Maryland   Department of State Police

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Designated Firearms Collector

Who Should Apply​

A person may not purchase more than one regulated firearm in a 30-day period, unless that person is a Designated Firearms Collector. A Designated Collector is a status granted by the Maryland State Police upon submission of an application. It is granted to an individual who devotes time and attention to acquiring certain types of regulated firearms for the enhancement of the collector's personal collection, or possesses a Federal Firearms License (Collector of Curio and Relics). A Designated Collector is not authorized to act as a firearms dealer.​ Exemptions to the Designated Firearms Collector, and who may also purchase more than one regulated firearm in a 30-day period, are:
  1. The purchase is for a private collection or a collector series.
  2. The purchase is a bulk purchase from an estate sale.
  3. The purchase is for the purpose of taking advantage of a dealer's discounted price for a multiple purchase. No more than two firearms may be purchased at a time in this way.
  4. The purchase is for a security guard company. 


How To Apply

Complete the Designated Collector Application​​​ (found below), and send it to the Maryland State Police Licensing Division at the address listed below. Please note that the Designated Collector Application must be notarized.
Maryland State Police
Licensing Division
1111 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208
Attn: Firearms Registration Unit


When Should I Renew

Once issued, the Designated Collector status does not expire.


Application Fees

There is no cost to submit a Designated Collector Application.


How Long is the Application Process

​​APPLICANT - The Designated Collector Application can be completed in 5-10 minutes. The Designated Collector application is required to be notarized. 

PROCESSING TIME - Once the Licensing Division receives the completed Designated Collector application​, the application will processed and the applicant will be notified of the final disposition within 7-10 days via the email address provided in the application​​.​


Frequently Asked Questions​

Do I get a card with my collector status?

No. You will receive an email ​explaining that you have been granted the status of a "Designated Collector". This status allows for multiple firearm purchases.

​Am I licensed when I become a Designated Collector?

No. Designated Collector is a status granted to an individual by the Maryland State Police. This status allows the individual to purchase more than one firearm at a time. This status does not grant any additional privileges or expedite the processing time required for a regulated firearm purchase.

Are there any prerequisites to request for a Designated Collector status?

​Yes. An applicant requesting a Designated Collector status must have a minimum of one (1) regulated firearm currently registered with the Maryland State Police. 

Statutes

§5-128 and §​5-129 of the Public Safety Article identify when multiple regulated firearm purchases may be applied for. Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 29.03.01.25 grants the Maryland State Police the authority to designate regulated firearm collectors. To obtain the most recent text of any legislation, please go online to LexisNexis or the Maryland General Assembly's website​ to access the most ​up-to-date Maryland code. COMAR regulations can be found at the Division of State Documents COMAR Online website.


​Documents

Type
  
Doc Title
  
Description
File Size
  
collapse Designated Collector : Application ‎(1)
Collector_Application_Affidavit.pdfDesignated Collector Application
Application to become a Maryland Designated Collector of Regulated Firearms
69 KB