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

Title 8, Electrical Apparatus and Wiring, is administered by the county's Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors, created under § 8-101. Under § 8-106, before engaging in the business of a Master Electrician or Restricted Electrician in the county, an individual must apply for and pass a Board license examination, offered four times a year. Section 8-113(b) directly ties licensing to permitting: an unlicensed individual, firm, or corporation may not obtain a permit to perform electrical work under the authority of a licensee. Fees for licenses and permits under this subtitle are collected by the Washington County Department of Permits and Inspections per § 8-114, at rates set by a fee schedule adopted by the County Commissioners.

Insurance is also required before a license issues or renews: § 8-107(a) requires a certificate of comprehensive general liability insurance, including completed operations coverage, with limits of $300,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for property damage, issued to the Board of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors. Separately, § 8-104(b)(1)(iv) directs the Board to adopt regulations for the enforcement of codes and certain permitting issues related to electrical work, including the adjudication of disputes, and § 8-104(b)(1)(vi) covers Board hearings on appeals from decisions of the Code Official interpreting the code, but the supplied provisions do not name a specific adopted edition of the National Electrical Code by year.

Working without a license, or performing licensed work while unlicensed or lapsed, is a misdemeanor under § 8-112, punishable by a fine of $250 to $1,000 or imprisonment up to 90 days, and any conviction automatically revokes and annuls the person's license.