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

Baltimore County Code § 21-7-301 requires a permit before electrical work begins: a master limited electrician must obtain an annual electrical permit before performing installations, alterations or repairs on the licensee's own premises, and a master general or restricted electrician must apply for a permit before making any electrical installation, alteration or repair for others. The Department may also withhold a meter cut-in certificate or temporary cut-in certificate from a utility company unless the application comes from the holder of a master general or limited electrician license.

Section 21-7-302 lets the Division of Code Inspections and Enforcement inspect any electrical installation in the county during regular working hours, and where an enforcement officer finds a defective or dangerous installation, the officer must notify and order the owner, occupant and the licensee who did the work to make corrections. The technical standard is set separately: § 21-7-303 adopts the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, published by the National Fire Protection Association, in its latest edition as it now exists or is amended, as the governing standard for all electrical installations countywide.

The five-member Electrical Administrative Board, created under Article 3, Title 3 of the Code (Chief of the County Fire Prevention Bureau and the Building Engineer serving ex officio, plus three appointees), administers and enforces this Electrical Code alongside the Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections, who may adopt further regulations under § 21-7-104 covering licensing, examinations, permit issuance and inspection procedures. A licensee who allows unlicensed electrical work, performs defective or dangerous work, fails to file for a required permit, or ignores a correction notice risks suspension or revocation of the license under § 21-7-216.