How to Check a Sunroom Contractor's MHIC License

To check a sunroom contractor's license in Maryland, look up the company's Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license number through the state's online license search or by calling the Commission, then confirm the name and status match the company you are talking to. A license check takes a few minutes and is the single most important step before you sign anything. But a license is the starting point, not the finish line. A legitimate sunroom company should also be able to show you proof of insurance, pull the permit in its own name, explain who will actually build your room, and put everything in a clear written proposal. This guide walks through each of those checks.

We are Custom Design & Build LLC in Fallston, licensed under MHIC #91686, and we build Sunspace sunrooms across Harford, Baltimore, Cecil, Anne Arundel, and Howard County. We encourage every homeowner to run these checks on us and on anyone else they are considering.

Why licensing matters for a sunroom

A sunroom is not a small repair. It is a permanent structure attached to your house. It needs a proper foundation or a deck strong enough to carry it, a roof tied into your existing roofline, flashing that keeps water out, and electrical work. When any of that goes wrong, the damage can reach into the house itself.

In Maryland, home improvement contractors must be licensed by the MHIC. According to the Commission, doing home improvement work without a license is a criminal offense. More practically for you, hiring a licensed contractor is what gives you access to the protections the state provides, including the Guaranty Fund described below. Our article on the risks of unlicensed contractors goes deeper into what can happen when that protection is missing.

Step 1: Get the MHIC license number

Ask the company for its MHIC license number. A legitimate contractor will give it to you without hesitation, and many print it on their website, proposals, trucks, and advertising. Ours is MHIC #91686, and you will find it on our paperwork.

If a company is vague, says the license is "in process," says it works under someone else's license, or changes the subject, treat that as a serious warning sign.

Step 2: Look up the license with the state

The Maryland Home Improvement Commission is part of the Maryland Department of Labor. Homeowners can verify a license in two ways:

Online. The Maryland Department of Labor offers a license status search for home improvement contractors and salespersons. You can search by name or license number.
By phone. You can call the Commission directly to confirm a license. The Commission also advises homeowners to ask whether complaints have been filed against a contractor and whether they were resolved or are still open.

When you look up the license, check:

The name. Does the licensed business name match the company on your proposal and contract?
The status. Is the license current and active?
The person. If a salesperson is visiting your home, the Commission's search covers salespersons too.

A license that belongs to a different business, or one that has lapsed, does not protect you on the job you are about to sign.

Step 3: Understand the MHIC Guaranty Fund

The MHIC Guaranty Fund is one of the main reasons the license matters. The Commission administers the Fund, which exists to reimburse homeowners for actual losses caused by a licensed contractor. Licensed contractors pay into it.

Based on the Commission's own published information, in general terms:

The Fund can cover losses from work a licensed contractor did in an unworkmanlike, incorrect, or incomplete manner, or from a job the contractor abandoned.
It covers the cost of restoration, repair, replacement, or completion. It does not cover consequential damages or costs such as attorney's fees.
The contractor generally must have been licensed when the contract was signed.
There are eligibility rules for homeowners and a time limit for filing a claim.
The Fund is not available to homeowners who hire unlicensed contractors.

That last point is the one to remember. If you hire an unlicensed company to build your sunroom and something goes wrong, the state Fund is not there for you. Contact the Commission directly for current claim details, limits, and forms.

Step 4: Ask for proof of insurance

The Commission recommends getting a copy of the contractor's current liability insurance certificate. Liability insurance helps protect you if the work damages your home or property. If the company has employees on your site, ask about workers' compensation coverage as well, since an uninsured worker injured on your property can create problems you do not want.

When you get the certificate, look at:

The business name, which should match the license and the contract.
The policy dates, to confirm coverage is current.
The insurance company's contact information, so you can call and confirm the policy is active if you want to.

Step 5: Confirm who pulls the permit

A sunroom is a permanent structure, and in our service area it needs a building permit and inspections. The contractor should pull that permit in its own name.

Be cautious if a company asks you to pull the permit yourself as the homeowner. When the permit is in your name, you may be taking on responsibility for the work meeting code. A licensed contractor that is confident in its work will put its own name on the permit. The Commission also suggests asking to see the permit before work starts.

We pull every permit ourselves, prepare the paperwork, meet the inspector, and handle HOA or architectural review when it applies. Every sunroom we build is permitted and inspected. For a closer look at permits in your county, see our guide to sunroom permits in Maryland counties.

Step 6: Check manufacturer dealer status

Many sunroom companies sell a branded product. Ask whether the company is an authorized dealer for the manufacturer it is selling. Authorized dealer status means the manufacturer recognizes that company as a seller of its product, which matters for warranty registration and for getting the right parts and support down the road.

We are an authorized Sunspace sunroom dealer and also the builder. We register the manufacturer warranties for our clients so the coverage is in place from day one. You can read how that works in our guide to understanding your warranty.

