Maryland · Checked October 22, 2026
State license. Maryland has no roofer-only license. Roofing work on an existing home for a homeowner is home improvement, so the contractor needs a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license, with an exam, two years of experience, financial solvency, and at least $500,000 of general liability insurance. MHIC does not cover new-home construction or purely commercial work, which follow separate routes.
| Item | Maryland |
|---|---|
| Regime | MHIC license required for home-improvement roofing |
| Exam | Maryland Home Improvement (MHIC) licensing exam, administered by PSI — pass mark 70%. All applicants must take and pass the licensing exam before applying, per MHIC. Secondary sources describe 55 questions, about 2 hours, exam fee $63 — the $63 PSI fee was not on the MHIC fees page checked, so treat it as secondary. |
| Experience | At least two years of experience in home improvement work, construction and/or related education, documented for the contractor applicant (MHIC license requirements page). |
| Application fee | $281.25 application fee per place of business, plus $22.50 processing fee (MHIC Forms and Fees, schedule increased Aug. 1, 2024) |
| License / registration fee | $100 Guaranty Fund assessment on an original license (included at issue) |
| Total state cost | $403.75 for a first two-year contractor license at one location ($281.25 + $100 + $22.50), before the separate PSI exam fee — Fees are per place of business — each additional company location is another $281.25. Guaranty Fund claims are capped in the sources at $30,000 per claim against a licensed contractor. |
| Bond | No bond for an applicant who meets MHIC financial-solvency guidelines. An applicant who does not meet them may purchase a surety bond or obtain an indemnitor; secondary/bond sources describe a $30,000 bond tied to the solvency test and a $100,000 bond option in lieu of financial statements — confirm the amount on the current MHIC application. |
| Insurance minimums | At least $500,000 general liability insurance is required for all MHIC contractors effective June 1, 2024 (Md. Business Regulation §8-302.1, per MHIC notice). Workers' compensation is required under Maryland law for employers. |
| Who qualifies | The individual applicant must pass the exam and show the two years of experience and financial solvency; a corporation must submit articles of incorporation and a Certificate of Good Standing. Maryland does not use the term 'qualifying party' for MHIC on the pages checked. |
| Timeline | Not published on the MHIC pages checked. Secondary sources say about 2-3 weeks after a complete application once the exam is passed — treat as an estimate, not a state promise. |
| Renewal | Every two years. Renewal is $281.25 per place of business plus a $175 Guaranty Fund assessment for that two-year period. No continuing-education requirement was stated on the MHIC pages checked. |
| Credential | Scope | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MHIC Contractor | residential | May perform or agree to perform a home improvement for a homeowner, including repair, replacement and installation of roofs on existing homes. License number must appear on contracts and advertising. |
| MHIC Salesperson | residential | Separate license; a salesperson may represent up to two licensed contractors in selling home improvements. Not a work license. |
| New-home / commercial routes (not MHIC) | both | New home building is handled through the Home Builder Registration Unit; commercial and new-construction work historically uses a county Clerk of the Circuit Court construction license. Verify the route for the specific job — MHIC alone does not authorize new-home building. |
Roofing subcontractors who contract for home-improvement work should verify whether they need their own MHIC license for that work; MHIC licenses the contractor who agrees with the homeowner, and unlicensed activity can be reported to MHIC. The pages checked did not give a roofer-specific subcontractor exemption.
Building permits are local (county/city). The state layer is the MHIC license for home improvement; new-home and commercial work add the separate registration / Clerk of the Circuit Court routes noted above, which vary by county.
Paying, waiving or advertising a deductible waiver is an offense. Citation: Md. Code, Insurance §27-407.2. It is a fraudulent insurance act for a contractor offering home repair or remodeling for weather damage to a private residence to directly or indirectly pay, compensate, or offer or promise to pay an insured for any part of the insured's deductible, with intent to defraud an insurer, where payment will come from policy proceeds. Note the intent-to-defraud qualifier — this is narrower than the flat advertising bans in Minnesota and Missouri.
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