2023 Maryland Statutes › Business Regulation › Title 8 - Home Improvement › Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions › Section 8-101 - Definitions

(a)    In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Commission” means the Maryland Home Improvement Commission.
(c)    “Contractor” means a person, other than an employee of an owner, who performs or offers or agrees to perform a home improvement for an owner.
(d)    “Contractor license” means a license issued by the Commission to act as a contractor.
(e)    “Fund” means the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund.
(f)    “Hearing board” means a home improvement hearing board appointed by the Commission under § 8-313 of this title.
(g)    (1)    “Home improvement” means:
(i)    the addition to or alteration, conversion, improvement, modernization, remodeling, repair, or replacement of a building or part of a building that is used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling place or a structure adjacent to that building; or
(ii)    an improvement to land adjacent to the building.
(2)    “Home improvement” includes:
(i)    construction, improvement, or replacement, on land adjacent to the building, of a driveway, fall–out shelter, fence, garage, landscaping, deck, pier, porch, or swimming pool;
(ii)    a shore erosion control project, as defined under § 8–1001 of the Natural Resources Article, for a residential property;
(iii)    connection, installation, or replacement, in the building or structure, of a dishwasher, disposal, or refrigerator with an icemaker to existing exposed household plumbing lines;
(iv)    installation, in the building or structure, of an awning, fire alarm, or storm window; and
(v)    work done on individual condominium units.
(3)    “Home improvement” does not include:
(i)    construction of a new home;
(ii)    work done to comply with a guarantee of completion for a new building project;
(iii)    connection, installation, or replacement of an appliance to existing exposed plumbing lines that requires alteration of the plumbing lines;
(iv)    sale of materials, if the seller does not arrange to perform or does not perform directly or indirectly any work in connection with the installation or application of the materials;
(v)    work done on apartment buildings that contain four or more single–family units; or
(vi)    work done on the commonly owned areas of condominiums.
(h)    “Home improvement contract” means an oral or written agreement between a contractor and owner for the contractor to perform a home improvement.
(i)    (1)    “License” means, except where it refers to a license other than one issued under this title, a license issued by the Commission.
(2)    “License” includes:
(i)    a contractor license; and
(ii)    a salesperson license.
(j)    “Licensed contractor” means a person who is licensed by the Commission to act as a contractor.
(k)    “Owner” includes a homeowner, tenant, or other person who buys, contracts for, orders, or is entitled to a home improvement.
(l)    “Salesperson” means a person who sells a home improvement.
(m)    “Salesperson license” means a license issued by the Commission to sell a home improvement.
(n)    “Sell a home improvement” means:
(1)    to negotiate or offer to negotiate a home improvement contract with an owner; or
(2)    to seek to get a home improvement contract from an owner.
(o)    “Subcontractor” means a person, other than a laborer or supplier of materials, who makes an oral or written agreement with:
(1)    a contractor to perform all or part of a home improvement contract; or
(2)    another subcontractor to perform all or part of a subcontract to a home improvement contract.