Maryland FFL Transfer Guide: HQL, Handgun Roster, Fees & Local FFLs

Buying a firearm online and shipping it to Maryland is more complicated than it is in most other states, and if you skip a step the FFL will refuse the transfer. Handguns and “assault weapons” are treated as regulated firearms in Maryland: they require a Handgun Qualification License (HQL) up front for handguns, a Maryland State Police background check, a 7-day waiting period, and the handgun itself must be on Maryland’s Handgun Roster. Long guns are much simpler. This guide walks through both paths, what dealers charge, and the state-specific rules to know before you click “buy.”

Maryland Requires an HQL to Buy a Handgun

Maryland requires a Handgun Qualification License (HQL) issued by the Maryland State Police before anyone can buy, rent, or receive a handgun in the state, including a transfer from an out-of-state seller. To qualify for an HQL you must be a Maryland resident 21 or older, submit fingerprints and a $50 application fee to MSP, and complete a state-approved four-hour Handgun Qualification Course (including a live-fire component) unless you fall under a narrow exemption (active or honorably discharged military, active or retired law enforcement, and a few others). MSP has up to 30 days to issue.

The HQL is separate from a Wear and Carry Permit. It is a permission-to-purchase card, not a permission-to-carry card, and you need it before an FFL can start the handgun-transfer paperwork.

Long guns (rifles and shotguns that are not on the state’s regulated list) do not require an HQL. Any Maryland resident 18 or older may purchase a non-regulated long gun from a licensed dealer with a NICS check.

The Maryland Handgun Roster

Maryland law bars licensed dealers from selling new handguns that are not on the Maryland Handgun Roster. The Handgun Roster Board reviews handgun models and adds compliant designs; older or non-compliant models may not be sold new by a Maryland FFL even if you have an HQL. Before you buy a handgun to ship into the state, check the current Handgun Roster on the Maryland State Police website. Used handguns and private transfers are exempt from the Roster requirement.

Maryland FFL Transfer: How It Works

The process differs by firearm type. For a handgun or a regulated firearm (assault-weapon-list rifle or shotgun):

1. Have your HQL in hand before you order
2. Confirm the handgun is on the current Maryland Handgun Roster
3. Find a Maryland FFL willing to accept the third-party transfer and confirm their fee
4. Provide the dealer’s FFL number and address to the seller at checkout
5. The seller ships directly to your chosen FFL. Firearms cannot ship to your home address.
6. When the firearm arrives, the FFL contacts you to schedule paperwork
7. At the FFL you present your HQL, valid Maryland driver’s license, and complete both ATF Form 4473 and the Maryland State Police Firearm Application (77R)
8. MSP runs a state-level background check and the 7-day waiting period begins
9. After 7 days, if MSP has not disapproved, the dealer releases the firearm

For a non-regulated long gun (typical hunting rifle, shotgun, most sporting rifles): no HQL, no 77R, no Roster check, no 7-day wait. The dealer runs a standard NICS check on Form 4473 and releases the firearm the same day if NICS returns a Proceed.

Waiting Periods in Maryland

Regulated firearms (all handguns and any long gun on the state’s assault-weapon list) carry a mandatory 7-day waiting period from the moment the 77R application is submitted to MSP. There is no state waiting period on non-regulated long guns.

Maryland Background Check Process

Maryland is a full point-of-contact state for regulated firearms: MSP runs the check itself using the 77R application, which draws from both state records and NICS. Non-regulated long guns go through the standard federal NICS check with the FFL calling the FBI directly, the same as in most other states.

The Maryland Wear and Carry Permit and the HQL are NOT on ATF’s Permanent Brady Permit Chart, so there is no NICS shortcut for Maryland buyers.

FFL Transfer Fees in Maryland

Maryland FFL dealers typically charge between $40 and $75 per handgun transfer and $25 to $50 per long-gun transfer. The higher handgun fees reflect the extra paperwork (77R application, HQL verification, Handgun Roster check) and the 7-day hold. Baltimore, Silver Spring, and Rockville area shops tend toward the upper end. Always confirm the fee before shipping your firearm. Ask specifically:

• What is your transfer fee for handguns compared to long guns?
• Do you charge a separate 77R filing fee?
• Do you accept transfers of handguns not on your in-store inventory?
• Are there additional fees for NFA items (suppressors, SBRs, machine guns)?
• How long do you hold a firearm after it clears the waiting period?
• Do you charge a storage fee if pickup is delayed?

