STATE LICENSE
ConditionalMaryland Home Improvement Commission (MHI…
Which credential you need depends on the job. Additions, remodels, repairs and replacements on homes (and on buildings of three or fewer units) are 'home improvement' under Bus. Reg. § 8-101 and need an MHIC contractor license. New home construction is expressly excluded from home improvement and instead requires registration as a home builder with the Office of the Attorney General ($800 initial).
MHIC licensure since June 1, 2024 includes $500,000 of general liability (Bus. Reg. § 8-302.1). Builders who build solely in Montgomery County are exempt from State builder registration — that county runs its own system.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
MHIC is a statewide license; building permits, inspections and any local business registration come from the county or municipality where the work is. MHIC's own FAQ describes coverage as homes and apartment buildings of three or fewer units — larger multifamily and commercial work fall outside it.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Maryland county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Bus. Reg. § 8-302.1 now requires at least $500,000 of general liability for applicants and licensees. MHIC's requirements page still shows the older $50,000 figure — the statute controls.
Each 2-year renewal is $281.25 per place of business (COMAR 09.08.07.02) plus the $175 Guaranty Fund assessment.
No payment may be taken before the contract is signed, and the deposit at signing may not exceed one-third of the contract price (Bus. Reg. § 8-617).
A practical sequence for a new general contracting contractor in Maryland. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Acting or offering to act as a contractor, or selling home improvements, without an MHIC license is a misdemeanor.
The Commission may fine any violator — licensed or not — per violation, weighing seriousness, good faith, history, harm and assets.
Taking payment before signing, or a deposit above one-third, violates the title; where no greater penalty applies it is a misdemeanor.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: PSI exam fee for the MHIC contractor exam (set by the testing service; not published on labor.maryland.gov) · MHIC's financial-solvency guideline amounts (MHIC states the standard qualitatively: assets, liabilities, credit report, net worth) · That Maryland has no state license for this trade on commercial (non-residential) work — no such license was found in the statutes reviewed, but an affirmative official statement was not located · Home Builder Guaranty Fund per-permit contribution and claim limits (seen in OAG search summaries; not on the fetched OAG page) · Home builder registration term length · Montgomery County's own builder licensing requirements for Montgomery-only builders
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.