# Business Occupations and Professions (GBO) ## Title 5. Cosmetologists ### Subtitle 6. Prohibited Acts; Penalties #### Section 5-601 Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person may not practice, attempt to practice, or offer to practice cosmetology in the State unless licensed by the Board to practice cosmetology. #### Section 5-602 A person may not operate a beauty salon in the State unless the person holds a beauty salon permit issued by the Board. #### Section 5-603 A person may not serve as an apprentice unless registered by the Board as an apprentice. #### Section 5-604 (a) (1) Unless authorized under this title to practice cosmetology, a person may not represent to the public, by use of a title, including "licensed cosmetologist", by description of services, methods, or procedures, or otherwise, that the person is authorized to practice cosmetology in the State. (2) If an individual is authorized under this title to engage in the limited practice of cosmetology, the individual may represent to the public that the individual is authorized to practice cosmetology in a manner restricted to that limited practice. (b) Unless an establishment holds a beauty salon 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 beauty salon. #### Section 5-605 (a) Except as provided in Sec.Sec. 5-302 and 5-303 of this title and subsection (b) of this section, a person may not practice cosmetology, provide esthetic services, provide eyelash extension services, provide hair services, provide hair services - blow drying, or provide nail technician services in any place other than: (1) a beauty salon that holds a beauty salon permit; or (2) a barbershop that holds a barbershop permit issued under Title 4 of this article. (b) (1) A licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, eyelash extension technician, hairstylist, hairstylist - blow dry technician, or nail technician may practice cosmetology and provide services in: (i) a facility in which beautification-oriented medical services, authorized by the Maryland Department of Health, are provided; (ii) the residence of an individual confined to the residence by reason of a physical or mental infirmity; (iii) an assisted living facility as defined in Sec. 19-1801 of the Health - General Article; (iv) a hospice facility defined in Sec. 19-901(c) of the Health - General Article; (v) a nursing home as defined in Sec. 19-1401(e) of the Health - General Article; or (vi) a hospital as defined in Sec. 19-301 of the Health - General Article or a similar institution. (2) To practice in any of the locations specified in this subsection: (i) the licensed cosmetologist, esthetician, eyelash extension technician, hairstylist, hairstylist - blow dry technician, or nail technician shall be sponsored by a beauty salon in which the cosmetologist, esthetician, hairstylist, hairstylist - blow dry technician, or nail technician is authorized to practice; (ii) the patron to whom the services are rendered shall be a customer of the beauty salon; and (iii) the services shall be rendered by appointment through the beauty salon. #### Section 5-606 An owner or lessee of a beauty salon may not allow any individual to: (1) use as a residence any room that is used wholly or partly as a beauty salon; or (2) sleep in any room that is used wholly or partly as a beauty salon. #### Section 5-607 (a) An owner or lessee of a beauty salon may not knowingly: (1) employ in the beauty salon an individual with an infectious or contagious disease that presents a hazard to a patron; or (2) after discovering an individual has an infectious or contagious disease that presents a hazard to a patron, continue to employ the individual in the beauty salon. (b) (1) An individual who knows that the individual has an infectious or contagious disease that presents a hazard to a beauty salon patron may not practice cosmetology. (2) An individual who knows that another individual has an infectious or contagious disease that presents a hazard to a beauty salon patron may not practice cosmetology on that other individual. (c) An individual may not practice cosmetology in a careless or negligent manner so as to: (1) cause an infection; or (2) impart an infectious or contagious disease that presents a hazard to a beauty salon patron. #### Section 5-608 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a school of cosmetology approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission may not allow a student to practice cosmetology on the public. (b) A school of cosmetology approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission may allow a student to practice cosmetology in accordance with Sec. 5-302 or Sec. 5-303 of this title. #### Section 5-608.1 (a) A person may not use or possess methyl methacrylate liquid monomer (MMA) in a beauty salon in this State. (b) To determine whether a person is in violation of subsection (a) of this section, an inspector may chemically test products or take samples of products at random or when the inspector suspects that a product is illegal. (c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 for all violations cited on a single day. #### Section 5-608.2 The Board may prohibit or restrict the use or possession of lasers in beauty salons. #### Section 5-609 (a) A person who violates any provision of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or both. (b) (1) 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. (2) In setting the amount of the penalty, the Board shall consider: (i) the seriousness of the violation; (ii) the harm caused by the violation; (iii) the good faith of the violator; (iv) any history of previous violations by the violator; and (v) any other relevant factors. (3) The Board shall pay any penalty collected under this subsection into the General Fund of the State. #### Section 5-610 (a) Following an inspection of a beauty salon, 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. 5-315 or Sec. 5-523 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. --- Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)