Quick answer: Maryland issues statewide licenses for master plumbers, electricians, and HVACR contractors through the Department of Labor's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. Anyone who contracts with a homeowner for residential remodeling, repair, or replacement work — including roofing, painting, carpentry, and most landscaping — needs a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) contractor license. There is no separate state license for general or commercial contractors; that work is permitted and, for new home construction, licensed at the county level.
Maryland splits trade licensing between state boards for the mechanical trades and the Home Improvement Commission for residential remodeling, with commercial general contracting handled locally.
Which trades need a license in Maryland?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Required - state license | Plumbing is licensed statewide by the Maryland Board of Plumbing. Maryland issues three tiers of plumber/gas fitter license: apprentice, journey, and master. A journey plumber works under the direction of a master; a master plumber/gas fitter must have held a journey license for at least two years and completed 3,750 hours of training before passing the master examination. Only an insured master plumber may enter into contracts to perform plumbing or gas services. |
| Electrician | Required - state license | All electrical work in Maryland must be performed by a licensed master, journeyperson, or apprentice electrician. Licensing is now statewide: the Maryland Electricians Act revisions (Senate Bill 762), effective July 1, 2021, renamed the board the State Board of Electricians and authorized it to issue apprentice and journeyperson licenses in addition to the master license. The law repealed local authority to license electricians; local jurisdictions retain authority over permits, fees, and inspections. |
| HVAC / HVACR | Required - state license | Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration work is licensed statewide by the Maryland Board of HVACR Contractors. You must hold an HVACR license as an apprentice, journey, journey restricted, limited contractor, master restricted, or master contractor to perform HVACR services in the state. Only a licensed HVACR contractor (master or limited) may contract with the public. |
| General Contractor | No state license (commercial); MHIC for residential | Maryland has no statewide general contractor license for commercial construction. Commercial building work is governed by local permitting and inspection requirements set by each county and municipality. New residential and commercial construction is licensed at the county level through the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Contractors doing residential remodeling, repair, or replacement for homeowners must instead hold a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) contractor license. |
| Roofer | Required for residential - MHIC | Roofing on an existing residence is home improvement and requires a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) contractor license when you contract directly with a homeowner. MHIC covers the alteration, remodeling, repair, or replacement of a building used as a residence (homes and buildings of three or fewer units). A roofer working as a subcontractor for an MHIC-licensed contractor does not need a separate license — Maryland eliminated the subcontractor license category as of July 1, 2016. |
| Painter | Required for residential - MHIC | Painting of houses — interior and exterior — is expressly included within the definition of home improvement, so a painter who contracts with a homeowner needs an MHIC contractor license. A painter acting solely as a subcontractor for an MHIC-licensed contractor does not need an individual license. |
| Carpenter | Required for residential - MHIC | Carpentry that alters, remodels, repairs, or replaces part of a residence — decks, trim, additions, and similar work permanently affixed to the property — is home improvement and requires an MHIC contractor license when contracting with a homeowner. There is no separate state carpentry trade license; the requirement flows through MHIC for residential work and through local rules for commercial work. |
| Landscaper | Depends - MHIC if home improvement | Landscaping that involves permanent improvements to a residence — such as installing patios, retaining walls, or hardscaping — falls under home improvement, and landscape contractors performing this work are licensed by the MHIC. Routine lawn maintenance and gardening that does not permanently alter the property is generally not home improvement. Tree care is separately regulated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. |
| Handyman | Required for residential - MHIC | Maryland does not have a separate "handyman" exemption. If a handyman contracts with a homeowner to alter, remodel, repair, or replace any part of a residence, that is home improvement and requires an MHIC contractor license. The MHIC statute does not create a small-dollar threshold that exempts low-value residential jobs. A handyman working purely as a subcontractor for an MHIC-licensed contractor does not need an individual license. |
| Cleaner | No state trade license | House cleaning and janitorial services are not a licensed trade under the Maryland Department of Labor's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. There is no state occupational license for residential or commercial cleaning. A cleaning business must still meet general business obligations and obtain any local trader's/business license. |
Status reflects state-level licensing; nearly all construction and remodeling work also requires local building permits and inspections from the county or municipality where the job is performed.
