Maine operates as a shall-issue, permitless carry state, where concealed weapons permits are issued by the Department of Public Safety through the Maine State Police.
There is no requirement for a permit, background check, or firearms registration when purchasing a handgun from a private individual in Maine.
Open and concealed carry are legal in Maine without a permit. Individuals aged 21 or older, or at least 18 and active duty or honorably discharged military personnel, who can legally possess a firearm, are allowed to carry openly or concealed. Maine also issues permits for reciprocity purposes.
Maine Permits to Carry Concealed Handguns (CCHs) necessitate completion of a state-approved firearms training course. These permits are available to residents and non-residents aged at least 18. Certain areas are off-limits for carrying firearms, including schools and courthouses.
For reciprocity, since Maine allows permitless carry, individuals aged at least 21 who can legally possess a firearm may carry concealed without a license. Maine recognizes resident concealed handgun permits issued by other states that reciprocally recognize Maine’s resident CCHs. Permit holders from these states may carry in certain areas, such as Acadia National Park, where individuals carrying under permitless carry laws cannot.
Maine follows the Castle Doctrine, which allows individuals to defend their homes. However, there is no stand your ground law, meaning individuals have a duty to retreat outside their dwelling place.
A person may use non-deadly force to defend themselves or others from imminent unlawful force. Deadly force is justified if the person reasonably believes it necessary to prevent death, serious injury, or certain felonies. Deadly force is not justified if the person provoked the encounter or can safely retreat.
[Title 17-A, Pt. 1, Ch. 5, §104 and §108]
A person on their premises or licensed to be there may use non-deadly force to prevent criminal trespass. Deadly force is justified to prevent arson or if someone unlawfully enters a dwelling place and poses a threat. Demand to cease trespass is required unless doing so would be dangerous.
“Dwelling place” excludes structures solely for property storage or uninhabitable former dwellings.
Is it legal to own a taser or stun gun in Maine?
Yes. Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a permit. They may be used in defense of a person or that person's dwelling place.
Is it legal to buy or use chemical spray/pepper spray in Maine?
Yes, disabling chemicals can be used to defend a person, premises, retaking property, preventing that taking or preventing criminal mischief.
Does Maine have magazine capacity restrictions for handguns?
No. Maine does not restrict magazine capacity for handguns.
Does Maine have ammunition restrictions?
Yes. Armor-piercing ammunition is prohibited.
Does Maine allow permitless carry?
Yes. Maine is a permitless carry state.
Is open carry permitted in Maine?
Yes, without a permit. Any person who is at least 21 years old and legally entitled to possess a firearm can open carry.
If Maine requires a permit to carry a concealed firearm, how are those permits issued?
Maine is a shall-issue state.
What is the minimum age in Maine to get a concealed carry permit?
Any person 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm is allowed to concealed carry. Anyone at least 18 years old can carry with a Maine Permit to Carry Concealed Handguns or a permit from a state that Maine recognizes. In addition, any active duty member of the military or honorably discharged at least 18 years of age may carry a concealed handgun.
Can you concealed carry weapons other than handguns in Maine with a concealed carry permit (or under permitless carry if applicable)?
No. You are not allowed to carry concealed weapons that are not handguns.
Can you carry a concealed handgun in a vehicle in Maine?
Yes. You can concealed carry in a vehicle without a permit in Maine.
Can you carry a concealed firearm at roadside rest areas in Maine?
Yes. You may carry concealed at roadside rest areas in Maine.
Can you carry a concealed firearm in state/national parks, state/national forests and Wildlife Management Areas in Maine?
Yes, with a permit in state or national parks and state or national forests. Permitless carry is not allowed. Anyone may carry concealed in Maine WMAs. A permit is not required.
Can you carry a concealed firearm in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol in Maine?
Yes, unless posted and provided you are not under the influence.
Can you carry or possess a firearm on hotel property in Maine?
An innkeeper or campground owner may eject from a hotel, lodging house or campground, or may refuse or deny any accommodations, facilities or privileges to any person the innkeeper or campground owner reasonably believes is bringing in firearms. The individual hotel should be contacted to inquire about its concealed carry policy.
Does Maine have laws relating to storing firearms in private vehicles in an employee parking lot?
An employer or an agent of an employer may not prohibit an employee who has a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun from keeping a firearm in the employee's vehicle as long as the vehicle is locked and the firearm is not visible.
Does Maine allow the public to access concealed carry registry information through public records law?
No. The public has no access to Maine's concealed carry registry.
Do you have a duty to notify a police officer that you're carrying a concealed firearm in Maine?
- Yes, you have a duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you're carrying a concealed firearm in Maine if you are carrying without a permit.
- No, if you are concealed carrying with a permit.
