The Licensing Division is responsible for administering the law and conducting investigations concerning the Commissioning of Special Police and Railroad Police Officers, the licensing of Private Detectives, Private Detective Agencies, Security Guards and Security Guard Agencies, the licensing of Security Systems Technicians and Security Systems Agencies, the registration of Maryland Law Enforcement canine dogs, the registering of evesdropping, wiretapping and electronic listening devices, issuance of Outdoor Musical Festival Safety Permits and Vessel Gaming Permits, issuance of State of Maryland Handgun Permits and Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act certifications, and the designation of State of Maryland Qualified Handgun Instructors. In addition, the Licensing Division administers the law and conducts investigations concerning the sale, transfer of regulated firearms and machine guns, the licensing and regulation of Maryland Regulated Firearms Dealers, and the certification of regulated firearm collectors.

Questions may be e-mailed to the Licensing Division at Licensing@mdsp.org

The Maryland Department of State Police, in certain circumstances, is required by statute to require fees for the processing of applications. In addition, fees are required for state and federal processing of fingerprint submissions. More information pertaining to the fees for specific applications, permits and licenses is available below. The Maryland State Police will not accept cash. Please make checks and money orders out to the Maryland State Police. ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

For the fee schedule please Click Here

Applications for State of Maryland Handgun Permits, Securiity Guards and Security Guard Agencies, Private Detectives and Private Detective Agencies, Security Systems Technicians and Security Systems Agencies, Special Police and Railroad Police Commissions, Regulated Firearms Dealers and Machine Gun purchase and possession must be accompanied by the applicant's fingerprints.

Fingerprint card submissions must accompany the application when submitted to the Maryland State Police Licensing
Division. The proper fee for the processing of the fingerprint card(s) must also be included in the check or money order submitted to capture the application processing. Applicants should submit one check or money order financing all elements of the application process if submitted with fingerprint card(s). An exception exists when dual applications are submitted. In this case, separate checks or money orders are required.

Applications submitted by applicants who participate in the Live Scan electronic fingerprint process MUST have the receipt provided by the approved fingerprint processing center attached to the upper front left corner of the application when forwarded to the Maryland State Police Licensing Division. Applications that are received without the receipt may not be processed in a timely manner and may be returned to the applicant unprocessed. Authorization codes for the various requests are available at the approved fingerprint processing sites.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR LIVE SCAN ELECTRONIC FINGERPRINT PARTICIPANTS: IF YOUR APPLICATION IS NOT FORWARDED WITH THE LIVE SCAN RECEIPT AND RECEIVED BY THE LICENSING DIVISION WITHOUT DELAY AFTER HAVING YOUR FINGERPRINTS SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY, THE APPLICATION MAY BE DELAYED OR RETURNED AS LIVE SCAN RESULTS ARE RETURNED QUICKLY AND DUE TO THE VOLUME OF REQUESTS AND LAWS CONCERNING THE UNSUPPORTED RETENTION OF CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION, THE LICENSING DIVISION MAY NOT STORE YOUR FINGERPRINT RESULTS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. DO NOT DELAY!

FEES PAID TO THE LICENSING DIVISION ARE NON REFUNDABLE. FEES PAID TO THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC FINGERPRINT

PROCESSING CENTER DO NOT INCLUDE THOSE FEES OWED TO THE LICENSING DIVISION FOR THE PROCESSING OF THE ACTUAL APPLICATION. PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE CALCULATED YOUR FEES CORRECTLY.

For more information pertaining to fingerprinting Click Here

For information pertaining to electronic fingerprint submission and electronic fingerprint sites available to applicants Click Here

The complete Maryland Code can be accessed by clicking here. This valuable resource allows interested parties to view the applicable laws pertaining to licenses, certifications and commissions sought. All applicants should familiarize themselves with the statutes associated with the product sought.