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Delaware Open Carry Laws (2026)

Permitted: Open carry of a handgun is legal in Delaware without a permit for anyone 21 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm.

PermittedVerified May 31, 2026
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Official source: attorneygeneral.delaware.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Open Carry in states bordering Delaware

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

  • MarylandRestricted

    Open carry is not allowed. A Maryland Wear and Carry Permit lets you carry a handgun only concealed from view, under clothing or in an enclosed case; brief accidental exposure is not a violation. Without a permit, wearing or carrying a handgun openly or concealed is a crime, apart from listed exceptions such as property you own or lease or a business you own or lease.

    Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: mdsp.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →

  • New JerseyRestricted

    Open carry is illegal in New Jersey, with or without a permit. A permit allows carry only concealed, in a holster. Carrying a handgun openly in public is a fourth-degree crime, and carrying one without a permit is a second-degree crime on top of that. For a permit holder, brief, accidental exposure while holstering or from a shift of clothing is treated as a minor infraction.

    Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: pub.njleg.state.nj.us · Full New Jersey rule →

  • PennsylvaniaConditional

    At 18 or older, you may carry a handgun openly on foot in most of Pennsylvania without a license. A License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) is required in a vehicle and on public streets or property during a declared state or local emergency. Philadelphia law also requires an LTCF; a 2025 appeals court ruling held that unconstitutional as applied to one unlicensed carrier, but the law stays on the books and may still be enforced.

    Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: pa.gov · Full Pennsylvania rule →

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