You can ask the manufacturer directly to confirm a company's dealer status if you want extra assurance.

Step 7: Ask who actually does the installation

This question gets skipped more often than it should. Some companies sell the job and then hand it to a subcontractor. That is not automatically a problem, but you should know before you sign, because it affects who is on your property, who is accountable for the work, and whether the people building your room are the people whose license and insurance you just checked.

Questions worth asking:

Will your own employees build my sunroom, or will it be subcontracted?
If any part is subcontracted, which parts, and are those companies licensed and insured?
Who is responsible for the footing or slab, the structure, the roof tie-in, and the electrical?
Who do I call if something is wrong after the job is done?

We use our own crews and do not subcontract installs. One company is responsible for the footing or slab, structure, roof tie-in, enclosure, electrical coordination, and finish work. If something needs attention, there is one number to call.

Step 8: Get a written proposal and contract

The Commission's advice is simple: always get a written contract. For a sunroom, the written proposal should clearly describe:

The sunroom model and size.
The roof type and how it ties into your house.
The foundation, slab, or deck work included.
Electrical work included or coordinated.
Permits and inspections, and who handles them.
The total price for the full scope.
The payment schedule.
The workmanship warranty and the manufacturer warranty.

Read the payment schedule carefully. Payments should line up with real progress on the job. A company that pushes for most of the money up front, before anything is built, is a concern.

Our proposals are to-the-penny: a final number for the full scope, not an estimate that grows after you sign. We back our work with a 2-year workmanship warranty with at-cost support after that, and we register the Sunspace manufacturer warranties for you.

Step 9: Look at reviews and past work

Ask for references and check them. Online reviews add another view. Look for patterns over time rather than one glowing or one angry review. Ask to see photos of completed sunrooms, and if possible ask what the company does when something goes wrong.

We have a 4.9 star rating across 101 Google reviews, and you can read what clients say on our reviews page. Quality also shows up in the details of the finished room. Our article on how to spot professional sunroom work explains what to look for in flashing, framing, and finish.

Red flags to watch for

Any one of these is a reason to slow down. Several together are a reason to walk away.

No MHIC license number, or a number that does not match the business name.
Reluctance to provide proof of insurance.
Asking you to pull the permit in your name, or suggesting you skip the permit.
Pressure to sign the same day, often with a "today only" price.
A demand for a large cash deposit before any work begins.
A vague proposal that lists a price but not the scope.
No clear answer about who will do the installation.
No written warranty terms.
Door-to-door solicitation after a storm with an offer that seems too good to be true.

For a longer list of questions to ask any contractor, use our contractor hiring checklist.

A quick checklist to bring to your meeting

Check	What a good answer looks like
MHIC license	Number provided right away; active; name matches
Insurance	Current liability certificate in the company's name
Permit	Pulled in the contractor's name before work starts
Dealer status	Authorized dealer for the product being sold
Installers	Clear answer on own crews or named, licensed subcontractors
Proposal	Written, full scope, total price, payment schedule
Payments	A schedule tied to progress, not most of the money up front
Warranty	Written workmanship warranty plus manufacturer warranty

How we work

We have been building for more than 30 years. Our process is straightforward and starts with a conversation, not a sales pitch:

A free phone conversation. We talk through your project and give you a price bracket on the first call. Ask us for our license number on that call.
A one-hour on-site visit. We look at your house, your deck or patio, and the roof tie-in, and we bring samples and colors.
A to-the-penny written proposal. A final number for the full scope, with permits, warranty terms, and the payment schedule spelled out.

You can explore typical ranges with our sunroom pricing calculator; the final number comes in the written proposal. Let's talk about your outdoor space. Call us at 443-616-1459 or start a conversation.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a sunroom contractor is licensed in Maryland?

Ask for the company's MHIC license number, then verify it through the Maryland Department of Labor's online license search or by calling the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. Confirm the license is active and the business name matches your proposal.

What is the MHIC Guaranty Fund?

It is a fund administered by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission that reimburses eligible homeowners for actual losses caused by a licensed contractor, such as poor workmanship or an abandoned job. It is not available to homeowners who hire unlicensed contractors.

Who should pull the permit for my sunroom?

The contractor should pull the building permit in its own name. Be cautious if a company asks you to pull it as the homeowner. We pull every permit, meet the inspector, and handle HOA review when it applies.

Should my sunroom contractor have insurance?

Yes. Ask for a current certificate of liability insurance in the company's name, check the policy dates, and confirm the name matches the license and contract. If employees will work on your property, ask about workers' compensation coverage too.

What are the signs a sunroom company is legitimate?

A legitimate company gives you its MHIC number right away, provides proof of insurance, pulls the permit in its own name, explains who does the installation, and puts the full scope and price in a written proposal with warranty terms.

What is Custom Design & Build's MHIC license number?

Our Maryland Home Improvement Commission license number is MHIC #91686. We encourage homeowners to verify it with the state.