Skip to content
Concealed Carry Map

State profile · ME

Maine Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Where Your Permit Works

A Maine resident permit (Maine Permit to Carry Concealed Handguns) is honored in 29 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 3 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, Maine recognizes permits from 23 states on its official list. Maine allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Open the interactive map for a Maine permit →

Where a Maine permit is honored

Click any destination for the full rules — duty to inform, magazine limits, off-limits places, and official sources.

DestinationResident permitNon-resident permit
AlabamaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
AlaskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArizonaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArkansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
CaliforniaNot recognizedNot recognized
ColoradoNot recognizedNot recognized
ConnecticutNot recognizedNot recognized
DelawareRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
District of ColumbiaNot recognizedNot recognized
FloridaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
GeorgiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
HawaiiNot recognizedNot recognized
IdahoRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
IllinoisNot recognizedNot recognized
IndianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
IowaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KentuckyRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
LouisianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MarylandNot recognizedNot recognized
MassachusettsNot recognizedNot recognized
MichiganRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
MinnesotaNot recognizedNot recognized
MississippiRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MissouriRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MontanaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
NebraskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
NevadaNot recognizedNot recognized
New HampshireRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
New JerseyNot recognizedNot recognized
New MexicoNot recognizedNot recognized
New YorkNot recognizedNot recognized
North CarolinaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
North DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OhioRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OklahomaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OregonNot recognizedNot recognized
PennsylvaniaNot recognizedNot recognized
Rhode IslandNot recognizedNot recognized
South CarolinaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
South DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TennesseeRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TexasPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
UtahRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VermontRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VirginiaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WashingtonNot recognizedNot recognized
West VirginiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
WisconsinNot recognizedNot recognized
WyomingRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies

* a load-bearing fact could not be fully verified — confirm with the official source before carrying.

Whose permits Maine honors

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.

Maine at a glance

Permit
Maine Permit to Carry Concealed Handguns
Issued by
Maine State Police (issuing authority for most municipalities and for all non-residents); some municipal police chiefs issue locally
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
18
Non-resident permits
Issued
Permitless carry
Yes (21+)
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
None

Non-resident permits are issued by the Chief of the State Police (25 M.R.S. 2003; $80 application fee, 60-day decision window).

Vehicle carry

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

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor a Maine carry permit?
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does Maine recognize out-of-state carry permits?
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.
Can I carry in Maine without a permit?
Maine allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
Do I have to tell police in Maine that I am carrying?
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.

Official sources