# Business Occupations and Professions (GBO)

## Title 10.5. Oil and Gas Land Professionals

### Subtitle 1

#### Section 10.5-101

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b)

  (1) "Land professional" means a person that, acting on the person's own behalf or on behalf of a prospective lessee or buyer, negotiates with a property owner for the acquisition of mineral rights in oil or gas in the State.

  (2) "Land professional" does not include a person that negotiates for the acquisition or divestiture of a lessee's interest in an existing lease for mineral rights in oil or gas.

(c)

  (1) "Mineral rights in oil or gas" means property rights that allow the holder of the rights to enter onto or under the property of another person for the extraction of crude oil, natural gas, or the constituents of crude oil or natural gas.

  (2) "Mineral rights in oil or gas" includes an oil or gas lease.

#### Section 10.5-102

Except as otherwise provided in Sec.Sec. 10-14A-03 and 10-14B-03 of the State Government Article, a person may not operate as a land professional in the State unless the person registers with the Department and is issued a registration certificate under this title.

#### Section 10.5-103

(a) A person shall register as a land professional by submitting to the Department:

  (1) an initial registration application on the form required by the Department; and

  (2) an initial registration fee set by the Department.

(b) The Department shall assign a registration number and issue a registration certificate to each person that meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.

(c) A registration under this title is valid for 2 years from the effective date of the registration and may be renewed by submitting to the Department:

  (1) a registration renewal application on the form required by the Department; and

  (2) a registration renewal fee set by the Department.

#### Section 10.5-104

Before obtaining any mineral rights in oil or gas from a property owner, a land professional shall provide to the property owner proof that the land professional is registered under this title.

#### Section 10.5-105

The Department shall adopt regulations that:

(1) establish a registration form for the initial and renewal registration of a land professional;

(2) set fees for the issuance of an initial registration and for a registration renewal;

(3) provide for the assignment of a registration number and the issuance of a registration certificate to each registered land professional; and

(4) establish any other requirements and procedures necessary to implement this title.

#### Section 10.5-106

The Department shall develop a means for providing public access to relevant information relating to each person registered under this title.

#### Section 10.5-107

(a) A person that violates any provision of this title or any regulation adopted under this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to:

  (1) for a first violation, a fine of not less than $500 but not exceeding $1,000; and

  (2) for a second or subsequent violation, a fine of not less than $1,000 but not exceeding $2,000.

(b) Any fines collected under this section shall be paid into the General Fund of the State.

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Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)