What is an Untraceable Firearm?

Untraceable firearms, commonly known as "ghost guns" or "Privately Made Firearms” (PMF’s), is any firearm, including an unfinished frame or receiver, that lacks a commercially applied serial number applied by a licensed manufacturer or importer. This includes PMF’s assembled from kits (often referred to as “80% lowers) and any firearm or unfinished frame or receiver forged, cast, printed, extruded, or machined from raw materials to a point in the manufacturing process that it can be readily converted into a functional firearm. 

Maryland Untraceable Firearms Law 

Maryland's Untraceable Firearms - PDF - 210.35 KB legislation, codified in Title 5, Subtitle 7 of the Public Safety Article,  went into effect on June 1, 2022. The law expanded the definition of a firearm to include unfinished frames or receivers, prohibits the possession, sale or transfer of any unserialized firearm or unfinished frame or receiver and requires PMF’s and unfinished frames or receivers to have an affixed serial number applied by a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) authorized to provide marking services in accordance with 27 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 478.92 within a certain period of time. 

• A person who legally receives an untraceable firearm through inheritance is required to have it serialized by a FFL.
• A person who legally manufactured an unfinished frame or receiver (PMF), without the use of any prefabricated parts (made from raw materials), is required to have it serialized by a FFL within 30 days of completion of the unfinished frame or receiver.
• Firearms manufactured before October 22, 1968 or antique firearms are not subject to Maryland’s untraceable firearms laws.
• FFL’s, Manufacturers and Importers are exempt.
• Other than the above exceptions, possession of an untraceable firearm is prohibited. 

Federal regulations

As of August 24, 2022, unmarked firearms presented to a FFL for marking services must be marked in compliance with federal regulations. Unmarked firearms must be identified by placing or causing to be placed by the Licensee (FFL) or under the licensee’s direct supervision, an individual serial number on the frame or receiver, which must not duplicate any serial number placed by the licensee on any other firearm. The serial number must begin with the licensee’s abbreviated FFL number, which is the first three and last five digits, as a prefix to a unique identification number, followed by a hyphen, e.g., ‘‘12345678-[unique identification number]’’. The serial number must be placed in a manner otherwise in accordance with 27 CFR 478.92, including the requirements that the serial number be at the minimum size and depth, and not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered, or removed. 

Registration

After an applicant has had their privately made firearm or unfinished frame or receiver marked by a FFL in compliance with PS 5-703 and federal regulations, the applicant may register their privately made firearms and unfinished frames or receivers in the Licensing Portal. Applicants choosing to register their serialized privately made firearm or unfinished frame or receiver will be required to provide the name and FFL number of the FFL that imprinted the serial  number on the firearm being registered. 

Application fees

• There is no fee for this application type

Application timeline

• Applicant: A untraceable/privately made firearm is registered on a MSP 77R and can be completed in the Licensing Portal within 5-10 minutes.
• Licensing Division Processing Time: Once the MSP 77R is submitted by the applicant and received by the Licensing Division, the application will be completed within 7 days. There is no further action required of the applicant for this type of registration.

Statutes

Maryland untraceable firearms laws can be found in Title 5, Subtitle 7 of the Public Safety Article. The current version of any statute can be found at LexisNexis or the Maryland General Assembly's website​.

Advisories and Documents

Visit the archive section to download any prior documents.

Questions?

Firearms Registration Unit

Licensing Division

Email

[email protected]