Maryland-Specific Laws to Know

Maryland is one of the most regulated states in the country for firearms:

• Concealed carry: Maryland issues a Wear and Carry Permit through the Maryland State Police. After the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision struck down the state’s “good and substantial reason” standard, Maryland became a shall-issue state for applicants who meet the training, age, and background requirements. Applicants must be 21 or older, complete a 16-hour initial training course (8-hour renewal), and pass a state background check. The state legislature responded to Bruen by expanding the list of sensitive places where carry is prohibited (SB 1). See where a Maryland permit is recognized on our concealed carry reciprocity map.
• Open carry: Not permitted without a Wear and Carry Permit, and heavily restricted even with one.
• Assault weapons ban: Maryland’s Firearm Safety Act of 2013 bans the sale, transfer, and manufacture of a list of specifically named “assault weapons” and copycat models. Firearms owned before October 1, 2013 are grandfathered but cannot be transferred within the state. This ban was upheld by the Fourth Circuit sitting en banc in 2024 (Bianchi v. Brown).
• Magazine capacity: Sale and manufacture of magazines over 10 rounds is prohibited. Possession of larger-capacity magazines lawfully acquired before the ban is not itself a crime, but replacements are hard to source in-state.
• Red flag law: Maryland has an Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) statute that allows temporary confiscation orders on petition by law enforcement, family members, or a mental health professional.
• NFA items: Suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns are legal to own in Maryland with proper ATF paperwork (Form 4, $0 tax stamp on suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs since Jan 1, 2026, ATF wait typically measured in months; machine guns still carry the $200 tax). Machine guns are legal only if registered in Maryland by May 27, 1994 (the state added its own registry requirement on top of the federal one), which makes new machine-gun ownership functionally impossible for civilians. Suppressors and SBRs run through the standard federal Form 4 process with no state add-on.
• Private sales: Private transfers of regulated firearms (handguns and assault weapons) must go through an FFL or through the Maryland State Police using the 77R process. Private long-gun transfers do not require a background check under state law.

Laws change and Maryland’s are among the most actively litigated in the country. Verify current requirements with the Maryland State Police Licensing Division before relying on anything here.

Finding an FFL Dealer in Maryland

Not every gun shop advertises FFL transfer services prominently, and fees vary widely across the state. The fastest path is a directory like GunTransfers.com to find dealers in your area, then call to confirm their transfer fee, whether they will accept a handgun that is on the Handgun Roster but not something they normally stock, and their current turnaround before providing their information to your online seller.

When evaluating a dealer, ask about their experience with the specific firearm you are buying. In Maryland this matters more than in most states: some shops handle a lot of NFA items and out-of-state handgun transfers and know the 77R paperwork cold. Others rarely see them and may take longer or charge more.

Find an FFL Dealer Near You →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an HQL to buy a rifle or shotgun in Maryland?

No. The HQL is required only for handguns. Non-regulated long guns can be purchased with a standard NICS check at 18 or older, no HQL, no 77R, no 7-day wait.

What if I move to Maryland with handguns I already own?

New residents must register handguns and regulated firearms brought into the state with MSP within 90 days of establishing residency. The HQL is not required to register firearms you already lawfully owned before moving, but it IS required to buy any additional handgun after you move.

Can an online seller ship a handgun directly to me in Maryland?

No. Federal law requires all handgun transfers between residents of different states to go through a licensed FFL dealer in the buyer’s state of residence. Handguns cannot ship directly to individuals anywhere in the US.

How long does a Maryland handgun transfer take?

At least 7 days from the moment the FFL submits your 77R application to MSP. In practice, plan on 8 to 10 days from firearm arrival to pickup. Long-gun transfers usually clear the same day the firearm arrives.

Are suppressors legal in Maryland?

Yes. Suppressors are legal to own in Maryland with proper NFA paperwork. You file ATF Form 4, submit fingerprints and a photo, and wait for approval. As of January 1, 2026 the federal tax stamp on suppressors is $0. Maryland has no state-level add-on for suppressors. The suppressor ships to your Maryland FFL and you complete the transfer there after ATF approval.

Is Maryland a constitutional carry state?

No. Maryland requires a Wear and Carry Permit issued by the Maryland State Police. After Bruen in 2022, Maryland became shall-issue for applicants who meet the training and background requirements, but permitless (constitutional) carry is not permitted.

The bottom line: Maryland FFL transfers are workable but you have to plan ahead. Get your HQL early, confirm the handgun is on the current Roster, choose an FFL that handles 77R paperwork routinely, and budget at least a week between when the firearm arrives and when you pick it up.