may simply carry permitless.

Carry rules in Maine

Maine's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.

• Permit holders have no proactive duty to inform. A person carrying WITHOUT a permit under Maine's permitless-carry law must immediately inform the officer that they are carrying a concealed handgun upon any routine stop, detention or arrest.
• Maine sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Maine allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• A person 21+ who may legally possess a firearm may keep a loaded concealed handgun in a vehicle without a permit, but if carrying without a permit must immediately inform law enforcement during any stop.

Off-limits places in Maine

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

• Courthouses
• Schools and school property

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

Vermont vs Maine: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Vermont into Maine changes 3 rules: permitless carry (Yes → Yes (21+)); magazine limit (15 rounds → None); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 23 states).

Going the other way, a Maine resident permit in Vermont: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Driving on from Maine

How a Vermont resident permit fares in the states bordering Maine:

• New Hampshire — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Maine honor a Vermont non-resident permit?

Vermont does not issue non-resident carry permits (vermont issues no carry permits to anyone, resident or non-resident — there is no permit system at all. Vermont residents who need a permit recognized elsewhere must obtain a non-resident permit from another state that issues them), so the question does not arise.

Can a Maine resident permit holder carry in Vermont?

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

Does Vermont issue carry permits at all?

No — to anyone. Vermont has no carry-permit system; carry there is permitless. Vermont residents who want reciprocity coverage elsewhere obtain a non-resident permit from a state that issues one.