Transportation Laws | Maryland Concealed Carry

Maryland Transportation Laws for Firearms

General Prohibition on Transporting Handguns

Under Maryland Annotated Code, Criminal Law, Title 4, Section 203, a person may not wear, carry, or transport a handgun, whether concealed or open, on or about the person, or in a vehicle, without meeting specific statutory exceptions.

For a detailed account of the prohibitions on wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun, refer directly to MD Criminal Law § 4-203.

There are statutory exceptions to this general prohibition (see below).

Requirements for Lawful Transport of Handguns (Without a Wear and Carry Permit)

When transporting a handgun under one of the statutory exceptions, the following conditions must be met:

1. The handgun must be unloaded
2. The handgun must be in an enclosed case or enclosed holster
3. Ammunition must be kept separate from the handgun
4. It is recommended to keep the unloaded handgun in the trunk where the person does not have access to it

Permitted Purposes for Transport (Without a Wear and Carry Permit)

A person may transport a handgun only:

• Between residences
• To and from a repair shop
• To and from a shooting sporting event
• Between a residence and a place of business if the business is substantially owned and operated by the person
• To and from locations otherwise listed in the statute (Criminal Law § 4-203)

Interstate Transportation of Firearms

Under 18 U.S.C. § 926A (Federal Peaceable Journey Law), a person who is not prohibited from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where they may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where they may lawfully possess and carry such firearm, provided:

• The firearm is unloaded
• Neither the firearm nor any ammunition is readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment
• If the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the driver's compartment, the firearm or ammunition must be in a locked compartment other than the glove compartment or console

Important: Federal law allows a person to transport a firearm through Maryland but not to Maryland if the firearm is not in compliance with Maryland state law.

Assault Weapons and Interstate Travel

• A Maryland resident who lawfully owned a banned assault weapon prior to October 1, 2013 may travel with the firearm to other states and return, so long as it is not a violation in the destination state and the firearm is transported in accordance with the law.
• A person may not transport an assault weapon into Maryland for target competition unless the person lawfully possessed, had a purchase order for, or applied to purchase the weapon before October 1, 2013.

Wear and Carry Permit Holders

Holders of a valid Maryland Wear and Carry Permit may carry a handgun as authorized by their permit. Maryland does not recognize permits or CCWs from any other state.

• If a renewal application is submitted in the Licensing Portal at least fourteen (14) days prior to the expiration date, the permit holder may continue to carry on the expired permit until the renewed permit is received.
• If the application is returned for incompleteness and resubmitted after the two-week window, the holder may not carry.

Key Statutory References