Does Maine have preemption laws related to concealed carry (i.e., Does state law supersede local laws regarding the possession of handguns)?
Yes. There is full state preemption of all gun laws.
Does Maine have a red flag law?
No. Maine does not have any Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws.
Does Maine issue concealed carry permits to non-residents?
Yes. Maine allows non-resident permitting.
Are "No Weapons Allowed" signs enforced in Maine?
Yes. Violating the sign would be considered a crime.
Is my Maine driver’s license linked to my Maine carry permit?
No. Your Maine driver’s license is not linked to your Maine permit to carry a concealed handgun, unless requested by the permit holder.
Does Maine state law define brandishing?
No definition of brandishing was found in Maine law. However, displaying a firearm in a threatening manner is prohibited.
Does Maine have laws regarding carrying a concealed firearm while using alcohol or drugs?
Not while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or with an excessive alcohol level in a licensed establishment.
As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgment.
What is the minimum age to possess and transport a handgun in Maine?
- You must be at least 18 years old to concealed carry in Maine.
Can I possess/carry a handgun in my home without a permit?
- Yes. Permitless carry is allowed for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm in Maine.
Is a permit required to purchase a handgun in Maine?
- No. A permit is not required for the purchase of a firearm in Maine.
Are background checks required for private gun sales in Maine?
- No. Private firearms transfers are not subject to a background check requirement, although federal and state purchaser prohibitions, including age restrictions, still apply. However, the Maine Legislature has adopted a resolution requiring the Department of Public Safety to assist private sellers who wish to obtain criminal history record information about potential purchasers of firearms. It is recommended that you retain any sales receipts to prove ownership of the gun.
Does my current Maine concealed carry permit exempt me from needing a background check when I purchase a firearm?
- No.
Is there a waiting period after purchasing a handgun in Maine?
- No. There is no waiting period to buy a handgun in Maine.
Do handguns need to be registered in Maine?
- No. Gun owners are not required to register their handguns in Maine.
This format presents each question and answer clearly and concisely for easy reference.
Alabama (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Alaska (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Arizona (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Arkansas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
California (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Colorado (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Connecticut (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Delaware (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
District of Columbia (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Florida (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Georgia (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Hawaii (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Idaho (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Illinois (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Indiana (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Iowa (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kansas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kentucky (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Louisiana (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Maryland (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Massachusetts (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Michigan (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Minnesota (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Mississippi (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Missouri (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Montana (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Nebraska (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Nevada (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
New Hampshire (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
New Jersey (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
New Mexico (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
New York (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
New York City (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
North Carolina (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
North Dakota (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Ohio (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Oklahoma (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Oregon (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Pennsylvania (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Puerto Rico (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Rhode Island (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
South Carolina (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
South Dakota (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Tennessee (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Texas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Utah (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Vermont (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Virginia (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Washington (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
West Virginia (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Wisconsin (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Wyoming (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Alaska (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Arizona (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Florida (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Georgia (Permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Iowa (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kansas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kentucky (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Louisiana (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Michigan (at least 21 years old and resident permits only)
Mississippi (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Missouri (permitless carry, at least 19 years old 18 for military)
Nebraska (Permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Ohio (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Oklahoma (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
South Carolina (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Tennessee (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Texas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Utah (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Virginia (at least 21 years old)
West Virginia (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Wyoming (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Alabama (permitless carry, at least 19 years old)
Alaska (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Arizona (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Arkansas (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Florida (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Georgia (Permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Idaho (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Indiana (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Iowa (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kansas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Kentucky (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Louisiana (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Mississippi (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Missouri (permitless carry, at least 19 years old 18 for military)
Montana (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Nebraska (Permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
New Hampshire (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
North Dakota (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Ohio (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Oklahoma (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
South Carolina (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
South Dakota (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Tennessee (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
Texas (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Utah (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Vermont (permitless carry, at least 18 years old)
West Virginia (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
Wyoming (permitless carry, at least 21 years old)
- New permits: $35
- Renewals: $20
- $2 for duplicates, change of address, or name changes.
- 4 years
An applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Not be prohibited by state law from possessing a firearm;
- Demonstrate to the issuing authority a knowledge of handgun safety;
- Be of good moral character (the issuing authority will make this determination based on past evidence recorded through government entities within the last 5 years);
- Not have been convicted in a Maine court of a violation of possession of firearms in an establishment licensed for on-premises consumption of liquor within the past 5 years;
- Not have been the subject of an investigation by any law enforcement agency regarding the alleged abuse of family or household members within the past 5 years;
- Not have been convicted in any jurisdiction within the past 5 years of 3 or more crimes punishable by a term of imprisonment of less than 1 year or of crimes classified under the laws of a state as a misdemeanor and punishable by a term of imprisonment of 2 years or less;
- Not have engaged within the past 5 years in reckless or negligent conduct that has been the subject of an investigation by a governmental entity;
- Not have been convicted in a Maine court of any drug crime within the past 5 years;
- Meet federal law requirements.
