The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Has a New Address
As you may be aware if you have visited our website or contacted the commission recently, our offices have moved to 1100 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore, MD 21201. Please make note of our new address for all future mailing needs. Our phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same, as will our website address and social media accounts.
Virtual Appointments Now Available
Our office has developed new remote ways to support our clients with our new virtual appointment form located on our website where clients needing assistance can request a virtual appointment with our staff. These appointments are available Monday through Friday with start times ranging from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and are hosted using Google Meet.
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Computer Users:
- A Google or Gmail account is not required to join the meeting on a computer. Simply click on the meeting link in your email and join the meeting.
Mobile Device Users:
- A Google or Gmail account is required to use the video call function for your appointment.
If you need to visit our office in-person to review or deliver documents, our building is still open and available by appointment only. You can schedule an appointment at our new building online. If you need additional or immediate assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us; we remain dedicated to servicing all of our clients and are here to assist via phone and e-mail in addition to our new virtual platform.
Increase to Guaranty Fund Maximum - SB 467
Effective July 1, 2022, a change to the Business Regulation Article of the Maryland Annotated Code, § 8–405 has increased the maximum amount that a homeowner may recover through the Guaranty Fund to $30,000. This change is also reflected in the financial solvency requirements that home improvement contractors must demonstrate for licensure. The $100,000 maximum of total claims against a single licensee remains unaffected.
You can read the full text of the legislative bill, SB 467, as well as the fiscal impact and policy analysis of the bill on the Maryland General Assembly Website.
Updating Your Information with the Commission
Keeping your information up-to-date with the commission is easy and paperless with our electronic licensing system. When you access our electronic licensing portal and log in with your license type, registration number, and password or pin, you can update the information associated with your individual license as well as your business entity. For changes to the trade name of a contractor or type of business entity, contact the commission.
Persons holding home improvement licenses must notify the Executive Director of the Commission of any change of control in ownership or management or a change of address within 10 days of the change by certified mail return receipt requested.
If there is a name change, the Commission must receive legal proof of the change before the Commission's records can be changed. If you want a new license reflecting these changes, you must submit your current license(s), legal proof of change of name and insurance certificate reflecting the name change.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Licensing
- The Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing will expedite the replacement of any damaged licenses and wall certificates. Businesses or individuals that experienced a loss of the actual paper license can call 410-230-6231 for more details.
Advertisement and Contracts
- Contractors must display their home improvement license number on all of their home improvement contracts, trucks, and advertisements.
- Arbitration clauses in contracts must be clearly disclosed and initialed by both parties.
- Home improvement contracts cannot require the payment of more than one third of the total contract price at the time of signing the contract.
Other Federal and State Agencies
- A contractor who holds a license under the Maryland Home Improvement Law is not required to hold a construction license issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
- For renovations performed in pre -1978 housing for compensation you may need to have lead abatement accreditation and provide homeowners with lead information. Contact the EPA and the Maryland Department of the Environment. You can find more information about lead abatement for home improvement contractors in Maryland on our website.
Message from the Commissioner's Office
By Gregory J. Morgan, Commissioner for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
I am sure that when this newsletter arrived in your inbox, you realized that it has been a while since your last newsletter. We have restructured our team and I am excited to announce that Danielle Anderson has joined our team as Website and Outreach Coordinator for the Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing. Danielle is responsible for putting together 11 newsletters for our division and ensuring the timely distribution to the appropriate licensees. In addition to the newsletters, we are improving our websites as well our communication channels including email and phone in an effort to continually improve our customer service response.
In the nearly 2 years that I have been with the Department of Labor, our team has worked hard to navigate the challenges presented by the COVID19 pandemic, while maintaining the highest standards in customer service. We believe our team did a great job, however we will never stop improving our processes and adding quality talent to our great team.
Thank you for taking the time to read your newsletter and please contact us should you require any assistance.
Have a great summer!
My best,
Gregory J. Morgan
Commissioner
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