Maryland Disorderly Conduct and Trespass Laws: Penalties (2026)

Maryland punishes disorderly conduct under Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-201, a misdemeanor carrying up to 60 days in jail or a fine of up to $500, or both. The statute covers willfully acting in a disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace, obstructing others in a public place, disobeying a reasonable and lawful police order to prevent a disturbance, and unreasonably loud noise.

Criminal trespass is a set of misdemeanors in Criminal Law Title 6, Subtitle 4, led by trespass on posted property (6-402) and wanton entry or remaining after notice from the owner (6-403). Both start at up to 90 days or $500 and rise to up to 1 year or $2,500 for repeat violations within 2 years. No offense in that subtitle is a felony. For other states, see our guide to disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-18. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Maryland's state criminal statutes on disorderly conduct (Criminal Law 10-201), the related public-order offenses in Criminal Law Title 10, Subtitle 2, the false report, false alarm and threat offenses in Criminal Law 3-1001 and Title 9, Public Safety 14-114 and Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 6-320, and criminal trespass in Criminal Law Title 6, Subtitle 4, Criminal Law 6-503, Education 26-101 and 26-102 and Natural Resources 10-411. It does not cover local noise ordinances and quiet hours (see Maryland noise laws), the process for removing unauthorized occupants (see Maryland squatters' rights), use of force against an intruder (see Maryland self-defense laws), local ordinances, civil trespass lawsuits or federal property rules.

What is disorderly conduct in Maryland?

Maryland's disorderly conduct statute, Criminal Law 10-201, is a list of things a person "may not" do, almost all of them "willfully." Subsection (c) sets out six prohibitions:

1. Obstructing passage. 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. Disorderly conduct that disturbs the peace. A person may not "willfully act in a disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace."
3. Disobeying a police order. 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. On someone else's land. A person who enters the land or premises of another, or a beach adjacent to residential riparian property, may not willfully disturb the peace of people there by making an unreasonably loud noise, or act in a disorderly manner.
5. Loud noise from any location. A person "from any location may not, by making an unreasonably loud noise, willfully disturb the peace of another" on the other's land or premises, in a public place or on a public conveyance.
6. Worcester County bonfires. In Worcester County, a person may not build a bonfire or allow one to burn on a beach or other property between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Clauses (4) and (5) are the noise provisions of 10-201; quiet hours and decibel limits are covered on our Maryland noise laws page.

What counts as a public place

Section 10-201(a)(3) defines a "public place" as "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." Its list includes restaurants, shops and other places of business, public buildings and parking lots, streets and sidewalks, parks, hotels and motels, amusement venues, schools and colleges, places of public worship, transit stations, and "the common areas of a building containing four or more separate dwelling units, including a corridor, elevator, lobby, and stairwell." A "public conveyance" includes an airplane, vessel, bus, railway car, school vehicle and subway car. Under 10-201(b), the place "need not be devoted solely to public use."

The penalty

Under 10-201(d), a violation of any part of the 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." The section sets one penalty for every form and contains no enhancement for repeat violations and no felony form.

Maryland does not use misdemeanor classes. Each offense statute states its own maximum, which is why every penalty on this page is given section by section. For how Maryland distinguishes felonies and misdemeanors generally, see Maryland felony and misdemeanor penalties.

Swearing, fighting and being drunk in public

Swearing and yelling. Section 10-201 contains no clause aimed at words or abusive language. Its general clause reaches willfully acting "in a disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace," and its noise clauses reach "an unreasonably loud noise" that willfully disturbs the peace of another. Speech is addressed directly only in the funeral statute, 10-205(b), which bars speech addressed to a funeral attendee "that is likely to incite or produce an imminent breach of the peace."

Fighting. Fighting is not named in 10-201. Physical attacks fall under the assault statutes; see Maryland assault laws.

