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Concealed Carry Map

State profile · MD

Maryland Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity

A Maryland resident permit (Maryland Wear and Carry Permit (Handgun Permit)) is honored in 27 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 7 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, Maryland recognizes no out-of-state carry permits. Maryland is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Maryland recognizes.

Open the interactive map for a Maryland permit →

Maryland concealed carry reciprocity map

Where a Maryland resident permit is valid. Each state links to the rules for that trip.

Alabama: recognized — and permitless carry appliesALAlaska: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAKArizona: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAZArkansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesARCalifornia: not recognizedCAColorado: not recognizedCOConnecticut: not recognizedCTDelaware: not recognizedDEDistrict of Columbia: not recognizedDCFlorida: recognized — and permitless carry appliesFLGeorgia: recognized — and permitless carry appliesGAHawaii: not recognizedHIIdaho: recognized — and permitless carry appliesIDIllinois: not recognizedILIndiana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesINIowa: recognized — and permitless carry appliesIAKansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKSKentucky: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKYLouisiana: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesLAMaine: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesMEMaryland (home state)MDMassachusetts: not recognizedMAMichigan: recognized — carry with your permitMIMinnesota: recognized — carry with your permitMNMississippi: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMSMissouri: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMOMontana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMTNebraska: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNENevada: not recognizedNVNew Hampshire: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNHNew Jersey: not recognizedNJNew Mexico: not recognizedNMNew York: not recognizedNYNorth Carolina: recognized — carry with your permitNCNorth Dakota: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNDOhio: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOHOklahoma: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOKOregon: not recognizedORPennsylvania: not recognizedPARhode Island: not recognizedRISouth Carolina: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesSCSouth Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry appliesSDTennessee: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTNTexas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTXUtah: recognized — and permitless carry appliesUTVermont: recognized — and permitless carry appliesVTVirginia: recognized — carry with your permitVAWashington: not recognizedWAWest Virginia: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesWVWisconsin: recognized — carry with your permitWIWyoming: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesWY
  • Permit honored
  • Honored + permitless carry
  • Permitless carry only
  • Not honored
  • Confirm case-by-case
  • Maryland

Which states honor a Maryland carry permit? (27)

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin

Where a Maryland permit is not honored (23)

Permitless carry still applies (7): Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wyoming

No lawful carry on this permit (16): California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington

Where a Maryland permit is honored, state by state

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
DelawareNot recognizedNot recognized
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
LouisianaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
MainePermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
MassachusettsNot recognizedNot recognized
MichiganRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
MinnesotaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
MississippiRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MissouriRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MontanaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
NebraskaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but 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 DakotaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but 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
TexasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and 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 VirginiaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
WisconsinRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WyomingPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies

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

Whose permits Maryland honors

Maryland does not recognize any out-of-state concealed-carry permit.

MSP FAQ: 'Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any other state.' Maryland law does not authorize reciprocity agreements with any state.

Maryland at a glance

Permit
Maryland Wear and Carry Permit (Handgun Permit)
Issued by
Maryland State Police, Licensing Division
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
21
Non-resident permits
Issued
Permitless carry
No
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
10 rounds

Can you carry in Maryland without a permit?

Maryland is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Maryland recognizes.

No permitless carry. A Wear and Carry Permit is required to wear, carry or transport a handgun (Md. Crim. Law §4-203).

Is Maryland an open carry state?

Only with a license. Maryland allows open carry of a handgun from age 21 if you hold a permit the state accepts.

Maryland treats open and concealed carry the same: you need a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit either way. Maryland does not honor any other state's permit.

How to get a Maryland concealed carry permit

Apply to
Maryland State Police, Licensing Division (online through the MSP Licensing Portal)
Minimum age
21
Fee
$125 (new application) · $75 renewal
Training
A Maryland State Police-approved 16-hour firearms safety training course, unless exempt.
Valid for
2 years
Issue policy
Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)

The first permit runs until the last day of your birth month two years after it is issued; renewals are good for three years. Applicants are notified of a decision within 90 days.

Does Maryland issue non-resident permits?

Yes. Maryland issues carry permits to non-residents, and a Maryland non-resident permit is honored in 25 other states. Pub. Safety §5-306 contains no residency requirement; out-of-state residents apply through the same MSP Licensing Division process.

Compare every state's non-resident permit →

Do you have to tell police you are carrying in Maryland?

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).

Carrying in a vehicle in Maryland

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.

Where you can't carry in Maryland

Editor's verification notes

Magazine limit nuance: CR 4-305 bans manufacture, sale, purchase, receipt or transfer of magazines over 10 rounds — possession itself is not prohibited. Kipke v. Moore (4th Cir., Jan 20, 2026, stayed pending Supreme Court review): three restrictions are currently NOT enforceable — carry in locations selling alcohol, the private-property default ban (CR 6-411), and within 1,000 ft of demonstrations (CR 4-208); the places listed above were upheld and remain enforceable. Under-21 permits available to members of the uniformed services/National Guard.

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor a Maryland carry permit?
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does Maryland recognize out-of-state carry permits?
MSP FAQ: 'Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any other state.' Maryland law does not authorize reciprocity agreements with any state.

Official sources