Open Carry in Maryland

Not without a permit. The carry ban in Crim. Law §4-203 applies to a handgun 'whether concealed or open.' A person with a Maryland wear-and-carry permit may carry subject to any limitations on the permit and to the prohibited-place laws. Long guns are not covered by §4-203, but firearms of all kinds are barred in the sensitive places listed in Crim. Law §4-111 and on public school property.

Without a carry permit, a handgun may not be carried or knowingly transported in a vehicle on a public road or parking lot, except in listed situations where the handgun is unloaded and in an enclosed case or enclosed holster, such as traveling to or from a purchase or sale, a repair shop, between the person's residences or residence and business, or to or from target shooting, hunting or a firearms safety class. In sensitive places, a firearm in a motor vehicle is exempt from the place ban if it is locked in a container, or if it is a handgun carried by a permit holder.

Firearms may not be worn, carried or transported in: preschools and pre-K facilities, private primary and secondary schools, and health care facilities; buildings owned or leased by state or local government (with posted signs), buildings of colleges and universities, polling places and ballot-canvassing sites, and electric, gas and nuclear power plants; locations licensed to sell or dispense alcohol or cannabis for on-site consumption, stadiums, museums, amusement parks, racetracks and video lottery (casino) facilities (up to 1 year and $1,000). Firearms are also banned on public school property, and at or within 1,000 feet of a public demonstration after a police warning. A person may not enter another's dwelling with a firearm without express permission. Maryland's rule barring carry on other private property without a posted sign or the owner's express permission (Crim. Law §6-411(d)) was held unconstitutional and enjoined by the Fourth Circuit on January 20, 2026 (Kipke v. Moore, No. 24-1799); the court upheld the other challenged restrictions, including government buildings, mass transit, schools, state parks, museums, health care facilities, stadiums/racetracks/amusement parks/casinos, alcohol-serving locations, and the 1,000-foot demonstration rule.