Do I need a permit to carry in Maine?

No. Maine allows concealed carry without a permit for eligible adults 21 and older. Some places stay off limits under state and federal law.

Does Maine honor out-of-state permits?

No. Maine does not honor a non-resident permit. Eligible adults 21 and older can still carry there under Maine's own permitless carry law. Maine has a resident-only rule. It honors an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the state that issued it.

Where can I check Maine's official rules?

Check Maine State Police, Concealed Handgun Reciprocity. The controlling law is 25 M.R.S. § 2001-A(2)(F).

Carry laws · 2026

Maine concealed carry laws, backed by the statute

At a glance

Carry rule: Permitless at 21
Minimum age: 21
Non-resident permit valid here?: No
Statute: 25 M.R.S. § 2001-A(2)(F)

Carrying in Maine

Maine lets adults 21 and older carry concealed without a permit.

That rule stops at the Maine line. If you travel, the law of the next state applies.

Source: 25 M.R.S. § 2001-A(2)(F). Maine State Police, Concealed Handgun Reciprocity. Reviewed Q3 2026.

Does a non-resident permit work in Maine?

A non-resident permit is a carry permit issued by a state you do not live in.

No. Maine does not honor a non-resident permit, so the permit adds nothing there. What keeps you legal is Maine's own permitless carry law, which lets eligible adults 21 and older carry without any permit.

Maine has a resident-only rule. It honors an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the state that issued it. See our reciprocity guide for how this trap works.

Getting Maine's own permit

Maine does not require a permit at home. An optional permit is still useful, because other states may honor it when you travel.

Common questions

Do I need a permit to carry in Maine?: No. Maine allows concealed carry without a permit for eligible adults 21 and older. Some places stay off limits under state and federal law.
Does Maine honor out-of-state permits?: No. Maine does not honor a non-resident permit. Eligible adults 21 and older can still carry there under Maine's own permitless carry law. Maine has a resident-only rule. It honors an out-of-state permit only when the holder lives in the state that issued it.
Where can I check Maine's official rules?: Check Maine State Police, Concealed Handgun Reciprocity. The controlling law is 25 M.R.S. § 2001-A(2)(F).

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Sources and verification

ME: 25 M.R.S. § 2001-A(2)(F). Maine State Police, Concealed Handgun Reciprocity.

Recognition and carry-law data compiled from each state's statutes and official Attorney General, State Police, or Department of Public Safety reciprocity pages. Reviewed quarterly. Last reviewed: Q3 2026. We review and update this information about once a quarter. Laws change between reviews, so verify with the destination state before you travel or apply. Read how we verify our information, including our public corrections log.