Prohibited Places to Carry a Firearm

Updates

On January 20, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued its opinion in Kipke v. Moore, challenging Maryland's sensitive places firearm restrictions. The court upheld the firearm carry restrictions in:
1. government buildings;
2. mass transit facilities;
3. schools and school grounds;
4. state parks, state forests, and Chesapeake forest lands;
5. museums;
6. healthcare facilities;
7. stadiums, racetracks, amusement parks, and casinos;
8. locations selling alcohol; and
9. places within 1,000 feet of a public demonstration.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the District Court's opinion and upheld the injunction regarding the carrying of firearms in private buildings or property without the owner's consent. The Fourth Circuit has issued a stay of its opinion while the Plaintiffs seek review in the United States Supreme Court.
Pending review by the U.S. Supreme Court, the following laws restricting the carrying of firearms can not be enforced:
1. locations selling alcohol, Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 4-111(a)(2)(8)(i);
2. private buildings or property without the owner’s consent, Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 6-411; and,
3. within 1,000 feet of a public demonstration, Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 4-208.

Updated: Friday, July 10, 2026

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.

* For a location that is not owned by, leased by, or otherwise under the control of the state or a political subdivision of the state, the prohibitions listed above denoted with an astrick (*), do not apply to:

The owner or lessee of the location; or
A person who is authorized by the owner or lessee of the location to wear, carry, or transport a firearm at the location for the purpose of:
- employment as a security guard licensed under Title 19 of the Business Occupations Article; or
- protecting any individual or property at the location with an express agreement between the parties, remuneration, or compensation. (CR 4-111(B)(9))

The prohibitions denoted above with an astrick (*), 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 under Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Public Safety Article (CR 4-111(B)(11))