*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Maine.
- 30 days for a resident of 5 or more years and 60 days for nonresidents or residents of less than 5 years.
- Link to resident application
Non-residents use the same process as residents.
- Link to nonresident application
You must make notification of changes of address within 30 days of moving. If you wait more than 30 days, your permit becomes invalid and you must start over as a new applicant at full cost. If you currently hold a valid permit issued through the Maine State Police (MSP):
- If you move to another address in the same town, you can call the MSP and update your address over the phone; you do not need to send any money and you will not receive a new permit; if you want a new permit reflecting your new address in the same town, send in page one of the application, filled out completely, and include a check/money order for $2.00 payable to Treasurer, State of Maine.
- If you move to another town in which the MSP is still the Issuing Authority, you must fill out page one of the resident application or non-resident application completely and send it in with a check/money order for $2.00.
- If your current valid permit has been issued from an Issuing Authority other than the MSP – a police department or the town’s selectmen – and you move to a town in which the Maine State Police is the Issuing Authority, you must fill out the complete resident application packet, even the authority to release information pages at the back of the packet, and send it to the MSP with a check/money order for $2.00. Note: The MSP requires a photo, a copy of your birth certificate, a copy of your current concealed carry permit and a copy of a handgun safety certificate. Normally the handgun safety certificate must be less than 5 years old, but in this instance only, it does not have to be; it can be more than 5 years old. Name changes can be made using the same resident application or non-resident application form.
- Contact your local State Police Office.
- Moving to Maine and interested in applying for a resident permit? How soon can you apply? Maine issues resident and non-resident permits, so you can apply for your permit at any time. You may apply as a resident once you have a voter's registration card, a Maine driver's license, or state ID.
- Moving from Maine and have a Maine resident permit? Does that permit transfer to your new state? Is there a grace period during which your Maine permit remains valid? If a person with a Maine permit to carry concealed handguns establishes residency in another state, the permit is valid provided you follow the procedures in the above referenced Name/Address changes section.
- Carry in bars/restaurants that serve alcohol? Yes, unless posted and provided you are not under the influence.
- Carry in my vehicle without a permit/license? Yes.
- Carry in roadside rest areas? Yes.
- Carry in state/national parks, state/national forests and Wildlife Management Areas? Yes, although open carry is prohibited in state parks.
- Carry in places of worship? There is no State statute prohibiting concealed carry in places of worship. However, since places of worship are private property, they may post signs prohibiting firearms.
Places off-limits even with a permit/license:
- Schools (Me. Stat. 20-A, § 6552);
- Courthouses (Me. Stat. 17-A, §1058);
- State Capitol area (16-219-41 Me. Code R. § 2);
- Private property when prohibited by the property owner;
- Establishments licensed for on-premises consumption of liquor, if the premises are posted. Note that even if there is no posted prohibition, it is illegal to carry on these premises while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs (Me. Stat. 17-A, §1057);
- Any hotel, lodging house or campground when prohibited by the innkeeper or campground owner (Me. Stat. 30-A, §3838);
- Wildlife sanctuaries (Me. Stat. 12, §12707);
- Labor disputes and strikes (Me. Stat. 32, §9412);
- Baxter State Park (Park Rules);
- Allagash Wilderness Waterway (Park Rules);
- Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law or state law or regulation.
- I can legally carry a concealed firearm in Maine, but can I wear a COVID 19 protective mask while carrying concealed?
- There is no known statute in Maine making it illegal to wear a COVID mask while carrying concealed.
- Can you concealed carry while shotgun/rifle hunting in Maine?
- Yes.
- Can you concealed carry while bow hunting in Maine?
- Yes with a valid concealed carry permit, however it cannot be used to shoot a deer or dispatch a wounded deer. (ME Dept of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Archery Season Provisions)
- It is legal to own any type of knife in Maine, although there may be county ordinances limiting what can be carried. It is also legal to open carry any knife. However, certain weapons, including dirks, Bowie knives, stilettos and other dangerous or deadly weapons, cannot be carried concealed or displayed in a threatening manner.
- 25 M.R.S. § 2001-A
- Is there a Hunter Harassment Law in Maine?
- Yes. A person may not intentionally or knowingly interfere with the lawful hunting, fishing or trapping of a wild animal, wild bird or fish. A person may not intentionally or knowingly disturb or attempt to disturb a wild animal, wild bird or fish with the intent to interfere with the hunting, fishing or trapping of a wild animal, wild bird or fish.
- Me. Rev. Stat. 12, §10654