§ 8–101
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Bus. Reg. § 8-101 (2026)
Title 8. Home Improvement
Subtitle 1. Definitions; General Provisions
§ 8–101LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Commission” means the Maryland Home Improvement Commission.
(c)
“Contractor” means a person, other than an employee of an owner, who performs or offers or agrees to perform a home improvement for an owner.
(d)
“Contractor license” means a license issued by the Commission to act as a contractor.
(e)
“Fund” means the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund.
(f)
“Hearing board” means a home improvement hearing board appointed by the Commission under § 8-313 of this title.
(g)
(1)
“Home improvement” means:
(i)
the addition to or alteration, conversion, improvement, modernization, remodeling, repair, or replacement of a building or part of a building that is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling place or a structure adjacent to that building; or
(ii)
an improvement to land adjacent to the building.
(2)
“Home improvement” includes:
(i)
construction, improvement, or replacement, on land adjacent to the building, of a driveway, fall–out shelter, fence, garage, landscaping, deck, pier, porch, or swimming pool;
(ii)
a shore erosion control project, as defined under § 8–1001 of the Natural Resources Article, for a residential property;
(iii)
connection, installation, or replacement, in the building or structure, of a dishwasher, disposal, or refrigerator with an icemaker to existing exposed household plumbing lines;
(iv)
installation, in the building or structure, of an awning, fire alarm, or storm window; and
(v)
work done on individual condominium units.
(3)
“Home improvement” does not include:
(i)
construction of a new home;
(ii)
work done to comply with a guarantee of completion for a new building project;
(iii)
connection, installation, or replacement of an appliance to existing exposed plumbing lines that requires alteration of the plumbing lines;
(iv)
sale of materials, if the seller does not arrange to perform or does not perform directly or indirectly any work in connection with the installation or application of the materials;
(v)
work done on apartment buildings that contain four or more single–family units; or
(vi)
work done on the commonly owned areas of condominiums.
(h)
“Home improvement contract” means an oral or written agreement between a contractor and owner for the contractor to perform a home improvement.
(i)
(1)
“License” means, except where it refers to a license other than one issued under this title, a license issued by the Commission.
(2)
“License” includes:
(i)
a contractor license; and
(ii)
a salesperson license.
(j)
“Licensed contractor” means a person who is licensed by the Commission to act as a contractor.
(k)
“Owner” includes a homeowner, tenant, or other person who buys, contracts for, orders, or is entitled to a home improvement.
(l)
“Salesperson” means a person who sells a home improvement.
(m)
“Salesperson license” means a license issued by the Commission to sell a home improvement.
(n)
“Sell a home improvement” means:
(1)
to negotiate or offer to negotiate a home improvement contract with an owner; or
(2)
to seek to get a home improvement contract from an owner.
(o)
“Subcontractor” means a person, other than a laborer or supplier of materials, who makes an oral or written agreement with:
(1)
a contractor to perform all or part of a home improvement contract; or
(2)
another subcontractor to perform all or part of a subcontract to a home improvement contract.