# Business Occupations and Professions (GBO)

## Title 4. Barbers

### Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties

#### Section 4-601

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not practice, attempt to practice, or offer to practice barbering in the State unless licensed by the Board to practice barbering.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not provide, attempt to provide, or offer to provide barber-stylist services in the State unless licensed by the Board to provide barber-stylist services.

#### Section 4-602

A person may not operate a barbershop in the State unless the person holds a barbershop permit issued by the Board.

#### Section 4-603

An individual may not serve as an apprentice barber unless registered by the Board as an apprentice barber.

#### Section 4-604

(a)

  (1) Unless authorized under this title to practice barbering, a person may not represent to the public, by use of a title, including "licensed barber", "master barber", or "journey barber", by description of services, methods, or procedures, or otherwise, that the person is authorized to practice barbering in the State.

  (2) If an individual is authorized under this title to engage in the limited practice of barbering, the individual may represent to the public that the individual is authorized to practice barbering in a manner restricted to that limited practice.

(b) Unless an establishment holds a barbershop permit under this title, a person may not represent to the public, by title, by description of services, methods, or procedures, or otherwise, that the establishment is a barbershop.

#### Section 4-605

(a) Except as provided in Sec.Sec. 4-301.1 and 4-301.2 of this title and subsection (b) of this section, a person may not practice barbering or provide barber-stylist services in any place other than:

  (1) a barbershop that holds a barbershop permit under this title; or

  (2) a beauty salon that holds a beauty salon permit under Title 5 of this article.

(b) A licensed master barber, licensed barber, or licensed barber-stylist may practice barbering or provide barber-stylist services as appropriate outside a barbershop or beauty salon if:

  (1) the master barber, barber, or barber-stylist is sponsored by a barbershop that holds a barbershop permit or a beauty salon that holds a beauty salon permit;

  (2) the patron is a customer of the barbershop or the beauty salon;

  (3) the implements transported to the site where barbering services or barber-stylist services will be performed are sanitized and disinfected;

  (4) the sponsoring barbershop maintains complete records of all services performed outside the barbershop or the beauty salon; and

  (5) Board inspectors are permitted to conduct inspections of:

    (i) the implements used outside of the barbershop or the beauty salon; and

    (ii) the premises where the barbering services or barber-stylist services are performed.

#### Section 4-607

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this title, the Board may impose on a person who violates any provision of this title a penalty not exceeding $1,000 for all violations cited on a single day.

(b) In setting the amount of the penalty, the Board shall consider:

  (1) the seriousness of the violation;

  (2) the harm caused by the violation;

  (3) the good faith of the violator;

  (4) any history of previous violations by the violator; and

  (5) any other relevant factors.

(c) The Board shall pay any penalty collected under this section into the General Fund of the State.

#### Section 4-608

(a) Following an inspection of a barbershop, if a Board inspector determines that a licensee or permit holder has violated this title or a regulation adopted by the Board, the inspector may issue a citation to the licensee or permit holder.

(b) A citation issued by a Board inspector shall be in writing and shall state:

  (1) a brief description of each violation;

  (2) the amount of a civil penalty, as prescribed by regulation, for each violation; and

  (3) as provided in this section:

    (i) the time within which the civil penalty is to be paid;

    (ii) the opportunity to contest the citation; and

    (iii) the finality of the citation if it is not contested.

(c) The citation shall be served on the licensee or permit holder alleged to have committed the violation by:

  (1) hand-delivery; or

  (2) certified mail to the last known address of the licensee or permit holder.

(d) Subject to subsections (e) and (f) of this section, the civil penalty set forth in a citation shall be paid within 60 days of its receipt.

(e) A citation and the applicable civil penalty shall be considered a final order of the Board unless, within 60 days of being served with the citation, the licensee or permit holder notifies the Board in writing of an intent to contest the citation.

(f)

  (1) Upon the receipt of a written notice of a licensee or permit holder's intent to contest a citation, the Board shall hold a hearing, in accordance with Sec. 4-315 or Sec. 4-514 of this title, regarding the cited violations.

  (2) A hearing held in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection may not be delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings under Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.

(g)

  (1) The Board shall establish by regulation a schedule of civil penalties for violations of this title and regulations adopted by the Board.

  (2) The civil penalties imposed under this subsection may not exceed $300 for all violations cited on a single day.

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