Moving to Maryland as a residential contractor: every state's rule

The MHIC license is statewide, and no Maryland county or city issues its own home improvement license on top of it. Baltimore County, for example, simply checks the state credentials: a private contractor doing a residential alteration or addition must give the Maryland Home Improvement License number on the permit application, and a new dwelling permit requires the contractor's Maryland Home Builders Registration number.

Where local licensing does bite is new home construction, which MHIC does not cover.

Montgomery County. Chapter 31C of the county code requires a Montgomery County Building Contractor's New Home Builder's License before a builder contracts to construct a new home there, and the county is explicit that a state credential is not enough: 'Even if you have a license issued by the State of Maryland, you are still required to have a Montgomery County' license. Applications go to the Office of Consumer Protection and are approved by a five-member Board of Registration for New Home Builders and New Home Sellers that certifies whether the applicant is qualified to comply with county and state building codes and laws; the board meets monthly and review takes roughly 45 to 60 days. The package is an $805 non-refundable application fee, plus $250 for the State Guaranty Fund if the builder is not already registered with the State, three material supplier references, a bank reference letter, $500,000 in liability coverage with workers' compensation, a description of building experience and copies of other licenses. Building without the license carries a $500 civil fine per day, and the work is not covered by the State Home Builder Guaranty Fund. Office of Consumer Protection, 100 Maryland Avenue, Suite 3600, Rockville. The Department of Permitting Services adds that 'a contractor must have a Montgomery County New Home Builder's (BC) license to obtain a permit' for a single-family house or townhouse.

Prince George's County. A Prince George's County Building Contractor's License is required to build any new residential home from the ground up. The application is filed through the county's Momentum portal under Business and Rental Property Licensing and must be reviewed and approved by the Board of Registration for Building Contractors. It asks for a letter from a construction supplier with credit history, a letter from a construction lender or bank with credit history, a signed financial statement no more than one year old, an original certificate of comprehensive business liability insurance made out to the county, proof of enrollment in an approved new home warranty security plan, and a confirmation letter showing current registration under the Maryland Home Builder Registration Act. A homeowner building their own house applies for a homeowner waiver instead. Neither county holds an examination.