Most homeowners spend more time choosing a paint color than checking the company that will put it on the walls. That’s understandable. The color is the fun part. But in Maryland, checking a painting contractor takes about two minutes, it’s free, and it decides whether you have any protection if a job goes wrong.
This guide walks through what Maryland law actually requires, how to look up a license, what a written contract has to include, and the questions worth asking before anyone starts taping trim.
Painting counts as home improvement in Maryland
The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), part of the Maryland Department of Labor, licenses contractors who do home improvement work on a residence. Its own list of work that needs a license includes painting, both on the interior of a home and on the exterior.
So whether you’re hiring someone to repaint a few bedrooms, refresh your siding and trim or paint your kitchen cabinets, the company doing the work for you should hold a current MHIC license.
How to look up an MHIC license
- Go to the Maryland Home Improvement Commission page on the Maryland Department of Labor website and open License Search.
- Search by the company’s name or by its license number. The number should be on the estimate, the contract and usually the company’s website.
- Check that the license is active, not expired, and that the name on the license matches the name on your contract.
- If anything doesn’t line up, call MHIC before you sign. Its published numbers are 410-230-6231 and 1-888-218-5925.
You can try it on us: ARM Premium Painting is licensed and insured, MHIC #136627.
Why the license matters: the Guaranty Fund
A license isn’t just a formality. MHIC runs a Guaranty Fund that can repay homeowners for actual losses caused by a licensed contractor’s defective, incomplete or abandoned work. According to MHIC, the maximum recovery is $30,000 per claimant, or the amount paid to the contractor if that’s less, and a claim has to be filed within three years of when the loss was discovered.
The key word is licensed. Hire an unlicensed contractor and that safety net usually isn’t there. (This is general information, not legal advice. MHIC’s own pages have the full rules.)
What a Maryland home improvement contract must include
MHIC publishes the contract requirements every licensed contractor has to follow. The ones homeowners should check:
- It’s in writing and signed by both sides, and you get a signed copy before work starts.
- It describes the work and the materials. For painting, that means which rooms or surfaces, the prep, the number of coats and the products.
- It shows the contractor’s name, address and MHIC license number.
- It gives approximate start and completion dates.
- The deposit is no more than one-third of the contract price, and no payment is taken before the contract is signed.
- It includes MHIC’s notice telling you how to contact the Commission and that the Guaranty Fund exists.
Beyond the license: five more things to check
Proof of insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance. Ladders, scaffolding and drop cloths on hardwood floors are where accidents happen, and you don’t want them on your homeowner’s policy.
A detailed written estimate. A good estimate tells you what is being prepped and how: patching, caulking, sanding, priming, protecting floors and furniture. If two quotes look very different, it’s usually because one includes prep the other skips.
Reviews on more than one platform. Look at Google, Angi, Nextdoor and the BBB. You want consistent, specific reviews that name rooms, crew members and how problems were handled, not one-line praise.
A written warranty. Ask what it covers and get it on paper.
How they protect your home. Ask how furniture, floors, landscaping and pets will be handled, and what the space will look like at the end of each day.
Red flags that should make you walk away
- A large cash deposit before anything is signed.
- No written contract, or a “we’ll sort it out later” scope.
- A license number that doesn’t match the company name, or a reluctance to give one at all.
- Pressure to decide on the spot because a discount “ends today.”
- A price far below everyone else with no explanation of what’s being left out.
How we handle it at ARM Premium Painting
We’re a family-owned painting company based in Upper Marlboro, serving homeowners across Prince George’s County, Anne Arundel County and Calvert County. Every project starts with a clear written estimate, and every job carries a written workmanship warranty.
Our credentials, so you can check them yourself:
- Licensed and insured in Maryland, MHIC #136627
- PCA Accredited Contractor (Painting Contractors Association)
- Google Guaranteed
- Angi Certified
- A+ rating with the BBB
- Nextdoor Neighborhood Faves winner (2023)
You can read what customers say about us on our reviews page.
Questions homeowners ask us
Does a painter need a license in Maryland?
Yes. MHIC lists interior and exterior painting of a residence as home improvement work, and contractors who do home improvement work in Maryland need an MHIC license. Check the license is active before you sign anything.
How much of a deposit can a Maryland contractor ask for?
Under MHIC’s contract rules, a licensed home improvement contractor can’t take more than one-third of the contract price as a deposit, and can’t accept any payment until the contract is signed.
What is the MHIC Guaranty Fund?
It is a state fund that can repay homeowners for actual losses caused by a licensed contractor’s defective, incomplete or abandoned work. MHIC caps recovery at $30,000 per claimant, or the amount paid to the contractor if that’s less.
How do I verify ARM Premium Painting’s license?
Use the License Search on the Maryland Home Improvement Commission website and look up license number 136627, or call MHIC at 410-230-6231. Our number is also on every estimate and contract we write.
Get a free, written quote
Planning a paint project and want to see what a complete estimate looks like? Call (240) 981-4472, any time, or request a free quote online. We’ll come out, look at the job and put everything in writing.