Self-Defense in Maryland
State-specific overview · Criminal Law
Maryland requires you to retreat if safely possible before using deadly force, except in your home.
How Maryland treats Self-Defense
Maryland is a duty-to-retreat state: you must attempt to escape before using deadly force if you can do so safely, unless you are in your own home. In your home, you have no duty to retreat and may use force to protect yourself and others. Maryland law allows reasonable force to prevent harm, but outside your home the focus is on whether retreat was possible and whether you exhausted that option before resorting to force. Courts examine the totality of circumstances to determine if your belief that force was necessary was reasonable.
The general definition of Self-Defense
The legal right to use reasonable force to protect yourself from harm.
Self-defense is a legal justification for using force against someone who is attacking or about to attack you. The key word is 'reasonable'—the force you use must be proportional to the threat you face. Most states recognize a 'duty to retreat' in some situations, meaning you must try to escape if safely possible before using force. Some states have 'Stand Your Ground' laws that eliminate the duty to retreat and allow you to use force where you have a legal right to be.
Read the full Self-Defense entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Maryland.