Acquiring a handgun carry license (HQL) or a wear-and-carry permit (WCHP) in Maryland is no easy task. Maryland is not a constitutional carry state, meaning that to own a handgun or carry a handgun, a person must apply for a license, go through background checks, and have other verification methods approved.
Once an HQL and WCHP is obtained, responsible handgun owners must also be aware of the laws in Maryland defining where they can and cannot carry their handgun, even with a WCHP. The list of prohibited places to carry a firearm in Maryland was been updated in October 2023, and again in August 2024. It is important for handgun owners to know the changes to these statutes under Maryland law & COMAR regulations.
Carrying a handgun in prohibited places in Maryland can have severe consequences and it is on you as the handgun owner to know where you can and cannot have your firearm. If you’re facing charges for carrying a firearm in a prohibited place in Maryland, Saller Law can help. We are a team of Second Amendment lawyers who believe in your rights and we will help defend them under the Constitution.
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Where Am I Prohibited from Carrying a Firearm in Maryland
Even with a wear-and-carry permit in Maryland, you are not eligible to freely conceal carry or open carry your handgun anywhere you please. Maryland has strict restrictions on eligible locations for carrying a handgun that have been laid out in various statutes and regulations.
As of May 2025, this is the current summary of where handguns are prohibited in Maryland, regardless of an HQL or WCHP. Please note, some of these restrictions have had an injunction filed against their ruling and are noted as such. For more clarification, reach out to Saller Law today for a consult on your rights.
Care Centers with Children or Vulnerable Individuals
A person may not wear, carry, or transport a firearm in an area designated for children or vulnerable individuals. Exceptions include the owner or lessee of the location, a person authorized by the owner for the purpose of a licensed security guard, or parties with express permission as needed for protection. A handgun locked in a container in a motor vehicle is permissible for a person who has obtained a WCHP.
This list was updated to reflect the October 2023 law changes to include specific child care center definitions and affected items are noted with an asterisk.
The list of care centers in Maryland where it is prohibited to carry a firearm includes, but may not be limited to:
- School property
- Child care centers, except for small centers located in residences
- Preschool and Pre-K facilities or their grounds*
- Private primary and secondary schools or their grounds*
- Community adult rehabilitation centers
- Health care facilities*
State/Government Areas
A person may not wear, carry, or transport a firearm in a government area. This list was updated to reflect October 2023 law changes to include specific government areas or public areas owned or leased by a unit of the state or the local government; these additions have been notated with an asterisk. These locations must clearly display a sign at the main entrance or the portion of the building owned by the government indicating that firearms are not allowed. A handgun locked in a container in a motor vehicle is permissible for a person who has obtained a WCHP.
The state buildings and government areas that prohibit the carrying of a firearm in Maryland include, but may not be limited to:
- Legislative buildings
- In or around State-owned public buildings and grounds (including airports such as Thurgood-Marshall/BWI Airport)
- Any part of a building owned or leased by a unit of state local government (look for signs indicating as such)*
- Private institutions of higher education*
- Public areas being used as polling locations or housing ballots*
- Electric plants or electric storage facility*
- Gas plants*
- Nuclear power plant facilities*
Special Purpose Public Areas
Some public areas in Maryland restrict the carry of firearms on the premises. Exceptions were added in 2023 to include the owner or lessee of the location, a person authorized by the owner for the purpose of a licensed security guard, or parties with express permission as needed for protection. A handgun locked in a container in a motor vehicle is permissible for a person who has obtained a WCHP as defined by the 2023 law change.
This list includes the October 2023 update to include places of “special purpose” and these locations have been notated with an asterisk. In 2024, an injunction was filed on some of these locations, deeming the restrictions unconstitutional, and they are notated as such.
To date, these are the public and private areas in Maryland that prohibit the carrying of firearms:
- Within 1,000 feet of a demonstration in a public place after a law enforcement officer advises that a demonstration is occurring; the law officer will order the person to leave the demonstration area until the person disposes of the firearm (as of Aug. 2024, an injunction has been ordered declaring this unconstitutional)
- In lodging establishments where the innkeeper reasonably believes individuals possess property that may be dangerous to other individuals (ie, firearms or explosives)
- Private dwellings of another person unless express permission was granted (either personally or publicly by the owner or the owner’s agent or a visible sign of permission)* (as of Aug. 2024, an injunction has been ordered declaring this unconstitutional)
- Stadiums*
- Museums*
- Racetracks*
- Video lottery facilities*
- Cannabis dispensaries or places licensed for on-site cannabis use*
- Areas licensed for alcohol sales for on-site consumption* (as of Aug. 2024, an injunction has been ordered declaring this unconstitutional)
Boat and Aircraft Restrictions
There are some restrictions on where firearms are permitted for carry on boats and aircrafts. Please take note of the restrictions of where firearms are not allowed in Maryland on boats and aircrafts:
- Aboard any aircraft
- On dredge boats (exception: two 10-gauge shotguns)
- Please note that government or state-owned buildings, such as BWI, do not allow the carrying of firearms on the premises
State Parks, Forests, Highways Restrictions
Except for hunting or target shooting as permitted, Maryland prohibits the carrying of firearms on certain state park lands. This includes, but may not be limited to:
- State forests or State parks (except hunting/target shooting as permitted)
- Chesapeake Forest Lands (except hunting/target shooting as permitted)
- State highway rest areas: firearms are not to be displayed or discharged
What to Know About the 2023 Additions to Prohibited Places for Firearms in Maryland
New prohibitions were added in October 2023, both for HQL and WCHP persons. These new additions are notated in the comprehensive list above with an asterisk and clarifying details. You can see all the changes made from the updated October 2023 firearms law via Maryland Shall Issue here.
For WCHP holders, these additions may not be clear, or you may not be aware of their new distinctions. The largest clarifying issue many citizens have is understanding what is a government area or public-owned infrastructure operating as state-owned, such as BWI airport.
Carrying a firearm on a premise that is prohibited can have strict consequences and other charges. While the law states these buildings must clearly display signage declaring no firearms are allowed, persons with a WCHP may be unclear about their options if they arrive on site with a firearm.
If you are facing charges related to carrying a firearm in a prohibited location in Maryland, or you would like a consult on how to legally carry your firearm under new Maryland restrictions, our law firm in Baltimore is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your situation, and our firearm defense lawyers will assist.
Appealing Penalties for Bringing Firearms to Prohibited Places
The penalties for bringing a firearm to a prohibited place in Maryland may include anything from trespassing charges to losing your HQL. In some cases, greater charges may be brought against you, requiring the need for a firearm defense lawyer in Maryland.
Saller law can help. Our handgun defense lawyers can help you appeal penalties being brought against you. Our extensive knowledge is critical to your success in navigating the complex handgun laws in Maryland and protecting your rights.
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Andrew Saller is a leading criminal defense and firearm defense lawyer in Maryland. We have successfully helped clients restore their rights under the Second Amendment. Call today if you’ve been impacted by firearm carry restrictions in Maryland and need a legal consult.
Disclaimer: articles on sallerlaw.com are not intended as legal advice and should not be taken as such, please consult an attorney for advice about your individual situation.
Why Work with Saller, Ernstberger, & McElroy for Handgun Defense
Andrew Saller is a leading firearm defense lawyer in Maryland. He is not only a criminal lawyer but an active member of the NRA, a co-host of the Urban Defense Podcast, and an executive member of Maryland Shall Issue.
Andrew Saller and his team are at the forefront of leading new changes to legislation to help their clients be equipped to fight for their Second Amendment rights. We are not just a team of defense lawyers in Baltimore, but a highly dedicated organization that cares about your rights under the Constitution.
