# Sec. 5-207.07. License: code of ethics exemption

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Sec. 5-207.07. License: code of ethics exemption

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5-207.07 (2026)

(a) The provisions of this Division shall not apply to solicitors representing companies, firms, corporations, or partnerships which:

  (1) Subscribe to and are bound by a policy statement, code or regulation established either by the company, firm, corporation or partnership individually or subscribe to the policy statement, code or regulation of a recognized trade association of which the applicant company, firm, corporation or partnership is a member in good standing and which policy statement, code or regulation requires:

    (A) That the offer of products or services for sale, either through oral representation or advertising literature, shall be truthful and accurate as to price, grade, quality, make, value, performance, quantity, currency of model, and availability;

    (B) That the terms of any guarantee offered by the solicitor in connection with the sale shall be furnished to the buyer in writing and shall clearly state the nature and extent of such guarantee; and,

    (C) That the policy statement, code or regulation prohibits the initiation or continuation of any deceptive or unlawful trade practices as defined by any statute or ordinance in force and effect within Prince George's County, Maryland.

  (2) Recognize a responsibility to consumers for violations of either its policy statement, code or regulation or deceptive and/or unlawful trade practice statutes by its solicitors or representatives, even if the company had no knowledge of such violations when such lack of knowledge is a result of failure by the company to establish procedures whereby it would be kept informed of the activity of its solicitors and representatives.

  (3) Have established a procedure for processing consumer complaints within a reasonable time and providing consumer redress if, after the fact finding is completed, it is determined that the consumer was aggrieved by a violation of the policy statement, code regulation or a statutory deceptive or unlawful trade practice; and,

  (4) Have fully complied with any order finding the company, firm, corporation, or partnership in violation of the consumer protection laws of the State, after any such order becomes final because of the expiration of the appeal period or the termination of judicial review.

(b) Application for the exemption provided in Subsection (a) of this Section shall be completed by filing the following information with the Director:

  (1) Five (5) current copies of the policy statement, code, or regulation which meets the requirements as specified in paragraph (a), above;

  (2) The name of the company, firm, corporation, or partnership subscribing thereto, complete with the address, telephone number and the name of the executive within the company, firm, corporation, or partnership, designated to administer the policy statement, code, or regulation. In the case of a trade association policy statement, code, or regulation, the association may submit the above required information on behalf of a member company which declares an exemption under Subsection (a), hereof, along with the name of the person, officer, agent, or employee in charge of administering the trade association's policy statement, code or regulation program. All applications shall include a listing of the company, firm, corporation, or partnership seeking the exemption program, and shall be notarized and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the company, firm, corporation or partnership seeking the exemption; and,

  (3) The applicant shall designate, on a form provided by the Director, the Director as resident agent for the purpose of accepting service of process in any action or proceeding instituted, filed or pending against the applicant with respect to the application of any provision of this Division. The Director shall forward, by certified mail, a copy of any such process to the person designated by the applicant as authorized to receive such process.

(c) The Director shall issue to the applicant a County identification card for use by each representative and solicitor representing the applicant within the County. Each such identification card shall include the name of the County, the name of the applicant, a generalized statement of the product or service to be sold, an identification number, a disclaimer stating that possession does not constitute endorsement by the County, and adequate space for the recording of the name of the representative or solicitor to whom the identification card is issued by the applicant. The applicant shall be responsible for requiring each solicitor to clearly record the solicitor's name on the identification card issued to the solicitor by the applicant. The applicant shall maintain a current list, by identification number, of the names and addresses of all solicitors to whom the applicant has issued identification cards, and shall permit the Director, upon request, to inspect said list. The applicant shall be responsible for each identification card issued to the applicant by the Director and shall promptly return to the Director the identification cards of solicitors who cease to represent the applicant within the County. Each applicant shall pay to the Director a fee for the identification cards issued to the applicant by the Director. The fee shall be in the amount of Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each such identification card and Five Dollars ($5.00) for each duplicate identification card. The identification card shall expire one (1) year from the date of issue.

(d) The Director, upon receipt of the information stipulated in Subsection (b) of this Section, shall grant an exemption to the company, firm, corporation, or partnership making application therefor, unless the Director finds that the applicant is not in full compliance with all of the conditions stipulated in Subsection (a) of this Section.

(e) The provisions of Section 5-207.08 of this Division shall be applicable to any solicitor representing a company, firm, corporation, or partnership which is granted an exemption under this Section.

(f) Each solicitor representing a company, firm, corporation, or partnership which is granted an exemption under this Section shall carry the required County identification card at all times while engaged in soliciting and shall display said identification card to the prospective buyer prior to making any solicitation. Each such solicitor shall permit any person, upon request, to personally inspect the County identification card, including any police officer or County inspector of licenses who makes such request.

(g) The following procedures shall apply to the processing of any consumer complaint against a company, firm, corporation, or partnership granted an exemption under this Section.

