Finding an access control installer in Maryland

Security work in Maryland doesn't go through a contractor board. It's managed by the Department of State Police. No business may offer security systems services unless it holds a license, under § 18-301.

The statute covers checking a location for a system, installing or repairing the equipment, and responding when its alarms go off. To do that work yourself, you must get a security systems technician registration. You have to be 18 or older, submit Livescan fingerprints, and renew your registration every 3 years.

No stand-alone definition of a security system appears in the law. If you wire a card reader into an alarm panel, it falls under the listed services. When you have a standalone keypad or door entry system, check with the State Police Licensing Division before you decide either way.

The company has to maintain a fidelity bond or general liability insurance before its license goes through. § 18-401 requires a minimum of $50,000 for each. When the bond or policy lapses, the State Police are required to suspend the license pending new proof.

An office within Maryland houses the agency's records, and the firm also submits at least 2 sworn references. You pay $100 for the agency license; it's good for 3 years. The fee for a technician is $15.

Holding a security license doesn't give you the rights of an electrical license. § 18-102 clarifies that the credential won't authorize tasks reserved for electricians. Local electrical regulations for alarm installations remain in effect as well.

An electrician could be required for the part of the job that adds new power wiring to door controllers. Master, journeyperson, and apprentice electricians get licensed through the Maryland State Board of Electricians; they also offer a public license search. Even a master electrician who does security tasks directly still needs to register as a technician.

Certain counties require an extra license of their own. Baltimore County offers a Restricted License for circuits at 50 volts or less, covering low voltage (the thin cable that feeds readers and strikes). You need 3 years of trade work and must pass the exams to qualify.

In Maryland, the building law is named the Maryland Building Performance Standards. According to the Building Codes Administration, the same IBC, IRC, and energy code edition must be used in every jurisdiction. The regulation now in force, COMAR 09.12.51, puts the 2021 International Building Code into effect.

These codes may still be changed by local governments to suit local conditions. Talk to the city or county building department about permits and inspections before adding a maglock to an exit door.