Part 3 – Other Weapons
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-21 (2026)
§ 59-21 Metal knuckles, etc.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Sale prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell any metal knuckles, sling shot, slung shot, sand club, or black jack in the City of Baltimore.
(b)Exceptions.
Except that black jacks may be sold to:
(1)
duly qualified police officers; or
(2)
any person having a permit from the Police Commissioner to permit him to make such purchase or purchases.
(c)Penalties.
Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $500 or be imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, in the discretion of the court.
History: Ord. 51-1528
History: Ord. 51-066
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-22 (2026)
§ 59-22 Switchblade knives – Possession or sale, etc.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Prohibited possession or sale, etc.
No person may sell, carry, or possess any knife with an automatic spring or other device for opening or closing the blade, commonly known as a switchblade knife.
(b)Penalties.
Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 12 months or to both fine and imprisonment for each offense.
History: Ord. 44-057
History: Ord. 16-466
History: Ord. 22-125
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-23 (2026)
§ 59-23 Dangerous knives – Transfer, etc.; Commercial displays.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Definitions.
(1)In general.
In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(2)Dangerous knife.
“Dangerous knife” means any:
(i)
Bowie knife;
(ii)
dirk knife;
(iii)
gravity knife;
(iv)
shooting knife, as described in <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-105">State Criminal Law Article § 4-105</cite>;
(v)
star knife, as defined in <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-101">State Criminal Law Article § 4-101</cite>;
(vi)
straight razor;
(vii)
switchblade knife, as described in <cite data-path="|19|§59-22">§ 59-22 of this subtitle</cite> or in <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gcr|4-105">State Criminal Law Article § 4-105</cite>; or
(viii)
any knife with a blade that is longer than 3 inches.
(b)Prohibited transfer, etc., to individuals under 21.
No person may sell, give, or otherwise transfer a dangerous knife to, or permit the use or possession of a dangerous knife by, any individual that the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under the age of 21.
(c)Commercial display.
(1)Placement in windows or glass display cases prohibited.
(i)
Except as provided in part (ii) of this paragraph, no person may place a dangerous knife in an exterior window or glass display case of a commercial establishment that offers knives for sale.
(ii)
The display of a dangerous knife in a glass display case is permitted in a commercial establishment that sells primarily sporting goods.
(2)Placement in establishments open to individuals under 21.
In any commercial establishment open to individuals under the age of 21, a dangerous knife available for sale must be placed behind a sales counter and be inaccessible to individuals under the age of 21.
(d)Penalties.
Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 12 months or to both fine and imprisonment for each offense.
History: Ord. 16-466
History: Ord. 18-144
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-24 (2026)
§ 59-24 Mini- and pistol-crossbows.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Definitions.
(1)In general.
As used in this section, the following words have the meanings indicated unless their context clearly indicates otherwise.
(2)Mini-crossbow; pistol-crossbow.
“Mini-crossbow” or “pistol-crossbow” means a weapon:
(i)
consisting of a bow fixed across a stock or pistol-shaped device having a groove or barrel for the arrow or similar missile and a mechanism for holding and releasing the string;
(ii)
used for shooting arrows or similar missiles; and
(iii)
having an overall length of less than 18 inches.
(b)Possession or sale, etc., prohibited.
A person shall not wear, carry, possess, sell, purchase, transfer, give, or trade a mini-crossbow or pistol-crossbow in the City of Baltimore.
(c)Exceptions.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1)
a sworn police officer;
(2)
a museum or similar institution for historical display purposes; or
(3)
a demonstration by an organization at a public event approved by the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City.
(d)Penalties.
Any person who violates a provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days or both fine and imprisonment.
History: Ord. 94-320
History: Ord. 22-125
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-25 (2026)
§ 59-25LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-26 (2026)
§ 59-26 Gas- or air-pellet guns.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Definitions.
(1)In general.
In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(2)“Gas- or air-pellet gun”.
“Gas- or air-pellet gun” means any gun or other device, by whatever name or description known, that is designed to discharge or can readily be converted to discharge a pellet or other object by the expansion of gas or air.
(3)Paintball gun.
“Paintball” means any gun or other device, including a gas- or air- pellet gun, that is used or designed or intended to be used to discharge a paintball or other object designed or intended to mark a target with pigmentation.
(b)Giving, etc., to minor prohibited.
No person may sell, give away, or otherwise transfer a gas- or air-pellet gun or paintball gun to, or permit the use or possession of a gas- or air-pellet gun or paintball gun by, any individual whom that person knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a minor.
(c)Possess, discharge, or use.
No person may possess, discharge or use any gas- or air- pellet gun or paintball gun in Baltimore City except:
(1)
if the gun is kept within his or her domicile or is used by him or her exclusively for the purpose of teaching the use and care of firearms at a properly constructed indoor or outdoor range;
(2)
on a properly constructed target range or recreational paintball facility;
(3)
on private grounds or residence under circumstances in which the gun is operated so as to not endanger person or property and in a manner that prevents the projectile from traversing any grounds or space outside of the private grounds or residence; or
(4)
if the gun is being transported in a motor vehicle for any lawful purpose and is not being carried on a person.
