Maine Concealed Carry Permit Information

Click here to view the Maine Concealed Carry Permit Map at the bottom of the page.

If you would like to contribute to this page, please post the information in the State Forums.

Concealed Permit:
Shall Issue to Residents and Non-Residents

Example Permit:

Issuing Authority:
The issuing authority for a permit to carry a concealed weapon is the mayor and municipal officers or councilors of a city, the municipal officers or councilors of a town, or the assessors of a plantation or, if they so choose, their full-time chief of police; or the chief of the state police in case of a resident of unorganized territory or a nonresident.

Out Of State Permit Issue:
Maine does issue permits to non-residents.

NICS/Background Check:

Permit Valid For:
The permit to carry concealed shall be valid for 4 years from the date of issue and valid throughout the state, unless revoked sooner.

Permit Issued Timeline:
A permit shall be issued within 30 days for a resident of 5 or more years, otherwise it shall be issued within 60 days.

Cost:
Resident of a municipality or unorganized territory, $35 for an original application and $20 for a renewal, except that a person who paid $60 for a concealed firearms permit or renewal during 1991 or 1992 is entitled to a credit toward renewal fees in an amount equal to $30 for a person who paid $60 for an original application and $45 for a person who paid $60 for a permit renewal. The credit is valid until fully utilized.

Nonresident, $60 for an original or renewal application, except that a person who paid $80 for a concealed firearms permit during 1991 or 1992 is entitled to a $20 credit toward permit renewal fees. The credit is valid until fully utilized.

Featured Maine Concealed Weapon Permit Instructors:


Requirements:
1. 18 years of age or older
2. Not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state law
3. Be of good moral character. In judging good moral character the issuing authority shall make its determination based upon evidence recorded by governmental entities within the last 5 years.

Required Documents:
1. Application form – Applicant must provide name; personal information; physical description; address(es) for the last five years; and history of any issuances, refusals or revocation of any carry licenses. The applicant must also answer over 30 questions related to:
a. Both adult and juvenile criminal history, including for pending charges, convictions, not guilty verdicts by mental disease or defect for a wide variety of crimes including: drugs, weapons, crimes punishable by more than 1 year imprisonment; and threatened bodily injury.
b. Restraining orders; fugitive from justice status; drug abuse, drug addiction or drug dependency; dishonorable discharges from military; illegal alien status; and other good moral character issues.
c. Mental disorders that cause a danger to self or others; or adjudicated as mentally incapacitated without designation removed.
2. May be required to provide a photograph
3. May be required to give fingerprints
4. May be required to allow access to mental health records

Renewal Information:
A person may apply for renewal of a permit at the permit renewal rate at any time within 6 months after expiration of a permit. A person who applies for a permit more than 6 months after the expiration date of the permit last issued to that person must submit an original application and pay the original application fee.

Change of Name or Address:

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Permits:

Informing Law Enforcement of Carry:
Every permit holder shall have his permit in his immediate possession at all times when carrying a concealed firearm and shall display the same on demand of any law enforcement officer. No person charged with violating this subsection may be adjudicated as having committed a civil violation if he produces in court the concealed firearms permit which was valid at the time of the issuance of a summons to court or, if he exhibits the permit to a law enforcement officer designated by the summonsing officer not later than 24 hours before the time set for the court appearance, no complaint may be issued.

Automobile carry:
With a permit, you may carry concealed inside your automibile. Without a permit, firearms must be unloaded and may b e carried in plain view while in the passenger compartment.

Places off-limits when carrying:
1. On the premises of a licensed establishment posted to prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of patrons, in violation of the posted prohibition or restriction
2. On public school property including property of a community college that adopts a policy imposing such a prohibition.
3. It is a Class D crime for any person, including, but not limited to, security guards and persons involved in a labor dispute or strike, to be armed with a dangerous weapon, as defined in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 9, at the site of a labor dispute or strike. A person holding a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm is not exempt from this subsection. A security guard is exempt from this subsection to the extent that federal laws, rules or regulations require the security guard to be armed with a dangerous weapon at the site of a labor dispute or strike.
4. All persons are prohibited from entering any court facility, including any courtroom, or any other area or building within the control or supervision of the Maine Judicial Branch, if armed with a firearm, other dangerous weapon or while in possession of a disabling chemical.
5. Any place where federal law prohibits the carrying of firearms.

Alcohol and Drugs:
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a firearm if while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or a combination of liquor and drugs or with an excessive blood-alcohol level, the person possesses a firearm in a licensed establishment.

Deadly Force / Castle Doctrine:
Maine is a Castle Doctrine state and has a stand-your-ground law.

Open Carry:
Unrestricted under state law in most public areas.

Localities with Varying Laws:
State law prevents cities and other localities from enacting laws concerning the regulation of firearms, components, ammunition and supplies, which are not in conformity with state law. A municipality or any political subdivision of the state may not any ordinance, law or rule regulating hunting, fishing and trapping.

Forms & Links:
Maine Revised Statutes: Permits to Carry Concealed Firearms
NRA-ILA: Maine Gun Laws

Maine Concealed Firearms Booklet is available for download (PDF)
In-State Concealed Firearms Permit Application (PDF)
Non-Resident Concealed Firearms Permit Application(PDF)

This text is replaced by the Flash movie.

