Maryland salon inspections
Maryland salon inspection checklist
The Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists inspects Maryland salons against the state's sanitation rules. A new salon is not inspected before it opens, so it has to meet these rules from its first day. Below are the 20 rules an inspector checks, from the state's own rules and inspection pages, each beside the rule's own words. Tick them off as you get ready, filter by the services you offer, and print the list.
- Inspected by
- Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists
- Before opening
- Not inspected first
- Rules on this list
- 20
- Official form
- None found
- Foot spa log
- Not stated
- MMA nail liquid
- Not stated
Read from the official sources on October 19, 2026.The full rules Maryland salon license
How it works
How Maryland inspects salons
Inspections are done by the Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists. A new salon is not inspected before it opens; inspections come once it is licensed, so be ready from your first day.
Board inspectors conduct inspections throughout the State of Maryland on a daily basis.
“Board inspectors conduct inspections throughout the State of Maryland on a daily basis.”
We found no inspection form published by the Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists, so this checklist is built from the state's rules themselves.
The checklist
What Maryland inspectors check
Every rule below is from the state's own rules, beside its own words. An inspector can check anything in the rules, so read them in full once before you open.
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Maryland salon inspection checklist
salonai.studio/salon-inspection-checklist/maryland
Licenses on display
The first thing an inspector looks for: the salon's license and every working license, current and where clients can see them.
1.Display the salon permit in full view of the public.
Other required postings
Some states also want their rules, a consumer notice or the last inspection report on the wall.
2.Post the Board's condensed version of the laws and regulations for operators and salons.
The disinfectant
What the disinfectant must be, how it is mixed and how often it is changed.
3.Disinfect implements in a wet sanitizer with an EPA-registered disinfectant effective against HIV and hepatitis viruses, or a hospital-grade tuberculocidal disinfectant.
4.Change nail disinfectant right away when it becomes dirty, cloudy, or contaminated with blood.Nail services
Cleaning tools between clients
How combs, shears, nippers and other reusable tools are cleaned and disinfected after each client.
5.Wash implements in hot, soapy water before immersing them in disinfectant.
6.Clean and disinfect right away any instrument that caused a cut or skin abrasion.
Storing clean and used tools
Clean tools kept covered and apart from used ones, so nothing dirty touches the next client.
7.Store cleaned and disinfected implements in a closed, dry cabinet or drawer with nothing else in it.
Single-use items
What must be thrown away after one client because it cannot be disinfected.
8.Throw away each emery board or disposable file after using it on a client.Nail services
9.Do not use neck dusters, powder puffs, sponges, styptic pencils, or lump alum on more than one client.
Towels, capes and linens
Clean towels stored closed, used ones in a covered container until laundered.
10.Store laundered towels in a closed cabinet and keep soiled towels in a separate bin or hamper.
11.Cover every headrest and footrest with a new clean towel or disposable paper for each client.
Water, sinks and restroom
Hot and cold running water, sinks and a restroom with a place to wash hands.
12.Keep hot and cold running water in the salon.
13.Keep the restroom sanitary, with a soap dispenser and disposable towels.
Pedicure equipment
How foot spas and pedicure basins are cleaned after each client and at the end of the day, and the log some states require.
14.Disinfect pedicure spas, foot bath basins and manicure bowls after each client.Pedicures
Banned products and tools
Products, tools and practices the state's rules forbid outright.
15.Do not use or keep a Credo blade or similar razor-type tool for cutting growths on the skin.
16.No animals on the salon premises except a designated service animal.
The premises
Floors, walls, light, air, waste bins and keeping living space and food out of the work area.
17.Do not use the salon for sleeping or living quarters.
18.Remove hair, nail debris, and waste from the floor without delay, put it in a closed container, and take it out of the salon frequently.
First aid and safety
A first aid kit, what to do after a cut or blood exposure, and other safety rules.
19.Dispose of blood-contaminated materials right away in a sealed, double-plastic bag.
20.Wash and disinfect your hands right away if they come in contact with blood.
Questions
Maryland salon inspections, answered
What do salon inspectors check in Maryland?
Is a new salon inspected before it opens in Maryland?
How are salons inspected in Maryland?
Does Maryland have an official salon inspection checklist?
Plan the rest
Get the rest of the salon ready
- Every step to opening a salon, as a checklist for your state
- The salon license, fees and who must be licensed
- Which services and products the state taxes, and the sales tax permit
- What it costs to open a salon, line by line
- A client intake and consultation form
- A cancellation and no-show policy
Salon inspection checklists for other states
Ready when you are
Pass the inspection, then fill the chairs
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