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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

State General Contractor Exams
National Exams
State General Contractor Exams National Exams

Construction Work Regulated?


Home improvement and plumbing construction are licensed at the state level. Other construction work requires registration by each jurisdiction.

Prequalification is not formally required for highway work; however, a bid bond for contracts exceeding $100,000 is required. Maintenance contracts may or may not require bonding. Some municipalities may require prequalification prior to a contractor's bidding on local road system contracts. Some contracts require no bid bond but will require a payment and performance bond.

Master electricians are licensed at the state level for the 3 counties in the state that do not require licensing.

Who Regulates Construction?

For information on highway work requirements contact:

Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Office of Construction
7450 Traffic Drive
Hanover, MD 21076
(443) 572-5200
https://www.roads.maryland.gov

Specific requirements for any contract advertised by the State of Maryland can be viewed without cost by visiting http://emaryland.buyspeed.com to view documents as all State procurements are posted on the Maryland Marketplace.

Contractor application forms and licensing information for the various types of contractor licenses in the state may be obtained from the following sources:

Maryland Home Improvement Commission
500 North Calvert Street, 3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202-3651
(410) 230-6231/Fax (410) 962-8482
https://www.dllr.maryland.gov/license

Maryland Board of Master Electricians
500 North Calvert Street, Room 201
Baltimore, MD 21202-3651
(410)230-6231/Fax (410)244-0977
E-mail : dloplmasterelectricians-dllr@maryland.gov
https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/elec

Maryland Board of Plumbers
500 North Calvert Street, Room 201
Baltimore, MD 21202-3651
(410) 230-6231/Fax (410) 244-0977
E-mail: dloplplumbing-dllr@maryland.gov
https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/pl

Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
500 North Calvert Street, Room 201
Baltimore, MD 21202-3651
(410) 230-6231/Fax (410) 244-0977
E-mail: dloplhvacr-dllr@maryland.gov
https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/hvacr

Information regarding asbestos and lead-based paint requirements may be obtained from:

Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 725
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 537-3000
https://www.mde.state.md.us

Requirements?

Highway Work:
Although there is no formal prequalification process, experience and equipment certification, liability insurance ($1,000,000/2,000,000), and applicable state contractor licenses are required from contractors after bids have been submitted.

Home Improvement Contractors:
A passing score of 70% or greater on an open book examination, regarding state and federal laws and regulations and various business subjects, is required. Applicants must document a minimum of 2 years experience in building or home improvement and/or related vocational education.


Home improvement contractors must show financial solvency, based on the intended scope and size of the business in relation to total assets, liabilities, cred it rating and net worth. Contractors must also show proof of $50,000 in liability insurance. Upon receipt of the completed application, a license is usually issued within a month.

There is a Guaranty Fund which reimburses homeowners up to $20,000 for actual losses due to poor or incomplete work by licensed contractors or the amount paid under contract whichever is less. Contractors pay $100 into the Fund when applying for an original license.

There is also a $150 assessment into the Fund at each 2 year renewal. Each licensed contractor is covered by the Fund for up to $100,000 for homeowner claims.

License Type / Original Fee / Renewal Fee Every 2 Years / Exam Fee

Contractors / $270 / $280.42 / $63
Salespersons / $120 / $100 / $63

1. There is an initial fee of $100 paid to the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund.
Assessment Fee upon renewal is $125. Credit Report fee for renewals is $5.42. Total contractor license renewal every 2 years is $380.42.

2. A $20 Processing Fee is included for each License Type Original Fee.

There are no financial limits for contracts for home improvement work.

Plumbers and Gas Fitters:
All persons who provide or assist in providing plumbing and gas services must be licensed. To qualify for an apprentice license, applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Examinations are required for the journeyman, master plumber license, and journeyman and master natural gas fitter. After October 1, 2001, applicants applying for the journeyman natural gas fitter are required to complete an examination training course and pass an examination.

Journeyman Plumber/Gas Fitter:
Applicants applying for a journeyman plumber/ gas fitter license have held an apprentice license for at least 4 years and must have completed 7,500 hours of training under the control and direction if a licensed master plumber. Applicants must also have completed 32 hours of training in backflow prevention device testing.

Master Plumber/Gas Fitter:
Applicants must have held a journey license for at least 2 years and completed 3,700 hours of training under the direction and control of a licensed master plumber.