  • Outffer

    the “be of good moral character” bit was removed between 2003 and 2005

    • Sts2haley

      actually it stated that you had to be of good moral charcter in the paprework i filled out 2 months ago

    • Jdseams

      This is something I’m going over now. Filed for permit on Nov. 8th. Now the 29th and no permit yet. I tried calling and at first got pissed when the big tough Detective Pelletier said I had quite a criminal history. One class D misdemeanor and one class E misdemeanor in the last 5 years.
      I called back and told him Maine is a “shall-issue” state. And I meet the criteria. If you’re going to continue to try and intimidate me rather than simply say “I’m backed up here” then maybe I should get a lawyer.

  • Xmanhockey7

    “Out Of State Permit Issue:
    Maine does issue permits to non-residents.”

    Typo?????

  • h20skier

    if I had a permit that expired 5 or 6 years ago, do I need to retake a course?

    • Anonymous

      Since your permit expired over 6 months ago then it is treated as a new application. As long as your training certificate is dated within the past 5 years you won’t have to retake a course. If it was over 5 years then you will need to retake a safety course unless the place you are applying at will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge.

      From http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/25/title25sec2003.html

      “The applicant may fully satisfy this requirement by submitting to the issuing authority, through documentation in accordance with this subparagraph, proof that the applicant has within 5 years prior to the date of application completed a course that included handgun safety offered by or under the supervision of a federal, state, county or municipal law enforcement agency or a firearms instructor certified by a private firearms association recognized as knowledgeable in matters of firearms safety by the issuing authority or by the state in which the course was taken. A course completion certificate or other document, or a photocopy, is sufficient if it recites or otherwise demonstrates that the course meets all of the requirements of this subparagraph.

      As an alternative way of fully satisfying this requirement, an applicant may personally demonstrate knowledge of handgun safety to an issuing authority, if the issuing authority is willing to evaluate an applicant’s personal demonstration of such knowledge. The issuing authority is not required to offer this 2nd option.”

  • Jeffbell@gwi.net

    would like to gun permit  5to 6 years i do police work

  • Jeffbell@gwi.net

    itrairn two times a week atthe range.

  • fullyqualified

    Where is my permit? I submitted it Aug. 12, now it is Oct. 13. is there anything I can do? My permit was sent by my local Police Chief, and I have seen no response. I am an American damnit

  • Myfriend

    I have a friend who took the course and has the necessary certificate to apply for the concealed weapon permit. The question is on the paperwork it asks about juvenile offenses. This person was jumped by 2 people (around age 14/more than 10 yrs ago) and ended up stabbing one. They took off and he called the police to report it and turn the knife in. Went to court and pretty much got a slap on the wrist. Does this qualify for a “yes” answer for question “O?” He doesn’t really know the details when it comes to his time with the Juvenal court system because there wasn’t anything major, the stabbing was the biggest thing.

  • Me .ccw carrier

    I live in Me.and hold a ccw carry where ever I can.I live on the border of NH my ccw is no good there.I took the ccw course from a navy seal learned a lot plus he was not into joking around.Guns are not toys an not to be used as one.I have been around guns all my life 55 years and my dad was very strick with guns.The ccw course is very important for any one. I can spot a person that should not have a gun at all. Thats why the ccw course is important.My instructor can spot one a mile away.this is why the course is here.The state of ME ccw perment is good in around 20 states why not in all states.When I go to NH I have to unload an leave in the open so some bad guy can steal it and put it in there pants or shoot me.I could pay $100.00 for one but times are tough.If 20 some states make it legal mayby more could.If more people carry there would be less crime.Would you try to rob someone or something if you thought someone has a gun.IT happened to a friend of mine once a guy junped into his car was going to hijack it.But before the guy rearend hit the seat my friend had his 357 mag pointed at him.My friend said he never saw anyone move so fast in his life he said his rearend never touched the seat and than ran across a four lane highway and was gone.My friend was a DI on the rifle range that helped.I could go on all day why ccw perments should be good in other states like one next door

  • Cards1892

    In a strange twist….I live in Missouri, but own property in Maine where I spend much of the summer.  I hold a CCW in Missouri.  Missouri honors the Maine permit, but Maine does NOT honor my Missouri permit.  Yes, I know I can apply for an out of state permit in Maine and I’m sure I’d qualify.  However, it seems to me that if one state reciprocates, shouldn’t the other one? I had to take the same safety course that I’m sure Maine requires and so on. Also, it’s my opinion that we should be able to carry anywhere in the country if we have a permit in any state.  I’ll explain my logic.  Nowhere in the Constitution does it say I have the right to drive a car, specifically.  It says it indirectly using other language about our individual rights, but that’s for another show.  It does, however, talk about the right to keap and BEAR (carry) arms.  If my Missouri driver’s license is good in all 50 states (and even foreign countries) why shouldn’t my CCW behonored in all states.  Cars kill far more people than guns and in Missouri there’s an interesting statistic.  There has NEVER, since Missouri has been issuing a CCW, been a gun used in the commission of a crime by a Missouri CCW holder.