Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions § 17-608
This is the official text of Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions § 17-608, part of Maryland’s Code, Business Occupations and Professions — governs professional and occupational licensing.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§17–608.
Official statutory text
(a) (1) In this subsection, “handicap” and “familial status” each have the meanings indicated in the federal Fair Housing Act.
(2) Whether or not acting for monetary gain, a person may not knowingly induce or attempt to induce another person to sell or rent a dwelling or otherwise transfer real estate or knowingly discourage or attempt to discourage another person from buying real estate by:
(i) making representations about the entry or prospective entry into a neighborhood of individuals of a particular race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, or national origin;
(ii) making representations about the existing or potential proximity of real property owned or used by individuals of a particular race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, or national origin; or
(iii) representing that the existing or potential proximity of real property owned or used by individuals of a particular race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, or national origin will or may result in:
1. the lowering of property values;
2. a change in the racial, religious, or ethnic character of the block, neighborhood, or area;
3. an increase in criminal or antisocial behavior in the area; or
4. a decline in the quality of schools serving the area.
(b) A person may not provide financial assistance by loan, gift, or otherwise to another person if the person has actual knowledge that the financial assistance will be used in a transaction that results from a violation of subsection (a) of this section.
(2) Whether or not acting for monetary gain, a person may not knowingly induce or attempt to induce another person to sell or rent a dwelling or otherwise transfer real estate or knowingly discourage or attempt to discourage another person from buying real estate by:
(i) making representations about the entry or prospective entry into a neighborhood of individuals of a particular race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, or national origin;
(ii) making representations about the existing or potential proximity of real property owned or used by individuals of a particular race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, or national origin; or
(iii) representing that the existing or potential proximity of real property owned or used by individuals of a particular race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status, or national origin will or may result in:
1. the lowering of property values;
2. a change in the racial, religious, or ethnic character of the block, neighborhood, or area;
3. an increase in criminal or antisocial behavior in the area; or
4. a decline in the quality of schools serving the area.
(b) A person may not provide financial assistance by loan, gift, or otherwise to another person if the person has actual knowledge that the financial assistance will be used in a transaction that results from a violation of subsection (a) of this section.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Dealing with a business matter in Maryland?
See all Maryland Business lawyers
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.