Propane Gas Fitter (Certification): Applicants must meet 1 of the following requirements:

a. Must hold a current certification of completion of the National Propane Gas Association certified training program for Distribution Systems Operations; or

b. Must hold a gas fitters license fr011 a county or municipal corporation authorizing the person to provide gas services under a licensing program in existence prior to July 1, 1995; or

c. Must demonstrate to the Board that the person's qualifications are at least equivalent to the qualifications required by the National Propane Gas Association training program for Distribution Systems Operations.

Fees are as follows:

License Type / License Fee / Exam Fee / Application Fee
Apprentices / $15 / N/A / N/A
Journeyman Plumber/Gas Fitter / $35 / $65 / N/A
Journeyman Natural/Gas Fitter / $35 / $65 / $25
Master Plumber/Gas Fitter / $70 / $65 / N/A
Master Natural/Gas Fitter / $70 / $65 / $50
Propane Gas Fitter's Certificate / $35 / N/A / $25

A license is used state wide except for 2 areas (Baltimore County and the area serviced by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission), where a separate license is required. State licensed plumbers and propane gas fitters who are "insured to contract" must maintain coverage of at least $400,000 per occurrence.

Electrician:
Applicants for a state Master Electrician license must have been engaged or employed regularly and principally in providing electrical services for all types of electrical equipment and apparatus for at least 7 years under the direct supervision of a master electrician or similarly qualified employee of a governmental unit and pass a state trade examination. The State Board may allow an applicant up to 3 years of credit toward the required experience with proof that the applicant has completed a formal course of study or professional training in electrical installation comparable to the required experience. The state license is required in the 3 counties that do not require local licensing.

Electrical work in the other counties of the state requires county electrical licenses, regardless of the state license. Licenses are issued for 2 years from date of issue.

License Type / Application Fee / Renewal Fee

Master Electrician / $20 / $25

Master Electrician Inactive / $20 / $50

Inactive Master Inspector / N/A / N/A

Qualified Agent / $20 / $25

HVACR:
All applicants must pass an examination with a minimum score of 70°/o:All Master, Master Restricted and Limited contractor applicants who are responsible for signing and approving contracts to insta ll or service HVACR systems are required to carry genera liability and property damage insurance. The general liability insurance coverage must be at least $300,000 property damage liability insurance must be at least $100,000. The combined amount of the general liability and property damage insurance must beat least $400,000.

Master License:
Applicants who are applying for the Master Electrician license are required to have been licensed as a journeyman and regularly and principally employed to provide all areas of HVACR services for at least 3 years of active experience under the direction and control of a HVACR master. Applicants must have worked a minimum of 1,875 hours in the year prior for applying and currently hold a journeyman or higher level license.

Master Restricted License:
Applicants are required to have been licensed as a journeyman and regularly and principally employed to provide HVACR services for at least 3 years of active experience under the direction and control of a HVACR master. There are instances when applicants do not currently hold a HVACR license, and are required to provide proof of experience.

Limited License:
Applicants must have been licensed as a journeyman and regularly and principally employed in providing HVACR services under the direction and control of licensed HVACR master for at least 2 years. There are instances when applicants do not currently hold a HVACR license, and are required to provide proof of experience.

Journeyman License:
Applicants must have been licensed as an apprentice for at least 3 years and during that period shall have completed at least 1,875 hours of training in providing HVACR services under the direction and control of a licensed HVACR contractor. Applicants must currently hold an apprentice license. 1,875 hours apply when an individual currently is licensed as an apprentice.

Type of License / Application and Renewal Fee
Apprentice / $10
Journeyman (including Journeyman Restricted) / $20
Inspector / N/A
Limited / $75

*Master Restricted (each category) / $25 (max $75*)

Master / $75
Inactive Master License / $25
Inactive Master Restricted / $25
Inactive Limited Contractor / $25

*Master Restricted licenses are issued in 1 and up to 4 combinations of areas of expertise in HVACR work (heating, forced air, heating-hydronic, ventilation, air. conditioning and refrigeration). The assessment per category is capped once an individual licensee qualifies in 3 areas of HVACR expertise.

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
An electrical reciprocal agreement for master electricians exists with Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia. A plumbing reciprocal agreement exists with Delaware. A HVACR reciprocal agreement exists with Delaware and Virginia.
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