LA PLATA LANDSCAPE · SOUTHERN MARYLAND
Licenses & credentials you can check
Your outdoor project deserves thoughtful planning and clear accountability. Knowing who you hire—and which qualifications apply to the work—is a good place to start.
Here are our credential details, what the different programs mean and links to the organizations behind them.
MARYLAND HOME IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION
Licensed for home improvement work
La Plata Landscape LLCMHIC #162460
MHIC licenses and regulates Maryland home improvement contractors. Its guidance lists patios, paving, driveways, retaining walls, grading and landscaping among work that usually requires a license. The requirements depend on the project and property.
That makes licensing relevant to many of the outdoor improvements our customers are planning.
Check MHIC license status — select the license-number search and enter 162460.
Why hire a licensed contractor?
A contractor you can identify
A license number gives you a direct way to check the contractor through Maryland’s official records. Match the name on the proposal to the license information and ask about the people responsible for your project.
Oversight & a complaint process
MHIC regulates licensees and investigates homeowner complaints. This provides a formal route for raising concerns about covered home improvement work.
Written expectations
Maryland requires a written home improvement contract identifying the contractor and MHIC number, describing the work and materials, and stating approximate dates and payment terms. Review the scope and keep your signed copy.
Consumer protections
The MHIC Guaranty Fund may compensate eligible homeowners for certain actual losses involving licensed contractors. Eligibility, claim requirements and limits apply; it is not a guarantee of every project or loss.
MHIC program and Guaranty Fund information · Maryland home improvement contract guidance
PROFESSIONAL TREE-CARE CERTIFICATION
ISA Certified Arborist
George JossaMA-6083A
ISA certification recognizes knowledge in arboriculture and a commitment to professional ethics. It supports informed decisions about tree care, preservation and pruning.
This is an individual professional credential. It does not replace a state contractor or tree-expert license.
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Maryland Licensed Tree Experts
Maryland’s LTE program addresses the licensing of professionals who perform covered tree work. Its requirements include qualifications, examination, insurance and professional responsibilities.
When arranging tree services, check the responsible expert’s current listing and ask who will supervise the work. MHIC licensing and ISA certification serve different purposes from LTE licensure.
Before you compare prices, compare credentials
A price tells you what a contractor plans to charge. It does not tell you who is qualified to do the work, what protection is in place or what the proposal includes.
Start by checking the credentials relevant to your project. For covered home improvement work, check the MHIC license. For tree work, check the responsible Maryland Licensed Tree Expert and any claimed ISA certification. Each credential has a different purpose.
Compare the people behind the proposal
- Match the contractor’s name and license number to the official record.
- Ask who will plan, supervise and perform the work.
- Request current insurance documentation appropriate to the project.
- Look at experience with projects similar to yours and ask for references.
Then compare the same scope
- Check materials, quantities, preparation and installation details.
- Confirm permits, access, cleanup, debris removal and restoration.
- Compare payment terms, exclusions and any written warranty.
- Ask how changes and unexpected conditions will be handled.
A lower price may reflect a different scope—not necessarily the same work for less. A higher price alone does not establish better qualifications or workmanship either. Ask questions until you understand the differences.
At La Plata Landscape, we welcome questions about our credentials and proposals. Our goal is to help you make an informed choice based on the work, the qualifications and the written agreement—not the price alone.
Working without a required license is against Maryland law
Licensing is more than a selling point. When Maryland requires a license for the work, a contractor must meet that requirement. A business name, an insurance policy or years of experience does not substitute for the required license.
Home improvement contracting
Only MHIC-licensed contractors may contract directly with homeowners for covered home improvement work. Unlicensed contracting can lead to enforcement and criminal prosecution.
Homeowners who hire an unlicensed contractor do not have access to the MHIC Guaranty Fund for that contractor’s work. Check the license before signing or paying.
Tree-expert work
Maryland prohibits practicing or representing oneself as a tree expert without the required license. The law also addresses advertising and using the LTE title. ISA certification does not substitute for Maryland LTE licensure.
Requirements and exceptions depend on the work. Ask DNR if you are unsure which rules apply to your project.
A few good questions before work begins
- Does the license match the work? Confirm the relevant contractor or tree-care credential through its issuing organization.
- What is included? Review materials, access, cleanup, debris removal and restoration in the written proposal.
- What insurance applies? Request current documentation appropriate to the project.
- Are permits or other approvals needed? Agree on who will obtain them. A professional license is not a building permit.
- How will changes be handled? Put changes to the work, price or schedule in writing.
Common questions
Does MHIC apply only to work inside a house?
No. Maryland’s guidance includes many exterior improvements and work on land adjacent to a residence, including patios, driveways and retaining walls. Review the project-specific requirements.
Are MHIC, ISA and LTE interchangeable?
No. MHIC concerns covered home improvement contracting; ISA is a professional arboriculture certification; Maryland LTE concerns covered tree-expert work. The right credential depends on the service.
Does a license guarantee the finished result?
No. Licensing provides a regulatory framework, but clear plans, a written agreement and communication still matter. Discuss your goals and expectations before work starts.
Plan your project with clear expectations
Ask us about your scope, our credentials and the next step for your property.
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