Being drunk in public. Maryland's intoxication offense is disorderly intoxication, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 6-320. An individual may not "(1) be intoxicated and endanger the safety of another individual or property; or (2) be intoxicated or consume an alcoholic beverage in a public place and cause a public disturbance." Each form requires more than intoxication: endangering someone or property, or causing a public disturbance. A violation is a misdemeanor with up to 90 days in jail or a fine of up to $100, or both. Under 6-210, a county or city "may not adopt an ordinance or a resolution identical to or in addition to § 6-320," and existing inconsistent local laws are repealed.

Related public-order offenses in Maryland

Criminal Law Title 10, Subtitle 2 holds Maryland's other public-order crimes. The Criminal Law Article contains no riot, unlawful assembly, failure-to-disperse, affray or loitering statute; the closest Criminal Law provision is 10-201(c)(3), the failure to obey a lawful police order made to prevent a disturbance. Orders issued during a declared emergency are enforced under the Public Safety Article, listed below.

• Disorderly house, 10-202. Keeping a disorderly house is a misdemeanor punishable by "imprisonment not less than 10 days and not exceeding 6 months or a fine not less than $50 and not exceeding $300 or both."
• Throwing objects at a commercial athletic contest, 10-203. Disrupting or interfering with a paid-admission athletic event "by throwing or projecting an object on the playing field or seating area" is a misdemeanor, up to 3 months or $250, or both.
• Obstructing a medical facility, 10-204. Intentionally acting, alone or with others, to prevent another from entering or exiting a medical facility by physically detaining the person or obstructing, impeding or hindering their passage is a misdemeanor, up to 90 days or $1,000, or both. The section "does not prohibit: (i) speech; or (ii) picketing in connection with a labor dispute," and does not apply to the facility's chief executive officer, designees, agents or law enforcement officers.
• Interfering with religious worship, 10-204.1. Using "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" at a place of religious worship is a misdemeanor, up to 90 days or $1,000, or both. The section was added by 2026 chapters 424 and 425 and took effect October 1, 2026.
• Funeral disruption, 10-205. A person may not knowingly obstruct, hinder, impede or block another's entry to or exit from a funeral, burial, memorial service or funeral procession (this does not apply to the person conducting it); may not address speech to an attendee "that is likely to incite or produce an imminent breach of the peace"; and 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." Each is a misdemeanor, up to 90 days or $1,000, or both.
• False reports, Criminal Law 9-501 and 9-503. Making a statement, report or complaint known to be false, in whole or in material part, to a law enforcement officer "with intent to deceive and to cause an investigation or other action to be taken" is a misdemeanor, up to 6 months or $500, or both (9-501). The same penalty applies to a knowingly false report to a State or local official or unit that a crime has been committed or "that a condition imminently dangerous to public safety or health exists," made with intent that it be investigated or acted on (9-503).
• False bomb or toxic-material reports, Criminal Law 9-504. Circulating or transmitting, with intent that it be acted on, a statement or rumor the person knows to be false "about the location or possible detonation of a destructive device or the location or possible release of toxic material" is a felony, up to 10 years or $10,000, or both.
• False fire alarms and rescue calls, Criminal Law 9-604. Knowingly making a false fire alarm, or a false call for an ambulance or rescue squad, is a misdemeanor, up to 5 years or $5,000, or both.
• Threats of mass violence, Criminal Law 3-1001. Knowingly threatening, orally, in writing or electronically, to commit a crime of violence that would place five or more people at substantial risk of death or serious physical injury if carried out is the misdemeanor of making a threat of mass violence, up to 10 years or $10,000, or both.
• Emergency orders, Public Safety 14-107 and 14-114. During a declared state of emergency, the Governor may "control ingress to and egress from an emergency area, the movement of individuals in the area, and the occupancy of premises in the area." Violating an order, rule or regulation issued under that subtitle is a misdemeanor, up to 6 months or $1,000, or both; a willful violation is up to 1 year or $5,000, or both.
• Disturbing a school, Education 26-101. Willfully disturbing or preventing the orderly conduct of the activities, administration or classes of a school or college, or molesting or threatening with bodily harm a student, employee or other person lawfully on or near school grounds, on a school vehicle, at an off-site school activity or on county board property, is a misdemeanor, a fine of up to $2,500, up to 6 months, or both.

