Effective immediately, all Handgun Permit/Wear and Carry application fees are being electronically collected at the time of application submission in the Licensing Portal.
ATTENTION: Before you may legally wear and carry a regulated firearm, you must possess and maintain on your person the MSP-issued Handgun Wear and Carry Permit.
Submission of the application does not authorize you to wear, carry, or transport a handgun.
To access the Wear and Carry Application click below:
Training must be successfully completed prior to submitting the application, unless you are exempt from training. Please click here for information on Wear and Carry Permit Training
Who Should Apply?
Wear and Carry Permits may be issued to any adult (18 years of age or over) who meets the following criteria:
- An applicant between 18 and 21 years of age may only be issued a wear and carry permit to possess a regulated firearm required for employment. - P.S. 5-133 (d)(2)(v)
- Has not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor for which a sentence of imprisonment for more than one year has been imposed; or convicted of a criminal offense for which you could have been sentenced to more than 2 years incarceration.
- Has not been convicted of a crime involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance;
- Is not presently an alcoholic, addict, or habitual user of a controlled dangerous substance unless under legitimate medical direction;
- Based on an investigation, has not exhibited a propensity for violence or instability that may reasonably render the person’s possession of a handgun a danger to the person or others;
- As of October 1, 2013, has successfully completed the Maryland State Police
approved firearms training course within 2 years
prior to submitting the original or renewal application.
How To Apply
As of October 1, 2013, all new, renewal, and subsequent applicants must successfully complete required firearms training, within 2 years, prior to submitting the application.
As of October 1, 2016 Fingerprints will no longer be required for renewal application submissions. Fingerprints are still required for all initial/original Handgun Permit applications. (MD SB208 2016)
As of October 1, 2019, all Wear and Carry permit applications (original, renewal and subsequent) and requests (modification and replacement) must be submitted online in the Licensing Portal. All documentation requirements and any clarifications you feel may assist investigators in processing your applications must be uploaded and electronically attached to the application in the Licensing Portal. You may access the Licensing Portal by clicking the link below:
Licensing Portal
The minimum documentation required for the acceptance of the Wear and Carry permit application are:
- Color passport-size photograph
- Electronic fingerprint transmission receipt
- Certificate of Handgun Training or documentation of exemption
Please allow 90 days for completion of the application process.
For further guidance in regard to submitting a Wear and Carry permit application or request please refer to the
Wear and Carry Portal Users Guide.
How Much Does It Cost?
All fees will be collected electronically at the time of application submission in the Licensing Portal. Acceptable forms of payment include Visa and MasterCard.
Original/Initial – $75.00 – Fingerprint Fees not included
Renewal – $50.00 –
Fingerprints No Longer Required
Subsequent – $50.00 – Fingerprint Fees not included
Replacement/Modification – $10.00 – Fingerprints not required
Active/Retired Law Enforcement Officers of this State or a County/Municipality (PS 5-304) – $0.00
When Should I Renew?
The initial Handgun Permit expires on the last day of the holder’s birth month following two (2) years after the date the permit is issued. Permits that have been modified or are a duplicate expire on the date provided on the initial permit.
A Handgun Permit may be renewed for successive periods of three (3) years each if, at the time of an application for renewal, the applicant possesses the qualifications for the issuance of a permit and pays the renewal fee as established in the subtitle.
The renewal process is the responsibility of the applicant and should be started no less than 90 business days from expiration of the permit. Timely renewal is the responsibility of the permit holder.
The Licensing Portal will only send out renewal reminders for Wear and Carry permit applications that have been submitted through the online portal.
It is the permit holder’s responsibility to notify the Licensing Division of address changes, in writing, within 30 days of any change. You must mail this change to the same address as you would mail an application.
Where are Firearms Prohibited?
Restriction on the wear, carry and transport of handguns and firearms in certain places appear throughout Maryland law and regulations. Below are statutes and regulations detailing the handgun and firearm restrictions. This list should not be considered all-inclusive.
