Title 12. Plumbers — Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-601 (2026)
Title 12. Plumbers
Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
§ 12–601LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not provide, attempt to provide, or offer to provide plumbing services unless licensed by the Board to provide plumbing services.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not assist, attempt to assist, or offer to assist in providing plumbing services in the State unless licensed by the Board to provide or assist in providing plumbing services.
(c)
Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not provide, attempt to provide, or offer to provide propane gas services unless licensed by the Board to provide plumbing services or certified by the Board to provide propane gas services.
(d)
Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not provide, attempt to provide, or offer to provide natural gas services unless licensed by the Board to provide plumbing services or natural gas services.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-602 (2026)
Title 12. Plumbers
Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
§ 12–602LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this title, a master plumber, holder of a limited master plumber license, or other person who engages in the business of providing plumbing services may not employ an individual to provide or assist in providing plumbing services unless the individual:
(1)
is licensed by the Board as a master plumber or holder of a limited master plumber license; or
(2)
(i)
is licensed by the Board as a journey plumber, holder of a limited journey plumber license, or apprentice plumber; and
(ii)
provides or assists in providing the plumbing services within the scope of the license.
(b)
A person may not employ an individual to provide or assist in providing plumbing services under a public work contract subject to Title 17, Subtitle 2 of the State Finance and Procurement Article unless the individual is licensed by the Board, the Baltimore County Plumbing Board, or the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
(c)
A person may not classify an employee under a public work contract subject to Title 17, Subtitle 2 of the State Finance and Procurement Article who is licensed under this title at a specific work classification that is higher than the employee’s license type.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-603 (2026)
Title 12. Plumbers
Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
§ 12–603LinkCopy Citation
Except as otherwise provided in this title, regardless of whether a person is engaged in the business of providing plumbing services, the person may not knowingly employ an individual to provide or assist in providing plumbing services in the State unless the individual is licensed by the Board.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-604 (2026)
Title 12. Plumbers
Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
§ 12–604LinkCopy Citation
Unless authorized under this title to provide plumbing services, a person may not represent to the public, by use of a title, including “master plumber”, “registered plumber”, “licensed master plumber”, “holder of limited master plumber license”, “licensed journey plumber”, “journey plumber”, “holder of a limited journey plumber license”, “holder of a propane gas fitter certificate”, “holder of a master natural gas fitters license”, “holder of a journeyman natural gas fitters license”, or “holder of an apprentice natural gas fitters license”, by description of services, methods, or procedures, or otherwise, that the person is authorized to provide plumbing services in the State.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-605 (2026)
Title 12. Plumbers
Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
§ 12–605LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
A person may not install a plumbing fixture or other device that does not meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code.
(2)
A person may not sell or install a fixture or other device that does not limit water consumption in accordance with the standards adopted by the Board.
(b)
Subject to subsection (c) of this section, each local plumbing inspector shall enforce the prohibition against the installation of a plumbing fixture that is not water-conserving under the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code to ensure that the capacity for waste water treatment of municipal sewage treatment facilities and private on-site wastewater disposal systems is not exceeded.
(c)
Enforcement of this section may be suspended for a specified period if a local plumbing inspector determines that:
(1)
there is an inadequate supply of fixtures and devices that are required by and meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code;
(2)
the configuration of a drainage system for a building requires a greater quantity of water to flush the system adequately than is delivered by fixtures and devices that are required by and meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code; or
(3)
historic restoration would be affected adversely.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-605.1 (2026)
Title 12. Plumbers
Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
§ 12–605.1LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In the installation or repair of plumbing intended to dispense water for human consumption, a person shall use only pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, or fixtures that are lead–free.
(b)
In the installation or repair of plumbing intended to dispense water for human consumption, a person shall use only solder or flux that is lead–free.
(c)
Only the individual pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, or fixtures that are installed or repaired may be considered when calculating the weighted average lead content.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-605.2 (2026)
Title 12. Plumbers
Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
§ 12–605.2LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person engaged in the business of selling plumbing supplies in the State may not sell pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, or fixtures that will be used in the installation or repair of any plumbing that dispenses water for human consumption, unless the pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, or fixtures are lead–free.
(b)
A person engaged in the business of selling plumbing supplies in the State may not sell solder or flux that is not lead–free unless the solder or flux bears a label stating that it is illegal to use the solder or flux in the installation or repair of any plumbing that dispenses water for human consumption.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-606 (2026)
Title 12. Plumbers
Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
§ 12–606LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person who builds or remodels a building or structure shall ensure installation, in the building or structure, of fixtures and devices that are required by and meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code.
(b)
Enforcement of this section may be suspended for a specified period if a local plumbing inspector determines that:
(1)
there is an inadequate supply of fixtures and devices that are required by and meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code;
(2)
the configuration of a drainage system for a building requires a greater quantity of water to flush the system adequately than is delivered by fixtures and devices that are required by and meet the standards for approval as set out in the State Plumbing Code or any applicable local plumbing code; or
(3)
historic restoration would be affected adversely.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. § 12-607 (2026)
Title 12. Plumbers
Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties
§ 12–607LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this subsection, “officer” includes a superintendent, manager, and agent of a corporation regardless of whether it engages in the business of providing plumbing services.
(2)
A person, including an officer, who violates any provision of the following sections of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50 for each day or part of each day that the violation continues:
(i)
§ 12-602;
(ii)
§ 12-603; and
(iii)
§ 12-604.
(b)
(1)
A person who violates any provision of the following sections of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or both for each day or part of each day that the violation continues:
(i)
§ 12–601;
(ii)
except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, § 12–605; and
(iii)
§ 12–606.
(2)
This subsection does not apply to a violation of any prohibition on the sale or installation of a fixture or other device that is not water–conserving.
(c)
Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of § 12-501(a) of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or both.
(d)
(1)
In addition to any other penalties under this title, the Board may impose on a person who violates any provision of this subtitle a penalty not exceeding $5,000 for each violation.
(2)
In setting the amount of the penalty, the Board shall consider:
(i)
the gravity of the violation;
(ii)
the good faith of the violator;
(iii)
the quantity and gravity of previous violations by the same violator;
(iv)
the harm caused to the complainant, the public, and the plumbing profession;
(v)
the assets of the violator; and
(vi)
any other factors that the Board considers relevant.