Business Licensing & Operations in Howard County, MD (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Howard County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Massage Establishments
Howard County does not issue its own massage-establishment license. County Code § 17.800 lets police enter and inspect massage businesses to confirm each practitioner holds the State massage-therapy authorization required by Maryland's Health Occupations Article, and operating without it or blocking an inspection is a misdemeanor.
Howard County: Massage Businesses Need State, Not County, License
Some RestrictionsHoward County Code § 17.800(a)-(b), § 17.802(a)-(b)
(a)Purpose. The purpose of this subtitle is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Howard County by allowing the County to investigate possible criminal activity of individuals and businesses holding themselves out as providing massage while ensuring minimal disruption to massage practitioners who are authorized under State law.(b)Scope. This subtitle shall apply to:(1)An...
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand dealers in Howard County, businesses that take in used goods and resell them to the public, need the same two-year establishment and employee licenses as pawnbrokers from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. Antique dealers, flea markets, charities, and new video-game retailers are carved out, but everyone else must fingerprint employees, keep detailed records, and report every purchase to police.
Howard County Secondhand Dealer License Rules
Significant RestrictionsHoward County Code § 14.1001(i)-(j)
(i)(1)Secondhand dealer means a person that engages in secondhand dealer transactions.(2)Secondhand dealer does not include:(i)A charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization, if the exchange of items for consideration is incidental to the organization's primary activity;(ii)An antique show, trade show, convention, or auction;(iii)A flea market as defined in the Howard County Zoning Regulati...
Pawnbrokers
Anyone operating a pawnshop in Howard County needs a two-year establishment license from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, plus a separate license for every employee who handles pawn transactions, each requiring fingerprints and a background check. Shops may open only 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., must hold pawned items at least ten days, and can't trade with anyone under 18.
Howard County Pawnbroker License & Rules
Significant RestrictionsHoward County Code §§ 14.1001(g), 14.1002(a)
(e)Pawnbroker means a person who engages in pawnbroker transactions...(g)Pawnbroker transaction means engaging in the act of:(1)Lending money on the deposit or pledge of tangible personal property other than secondhand precious metal objects, coins, or numismatic items; or(2)Purchasing tangible personal property, other than secondhand precious metal objects, coins, or numismatic items, on the c...
Towing Companies
Howard County caps what a trespass towing service can charge to tow a vehicle from private property without the owner's consent: separate maximum rates for attaching, towing by distance, and 12-hour storage blocks, all set annually by County Council resolution. Every towing service must register with the Office of Consumer Protection and file its rates, and violations can draw a $1,000 civil fine per offense.
Howard County Non-Consent Towing Rules & Rate Caps
Significant RestrictionsHoward County Code §§ 17.601, 17.602
(a)When towing a vehicle from private property without the consent of the vehicle owner, a towing service shall not charge more than maximum rates which are set annually by resolution of the County Council.(b)Fair and reasonable maximum rates shall be set for each of the following acts:(1)Attaching the vehicle to be towed to the tow truck.(2)Towing the vehicle to a storage site. This rate shall...
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