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Licenses by State

How to check if a contractor is licensed in Maryland

Edited by John Voll. Last verified .

In Maryland, the state keeps license or registration records for general contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors, and each has an official lookup or board listed below. Check the record before you sign a contract or pay a deposit, and treat the board's own record as final.

Which board covers which trade

TradeWho keeps the recordOfficial lookup
General contractorMaryland Home Improvement Commission (Maryland Department of Labor)Search general contractor licenses
ElectricalMaryland State Board of ElectriciansSearch electrical licenses
PlumbingMaryland State Board of PlumbingSearch plumbing licenses
HVACMaryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors (HVACR)Search HVAC licenses
RoofingMaryland Home Improvement Commission (Maryland Department of Labor)Search roofing licenses

Step by step

  1. Open the official Maryland lookup run by Maryland Department of Labor and search the contractor by name or number.
    Open the official lookup
  2. For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from Maryland State Board of Electricians.
    Open the lookup
  3. For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from Maryland State Board of Plumbing.
    Open the lookup
  4. For HVAC work, also check the HVAC contractor lookup from HVACR.
    Open the lookup
  5. The MHIC public query searches active home improvement licensees by name, trade name, city or zip, or license number. source Separate public queries cover master electricians, plumbers and gas fitters, and HVACR contractors. source Disciplinary actions are not shown in the public query; the MHIC asks people to contact it for that information. source
  6. Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Home Improvement Contractor or Home Improvement Salesperson). The board's own record governs.
  7. Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: No bond by default; an applicant who does not meet the Commission's financial solvency guidelines may buy a surety bond (board forms for $30,000 and $100,000) or use an indemnitor. source General liability insurance of at least $500,000 (Business Regulation 8-302.1, effective June 1, 2024). source

If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint

  • To check a contractor's license status by phone or report a problem, call the Maryland Department of Labor; the MHIC takes complaints on its complaint form. source
  • The Commission investigates homeowner complaints, awards damages against licensed contractors and prosecutes violators. source

Homeowner protections in Maryland

  • The MHIC Guaranty Fund repays a homeowner's actual loss from a licensed contractor's poor or unfinished work, up to the amount paid to the contractor and no more than $30,000. source
  • The Guaranty Fund applies only to work done by licensed contractors. source
  • If claims against one contractor total more than $250,000, each homeowner's award is pro rated. source
  • A Guaranty Fund claim must be filed within 3 years after the homeowner discovered, or should have discovered, the loss. source
  • A home improvement contract must be in writing and list the contractor's name, address, phone and license number. source
  • A home improvement contract must tell the homeowner of the right to cancel within 3 business days after signing. source
  • A contractor may not take a deposit of more than one third of the contract price at signing, and may not take any payment before the contract is signed. source

Questions

How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Maryland?
Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Maryland lookup run by Maryland Department of Labor, then confirm the record is active and covers the type of work. For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or roofing work, use that trade's lookup in the table on this page.
What can I do if a contractor in Maryland is not licensed?
To check a contractor's license status by phone or report a problem, call the Maryland Department of Labor; the MHIC takes complaints on its complaint form. The Commission investigates homeowner complaints, awards damages against licensed contractors and prosecutes violators.

All Maryland licensing rules by trade

Sources

This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.