462 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 133

under separate provisions of State or local law; nor shall any license
or authority other than as is issued or permitted pursuant to this
subtitle authorize engaging in the home improvement business in,
Maryland.

(c) Nothing in this subtitle may be construed to limit or restrict
the power of a city or county to regulate the quality, performance,
or character of work of contractors including a system of permits
and inspections which are designed to secure compliance with and
aid in the enforcement of applicable state and local building laws,
or to enforce other laws necessary for the protection of the public
health and safety. Nothing in this subtitle limits the power of a
city or county to adopt any system of permits requiring submission
to and approval by the city or county of plans and specifications
for an installation prior to the commencement of construction of
the installation or of inspection of work done; provided that nothing
in this section may be construed as authorizing a city or county
to enact ordinances or regulations relating to the qualifications
necessary to engage in the home improvement business.

(d) This subtitle shall not apply to the official transactions of
an authorized representative of the United States of America or
an instrumentality thereof, of any state, District of Columbia or
territory of the United States, any city or county thereof, or any
instrumentality of a state or political subdivision thereof.

248. General Penalty

Any person who knowingly and wilfully violates any provision of
this subtitle, with respect to which a greater penalty is not other-
wise provided by the provisions of this subtitle or by any other law,
in addition to any administrative penalty otherwise applicable
thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
by a court of competent jurisdiction of this State shall be punished
by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 6
months or both.

249. Definitions

(a) For purposes of this subtitle:

(b) "Person" includes an individual, partnership, corporation,
trust, association, owner, contractor, salesman, or any other legal
entity.

(c) "Home Improvement⁹' means the repair, replacement, re-
modeling, alteration, conversion, modernization, improvement, or
addition to any land or building, or that portion thereof which is
used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling place; and
shall include the construction, replacement, or improvement of
driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, landscaping, fences,
and other improvements to structures or upon land which is ad-
jacent to a dwelling house. "Home Improvement" shall not include
(1) (i) the construction of a new home building or work done by a
contractor in compliance with a guarantee of completion of a new
building project, or (ii) the sale of goods or materials by a seller
who neither arranges to perform nor performs directly or in-
directly any work or labor in connection with the installation of or