Criminal trespass in Maryland

Maryland's trespass offenses are in Criminal Law Title 6, Subtitle 4 (6-401 to 6-412), with a railroad trespass offense in 6-503 and a school-grounds offense in the Education Article. There are no degrees of trespass; each section is a separate misdemeanor with its own penalty. The two core offenses turn on how the owner gave notice: posting (6-402) or telling the person (6-403).

Told to leave or to stay away: 6-403

Section 6-403 applies when the owner or the owner's agent has told a person not to enter or not to stay:

"(a) A person may not enter or cross over private property or board the boat or other marine vessel of another, after having been notified by the owner or the owner's agent not to do so, unless entering or crossing under a good faith claim of right or ownership. (b) A person may not remain on private property including the boat or other marine vessel of another, after having been notified by the owner or the owner's agent not to do so."

Two limits are built in. Section 6-403(d) states that the section "prohibits only wanton entry on private property," and 6-401(d) provides that "wanton" "retains its judicially determined meaning." The section also applies to housing projects operated by a housing authority or State public body when an authorized agent gives the notice (6-403(e)).

Posted property: 6-402

Under 6-402(a), a person "may not enter or trespass on property that is posted conspicuously against trespass by: (1) signs placed where they reasonably may be seen; or (2) paint marks" that conform with Department of Natural Resources regulations and are made on trees or posts "at each road entrance to the property" and "adjacent to public roadways, public waterways, and other land adjoining the property."

Repeat-violation penalties for 6-402 and 6-403

Both core offenses use the same ladder:

• First violation: up to 90 days in jail or a fine of up to $500, or both.
• Second violation within 2 years after the first: up to 6 months or $1,000, or both.
• Each later violation within 2 years after the preceding one: up to 1 year or $2,500, or both.

No Trespassing signs and the paint-mark rule

Maryland allows paint marks as trespass notice, but the color is blue. The Department of Natural Resources regulation, COMAR 08.01.05.01, states that "in order to institute proceedings for trespassing under Criminal Law Article, Title 6, Subtitle 4, the owner or tenant of any private property shall have posted the property against unlawful entry or trespass." It then sets the requirement:

"(1) Signs shall be placed where they may reasonably be seen; or (2) Identifying paint marks on trees or posts shall be placed at each road entrance and adjacent to public roadways, public waterways, and any other lands adjoining the property. For purposes of this regulation, a paint mark shall be: (a) A vertical line at least 2 inches in width, and at least 8 inches in length, (b) Centered at least 3 feet, but not more than 6 feet from the ground, or from the water surface at its mean high tide for tidal water, or its normal level for nontidal water, (c) Readily visible to a person with normal eyesight who approaches the property, and (d) Bright blue oil base paint."

Neither 6-402 nor the regulation sets wording, letter size or spacing for signs beyond placing them "where they may reasonably be seen."

