- None stated. Subcontractors working for an MHIC licensed contractor do not need their own license.
- The application must include a record of your home improvement or construction experience.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Only if you do not meet financial solvency guidelines. Then an indemnitor or a $30,000 or $100,000 surety bond.
- Every two years. The Guaranty Fund renewal assessment is $175.
Do you need a state license in Maryland?
Maryland licenses handyman work at the state level through the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), Maryland Department of Labor. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
None stated. Subcontractors working for an MHIC licensed contractor do not need their own license.
Maryland license types for handyman work
Maryland splits the work into 2 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| MHIC Contractor license | Contract directly with homeowners for repairs and improvements |
| MHIC Salesperson license | Sell jobs for a licensed contractor |
Steps to get licensed in Maryland
- Pass the MHIC contractor's exam through PSI.
- Get at least $500,000 general liability insurance.
- Fill out the contractor's personal financial statement.
- Apply to the Maryland Home Improvement Commission and pay the license fee and Guaranty Fund assessment.
- Renew every two years.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The application must include a record of your home improvement or construction experience.
The license to apply for. MHIC Home Improvement Contractor license.
Maryland handyman exams
Trade exam. Yes. The MHIC contractor's exam, given by PSI.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Maryland
The board lists 3 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| MHIC contractor license, per place of business | $281.25 |
| MHIC application processing fee | $22.50 |
| Guaranty Fund assessment, new license (two years) | $100 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. At least $500,000 general liability insurance, required since June 1, 2024.
Bond. Only if you do not meet financial solvency guidelines. Then an indemnitor or a $30,000 or $100,000 surety bond.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. The Guaranty Fund renewal assessment is $175.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Maryland
- Home improvement includes decks, fences, driveways, porches, garages, storm windows and hooking up a dishwasher, disposal or icemaker to existing exposed plumbing lines.
- Work on apartment buildings with four or more units is outside the home improvement law.
- HVACR work needs a separate license from the State Board of HVACR Contractors.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), Maryland Department of Labor and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.