State boards license the mechanical trades
Maryland's Department of Labor, through its Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, licenses the skilled mechanical trades on a statewide basis. Three boards matter most for construction: the Maryland Board of Plumbing, the State Board of Electricians, and the Board of HVACR Contractors. Each issues tiered licenses (apprentice through master or contractor) and requires documented training hours plus a passing examination before advancing. Only the top-tier, insured licensee — the master plumber, licensed electrical contractor, or HVACR contractor — may contract directly with the public for that trade's work.
Electrician licensing went statewide in 2021
Before July 1, 2021, Maryland's state board could only issue master electrician licenses, and journeyperson and apprentice licensing was handled by local jurisdictions. Senate Bill 762, the Maryland Electricians Act revisions, changed that: the board was renamed the State Board of Electricians and began issuing statewide apprentice and journeyperson licenses alongside the master license. The law repealed local authority to license electricians of all three classes; local governments still control permits, fees, and inspections.
Residential remodeling runs through the MHIC
The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) licenses and regulates contractors who perform home improvement — the alteration, remodeling, repair, or replacement of a building (or part of a building) used as a residence, including individual condominium units and buildings of three or fewer units. Roofing, painting, carpentry, deck and patio installation, and most permanent landscaping improvements all fall within this definition. Only an MHIC-licensed contractor may enter into a home improvement contract with a homeowner. Maryland eliminated the separate subcontractor license as of July 1, 2016. MHIC also runs a Guaranty Fund that can compensate homeowners for losses caused by licensed contractors.
There is no statewide general contractor license
Maryland does not license general or commercial contractors at the state level. Commercial construction is governed by local permitting, licensing, and inspection requirements that vary by county and municipality. New home construction is licensed at the county level through the Clerk of the Circuit Court where the project is located. Because of this split, a contractor must check both the applicable state trade board and the local permitting office before starting work.
Local permits and inspections still apply everywhere
Holding a state trade or MHIC license does not replace local permitting. Virtually every plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, or remodeling job requires a permit and inspection from the county or municipal permitting authority where the work is performed. Contractors should confirm requirements with the local Department of Permitting Services, Inspections, or the Clerk of the Circuit Court in that jurisdiction.
How to get licensed in Maryland
- Identify your trade: plumbing, electrical, and HVACR are licensed by their state boards; residential remodeling (roofing, painting, carpentry, landscaping, handyman) requires an MHIC contractor license.
- Meet the experience and training requirements for your license tier (for example, documented apprentice/journey hours before a master exam) and, where required, pass the examination.
- Apply to the correct Maryland Department of Labor board — Board of Plumbing, State Board of Electricians, Board of HVACR Contractors, or the Maryland Home Improvement Commission — and provide proof of insurance.
- For commercial or new-home construction, contact the county Clerk of the Circuit Court and local permitting office, since there is no statewide general contractor license.
- Before each job, obtain the required local building permits and schedule inspections with the county or municipal authority where the work will be performed.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Maryland have a state general contractor license?
No. Maryland does not issue a statewide general contractor or commercial contractor license. Commercial work is governed by local permitting, and new home construction is licensed at the county level through the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Residential remodeling requires an MHIC license instead.
Who needs a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license?
Any contractor who enters into a contract with a homeowner to alter, remodel, repair, or replace part of a residence — including roofing, painting, carpentry, deck/patio work, and permanent landscaping — needs an MHIC contractor license. Subcontractors working for an MHIC-licensed contractor do not need their own license.
Are plumbers and electricians licensed by the state or locally?
Both are now licensed statewide by the Maryland Department of Labor. The Board of Plumbing licenses apprentice, journey, and master plumbers, and since July 1, 2021 the State Board of Electricians issues statewide apprentice, journeyperson, and master electrician licenses, having repealed prior local licensing authority.
Does a handyman or house cleaner need a license in Maryland?
A handyman who contracts with a homeowner for home improvement work needs an MHIC license; Maryland provides no small-job exemption from that requirement. House cleaning and janitorial services are not a licensed trade in Maryland, though general business registration and any local business license still apply.
Sources: MD Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Board of Plumbing - License Requirements, Maryland State Board of Electricians, Maryland Board of HVACR Contractors, Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.