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Maryland Open Carry Laws (2026)
Restricted: 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.
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.
Official source: mdsp.maryland.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Open Carry in states bordering Maryland
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- DelawarePermitted
Open carry of a handgun is legal in Delaware without a permit for anyone 21 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm.
Verified May 31, 2026 · Source: attorneygeneral.delaware.gov · Full Delaware rule →
- District of ColumbiaRestricted
Open carry of a handgun is illegal in DC. Even a DC licensee may not carry a handgun openly or in any way that is not concealed. Except as the law allows, rifles and shotguns may not be carried in DC either. Narrow exceptions exist, such as on-duty military members authorized to carry and concealed carry by qualified law enforcement officers.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: mpdc.dc.gov · Full District of Columbia 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 →
- VirginiaPermitted
Open carry of a handgun is legal without a permit unless a law bars it. …
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: vsp.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
- West VirginiaPermitted
Open carry of a handgun is legal in West Virginia with no license, at 18 or older, for anyone who may lawfully have a gun. Carrying or brandishing a weapon so as to threaten a breach of the peace is a crime. Guns are banned on school grounds and buses and on court premises. Cities may restrict guns in city-owned buildings and recreation facilities.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: ago.wv.gov · Full West Virginia rule →
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