[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":127},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-question-maryland-contractor-simulator-permit-exemptions":3},{"site":4,"simulation":15,"topic":23,"question":26,"siblings":48,"prev":125,"next":126},{"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":34,"speakerAvatar":34,"audioUrl":35,"choices":36,"citations":47},"permit-exemptions","Which home projects need a permit in Maryland?","It depends on your jurisdiction. Cosmetic work and like-for-like fixture swaps usually need none, taller fences often do, and water heaters usually do…","It depends on your jurisdiction. Cosmetic work and like-for-like fixture swaps usually need none, taller fences often do, and water heaters usually do because of gas, water, and venting. When in doubt, pull the permit.",[32,33],"A homeowner asks if they need a permit for: (1) replacing a kitchen faucet, (2) installing a new fence, (3) painting interior rooms, and (4) replacing a water heater.","\"My neighbor says you only need permits for structural stuff.\"",null,"/media/voices/permit_exemptions.mp3",[37,42],{"text":38,"verdict":39,"label":40,"explanation":41},"Permit requirements vary by jurisdiction, but generally: faucet replacement and interior painting typically don't need permits. Fences may need permits depending on height and setback. Water heater replacement usually requires a plumbing/mechanical permit due to gas/water connections","best","Correct","Permit requirements aren't just for 'structural stuff.' They vary by jurisdiction, but typical rules: cosmetic work (paint, wallpaper) — no permit. Like-for-like fixture replacement (faucet) — usually no permit. Fences — often require permits based on height (typically >6 ft) and setback. Water heaters — usually require permits because they involve gas lines, water connections, and venting that must be inspected. Always check with your local jurisdiction — when in doubt, pull the permit.",{"text":43,"verdict":44,"label":45,"explanation":46},"None of those need permits — they're all minor work","wrong","Wrong","Water heater replacement almost always requires a permit due to gas/water/venting connections. Fence installation often requires permits. Making blanket statements about permit exemptions is dangerous — requirements vary by county and city in Maryland. As a licensed contractor, you should know your local jurisdiction's specific requirements. 'It's all minor' is how contractors accumulate unpermitted work violations.",[],[49,52,55,58,59,62,65,68,71,74,77,80,83,86,89,92,95,98,101,104,107,110,113,116,119,122],{"slug":50,"title":51,"topic":24},"sarah-permit-question","Who is responsible for permits on a Maryland home improvement job?",{"slug":53,"title":54,"topic":24},"dave-wants-no-permit","Can you skip permits if the homeowner asks you to?",{"slug":56,"title":57,"topic":24},"dave-comes-around","How do you build permit costs into a contract?",{"slug":27,"title":28,"topic":24},{"slug":60,"title":61,"topic":24},"property-manager-volume","Do cosmetic bathroom refreshes in rentals need permits?",{"slug":63,"title":64,"topic":24},"unpermitted-work-discovered","What happens when an inspector finds work without a permit?",{"slug":66,"title":67,"topic":24},"dave-deck-problem","What is your liability when unpermitted work fails?",{"slug":69,"title":70,"topic":24},"inspection-day","How should you handle a problem the inspector finds?",{"slug":72,"title":73,"topic":24},"permit-inspection-sequence","Why do building inspections happen in stages?",{"slug":75,"title":76,"topic":24},"building-dept-permit-rush","How do you get a building permit approved faster?",{"slug":78,"title":79,"topic":24},"fire-blocking-code","Where is fire blocking required under IRC R302.11?",{"slug":81,"title":82,"topic":24},"egress-window-requirement","When does a basement bedroom need an egress window?",{"slug":84,"title":85,"topic":24},"smoke-detector-requirements","Where are smoke alarms required after a renovation?",{"slug":87,"title":88,"topic":24},"gfci-requirements","Can a homeowner refuse GFCI outlets in the kitchen?",{"slug":90,"title":91,"topic":24},"handrail-dispute","When does a deck stairway need a handrail?",{"slug":93,"title":94,"topic":24},"bathroom-ventilation","Does a bathroom need an exhaust fan under the IRC?",{"slug":96,"title":97,"topic":24},"deck-ledger-connection","How must a deck ledger be attached to the house?",{"slug":99,"title":100,"topic":24},"energy-code-compliance","How is energy code compliance checked on an addition?",{"slug":102,"title":103,"topic":24},"accessibility-code-requirements","Does the ADA apply to a single-family bathroom remodel?",{"slug":105,"title":106,"topic":24},"retaining-wall-height","When does a retaining wall need an engineered design?",{"slug":108,"title":109,"topic":24},"load-bearing-wall-question","What is required before removing a load-bearing wall?",{"slug":111,"title":112,"topic":24},"building-on-easement","Can you build a deck over a utility easement?",{"slug":114,"title":115,"topic":24},"stormwater-management","When does a patio trigger stormwater management in Maryland?",{"slug":117,"title":118,"topic":24},"hoa-interference","Does a building permit override HOA approval?",{"slug":120,"title":121,"topic":24},"abandoned-project","How do you take over a job another contractor abandoned?",{"slug":123,"title":124,"topic":24},"diy-disaster-assessment","How do you assess a homeowner's failed DIY renovation?",{"slug":56,"title":57,"topic":24},{"slug":60,"title":61,"topic":24},1792184484119]