Maryland Contractor License Lookup

Maryland requires a Home Improvement Commission license for home improvement work and a separate state registration for new home builders. We found no state license for commercial general contractors. Search contractors on the official site of the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (Maryland Department of Labor), and see the rules for trades and the job price where each applies. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Search Maryland Home Improvement Commission (Maryland Department of Labor)

Maryland rules checked against official sources on October 25, 2026.

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Labor and materials together, in dollars. Leave it blank to see the state's dollar limits.

Maryland: Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • Maryland has a state rule for this work with no dollar minimum. Credential: MHIC home improvement contractor license.

    Anyone who acts as a contractor doing home improvement on a residence in Maryland, such as remodeling, repairs, roofing, decks or additions, needs an MHIC contractor license. No dollar minimum is set. Source: Md. Code, Bus. Reg. 8-301(a), 8-101(g)

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • Home improvement does not include building a new home or work on apartment buildings with four or more units.
    • Licensed electricians, plumbers and HVACR contractors working only within their trade do not need an MHIC license.

Look up a contractor on the official site

Search Maryland Home Improvement Commission (Maryland Department of Labor)

What to check on the board's record

  • The name or business on the record matches the name on your contract or estimate.
  • The status is active, not expired, suspended or revoked.
  • The license type or class covers your kind of job.
  • The license number in the contractor's ads and contract is the same one.

City and county licenses: Counties and municipalities either register electricians locally or require the state license. Montgomery County licenses its own home builders. Source

This summarises state rules from official sources. Only the board's own record can confirm one contractor's license. Checked October 25, 2026.

How Maryland licenses contractors

Maryland requires a Home Improvement Commission license for home improvement work and a separate state registration for new home builders. We found no state license for commercial general contractors. Md. Code, Bus. Reg. 8-301(a); 4.5-301(a)

Counties and municipalities either register electricians locally or require the state license. Montgomery County licenses its own home builders. (source)

Acting as a home improvement contractor without an MHIC license is a misdemeanor: up to a $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail for a first conviction, and up to $5,000 or 2 years for later convictions. Md. Code, Bus. Reg. 8-601(a), (c)

Rules by type of work

Home improvement and roofing

  • MHIC home improvement contractor license (residential): Anyone who acts as a contractor doing home improvement on a residence in Maryland, such as remodeling, repairs, roofing, decks or additions, needs an MHIC contractor license. No dollar minimum is set. Issued by Maryland Home Improvement Commission (Maryland Department of Labor). Md. Code, Bus. Reg. 8-301(a), 8-101(g)
    • Home improvement does not include building a new home or work on apartment buildings with four or more units.
    • Licensed electricians, plumbers and HVACR contractors working only within their trade do not need an MHIC license.

Building a new home

  • new home builder registration (residential): A person who builds new homes in Maryland must be registered as a home builder with the Attorney General's Home Builder Registration Unit. Builders working only in Montgomery County are covered by that county's own licensing instead. Issued by Home Builder Registration Unit, Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General. Md. Code, Bus. Reg. 4.5-301(a); 4.5-101(g)
    • A person who builds new homes solely in Montgomery County is not covered by the state registration.

Electrical work

  • state electrician license or county registration: Each Maryland county either requires a state electrician license or registers master, journeyperson and apprentice electricians under its own rules, so the credential to check depends on the county. Issued by Maryland State Board of Electricians. Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. 6-301(a)

Plumbing

  • state plumbing license: Plumbing services in Maryland must be provided by someone licensed by the State Board of Plumbing. A homeowner may do plumbing in their own residence, except the final connection to a public or private sewer or water system. Issued by Maryland State Board of Plumbing. Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. 12-301(a)(1), (b)
    • An individual may personally do plumbing in their own residence, but not the final connection to a disposal or water supply system.

Heating and air conditioning (HVAC)

  • state HVACR license: Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration services in Maryland must be provided by someone licensed by the State HVACR Board. Issued by Maryland State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors. Md. Code, Bus. Reg. 9A-301

Where to look up contractors in Maryland

On the record, check that the name matches your contract, the status is active (not expired, suspended or revoked), the license type covers your job, and the license number matches the one the contractor gave you.

What this tool does not do

  • It does not check any one contractor. Only the board's own record shows whether a license is active and what it covers.
  • It covers state rules. Cities and counties can add their own licenses and permits, and the tool cannot list every local rule.
  • It does not decide whether a contractor broke the law or what you can recover. For a dispute, contact the board or a lawyer.
  • It does not cover every specialty trade a state licenses (for example pest control, elevators or well drilling).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up a contractor license in Maryland?

Use the official online license search from the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (Maryland Department of Labor). Search by the contractor's name, business name or license number, and check that the status is active and the license type covers your job. Other state boards on this page: the Home Builder Registration Unit, Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General, the Maryland State Board of Electricians, the Maryland State Board of Plumbing and the Maryland State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors.

Does Maryland require a contractor license?

Anyone who acts as a contractor doing home improvement on a residence in Maryland, such as remodeling, repairs, roofing, decks or additions, needs an MHIC contractor license. No dollar minimum is set.

Which trades need a state license in Maryland?

Electrical: state electrician license or county registration from the Maryland State Board of Electricians. Plumbing: state plumbing license from the Maryland State Board of Plumbing. HVAC: state HVACR license from the Maryland State Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors.

What happens if a Maryland contractor works without a required license?

Acting as a home improvement contractor without an MHIC license is a misdemeanor: up to a $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail for a first conviction, and up to $5,000 or 2 years for later convictions.

Sources

Checked against official Maryland sources on October 25, 2026.

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