[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":130},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-dave-deck-problem":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":51,"prev":128,"next":129},{"name":5,"tagline":6,"title":7,"description":8,"guideTitle":9,"guideDescription":10,"ogImage":11,"disclaimer":12,"practicePitch":13,"citationsTitle":14},"Free MHIC Training","Maryland home improvement exam prep","Free MHIC Exam Prep: Maryland Home Improvement Contractor Practice","Free, narrated MHIC exam prep: 147 real Maryland contractor scenarios, every choice explained, with the law cited where it applies.","MHIC Exam Study Guide","Every scenario in the free Maryland Contractor Simulator, written out as a practice question: the situation, your options, how each choice plays out, and the Maryland law where it applies.","/og/free-mhic-training.png","Free MHIC Training is free study material for the Maryland home improvement contractor exam. It is not affiliated with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission and is not legal advice.","The free Maryland Contractor Simulator puts you in situations like these across a 40-day contracting career, narrated, with your license on the line. No account needed.","Law and codes cited",{"slug":16,"title":17,"subtitle":18,"description":19,"maxTurns":20,"characterCount":21,"scenarioCount":22},"maryland-contractor-simulator","Maryland Contractor Simulator","Learn the law by living it.","You just got your MHIC license application approved and you're starting your home improvement business in Maryland. Navigate real contractor scenarios — contracts, permits, clients, subcontractors, and inspectors. Every choice teaches you the law through consequence, not memorization. Master all five exam areas to pass.",40,20,147,{"slug":24,"title":25},"permits-codes","Permits, Inspections & Building Codes",{"slug":27,"title":28,"description":29,"takeaway":30,"situation":31,"speaker":34,"speakerDescription":35,"speakerAvatar":36,"audioUrl":37,"choices":38,"citations":49},"dave-deck-problem","What is your liability when unpermitted work fails?","You face both the injury claim and MHIC discipline. Your $50,000 liability insurance responds to the claim, but because the work was never permitted or…","You face both the injury claim and MHIC discipline. Your $50,000 liability insurance responds to the claim, but because the work was never permitted or inspected, you also answer to the MHIC, and the homeowner's request is no defense.",[32,33],"Six months after you built Dave's unpermitted deck, he's hosting a party. The railing gives way and a guest falls four feet, breaking her arm.","Dave's first call is to a lawyer. His second call is to the MHIC.","Dave Kowalski","A homeowner who wants a deck and basement finished fast. Impatient and wants to cut corners.","/media/characters/homeowner_dave.png","/media/voices/dave_deck_problem.mp3",[39,44],{"text":40,"verdict":41,"label":42,"explanation":43},"Contact your liability insurance immediately and cooperate fully with the MHIC investigation","note","Damage control","You'll need your $50,000 liability insurance (which is a minimum MHIC requirement). But the lack of permits means the work was never inspected, which means you'll face both the personal injury claim AND MHIC disciplinary action for performing unpermitted work. The railing likely didn't meet IRC guardrail requirements (36\" minimum height for residential decks, 200 lb lateral load capacity). This is exactly why permits and inspections exist.",{"text":45,"verdict":46,"label":47,"explanation":48},"Deny responsibility — Dave asked you to skip the permits, so it's on him","wrong","Worst possible response","It doesn't matter what the client asked for. YOU are the licensed contractor. YOU have the legal duty to pull permits under COMAR 09.08.01.08. A client cannot waive building code compliance. You're now facing: a personal injury lawsuit, an MHIC complaint, potential criminal charges for unpermitted construction, and near-certain license revocation.",[50],"COMAR 09.08.01.08",[52,55,58,61,64,67,70,71,74,77,80,83,86,89,92,95,98,101,104,107,110,113,116,119,122,125],{"slug":53,"title":54,"topic":24},"sarah-permit-question","Who is responsible for permits on a Maryland home improvement job?",{"slug":56,"title":57,"topic":24},"dave-wants-no-permit","Can you skip permits if the homeowner asks you to?",{"slug":59,"title":60,"topic":24},"dave-comes-around","How do you build permit costs into a contract?",{"slug":62,"title":63,"topic":24},"permit-exemptions","Which home projects need a permit in Maryland?",{"slug":65,"title":66,"topic":24},"property-manager-volume","Do cosmetic bathroom refreshes in rentals need permits?",{"slug":68,"title":69,"topic":24},"unpermitted-work-discovered","What happens when an inspector finds work without a permit?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":72,"title":73,"topic":24},"inspection-day","How should you handle a problem the inspector finds?",{"slug":75,"title":76,"topic":24},"permit-inspection-sequence","Why do building inspections happen in stages?",{"slug":78,"title":79,"topic":24},"building-dept-permit-rush","How do you get a building permit approved faster?",{"slug":81,"title":82,"topic":24},"fire-blocking-code","Where is fire blocking required under IRC R302.11?",{"slug":84,"title":85,"topic":24},"egress-window-requirement","When does a basement bedroom need an egress window?",{"slug":87,"title":88,"topic":24},"smoke-detector-requirements","Where are smoke alarms required after a renovation?",{"slug":90,"title":91,"topic":24},"gfci-requirements","Can a homeowner refuse GFCI outlets in the kitchen?",{"slug":93,"title":94,"topic":24},"handrail-dispute","When does a deck stairway need a handrail?",{"slug":96,"title":97,"topic":24},"bathroom-ventilation","Does a bathroom need an exhaust fan under the IRC?",{"slug":99,"title":100,"topic":24},"deck-ledger-connection","How must a deck ledger be attached to the house?",{"slug":102,"title":103,"topic":24},"energy-code-compliance","How is energy code compliance checked on an addition?",{"slug":105,"title":106,"topic":24},"accessibility-code-requirements","Does the ADA apply to a single-family bathroom remodel?",{"slug":108,"title":109,"topic":24},"retaining-wall-height","When does a retaining wall need an engineered design?",{"slug":111,"title":112,"topic":24},"load-bearing-wall-question","What is required before removing a load-bearing wall?",{"slug":114,"title":115,"topic":24},"building-on-easement","Can you build a deck over a utility easement?",{"slug":117,"title":118,"topic":24},"stormwater-management","When does a patio trigger stormwater management in Maryland?",{"slug":120,"title":121,"topic":24},"hoa-interference","Does a building permit override HOA approval?",{"slug":123,"title":124,"topic":24},"abandoned-project","How do you take over a job another contractor abandoned?",{"slug":126,"title":127,"topic":24},"diy-disaster-assessment","How do you assess a homeowner's failed DIY renovation?",{"slug":68,"title":69,"topic":24},{"slug":72,"title":73,"topic":24},1792184484119]