  (1) Upon receipt of a consumer complaint against a company, firm, corporation, or partnership granted an exemption under this Section, the Director shall forward the information surrounding the complaint to the person, officer, agent or employee designated by the company, firm, corporation, or partnership or trade association on its exemption application to receive such complaints. The complaint information thus forwarded shall contain the following:

    (A) The name and address of the consumer;

    (B) The name or trade name of product purchased;

    (C) The name of the company, firm, corporation, or partnership which manufactures and/or distributes the product, if such name differs from the trade name of the product itself;

    (D) The name of the sales representative involved in the transaction, if known;

    (E) The purchase date (if known); and,

    (F) The identifying contract or receipt numbers, if available.

  (2) Upon receipt of a consumer complaint or an official complaint against a company, firm, corporation, or partnership granted an exemption under this Section, where such complaint alleges a violation of a deceptive or unlawful trade practice statute in force and effect within Prince George's County, Maryland, the Director shall forward the information surrounding the allegation to the person, officer, agent or employee designated by the company, firm, corporation, partnership, or trade association on its exemption application to receive such complaints.

  (3) Each company, firm, corporation, or partnership or trade association authorized to act for such company, firm, corporation or partnership, granted an exemption under this Section, shall file a written statement with the Director containing the disposition of any written complaints against such company forwarded to it by the Director. The statement shall include the findings of fact upon which the action taken is based. It shall be filed with the Director within a reasonable time which, for purposes of this Section, shall be defined as twenty (20) business days from the date of receipt of such written complaint by the person, officer, agent or employee designated by the company, firm, corporation, partnership, or trade association to receive such material.

(h) The following shall be grounds for the revocation of the exempt status provided in this Section.

  (1) Any company, firm, corporation, or partnership granted an exemption under this Section which fails to honor the provisions of the policy statement, code or regulation upon which such exemption was granted or which violates any of the other requirements for obtaining and maintaining such exemption shall constitute grounds for the revocation of the exempt status of that company, firm, corporation, or partnership.

  (2) The authority to revoke the exempt status shall be in the discretion of the Director who shall consider the following criteria in making such determination:

    (A) Failure by the company, firm, corporation, or partnership to file any satisfactory response with the Director concerning a consumer complaint(s) forwarded by the Director to the person, officer, agent or employee designated by that company, firm, corporation, or partnership to receive such information;

    (B) Failure to return money or replace products which were received by the consumer in a defective condition;

    (C) Failure to deliver products ordered by the consumer;

    (D) Failure to correct or adequately explain repeated allegations of violations of statutory deceptive or unlawful trade practices in force and effect within Prince George's County, Maryland, by the company, firm, corporation, partnership or trade association or violation of the policy statement, code or regulation filed with the Director as part of the exemption application, even where a sale did not result, when such allegations have been forwarded by the Director to the person, officer, agent or employee designated by that company, firm, corporation or partnership to receive such material;

    (E) An order finding the company, firm, corporation, or partnership in violation of the Consumer Protection Ordinance or the consumer protection laws of the State, after any such order becomes final because of the expiration of the appeal period or the termination of judicial review; or,

    (F) The voluntary or involuntary termination of membership in a trade association, where the exemption provided under this Section was granted on the basis of adherence to the trade association code of ethics.

(i) The following procedures shall apply to the revocation of the exempt status provided in this Section.

  (1) Prior to a revocation of exemption becoming final, the Director shall first afford the company, firm, corporation, or partnership an opportunity for a hearing thereon. At least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the date set for the hearing, the Director shall notify all parties to the proceedings in writing of the date, time, and place set for the hearing and the charge made, and afford all parties the opportunity to be heard in person and by counsel in reference thereto. The written notice shall be served by delivery of notice to all parties by registered or certified mail. Within ten (10) working days following the hearing, the Director shall render a decision and the reasons therefor in writing, and shall forward a copy of the same to all parties by certified or registered mail.

  (2) Where the Director renders a decision revoking the exemption of a company, firm, corporation, or partnership, and when such decision becomes final because of the expiration of the appeal period or the termination of administrative and/or judicial review, all representatives or solicitors representing such company, firm, corporation, or partnership within the County shall immediately make application to the Director for the door-to-door solicitor's license required under this Division, where said solicitors and representatives intend to continue to solicit within the County.

  (3) Any company, firm, corporation, or partnership whose exempt status, as provided under this Section, is revoked by the Director shall not be eligible to reapply for another exemption for a period of three (3) calendar years from the date said revocation order by the Director becomes final because of the expiration of the appeal period or the termination of judicial review.

  (4) Any company, firm, corporation, or partnership aggrieved by a decision of the Director to revoke the exempt status provided in this Section shall have the right to appeal such decision to the Board of Appeals for Prince George's County, Maryland, within ten (10) calendar days after the date of receipt of a revocation decision by the Director. Any such appeal shall be on the record of the hearing before the Director.

(j) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to restrict or abridge the Director from exercising jurisdiction over any company, firm, corporation, or partnership which has been granted an exemption under this Section.