# Business Occupations and Professions (GBO)

## Title 12. Plumbers

### Subtitle 5. Miscellaneous Provisions

#### Section 12-501

(a) A master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license may not contract to provide plumbing services on behalf of the master plumber, holder of a limited master plumber license, or another person who engages in the business of providing plumbing services unless the plumbing work of the master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license is covered by liability insurance, including completed operations:

  (1) for bodily injury in the amount of at least $300,000; and

  (2) for property damage in the amount of at least $100,000.

(b)

  (1) The insurance required under this section may be bought:

    (i) by a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license; or

    (ii) for a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license, by the person who engages in the business of providing plumbing services and employs the master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license.

  (2) The insurance requirement of this section is not met for work that a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license does outside the scope of employment for the person who carries the insurance.

(c) An apprentice plumber, journey plumber, or holder of a limited journey plumber license need not obtain separate insurance while providing or assisting in providing plumbing services within the scope of the license.

(d)

  (1) An applicant for a master plumber license or limited master plumber license shall submit proof of the insurance required under this section to the Board with the license application.

  (2) The Board may not issue a master plumber license or limited master plumber license to an applicant to whom the insurance requirements of this section would apply unless the applicant submits proof of the insurance.

(e) Unless an applicant meets the insurance requirements of this section, the Board may not renew the master plumber license or limited master plumber license of the applicant to whom the insurance requirements of this section would apply.

(f) A master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license shall give the Board notice of the cancellation of insurance at least 10 days before the effective date of the cancellation.

(g) If a county, municipal corporation, special taxing district, or other political subdivision requires a master plumber, holder of a limited master plumber license, or other person who engages in the business of providing plumbing services to execute a surety bond under local plumbing requirements, the person may satisfy the bond requirement by submitting proof of the insurance required under this section.

(h) The Board shall specify on the master plumber license or limited master plumber license whether the master plumber or holder of the limited master plumber license meets the insurance requirements of this section.

#### Section 12-502

(a) Regardless of whether plumbing services are provided for compensation, a person who provides or assists in providing plumbing services shall comply with the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code.

(b) To ensure that plumbing services provided in a State building meet or exceed the standards of the State Plumbing Code, the plumbing work shall be inspected:

  (1) to the extent money is provided in the State budget, by a State plumbing inspector; or

  (2) if not inspected by a State plumbing inspector, by an inspector of the county or local government where the plumbing services are provided.

#### Section 12-503

(a) Each individual whom the State, a county, or a local government appoints or employs as a plumbing inspector shall:

  (1) each year attend a continuing education course that the Board or, with the approval of the Board, a county or local government conducts; and

  (2) meet minimum standards that:

    (i) adequately ensure that the plumbing inspector is qualified to inspect in accordance with the State Plumbing Code;

    (ii) are established:

      (1) by the county or local government in consultation with the Board; or

      (2) if there is no standard established by the county or local government, by the Board; and

    (iii) are administered:

      (1) for a county or local government inspector, by the county or local government that appoints or employs the inspector; and

      (2) for a State inspector, by the State.

(b)

  (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a county or local government may employ an individual as a plumbing inspector only if the individual holds a master plumber license issued by the Board, the Baltimore County Plumbing Board, or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.

  (2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to a county or local government that uses combination building code inspectors to conduct concurrent trade-specific inspections on residential or commercial buildings to determine compliance with adopted plumbing codes and building codes if the combination building code inspector, as part of the inspector's training, has passed:

    (i) a master plumber examination given by the Board, the Baltimore County Plumbing Board, or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; or

    (ii) the plumbing inspector's test administered by the Board.

(c) An individual may not have any financial interest in any plumbing business while employed by the State, a county, or any local government as a plumbing inspector.

(d)

  (1) On appointment or employment, the individual shall place the master plumber license, journey plumber license, or limited license on inactive status.

  (2) The Board may issue a plumbing inspector identification card to a plumbing inspector who has placed the appropriate license on inactive status.

  (3) On termination of the appointment or employment of an individual as a plumbing inspector, the Board shall reactivate the master plumber license, journey plumber license, or limited license of an individual who is on inactive status, without examination, if the individual:

    (i) makes a written request to the Board; and

    (ii) pays to the Board a reactivation fee set by the Board.

(e) The Board may impose a reasonable fee to cover the costs of conducting the continuing education courses under subsection (a) of this section.

#### Section 12-504

Each plumbing advertisement in the name of a person who engages in the business of providing plumbing services shall contain the license number and name of a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license whom the person employs and designates to direct and control the provision of plumbing services through the business of the person.

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