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Builders risk in Maryland

Maryland floodplain development can include grading, filling, storage, and construction in a FEMA-mapped 100-year floodplain. Local permits are required, and MDE says construction in wetlands and floodplains also requires a state permit. For coastal work, Maryland Geological Survey shoreline-change information is updated for only some counties, so check the parcel and map vintage instead of treating a statewide shoreline trend as current. 1,2

What Is Builders Risk?

Builders risk protects the project you are building, including materials meant for it, against physical loss until construction ends. The gaps that cost owners money are materials in storage or transit, the existing building in a renovation, and coverage ending when you occupy early. Read the national Builders risk guide.

What to Watch for in Maryland

  • Include site work and stored materials in the floodplain check

    Maryland's floodplain development definition reaches beyond the building to grading, fill, clearing, dredging, and storage. Ask the local permit office whether the laydown area, temporary works, or stored construction materials fall within the mapped floodplain and what permits apply. 1

  • Track elevation and equipment requirements through closeout

    For buildings that must be elevated, MDE describes a local Flood Protection Elevation that adds community-selected freeboard above the 100-year flood elevation; it also calls for an elevation certificate and elevation of electrical and mechanical equipment. Ask the design and permit teams which project elevations and equipment locations apply, then ask the broker how flood loss to the building and equipment is treated during construction. 1

  • Treat shoreline-change maps as a parcel prompt, not a parcel finding

    MGS has refreshed shoreline-rate data for Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Harford, and Prince George's counties, while it says older data elsewhere are becoming less useful. If the site is coastal, check the county, shoreline segment, and observation dates with a coastal professional before relying on the map; ask the broker how the quote treats water, erosion, and storm damage at that location. 2

  • List work in a waterway or floodplain before binding

    Maryland's statewide waterway permit page covers specified work in a waterway or 100-year floodplain, including filling, excavation, construction, and temporary utility work. Match the permit application and work sequence to the values and locations submitted for the builders-risk quote; ask separately about transit and off-site storage. 3

Who Regulates Insurance in Maryland

Maryland Insurance Administration

The Maryland Insurance Administration licenses producers and insurers, reviews rates and forms, and investigates complaints about insurance companies and producers. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue. 4,5,6

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums when Maryland is the insured's home state; excludes risks of Maryland and its political subdivisions When Maryland is the insured's home state, the tax is 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums, except insurance of risks of the State or a political subdivision. For policies effective on or after July 21, 2011, Maryland taxes the entire premium and the broker must charge the tax in addition to premium. Maryland's property and casualty guaranty corporation excludes surplus-lines policies. 7,8

Providers With Documented State Licenses

No provider in Spot’s research documents both a state license record and this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Maryland

  1. Does any part of the site, laydown yard, temporary access, or stored material occupy a mapped 100-year floodplain or regulated waterway?
  2. Which county-specific shoreline data are current for this parcel, and what professional site assessment is needed?
  3. Do the quote's location schedule, flood terms, deductibles, off-site storage, and transit treatment match the actual work phases and material locations?

Builders Risk in Maryland: FAQ

Does Maryland floodplain review cover only the finished building? 1

No. MDE's guidance defines development to include land changes and storage as well as building construction and improvement. Local requirements are project-specific, and MDE says construction in wetlands and floodplains requires a state permit too. 1

Can a Maryland shoreline-change map tell me whether my parcel is eroding now? 2

Not by itself. MGS notes that current updates cover five tidewater counties and that older statewide data may be less useful; the mapping does not replace a current parcel-level coastal assessment. 2

Builders Risk in Other States

Other Coverage in Maryland

Sources

  1. Floodplain Permitting in Maryland. Maryland Department of the Environment; Development scope, local and state permits, Flood Protection Elevation, elevation certificates, equipment, and accessory-building conditions. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Updating Shoreline Rates of Change in Maryland. Maryland Geological Survey; Lines 31–51: statewide historical shorelines; current updates for Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Harford, and Prince George's counties; older coverage has limitations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Waterway and 100-Year Floodplain (Non-Tidal Wetlands and Waterway Permit). Maryland OneStop / Maryland Department of the Environment; Lines 12–40: work requiring authorization in waterways or 100-year floodplains, including filling, excavation, construction, and temporary utility work; joint review process. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. Maryland Insurance Administration. Maryland Insurance Administration; Homepage and consumer contact. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. Insurance License Lookup. Maryland Insurance Administration; State-designated producer/company search. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. File an Insurance Complaint. Maryland Insurance Administration; State complaint process and contact. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. Md. Code, Insurance §3-324. Maryland General Assembly; Insurance §3-324(a)-(b), (d)-(f): government-risk exclusion; 3% of gross premiums less returns; entire-premium home-state basis from July 21, 2011, with tax charged in addition. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Maryland Insurance Article (2026). Maryland General Assembly; Insurance §9-303(5), (7): surplus-lines and unauthorized insurers excluded from property and casualty guaranty subtitle; 2026 Insurance Article PDF. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  10. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  11. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  13. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  14. Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  15. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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