subject: Law Requires Maryland Plumbers to Be Licensed to Offer Services [print this page] Law Requires Maryland Plumbers to Be Licensed to Offer Services
A plumber in Maryland is required to have a license to offer gas or plumbing services in the state. The licenses are issued by the Maryland Board of Plumbing. Qualified non-plumbers are also issue licenses as natural gas fitters and for propane gas services, if they qualify for it. However, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and the Baltimore County jurisdictions in the state issue their own licenses and plumbing codes to Maryland plumbers who provide services there.
Maryland is prone to floods and storms, which result in a substantial about of damage to homes and plumbing systems. Hence, homeowners need prompt repairs to keep themselves and their properties safe and secure. In such a situation, contacting a Maryland plumber who does not hold a proper license may be cheaper and easily available but it might result in unsatisfactory work and no protection from the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. If a homeowner suffers economic damages when he uses services of a licensed home improvement contractor, he can claim compensations or coverage from the MHIC but it is not applicable in case of unlicensed Maryland plumbers.
Besides, the law in Maryland requires homeowners to use licensed service providers only for home improvement, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) work. The categorization of the license should be proper too. Apprentice license holders need to work under the supervision of Master or Journey level Maryland plumbers and cannot take on plumbing or gas work alone. A Journey Plumber too has to work under the direction and control of a Master Plumber. An insured Master Plumber alone can take on independent contracts for plumbing or gas services in Maryland.
Both plumbers who offer plumbing or gas services without the state license and the homeowners who engage such plumbers run the risk of being sent to jail in Maryland for violating the laws.