1. On school property
(CR 4-102)
2. Within 1,000 feet of a demonstration in a public place
(CR 4-208)
3. In legislative buildings
(SG 2-1702)
4. Aboard aircraft (TR 5-1008)
5. 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)
6. On dredge boats, other than two 10 gauge shotguns (NR 4-1013)
7. In or around State-owned public buildings and grounds
(COMAR 04.05.01.03)
8. On Chesapeake Forest Lands
(COMAR 08.01.07.14)
9. In State Forests
(COMAR 08.07.01.04)
10. In State Parks
(COMAR 08.07.06.04)
11. In State Highway Rest Areas, unless properly secured within vehicle (COMAR 11.04.07.12)
12. In community adult rehabilitation centers
(COMAR 12.02.03.10)
13. In child care centers, except for small centers located in residences, firearms may not be kept on the premises (COMAR 13A.16.10.04)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it lawful for a medical cannabis patient to own or possess a firearm?<div class="ExternalClass9215717BF0CF48828CAA2EAF11DDDCF0"><p>No. Federal law bars medical cannabis patients from purchasing or possessing firearms. The Federal Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), prohibits any person who is an 'unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)' from shipping, transporting, receiving or possessing firearms or ammunition. Marijuana is listed in the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule I controlled substance, and there are no exceptions in Federal law for marijuana purportedly used for medicinal purposes, even if such use is sanctioned by State law.<br><br>Medical cannabis patient information contained in Maryland's patient registry is considered confidential, protected health information and held in compliance with federal HIPAA regulations by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. However, the Maryland State Police query individuals who seek to purchase a gun about their status as a medical cannabis patient and bar those who disclose that they are medical cannabis patients from making the transaction. Individuals who provide false information by failing to disclose that they are a medical cannabis patient when purchasing a firearm are in violation of federal statute, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000. <br></p></div>
How can I receive an application status check? <div class="ExternalClassA427A38484E34C9DA4746AA6CC41F340"><p>Your current application status can be obtained by logging in to your Licensing Portal account. Please note, wear and carry permit applications can take up to 90 days to process. If your application has been submitted for more than 90 days, please contact the Handgun Permit Unit for further instructions.</p><br></div>
If my handgun permit should expire before I receive my renewed handgun permit card, can I still carry a handgun?<div class="ExternalClassBDAC266817684A348E689A1E98E6CA2C"><p>As long as the renewal application has been submitted in the Licensing Portal at least two (2) weeks prior to the expiration date of the current handgun permit, you are still allowed to carry on the expired permit until you receive your renewed permit. If the application is returned to you for incompleteness and you resubmit it after the two (2) weeks, you will not be allowed to carry your handgun.</p></div>
How do I obtain a replacement if my Handgun Permit is lost or stolen?<div class="ExternalClass8A09A867EB8A4F22913567867F2FF251"><p>Wear and Carry card “Replacement” requests are submitted in your online portal account. If you do not have an existing portal account, you will need to create one to submit this request. You must attach a notarized letter to your online request, explaining the circumstances of the loss/theft. There is a $10 fee, which is paid via credit card upon the submission of your request. If you are a security guard, private detective, armored car driver or special police officer, please attach an updated company sponsorship to your request.</p></div>
Who is exempt from the training requirement?<div class="ExternalClassD4ED4595435E49D3945EFD6BD8633BF1"><p><a href="http://mdsp.maryland.gov/Organization/Pages/CriminalInvestigationBureau/LicensingDivision/Training/WearandCarryPermit.aspx" target="_blank">Click Here</a> to see the exemptions</p></div>
Where can I go to be LiveScan fingerprinted?<div class="ExternalClass1C81A6B6105E4287B8483487268906DB"><p>To find a fingerprinting service provider, please <a href="http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/publicservs/fingerprint.shtml">Click Here</a>.</p></div>
Can I legally transport firearms interstate?<div class="ExternalClass25DBEFFEB9E846AA9295D0E2C3BA4C7E"><p>Yes, under Title 18, Section 926A, of the United States Code, 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 he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment. In the case the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked compartment other than the glove compartment or console.</p></div>
Can I legally transport my regulated firearm to the range? <div class="ExternalClass5B92E01FCFF242B0B7688947B5D5DD39"><p>Yes, however, Maryland and Federal laws require specific conditions be met while transporting a handgun. Please refer to Maryland Annotated Code, Criminal Law, Title 4, Section 203 for a detailed account of wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun. You may access the Maryland General Assembly website at <a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/">http://mlis.state.md.us/ </a>You can access the Federal requirements through <a href="http://www.atf.gov/">www.atf.gov </a> and conduct a search for “27 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 178" and then look for “Transportation of Firearms." The basic requirement during transport is the handgun must be unloaded and in an enclosed case or enclosed holster with the ammunition separate from the handgun AND you must be transporting the handgun to or from the locations listed in the statute. <br></p></div>
Documents and Statutes
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