Charles County, MD Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

County Code § 224-1(2) adopts the 2020 National Electrical Code as the Charles County Electrical Code. Separately, Chapter 234's Homeowner Electrical Wiring Permits article lets a resident wire their own home once they demonstrate, through a written test set by the Board of Electrical Examiners, adequate knowledge to install systems correctly and protect their own safety (§ 234-1). The Inspections and Permits Division issues the permit only after it receives the Board's certification of qualification (§ 234-2). Exams are held monthly and test knowledge of the National Electrical Code and practical work; applicants may reference the NEC during the exam but not outside notes, and anyone caught with unauthorized materials is disqualified for six months (§ 234-6A).

Fees are $25 for the initial exam, $15 for a first reexamination and $10 for a second; a passing grade is 70%, and no one gets more than one initial exam plus two reexaminations per calendar year (§ 234-6B). Applicants must be at least 21 (§ 234-7), and once issued, a homeowner's license runs one year from its date of issue (§ 234-9). All work under the permit must be personally performed by the homeowner, not hired help (§ 234-10), and two years must pass before a licensee can get a second permit for work at a different location (§ 234-8).