Handyman Business Permit Requirements in Annapolis, MD

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Maryland Comptroller — Sales Tax Registration

   Required for all businesses selling taxable goods or services in Maryland (6% state rate; Maryland has no local sales taxes). Retail product sales are taxable. Some services are also taxable — notably cleaning of a COMMERCIAL or industrial building (janitorial/commercial cleaning) under Md. Tax-General §11-101(m): commercial cleaning businesses must collect 6% on the service itself, while residential cleaning is not taxable. Sales of photographs (portrait/wedding) are taxable as tangible personal property. Registration with the Comptroller of Maryland is free.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online via bFile)

   Free

   Immediate (online via bFile)

2. Maryland Home Improvement Commission — Home Improvement Contractor License

   Any contractor performing home improvement work in Maryland (including repairs, renovations, and installations in residential properties) must be licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC).

   Official government source

   $281.25 license fee per place of business (2-year term, effective Aug 1, 2024) + $100 Guaranty Fund assessment (original licensees)·4–8 weeks

   $281.25 license fee per place of business (2-year term, effective Aug 1, 2024) + $100 Guaranty Fund assessment (original licensees)

   4–8 weeks

1. Annapolis — No General Business License Required

   Neither the City of Annapolis nor the State of Maryland requires a general business license. The Annapolis Department of Finance does not license businesses. Annapolis licenses only specific activities (peddlers/mobile vendors, bed-and-breakfasts, rental housing, trade contractors) through the City Clerk and Licenses & Permits Division. Businesses selling goods need a Maryland trader's license from the Anne Arundel County Clerk of the Circuit Court, and opening a commercial space in Annapolis requires a Certificate of Use from Planning and Zoning.

   Official government source

   $0 — no general business license exists; activity-specific licenses, if applicable, have their own fees·Not applicable

   $0 — no general business license exists; activity-specific licenses, if applicable, have their own fees

   Not applicable

2. Building or Trade Permit for Regulated Work (Annapolis / Anne Arundel County)

   Certain handyman tasks - including electrical, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC work, or structural modifications - require a permit before work begins. Jurisdiction follows the job site: work inside Annapolis city limits is permitted and inspected by the City of Annapolis under Code Title 17 (applications through the city's Citizen Self Service portal), while work in unincorporated Anne Arundel County goes through the county Department of Inspections and Permits. Annapolis also requires a city building contractor license and a city electrical contractor license for the trades it regulates. Separately, home improvement work for Maryland homeowners requires a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) contractor license - handymen should not perform licensed contractor work without it.

   Official government source

   City of Annapolis (FY2027 fee schedule, effective July 1, 2026): permit fee by estimated value of work - $25.00 up to $500; $150.00 for $501-$3,000; $175.00 for $3,001-$5,000; $200.00 for $5,001-$10,000; $250.00 plus 0.8% of value above $10,000 - plus a nonrefundable application fee ($25.00 up to $500; $100.00 for $501-$25,000; $150.00 for $25,001-$50,000; $200.00 for $50,001-$75,000) and plan-review fees starting at $100.00. Anne Arundel County (schedule effective October 1, 2024): $43.00 application fee added to every permit, with an $86.00 minimum building permit fee.·Varies by scope and completeness of the submittal; confirm current review times with Annapolis permitting ([email protected]) or Anne Arundel County Inspections and Permits before scheduling work

   City of Annapolis (FY2027 fee schedule, effective July 1, 2026): permit fee by estimated value of work - $25.00 up to $500; $150.00 for $501-$3,000; $175.00 for $3,001-$5,000; $200.00 for $5,001-$10,000; $250.00 plus 0.8% of value above $10,000 - plus a nonrefundable application fee ($25.00 up to $500; $100.00 for $501-$25,000; $150.00 for $25,001-$50,000; $200.00 for $50,001-$75,000) and plan-review fees starting at $100.00. Anne Arundel County (schedule effective October 1, 2024): $43.00 application fee added to every permit, with an $86.00 minimum building permit fee.

   Varies by scope and completeness of the submittal; confirm current review times with Annapolis permitting ([email protected]) or Anne Arundel County Inspections and Permits before scheduling work

Official Sources

• City of Annapolis Department of Finance
• Maryland Home Improvement Commission — Home Improvement Contractor License

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