Special trespass offenses

• Vehicles on private property, 6-404. Except on a clearly designated private driveway, using a vehicle or off-road vehicle on private property without having the owner's or tenant's written permission in one's possession is a misdemeanor, up to 90 days or $500, or both. Vessels, military, fire and police vehicles, farm and construction equipment and lawn equipment used for their purpose are excluded.
• Off-road vehicles on public land, 6-405. Using an off-road vehicle on property the person knows is owned or leased by the State or a political subdivision, except as otherwise allowed by law, is a misdemeanor, up to 90 days or $500, or both.
• Cultivated land, 6-406. Entering another's cultivated land (land cleared and "currently planted with a crop or orchard") without the owner's or agent's permission is a misdemeanor, up to 90 days or $500, or both. Like 6-403, it "prohibits only wanton entry," and it does not apply to a person entering under color of law or color of title.
• Racetrack stable areas, 6-407. Entering or remaining in a racetrack stable area after being told by a racetrack official, security guard or officer that the person is not allowed there is a misdemeanor, up to 90 days or $500, or both.
• Peeping, 6-408. Entering another's property "for the purpose of invading the privacy of an occupant of a building or enclosure located on the property by looking into a window, door, or other opening" is a misdemeanor, up to 90 days or $500, or both.
• Public buildings and grounds, 6-409. Refusing or failing to leave a public building or grounds when asked by an authorized government employee is a misdemeanor, up to 6 months or $1,000, or both, if the building is regularly closed and the circumstances show the person has no apparent lawful business there, or, during business hours, if the person has no apparent lawful business or "is acting in a manner disruptive of and disturbing to the conduct of normal business."
• Government House, 6-410. Wanton trespass on the property of Government House is a misdemeanor, up to 6 months or $1,000, or both, and the property "need not be posted against trespass."
• Armed trespass, 6-411. A person wearing, carrying or transporting a firearm may not enter or trespass in another's dwelling unless the owner or the owner's agent has given express permission, "either to the person or to the public generally." Subsection (d) adds a rule for other private buildings ("property" in this section means a building, not the land adjacent to it): entry with a firearm requires a clear and conspicuous sign permitting firearms or the owner's express permission. In Kipke v. Moore (January 20, 2026), the Fourth Circuit held that the building rule is unconstitutional as applied to "private property held open to the public" and affirmed the order enjoining its enforcement; it held that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the rule for property not held open to the public, and the dwelling rule was not before it. The Maryland State Police list "private buildings or property without the owner's consent, Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 6-411" among restrictions that cannot be enforced pending review by the U.S. Supreme Court. Separately, on June 25, 2026, in Wolford v. Lopez, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a Ninth Circuit decision that had upheld Hawaii's comparable rule on carrying firearms onto private property without the owner's permission. A willful violation of the section is a misdemeanor, up to 1 year or $1,000, or both.
• Railroad property, 6-503. Without the railroad carrier's consent or other lawful authorization, and except to cross at a public highway or other authorized crossing, knowingly entering or remaining on railroad property is a misdemeanor, up to 30 days or $100, or both. Riding on the outside or inside of a railroad vehicle without consent is a misdemeanor, up to 6 months or $1,000, or both. The section excepts passengers, people entering in an emergency to rescue a person or animal or remove an imminent danger, and others it lists.
• School grounds, Education 26-102. School and college officials may deny access to people with no lawful business there, suspended or expelled students, and people who disrupt normal educational functions. Trespassing on the grounds of a public elementary, secondary or higher education institution, failing or refusing to leave after being asked by an authorized person, or willfully damaging school property is a misdemeanor, a fine of up to $1,000, up to 6 months, or both.
• Hunting without written permission, Natural Resources 10-411. A person "may not upon any pretense come to hunt on the lands owned by another person without the written permission of the landowner or the landowner's agent or lessee," and is liable for damage caused while hunting there. Section 10-411 sets a specific penalty for Harford County, a fine of $25 to $250. Elsewhere, a violation of the hunting title is a misdemeanor under Natural Resources 10-1101, with a fine of up to $1,500, and up to $4,000 or 1 year, or both, for a second or later violation within 2 years of a prior one.

Section 6-412, added in 2024, excludes licensed professional land surveyors, and their agents and employees, who enter property to practice land surveying. The Criminal Law Article contains no trespass offense aimed at critical infrastructure and no public-camping offense.

Squatting, force and burglary

The process for removing a person who will not leave a home is covered on our Maryland squatters' rights page, and force against an intruder on the Maryland self-defense laws page. Trespass turns into burglary when there is a breaking and entering. Breaking and entering another's dwelling is fourth-degree burglary, a misdemeanor with up to 3 years, which also covers being in a dwelling, storehouse, or "a yard, garden, or other area belonging to" one with intent to commit theft (6-205). Breaking and entering a dwelling with intent to commit a crime is third-degree burglary, a felony with up to 10 years (6-204); second-degree burglary of a storehouse carries up to 15 years, or up to 20 years when the intent is to take a firearm (6-203), first-degree burglary of a dwelling with intent to commit theft up to 20 years, and home invasion, with intent to commit a crime of violence, up to 25 years (6-202).

