Maryland has a reputation for being a little different when it comes to regulation. While other states leave many issues unregulated, Maryland has stacked up a list of bans and restrictions that make outsiders shake their heads. From consumer goods to weapons to even access to justice, here are some of the most surprising things Marylanders can’t do that most Americans can.
🔥 1. Flamethrowers — Totally Illegal
Maryland is one of the only states in the nation to completely ban civilian flamethrowers. Under Public Safety § 4-501, flamethrowers are legally classified as destructive devices—the same category as bombs and grenades.
Owning one can mean 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In 48 other states, you could legally buy Elon Musk’s “Not-a-Flamethrower” online. In Maryland, it’s contraband.
🧊 2. Styrofoam Food Containers — Outlawed Since 2020
Maryland was the first state in the country to ban polystyrene (Styrofoam) food containers statewide. As of July 2020, no restaurant, school, or carryout business can serve food in foam clamshells, cups, or trays.
Other states have followed with partial bans, but in many places, Styrofoam is still standard for takeout. In Maryland, it’s punishable by fines.
🔫 3. Sweeping “Assault Weapons” Ban
Maryland’s Firearm Safety Act of 2013 bans 45+ specific semi-automatic rifles and pistols—plus so-called “copycat” weapons based on features like detachable magazines and folding stocks. It also limits magazines to 10 rounds.
While some states regulate similar weapons, Maryland’s list is one of the most specific and comprehensive in the country. Other states often use broader definitions or allow exceptions.
📢 4. Highway Billboards — Scenic Views Over Ads
Since 1968, Maryland has had one of the strictest billboard bans in America. Under Transportation § 8-735, new billboards visible from interstate or primary highways are prohibited.
Only a handful of exceptions exist—on-site business signs, historic markers, or official notices. Drive through Maryland’s highways, and you’ll see trees and open sky instead of towering ads.
⚖️ 5. Court Access Restrictions — A Barrier Rarely Seen Elsewhere
This one is less flashy, but just as important: Maryland’s court system has unique barriers that amount to bans on access to justice.
- Transcript Costs (Miller v. Smith, 1996): Until a federal court struck it down, Maryland denied free transcripts to indigent appellants who weren’t represented by the Public Defender. That forced people to choose between a lawyer and the record they needed to appeal. Few states had such a restrictive policy.
- ADA Accommodations: In practice, Maryland often requires a judge’s personal approval for disability accommodations, leaving ADA coordinators powerless. For many with invisible disabilities, this has meant motions for accommodations that are never ruled on—effectively banning access to reasonable accommodations guaranteed elsewhere.
- Civil Rights Catch-22: Without a written denial from a judge, disabled litigants have nothing to appeal to higher courts. This procedural trap makes Maryland one of the most difficult states in which to fight for disability rights inside the justice system.
In other words: Maryland has managed to ban equal access to its own courts for many self-represented or disabled litigants—something most other states, at least on paper, protect more consistently.
🧭 Bonus Oddities
- Brass knuckles, switchblades, and spring-assisted knives are illegal to carry.
- Corporal punishment in schools has been banned for decades, while still allowed in parts of the South.
- Radar detectors are permitted in personal cars, but Maryland’s strict commercial ban, combined with Virginia and D.C.’s outright bans, make them a regional headache.
Why Maryland?
The reasons vary—some bans came from safety concerns, others from environmental goals, and some from pure aesthetics. But taken together, they paint a picture of a state that is unusually aggressive in restricting things that are commonplace elsewhere.
For Marylanders, it means less cluttered highways and cleaner takeout containers. But it also means you can’t buy a novelty flamethrower, and in some cases, you may even struggle to access your own courts.
👉 Only in Maryland.
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