Maryland regulates trade contractors through the Maryland Department of Labor's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, plus a separate Home Improvement Commission for residential remodelers and a statewide Maryland Home Builder Registration for new-construction residential builders. Trade-specific state licenses through Maryland DOL. - Electricians (Master): State Board of Master Electricians issues Master Electrician licenses under Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. §6-301 et seq. Lower tiers (Journeyman, Apprentice) are typically regulated at the county level. Source: Maryland State Board of Master Electricians (https://labor.maryland.gov/license/elec/). - Plumbers: State Board of Plumbing issues Master Plumber/Gas Fitter and Journey Plumber licenses under Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. Title 12. Source: Maryland State Board of Plumbing (https://labor.maryland.gov/license/pl/). - HVACR: State Board of HVACR Contractors issues Master, Journeyman, and restricted variants under Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. Title 9A. Source: Maryland State Board of HVACR Contractors (https://labor.maryland.gov/license/hvacr/). - EPA 608: federal certification applies to refrigerant work (https://www.epa.gov/section608). Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC). Contractors performing home improvement work on residential property in Maryland must hold an MHIC license under Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. Title 8. MHIC license requires experience verification, financial solvency, examination, a surety bond or Guaranty Fund participation, and insurance. MHIC licensure is separate from trade licensing. Source: Maryland Home Improvement Commission (https://labor.maryland.gov/license/mhic/). Maryland Home Builder Registration. New-home builders register under Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. Title 4.5 with the Maryland Home Builder Registration Unit. Source: Maryland Home Builder Registration (https://labor.maryland.gov/license/mhbr/). Local building permits. Each Maryland county and incorporated city administers its own building and mechanical permits under the Maryland Building Performance Standards (Maryland adopts the International Building Code with amendments). Permits are issued locally. Certain counties and municipalities also run their own Journeyman or lower-tier electrician licensing boards. Source: Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Code Administration (https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Codes/Pages/default.aspx). WSSC Water (Prince George's and Montgomery Counties) runs its own plumber and gas-fitter licensing separate from the state Board for work within its service territory. Source: WSSC Plumber Information (https://www.wsscwater.com/work-with-us/plumbing-and-inspections/plumber-information-and-licenses). To operate as a trade contractor in Maryland you generally need: the applicable state trade license (Master Electrician, Master Plumber, Master HVACR as applicable), MHIC license if performing residential home improvement, formation documents filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) if operating as an LLC or corporation (https://dat.maryland.gov/), a federal EIN from the IRS, Maryland Business Express registration, and whatever county or municipal Journeyman or registration the local code office requires. Verify each requirement against current statutes and local rules before you assume you are compliant.
MD · Contractor licensing
Contractor licensing in Maryland
State contractor license requirements, bond, and insurance minimums.
Not legal, financial, or career advice. Trades Navigator compiles state board rules, statutes, and federal data into a navigable layer linked to primary sources. We do not maintain editorial attestation on each line. Always verify the specific number, fee, deadline, or rule against the linked primary source before relying on it. Confirm any decision with the relevant state agency, a lawyer, or an accountant.
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