Maryland disorderly conduct and trespass offense table

Maryland has no general misdemeanor or felony class table; each section above carries its own maximum. For an overview of how Maryland grades offenses, see Maryland felony and misdemeanor penalties.

Federal law separately governs conduct on federal property and at the U.S. Capitol; our disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state hub covers that layer.

Recent changes

• 2026, chapters 424 and 425 (HB 750 and SB 177) added Criminal Law 10-204.1, using force, threat of force or physical obstruction to interfere with a person exercising religious freedom at a place of religious worship, effective October 1, 2026.
• 2024, chapters 606 and 607 (SB 344 and HB 382) added the professional land surveyor exception in Criminal Law 6-412.
• January 20, 2026: in Kipke v. Moore, the Fourth Circuit affirmed the injunction against enforcing 6-411(d), the rule on carrying firearms into private buildings without the owner's consent, holding it unconstitutional as applied to private property held open to the public.

Related Maryland and state-by-state guides

• Disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state
• Maryland noise laws
• Maryland felony and misdemeanor penalties
• Maryland squatters' rights
• Maryland self-defense laws
• Maryland assault laws
• How to charge someone with trespassing

This article provides general legal information about Maryland's disorderly conduct, public-order and criminal trespass statutes as of 2026-10-18. It is not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Maryland.

Last updated: 2026-10-18.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is disorderly conduct a misdemeanor in Maryland?

Yes. A violation of Criminal Law 10-201 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail or a fine of up to $500, or both. The section has no felony form.

What counts as disorderly conduct in Maryland?

Section 10-201(c) bars willfully obstructing others in a public place, willfully acting in a disorderly manner that disturbs the public peace, willfully disobeying a reasonable and lawful police order made to prevent a disturbance, willfully disturbing others with unreasonably loud noise, and, in Worcester County, beach bonfires between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Is public intoxication illegal in Maryland?

Maryland's offense is disorderly intoxication under Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 6-320: being intoxicated and endangering a person or property, or being intoxicated or drinking in a public place and causing a public disturbance. It carries up to 90 days or a $100 fine, or both.

Is trespassing a felony in Maryland?

No offense in Criminal Law Title 6, Subtitle 4 is a felony. The most serious trespass penalties are up to 1 year or $2,500 for a third or later violation of 6-402 or 6-403 within 2 years of the preceding one, and up to 1 year or $1,000 for armed trespass under 6-411. Breaking and entering a dwelling with intent to commit a crime is third-degree burglary, a felony.

What happens if an owner tells you to leave in Maryland?

Under Criminal Law 6-403, a person may not remain on private property after being notified by the owner or the owner's agent not to do so. The section prohibits only wanton entry, and a first violation carries up to 90 days or $500, or both.

Does Maryland have a purple paint law?

Maryland allows paint marks as trespass posting under 6-402, but COMAR 08.01.05.01 requires bright blue oil base paint, not purple. Each mark must be a vertical line at least 2 inches wide and 8 inches long, centered 3 to 6 feet above the ground, at each road entrance and along adjoining roads, waterways and land.

Is it illegal to refuse to leave a public building in Maryland?

Under Criminal Law 6-409, refusing or failing to leave a public building or grounds when an authorized government employee asks is a misdemeanor, up to 6 months or $1,000, or both, when the person has no apparent lawful business there or, during business hours, is disrupting normal business.

Is it illegal to protest at a funeral in Maryland?

Criminal Law 10-205 bars picketing within 500 feet of a funeral, burial, memorial service or funeral procession that is targeted at attendees, blocking entry or exit, and speech to attendees likely to incite an imminent breach of the peace. Each is a misdemeanor, up to 90 days or $1,000, or both.