LOCAL RULES

Maryland home inspection report requirements

Your Maryland home inspection report has 7 rules to meet. ReportDraft puts every one on your checklist and checks your draft before you sign.

  • The scope and exclusions of the inspection
  • The report within 7 business days unless a written agreement sets another date
  • The types, materials and locations the standards list for each system
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Maryland's Business Occupations and Professions Article, section 16-4A-01, sets what every home inspection report must include: the scope and exclusions, the conditions observed, the inspector's license number, and a disclosure in 14-point bold type with four statements. The Commission's Minimum Standards of Practice, COMAR 09.36.07, add what to describe in each system. Here is each rule with a link to the official text, and how field notes become a Maryland report.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026 against the official sources listed below.

Home inspectionMARYLAND / SAMPLE

Sample notes, 149 words

Client: Dana Whitfield
Inspector: Sam Ortega
Date: October 3, 2026
1408 Larkspur Lane, Annapolis, MD
Weather: clear, 74F. Occupied. Built 1987.
...
FREE PREVIEW OF THESE NOTES
71%of your draft is ready from these notes

We sorted 14 items into 8 sections and flagged 4 to fix first.

  • Fix firstElectrical

    Main panel has a double tapped breaker and an open splice in the attic junction box.

  • Fix firstElectrical

    No GFCI protection at the kitchen counter outlets.

  • Fix firstGarage

    Garage door opener did not reverse when it hit the test board.

7 Maryland rules on your checklist, including the scope and exclusions of the inspection.

Still to add

  • Maryland lawMaryland home inspector license number
  • RecommendedNotes for cooling
  • RecommendedNotes for fireplaces and chimneys

Filled in for you

Client nameDana Whitfield
Property address1408 Larkspur Lane, Annapolis, MD
Inspection dateOct 3, 2026
Inspector nameSam Ortega
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What Maryland requires

  • The report includes a disclosure in 14-point bold type with the four statements the law sets out: what an inspection is based on, no representation about latent or concealed defects and no warranty, the advice to seek a licensed structural engineer's or other professional's opinion, and that only inspections by Maryland licensed home inspectors are recognized under a real estate contractMd. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. s. 16-4A-01 (a) (4)
  • The report states the license number of the licensed home inspectorMd. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. s. 16-4A-01 (a) (3)
  • The report states the scope and the exclusions of the inspectionMd. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. s. 16-4A-01 (a) (1)
  • The report states the conditions observed that are subject to the Commission's standards of practice and code of ethicsMd. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. s. 16-4A-01 (a) (2)
  • The report goes to the client or the client's representative by the date set in a written agreement, or within 7 business days after the inspection if no date was setMd. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. s. 16-4A-01 (b)
  • Any limit on the inspector's liability for damages from the report must be agreed in writing by the parties before the inspectionMd. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. s. 16-4A-01 (c)
  • The report contains the inspector's written opinion and describes the systems and components: structure, exterior, roof, plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, interior, insulation and ventilation, and fireplaces, with the types, materials and locations the standards listCOMAR 09.36.07.02 (F), General · COMAR 09.36.07.08 (B), Electrical Systems
  • The report refers to the location of access and the methods used to inspect the crawl space or basement and the attic, and reports the methods used to inspect the roofCOMAR 09.36.07.04 (B), Structural System · COMAR 09.36.07.06 (B), Roof System
  • Where CSST gas piping is present, the report says so with the recommendation that its bonding be reviewed by a licensed master electricianCOMAR 09.36.07.07 (B) (5), Plumbing System
  • The report gives the location of the main water and hose bib shut-off valves, the main fuel shut-off valve and the waste cleanout access, along with piping materials and the water heater and its energy sourceCOMAR 09.36.07.07 (B), Plumbing System
  • The licensed home inspector responsible for the report must be physically on site during the inspection, which is visual, not technically exhaustive, and not a code compliance inspection or a warrantyCOMAR 09.36.07.02 (D) (2)
  • A home inspector may not disclose results without the client's approval except where public safety is endangered, take pay from more than one party without disclosure and consent, give or take commissions, sell repair products or repair services for defects found for 1 year after the inspection, or give an opinion of market valueCOMAR 09.36.06.02, Prohibitions

The 14-point disclosure

Every report includes a disclosure in 14-point bold type with four statements: what an inspection is based on; that the results make no representation about latent or concealed defects and carry no warranty or guaranty; that a client whose inspector is not a licensed structural engineer or similar professional may wish to seek that professional's opinion; and that only inspections by Maryland licensed home inspectors are recognized as valid under a real estate contract.

ReportDraft prints all four, word for word, in 14-point bold at the top of page 1 of every Maryland report.

What the report states, and when it is due

The report states the scope and exclusions of the inspection, the conditions observed under the standards of practice, and your license number. It goes to the client or their representative by the date in the written agreement, or within 7 business days after the inspection if no date was set. Any limit on your liability must be agreed in writing before the inspection.

What to describe in each system

The report contains your written opinion and describes each system. Refer to the location of access and the method used to inspect the crawl space or basement and the attic, and report how you inspected the roof. Describe the roof covering's type and material, the plumbing piping materials and water heater with its energy source, the service's amperage and voltage, where the main disconnect, service equipment and distribution panels are, the wiring methods, the heating and cooling systems, and insulation.

Give the locations of the main water, hose bib and main fuel shut-off valves and the waste cleanout access. Where CSST gas piping is present, recommend that a licensed master electrician review its bonding.

On site, and the code of ethics

The licensed inspector responsible for the report must be physically on site. The inspection is visual, not technically exhaustive, and not a code compliance inspection or a warranty.

Do not disclose results without the client's approval unless public safety is endangered, take pay from more than one party without disclosure and consent, give or take commissions, sell repair products or repair services for defects you found within a year, or give a market value opinion.

From field notes to a finished Maryland report

Note how you got into the crawl space and attic and how you inspected the roof, the panel details and locations, the shut-off locations, and any CSST. ReportDraft prints the 14-point disclosure, fills your license number from your account, puts the shut-off and cleanout locations in their own item, and adds the master electrician bonding review whenever your notes mention CSST.

Common mistakes

  • Printing the four disclosure statements smaller than 14-point bold, or rewording them.
  • Leaving the license number off the report.
  • Delivering later than 7 business days without a written agreement setting another date.
  • Noting CSST without recommending a bonding review by a licensed master electrician.
  • Not saying where the shut-off valves and the waste cleanout access are.

Sources

Last reviewed October 10, 2026. Next review due January 10, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.