Which license each job needs in Baltimore County
| Work | License | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Home improvement: "alteration, remodeling, repair or replacement" of a home | MHIC license, with at least $500,000 liability insurance since 1 June 2024 | Home Improvement Public Query |
| New homes | Home Builder Registration with the Attorney General; MHIC "does not cover new home construction" | Home Builder Registration Unit, (410) 576-6573 |
| Electrical | Licensed electrical contractor registered with Baltimore County | State Electricians search on labor.maryland.gov/pq; the county for registration |
| Plumbing and gas | Baltimore County plumbing or gasfitting license | County PAI, 410-887-3620 |
| Heating and air conditioning | Maryland HVACR license; gas, plumbing or electrical parts of the job need those trades' permits | HVAC search on labor.maryland.gov/pq |
The county's electrical permit page says "Only a licensed electrical contractor who is registered with Baltimore County can apply for an electrical permit", and its plumbing licensing page says "Only a Baltimore County licensed plumbing or gasfitting contractor can apply for a plumbing or gasfitting permit" (both read 26 October 2026). The county licenses master and journeyman plumbers and gasfitters, plus onsite utility, disposal system and drain and sewer cleaning contractors. The HVACR board's county page adds that in counties like this, "local plumbing, gasfitting and electrical permits may be required before HVACR work can begin."
How to run the lookup in five minutes
- Ask for the MHIC number of the firm on the contract and search it on the Home Improvement Public Query.
- Electrician or HVAC: search the license on the state's license searches, then ask whether the firm is registered with Baltimore County; without that it cannot get your permit.
- Plumber or gasfitter: ask for the Baltimore County license number. There is no online search; call PAI on 410-887-3620 or email paiplumbinginspections@baltimorecountymd.gov.
- Look up the house on the county's permit map, as the Baltimore County building permit search guide shows.
Doing the work yourself
The county's electrical and plumbing pages describe no homeowner permit: the applicant is a licensed, county-registered or county-licensed contractor. So a water heater, a gas line or a new circuit starts with a contractor. Building permits for carpentry work are a separate matter; ask PAI.
What our Baltimore County pages add
The license searches answer "is this firm licensed". Our Baltimore County page counts what the county permitted, October 2024 to September 2026:
| Kind of work | Permits (Oct 2024–Sep 2026) | Oct 2025–Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | 25,685 | 13,121 |
| Plumbing and gas | 22,473 | 10,790 |
| HVAC | 5,336 | 2,863 |
| Garages, sheds and shade structures | 2,963 | 1,428 |
| Fences and walls | 2,819 | 1,325 |
| New homes | 2,308 | 1,381 |
| Solar | 1,400 | 762 |
| Remodels and repairs | 1,178 | 618 |
84% of the 72,744 permits were for homes, and 52% of those issued October 2024 to September 2025 were marked finished. The permit statistics page has the months, and permits by ZIP code the areas. Local permit rules: electrical and plumbing permits. Statewide rules and the Guaranty Fund: How to check a contractor's license in Maryland.
What this lookup does not tell you
The county's file names no contractor, so we cannot show who did a job or match firms to licenses. Baltimore City is a separate jurisdiction and is not in these counts. A license says the firm may do the work, not how its last job went.
How we know this
License rules are quoted from Baltimore County Permits, Approvals and Inspections' Electrical Permits and Plumbing and Gasfitting Licensing pages, the Maryland Home Improvement Commission's home and FAQ pages and the Maryland HVACR board's County License/Permits page, read 26 October 2026. Counts are Baltimore County's building, electrical, plumbing and gas permit layers, read 20 October 2026: permits issued October 2024 to September 2026.
Numbers come from public permit records in 57 cities, data through October 20, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Who can pull an electrical permit in Baltimore County?
Only a contractor. The county says "Only a licensed electrical contractor who is registered with Baltimore County can apply for an electrical permit." Its page describes no homeowner route.
- Does a Baltimore County plumber need a county license?
Yes. The county says "Only a Baltimore County licensed plumbing or gasfitting contractor can apply for a plumbing or gasfitting permit", and it licenses master and journeyman plumbers and gasfitters through its own board. Ask for the county license number, not only a state one.
- How do I check a Baltimore County plumber's county license?
The county's licensing page offers no online search. Call Permits, Approvals and Inspections on 410-887-3620 or email paiplumbinginspections@baltimorecountymd.gov. Licensees must carry a printed license for an inspector to check.
- What license does a home improvement contractor need in Baltimore County?
A Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license, checked on the state's Home Improvement Public Query. Since 1 June 2024 MHIC contractors must carry at least $500,000 in general liability insurance. Builders of new homes register with the Attorney General instead.
- Is Baltimore City the same as Baltimore County?
No. Baltimore City is a separate jurisdiction with its own permit office. The county rules here cover Towson, Catonsville, Dundalk, Essex, Pikesville and the rest of the county, which has no incorporated towns.
Build your own list
Pick your city and the kind of work. Every firm with a permit on record, sorted by what you value.
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- Maryland Home Improvement Commission — Maryland Department of Labor (2026-10-26)
- FAQs — Do You Need a License to Do That? — MHIC (2026-10-26)
- Home Improvement Public Query (license search) — Maryland Department of Labor (2026-10-26)
- Occupational and Professional Licensing license searches — Maryland Department of Labor (2026-10-26)
- Electrical Permits — Baltimore County Permits, Approvals and Inspections (2026-10-26)
- Plumbing and Gasfitting Licensing — Baltimore County Permits, Approvals and Inspections (2026-10-26)
- County License/Permits — Maryland HVACR Board (2026-10-26)