Maryland Painting Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Maryland regulates residential painting through the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), a unit of the Maryland Department of Labor, under Maryland Business Regulation Article §8-101 et seq. Any painting on residential property (single-family through four-unit) requires an MHIC Home Improvement Contractor license before soliciting, bidding, or contracting. The MHIC exam is a combined business and law test; experience of at least two years in home improvement work is required. Maryland also enforces a separate state Lead Rental Certification and Accreditation Program under Environment Article §6-8 alongside federal EPA RRP — both apply to painting in pre-1978 housing.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Whether or not Maryland licenses this trade, any work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing falls under the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule nationwide. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Maryland Department of Labor — Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (MD DOL) pursuant to Maryland Code, Business Regulation and Business Occupations Articles. The Maryland Department of Labor houses the occupational boards that license home improvement contractors, master electricians, plumbers, and HVACR contractors statewide, adopts technical codes by reference, and conducts disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/
Address: 1100 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 230-6231

Eligibility Requirements

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Maryland residency requirement.

Good moral character

MHIC reviews consumer complaints, criminal history, and prior license discipline. Prior home improvement fraud convictions are disqualifying.

Background investigation

Fingerprint-based criminal history check required for applicants.

Experience & Education Matrix

Plan to substantiate 2 years of at least two years of experience in home improvement work (residential construction, renovation, or trade activities including painting) with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Signed experience verification from former employers
W-2 or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Project list with addresses and scope

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to MHIC). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

MHIC Home Improvement Contractor Examination — 55 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 72%

Examination fee: $63 PSI exam fee plus $250 MHIC application and $200 Guaranty Fund assessment.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after re-registration with PSI; application valid for one year.

Insurance & Financial Security

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

MHIC requires a minimum $50,000 general liability policy for home improvement contractors; market standard is $1,000,000 / $2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation mandatory under Labor and Employment Article §9-402 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

MHIC does not require a financial statement but collects a Guaranty Fund assessment that funds consumer claims up to $30,000 per transaction.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$250
Examination	$63
Initial license	$370
Renewal (every 2 years)	$370

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) License — Painting Scope every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $370. MHIC license renews biennially. Guaranty Fund assessment is paid at initial licensure only; subsequent assessments apply if the fund drops below statutory reserves.

Continuing education: No CE required for MHIC renewal.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Maryland Painting License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Maryland does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

MHIC does not reciprocate with other states. Out-of-state painters must complete the full MHIC application and exam before performing residential painting in Maryland.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Painting license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Document two years of home improvement experience. Compile verification from former employers, W-2/1099 records, and a project list.
Submit MHIC application with fingerprints. $250 application fee plus $200 Guaranty Fund assessment; fingerprint background check required.
Schedule and pass the PSI MHIC exam. Score 72% or higher on the 55-question Business and Law exam.
Procure general liability insurance. $50,000 minimum per MHIC; $1M/$2M is the practical floor for commercial work.
Set up workers compensation if hiring employees. Mandatory from the first employee.
Complete EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification. Required for pre-1978 housing; Maryland has extensive pre-1978 stock in Baltimore, Silver Spring, and Annapolis.
Obtain Maryland MDE Lead Accreditation if applicable. Maryland Department of the Environment runs a state lead program under Environment Article §6-8 for regulated pre-1978 rental housing.
Use MHIC-compliant residential contract template. Business Regulation §8-501 requires specific disclosures including the MHIC license number, Guaranty Fund notice, and cancellation rights.
Renew MHIC license biennially. Track the two-year renewal cycle; maintain insurance continuously.

Study and Reference Materials

These are the preparation and reference materials tied to this credential — cited by the regulator or widely used by applicants. CLR earns nothing from listing them.

Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Examination Candidate Bulletin — PSI / MHIC. Content outline and reference list for the PSI exam.
Business Regulation Article §8 (Maryland Home Improvement Law) — Maryland General Assembly. Governing statute.
EPA Lead-Safe Work Practices Student Manual — US EPA. Required for RRP Renovator certification.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Maryland Painting filing.

Soliciting residential painting without MHIC

Business Regulation §8-601 makes unlicensed solicitation a misdemeanor with fines and imprisonment; MHIC refers cases to the Attorney General.

Contracts missing MHIC disclosures

Business Regulation §8-501 requires the MHIC number, Guaranty Fund notice, and three-day cancellation rights on every residential contract. Noncompliant contracts are unenforceable.

Treating federal EPA RRP as sufficient

Maryland MDE adds state-specific lead accreditation for pre-1978 rental housing on top of federal EPA RRP.

Guaranty Fund claim triggers

Consumer complaints that result in Guaranty Fund payouts may trigger license discipline and re-assessment of the contractor.

No workers comp from day one

Maryland requires coverage from the first employee.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with MD DOL:

☐ Two years documented home improvement experience
☐ MHIC application with fingerprints
☐ $200 Guaranty Fund assessment
☐ PSI MHIC exam pass at 72%
☐ General liability insurance ($50K minimum)
☐ Workers compensation (if employees)
☐ EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification
☐ Maryland MDE Lead Accreditation (if applicable)
☐ MHIC-compliant residential contract template

Other Maryland Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Maryland trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Maryland regulate residential painting?

Yes. Painting on residential property is "home improvement" under Business Regulation §8-101 and requires an MHIC license before any paid work. Commercial painting is not MHIC-regulated but still subject to local licensing and federal EPA RRP.

What does the MHIC exam cover?

The 55-question PSI exam covers Maryland home improvement law, contract requirements, consumer protection rules, and basic business and trade knowledge. Passing score is 72%.

What is the Guaranty Fund?

MHIC collects a $200 initial assessment that funds consumer claims up to $30,000 per transaction. Consumers harmed by licensed contractors file claims against the fund; contractors whose work triggers payouts may be assessed and face discipline.

Does Maryland have separate lead rules?

Yes. Maryland MDE runs the Lead Rental Certification and Accreditation Program under Environment Article §6-8 in addition to federal EPA RRP. Both apply to pre-1978 rental housing.

Can I paint in Maryland without MHIC?

No. Any painting on residential property (solicited or advertised) requires MHIC licensure, even for a single job. Commercial-only painters operate without MHIC but must comply with local licensing and EPA RRP.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-26 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-24