Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities — Subtitle 2. Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Related Crimes
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 10-201 (2026)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 2. Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Related Crimes
§ 10–201LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
(i)
“Public conveyance” means a conveyance to which the public or a portion of the public has access to and a right to use for transportation.
(ii)
“Public conveyance” includes an airplane, vessel, bus, railway car, school vehicle, and subway car.
(3)
(i)
“Public place” means a place to which the public or a portion of the public has access and a right to resort for business, dwelling, entertainment, or other lawful purpose.
(ii)
“Public place” includes:
(1)
a restaurant, shop, shopping center, store, tavern, or other place of business;
(2)
a public building;
(3)
a public parking lot;
(4)
a public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way;
(5)
a public park or other public grounds;
(6)
the common areas of a building containing four or more separate dwelling units, including a corridor, elevator, lobby, and stairwell;
(7)
a hotel or motel;
(8)
a place used for public resort or amusement, including an amusement park, golf course, race track, sports arena, swimming pool, and theater;
(9)
an institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education;
(10)
a place of public worship;
(11)
a place or building used for entering or exiting a public conveyance, including an airport terminal, bus station, dock, railway station, subway station, and wharf; and
(12)
the parking areas, sidewalks, and other grounds and structures that are part of a public place.
(b)
For purposes of a prosecution under this section, a public conveyance or a public place need not be devoted solely to public use.
(c)
(1)
A person may not willfully and without lawful purpose obstruct or hinder the free passage of another in a public place or on a public conveyance.
(2)
A person may not willfully act in a disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace.
(3)
A person may not willfully fail to obey a reasonable and lawful order that a law enforcement officer makes to prevent a disturbance to the public peace.
(4)
A person who enters the land or premises of another, whether an owner or lessee, or a beach adjacent to residential riparian property, may not willfully:
(i)
disturb the peace of persons on the land, premises, or beach by making an unreasonably loud noise; or
(ii)
act in a disorderly manner.
(5)
A person from any location may not, by making an unreasonably loud noise, willfully disturb the peace of another:
(i)
on the other’s land or premises;
(ii)
in a public place; or
(iii)
on a public conveyance.
(6)
In Worcester County, a person may not build a bonfire or allow a bonfire to burn on a beach or other property between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
(d)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 60 days or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 10-202 (2026)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 2. Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Related Crimes
§ 10–202LinkCopy Citation
A person who keeps a disorderly house is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not less than 10 days and not exceeding 6 months or a fine not less than $50 and not exceeding $300 or both.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 10-203 (2026)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 2. Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Related Crimes
§ 10–203LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
“Commercial athletic contest” means an athletic or sporting event held in a public arena, field, hall, or stadium for admission to which the general public must pay an admission charge.
(3)
“Object” means an item that may cause injury to a participant in or observer of the commercial athletic contest.
(b)
A person may not disrupt or interfere with a commercial athletic contest by throwing or projecting an object on the playing field or seating area.
(c)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or a fine not exceeding $250 or both.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 10-204 (2026)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 2. Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Related Crimes
§ 10–204LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
(i)
“Medical facility” means:
(1)
a facility as defined in § 10–101 of the Health – General Article; or
(2)
a health care facility as defined in § 19–114 of the Health – General Article.
(ii)
“Medical facility” includes an agency, clinic, or office operated under the direction of the local health officer or under the regulatory authority of the Maryland Department of Health.
(b)
(1)
This section does not apply to:
(i)
the chief executive officer of the medical facility;
(ii)
a designee of the chief executive officer of the medical facility;
(iii)
an agent of the medical facility; or
(iv)
a law enforcement officer.
(2)
This section does not prohibit:
(i)
speech; or
(ii)
picketing in connection with a labor dispute as defined in § 4–301 of the Labor and Employment Article.
(c)
A person may not intentionally act, alone or with others, to prevent another from entering or exiting a medical facility by physically:
(1)
detaining the other; or
(2)
obstructing, impeding, or hindering the other’s passage.
(d)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 10-204.1 (2026)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 2. Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Related Crimes
§ 10–204.1LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person may not use force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to interfere with or physically injure another while the other is lawfully exercising or attempting to lawfully exercise the right of religious freedom under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution at a place of religious worship.
(b)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 10-205 (2026)
Title 10. Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities
Subtitle 2. Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct, and Related Crimes
§ 10–205LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
This subsection does not apply to a person who conducts a funeral, burial, memorial service, or funeral procession.
(2)
A person may not knowingly obstruct, hinder, impede, or block another person’s entry to or exit from a funeral, burial, memorial service, or funeral procession.
(b)
A person may not address speech to a person attending a funeral, burial, memorial service, or funeral procession that is likely to incite or produce an imminent breach of the peace.
(c)
A person may not engage in picketing activity within 500 feet of a funeral, burial, memorial service, or funeral procession that is targeted at one or more persons attending the funeral, burial, memorial service, or funeral procession.
(d)
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.