Resident permit · WI → MD
Is a Wisconsin Resident Permit Valid in Maryland?
No. In Maryland your Wisconsin Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) License counts for nothing, and the state has no permitless carry for visitors. You would need a Maryland permit, which it does issue to non-residents, to carry there.
Why
- Maryland does not recognize any out-of-state carry permit.
MSP FAQ: 'Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any other state.' Maryland law does not authorize reciprocity agreements with any state.
The permit (Wisconsin)
- Permit
- Wisconsin Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) License
- Issued by
- Wisconsin Department of Justice (Firearms Section)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
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
Your Wisconsin habits may not match Maryland's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- 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))
Wisconsin vs Maryland: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Wisconsin into Maryland changes 3 rules: magazine limit (None → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (46 states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → With a permit).
| Rule | Wisconsin | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | 10 rounds |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 46 states | None |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | With a permit |
Going the other way, a Maryland resident permit in Wisconsin: recognized — carry with your permit.
Driving on from Maryland
How a Wisconsin resident permit fares in the states bordering Maryland:
- Delaware — Not recognized
- Pennsylvania — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Virginia — Recognized — carry with your permit
- West Virginia — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- District of Columbia — Not recognized
Frequently asked questions
- Does Maryland honor a Wisconsin non-resident permit?
- Wisconsin does not issue non-resident carry permits (issued only to Wisconsin residents (valid WI driver's license or ID required) or active-duty military stationed in Wisconsin (WI DOJ CCW FAQ)), so the question does not arise.
- Can a Maryland resident permit holder carry in Wisconsin?
- Recognized — carry with your permit. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Wisconsin's law, not Maryland's.
- Where does Maryland publish its official reciprocity list?
- Maryland publishes its recognition policy on an official state page, linked in the sources on this page. That page is the authority — check it shortly before travel, because recognition lists change without much notice.
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
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Reciprocity (Out-of-State Licenses Recognized in Wisconsin) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — Concealed Carry Weapon License — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW License Information (apply, fees, renewal) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Training Requirements — accessed 2026-09-27
- Wis. Stat. § 948.60 — Possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 (via Wayback 2026-08-11) — accessed 2026-09-27