State suppressor law

Maryland Suppressor and SBR Laws in 2026: What the State Police Advisory Says

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Oct 23, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

On October 15, 2026, six days after ATF's decision, the Maryland State Police Licensing Division issued Advisory LD-FRU-26-001, which says ATF's open letter "does not change Maryland's requirements for NFA firearms." The advisory is about short-barreled rifles and shotguns, not suppressors, and that distinction is the whole story here. Below is what the advisory and the statutes say, and what we couldn't find.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes a Maryland State Police advisory, Maryland Public Safety Article provisions and federal guidance as of the date above. We haven't read all of Maryland's firearm law. Talk to a licensed Maryland dealer or attorney before you buy, build or transfer anything.

The short answer

Short-barreled rifles and shotguns: Maryland still requires federal registration. Public Safety § 5-203(a)(2) bars possession unless the SBR or SBS "has been registered with the federal government in accordance with federal law." MSP says you must get an approved ATF Form 1 or Form 4 before the Form 4473 and Maryland 77R are completed.
The penalty: a misdemeanor, with up to 5 years in prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both (§ 5-203(c)). The defendant "has the burden of proving the lawful registration" (§ 5-203(b)).
Suppressors: the MSP advisory doesn't mention them. We read Public Safety §§ 5-101 and 5-203 and found no suppressor-specific provision in either. We did not review all of Maryland's Criminal Law and Public Safety articles, so don't read this as a statement that no Maryland suppressor rule exists.
Hunting: we haven't verified Maryland DNR's position on suppressors, so we're not making a claim. Ask DNR.

What MSP Advisory LD-FRU-26-001 says

The Maryland Department of State Police, Licensing Division, published the advisory on October 15, 2026. Its key statements:

"The ATF's open letter does not change Maryland's requirements for NFA firearms."
Section 5-203 provides that a person may not possess an SBR or SBS unless it "has been registered with the federal government in accordance with federal law," and "the defendant bears the burden of proving lawful registration."
Persons seeking to make, acquire or transfer an SBR or SBS "must continue to comply with all applicable federal and Maryland requirements." The ATF Form 1 or Form 4 "must be submitted to and approved by the ATF before completing the applicable federal Form 4473 and Maryland 77R processes."
"The ATF's updated guidance does not eliminate or supersede Maryland's requirements."

The advisory also notes that, as ATF's open letter states, the federal injunction and enforcement policy "do not affect state or local laws governing NFA firearms."

Why a rifle under 16 inches is treated as a handgun in Maryland

Public Safety § 5-101(n)(1) defines "handgun" as "a firearm with a barrel less than 16 inches in length." Section 5-101(r) defines "regulated firearm" as a handgun or a firearm that is one of a long list of named assault weapons or their copies. By that definition a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches meets the "handgun" definition, which fits the advisory's reference to the Maryland 77R process for SBR transfers. Ask a licensed Maryland dealer how they process an SBR sale.

Suppressors don't fit in either part of the "regulated firearm" definition we read. That makes them different from SBRs on this point, but we can't tell you what other Maryland rules apply to buying one.

What this means for buyers

Want an SBR or SBS in Maryland? You still need approved federal paperwork first. Section 5-203(a)(2) requires federal registration, and the burden of proving it is yours. See our SBR rules and state-by-state table.
Want a suppressor? Our national guide puts Maryland in the group with no state registration tie identified, based on the statutes we reviewed. Ask your Maryland dealer how they're processing suppressor sales and keep a voluntary Form 4 in mind, since ATF says its policy can be reversed.
Maryland has 66,788 registered suppressors, according to ATF registry data obtained by the American Suppressor Association.

What we still don't know

Whether Maryland regulates suppressor possession or sale somewhere other than the sections we read.
Whether Maryland DNR allows hunting with a suppressor.

When we confirm any of these from a primary source, we'll update this page and the date at the top.

Frequently asked questions

Does Maryland still require ATF approval for short-barreled rifles?

Yes. Maryland State Police Advisory LD-FRU-26-001 (October 15, 2026) says ATF's October 9 open letter "does not change Maryland's requirements for NFA firearms." Public Safety § 5-203 bars possessing an SBR or SBS unless it has been registered with the federal government.

What is the penalty for an unregistered SBR in Maryland?

Under Public Safety § 5-203(c) it's a misdemeanor punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both. The defendant has the burden of proving lawful registration.

Did the Maryland State Police say anything about suppressors?

Not in Advisory LD-FRU-26-001, which addresses short-barreled rifles and shotguns. We found no suppressor-specific provision in Public Safety §§ 5-101 or 5-203.

Is a rifle under 16 inches a handgun in Maryland?

Public Safety § 5-101(n)(1) defines "handgun" as "a firearm with a barrel less than 16 inches in length." Ask a Maryland dealer how SBR transfers are processed.

Sources

Supplementary sources

News reports, advocacy groups, dealer practice and unofficial copies. They add context or report statements; the primary sources above control.

American Suppressor Association via NASGW: The Suppressor Map, state counts from ATF FOIA request 2026-01285 (May 2026) (industry group)