1. (a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “Commission” means the Maryland Home Improvement Commission.
3. (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.
4. (d) “Contractor license” means a license issued by the Commission to act as a contractor.
5. (e) “Fund” means the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund.
6. (f) “Hearing board” means a home improvement hearing board appointed by the Commission under § 8-313 of this title.

7. (g)

   1. (1) “Home improvement” means:

      1. (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
      2. (ii) an improvement to land adjacent to the building.

   2. (2) “Home improvement” includes:

      1. (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;
      2. (ii) a shore erosion control project, as defined under § 8-1001 of the Natural Resources Article, for a residential property;
      3. (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;
      4. (iv) installation, in the building or structure, of an awning, fire alarm, or storm window; and
      5. (v) work done on individual condominium units.

   3. (3) “Home improvement” does not include:

      1. (i) construction of a new home;
      2. (ii) work done to comply with a guarantee of completion for a new building project;
      3. (iii) connection, installation, or replacement of an appliance to existing exposed plumbing lines that requires alteration of the plumbing lines;
      4. (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;
      5. (v) work done on apartment buildings that contain four or more single-family units; or
      6. (vi) work done on the commonly owned areas of condominiums.
8. (h) “Home improvement contract” means an oral or written agreement between a contractor and owner for the contractor to perform a home improvement.

9. (i)

   1. (1) “License” means, except where it refers to a license other than one issued under this title, a license issued by the Commission.

   2. (2) “License” includes:

      1. (i) a contractor license; and
      2. (ii) a salesperson license.
10. (j) “Licensed contractor” means a person who is licensed by the Commission to act as a contractor.
11. (k) “Owner” includes a homeowner, tenant, or other person who buys, contracts for, orders, or is entitled to a home improvement.
12. (l) “Salesperson” means a person who sells a home improvement.
13. (m) “Salesperson license” means a license issued by the Commission to sell a home improvement.

14. (n) “Sell a home improvement” means:

    1. (1) to negotiate or offer to negotiate a home improvement contract with an owner; or
    2. (2) to seek to get a home improvement contract from an owner.

15. (o) “Subcontractor” means a person, other than a laborer or supplier of materials, who makes an oral or written agreement with:

    1. (1) a contractor to perform all or part of a home improvement contract; or
    2. (2) another subcontractor to perform all or part of a subcontract to a home improvement contract.

Added by Acts 1992, c. 4, § 2. Amended by Acts 1992, c. 649; Acts 1994, c. 120, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1994; Acts 1999, c. 34, § 1, eff. April 13, 1999; Acts 1999, c. 483, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999. Amended by Acts 2008, c. 119, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2011, c. 333, § 1, eff. July 1, 2011; Acts 2016, c. 370, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016.

Formerly Art. 56, § 249.