Prohibited Places to Carry a Firearm

In Maryland, state law restricts where firearms may be carried, worn, or transported, even for people with Wear and Carry permits. The following list of statutes and regulations identifies where handguns and firearms are restricted. This list should not be considered all-inclusive.

Areas for children or vulnerable adults

Preschools or pre-kindergarten facilities and their grounds (CR 4-111(c))
Private primary and secondary schools and their grounds (CR 4-111(c))
Public school property (CR 4-102)
Firearms may not be kept on the premises of Child care centers, except for small centers located in residences (COMAR 13A.16.10.04)
Health care facilities including Hospitals, Related Institutions (Nursing Facilities), Ambulatory Surgical Facilities or Centers, and Rehabilitation Centers(CR 4-111(c))
Community adult rehabilitation centers (COMAR 12.02.03.10)

Government and Public Infrastructure Areas

Buildings (or parts thereof) owned or leased by State or local government (CR 4-111(d)(1))
State Highway Rest Areas, firearms may not be displayed or discharged (COMAR 11.04.07.12)
In State forests (except for hunting and target shooting as permitted) (COMAR 08.07.01.04)
In State Parks (except for hunting and target shooting as permitted) (COMAR 08.07.06.04)
On Chesapeake Forest lands (except for hunting and target shooting as permitted) (COMAR 08.01.07.14)
Buildings of a public or private higher education institutions (CR 4-111(d)(1))
Facilities used as polling places or ballot canvassing (CR 4-111(d)(1))
Gas and Electric plants or storage facilities (CR 4-111(d)(1))
Nuclear power plant facilities (CR 4-111(d)(1))
Legislative buildings (SG 2-1702)

Special purpose areas

Establishments such as bars and restaurants, licensed to sell or dispense alcohol or cannabis for on-site consumption (CR 4-111(e)
Stadiums (CR 4-111(e))
Museums (CR 4-111(e))
Amusement parks (CR 4-111(e))
Racetracks (CR 4-111(e))
Video lottery facility (casinos) (CR 4-111(e)

Other specific locations

Aboard aircrafts (TR 5-1008)
In lodging establishments where the innkeeper reasonably believes individuals possess property that may be dangerous to other individuals, such as firearms or explosives (BR 15-203)
Dredge boats (except for a 10-gauge shotgun) (NR 4-1013)

Private property

Private dwellings, except with "express permission" of the owner (or owner's agent), excluding common areas in a condominium
property of a cooperative housing corporation other than a unit as defined in § 5-6B-01 of the Corporations and Associations Article, or common areas of a multifamily dwelling
Private property of all kinds unless the owner or owner's agent has posted a "clear and conspicuous sign stating that it is permissible to wear, carry or transport a firearm" on such property or has given a person "express permission" to do so on the property.

The prohibitions listed above in items 1, 2 and 3 (effective October 1, 2023), do not apply to a firearm that is carried or transported in a motor vehicle if the firearm is:

locked in a container; or
a handgun worn, carried, or transported in compliance with any limitations imposed under § 5–307 of the Public Safety Article, by a person to whom a permit to wear, carry, or transport the handgun has been issued.