Sec. 57-5. Discharge of guns outside the urban area.
Montgomery County, Md., Code § 57-5 (2026)
Sec. 57-5. Discharge of guns outside the urban area.LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Prohibition. Except as provided in subsection (c)(1) through (c)(6), outside the urban area, a person, other than a peace officer or employee of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources performing official duties, must not:
(1)
discharge a gun:
(A)
onto, across, or within 50 yards of a public road;
(B)
onto or across property located within 50 yards of a public road;
(C)
into or within the safety zone (150 yards of a building or camp designed for human occupancy) without the owner or occupant's written consent; or
(C)
from, onto, or across public or private property without the owner or occupant's written consent;
(2)
discharge a full metal jacketed bullet of any caliber from a gun; or
(3)
except as provided in subsection (b), discharge any fixed ammunition of a caliber higher than .25 caliber from a rifle or pistol.
(b)
Exception - High Caliber Ammunition. A person may discharge fixed ammunition of a caliber higher than .25 from a rifle or pistol at:
(A)
legal game or varmints on the ground; or
(B)
a target on or near the ground that will not deflect a bullet.
(c)
Other Exceptions. Except as provided in Sections 57-7 and 57-11, a person may discharge a gun:
(1)
on any indoor or outdoor target, trap, skeet, or shooting range that the Firearm Safety Committee has inspected and approved in writing;
(2)
in a private basement or cellar target range;
(3)
when necessary to protect life or property;
(4)
to kill a dangerous animal;
(5)
for discharge of blank cartridges in musical and theatrical performances, parades, or sporting events;
(6)
for salutes by firing squads at military funerals; or
(7)
under a deer damage control permit issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.