(d)Penalties.
Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 12 months or to both fine and imprisonment for each offense.
History: Ord. 56-233
History: Ord. 63-1655
History: Ord. 85-385
History: Ord. 07-383
History: Ord. 12-064
History: Ord. 14-307
History: Ord. 22-125
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-27 (2026)
§ 59-27 Dart or blow guns.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Possession or sale, etc., prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to sell, offer for sale by any means whatsoever, give away, lend, rent, or otherwise transfer or attempt to transfer, or to own, possess, use, handle, or permit the use of, any dart gun, blow gun, or other device by whatever name or description known, which is discharged or operated by introducing air or any type of gas into any part of a hollow tube or shaft and thereby causing to be ejected therefrom any dart, needle, arrow, pin, pellet, or any other object which is capable of inflicting any injury, damage, or harm to or upon any person, animal, or bird.
(b)Exception.
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent the use of any such device for the treatment, capture, or destruction of animals when any such use takes place under the supervision of a veterinarian, policeman, or any other person who is regularly engaged or employed in the handling, training, treatment, or maintenance of animals.
(c)Penalties.
Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor, subject upon conviction to a fine of not more than $500 or to imprisonment for not longer than 60 days or to both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the Court.
History: Ord. 56-233
History: Ord. 63-1655
History: Ord. 85-385
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-28 (2026)
§ 59-28 Electronic control devices.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Definitions.
(1)In general.
In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“<em>Electronic control device</em>”.
“Electronic control device” means a portable device designed as a weapon capable of injuring, immobilizing, or inflicting pain on an individual by the discharge of electrical current.
(3)
“<em>Adjudicated as a mental defective</em>”.
“Adjudicated as a mental defective” means a determination by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority, that, as a result of marked subnormal intelligence, mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease, a person:
(i)
is a danger to themselves or to others; or
(ii)
lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his or her own affairs.
(4)
“Mental disorder”.
(i)
“Mental disorder” means a behavioral or emotional illness that results from a psychiatric disorder.
(ii)
“Mental disorder” includes a mental illness that so substantially impairs the mental or emotional functioning of an individual as to make care or treatment necessary or advisable for the welfare of the individual or for the safety of the person or property of another.
(5)
“Protective order”.
“Protective order” means a temporary or final protective order entered under the authority of Maryland Code, Family Law Article, §§ <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gfl|4-505">4-505</cite> and <cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gfl|4-506">4-506</cite>.
(b)Possession or sale, etc., prohibited.
In addition to all State law prohibitions and penalties on the sales of electronic control devices, including no sales to minors, no sales to those convicted of certain crimes, and no sales without background checks, it is unlawful in the City:
(1)
for any person to possess an electronic control device in a:
(i)
public school;
(ii)
State public building; or
(iii)
City public building;
(2)
for any person to sell or ship an electronic control device to any other person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the other person has been:
(i)
adjudicated as a mental defective; or
(ii)
committed to any mental institution;
(3)
for any person to possess an electronic control device if the person suffers from a mental disorder and has a history of violent behavior against themselves or another; and
(4)
for any person subject to a protective order to possess an electronic control device for the duration of the protective order.
(c)Exceptions.
Nothing in this section shall be held to apply to any member of the Baltimore City Police Department or any other law enforcement officer while in the performance of his or her official duty.
(d)Penalties.
Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor, subject upon conviction to a fine of not more than $1,00 or to imprisonment for not longer than 12 months or to both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the Court.
History: Ord. 56-233
History: Ord. 85-385
History: Ord. 17-020
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-29 (2026)
§ 59-29LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-30 (2026)
§ 59-30 Stench bombs.LinkCopy Citation
(a)“Stench bomb” defined.
A stench bomb is herein defined as any liquid, gaseous, or solid substance or matter of any kind which is intended to be thrown, dropped, poured, deposited, or discharged for the purpose of producing a noxious, nauseating, sickening, irritating, or offensive odor.
(b)Possession, sale, use, etc., prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to:
(1)
sell, barter, or trade a stench bomb;
(2)
manufacture, make, or prepare a stench bomb;
(3)
throw, drop, pour, deposit, or discharge a stench bomb; or
(4)
aid or abet another in throwing, dropping, pouring, depositing, or discharging a stench bomb.
(c)Exceptions.
Nothing in the above provisions shall apply to:
(1)
regularly appointed police officers acting in line of duty; nor
(2)
proprietors of business places who may keep or use certain acid diffusing bombs solely for the purpose of repelling robbers, thieves, or other law violators.
(d)Penalties.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, is subject to a fine of not less than $5 and not more than $500 at the discretion of the court.
History: Ord. 70--903
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-31 (2026)
§ 59-31LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-32 (2026)
§ 59-32 Tear gas devices.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Possession, use, etc., by minors prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to carry, use, or discharge any weapon or device commonly known as a tear gas gun, or any tear gas device.
(b)Penalties.
Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than $100 for each such violation.
History: Ord. 69-330
Balt., Md., Code art. 19, § 59-33 to 59-40 (2026)
§§ 59-33 to 59-40LinkCopy Citation
Reserved