Maryland Foster Care Regulations: What COMAR 07.02.25 Actually Requires

Maryland's foster care regulations are not simple to read in their original form. The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), specifically Title 07, Subtitle 02, Chapter 25, governs what the state calls "Resource Home Requirements" — the rules every foster and kinship home must meet to receive and maintain a license.

Most prospective foster parents encounter these regulations through a home inspection rather than by reading the code. That is a bad order of operations. Knowing what the rules require before the inspector arrives is how you pass on the first visit rather than scheduling a follow-up three weeks later.

The Administrative Structure Behind the Regulations

Maryland's foster care system is administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS) at the state level, but licensing is executed by each county's Local Department of Social Services (LDSS). There are 24 of these — one for each of Maryland's 23 counties plus Baltimore City.

COMAR 07.02.25 sets the floor for what every LDSS must require. Individual counties can add requirements on top of the state standard, but they cannot go below it. The DHS Social Services Administration (SSA) also issues policy directives — notably SSA Policy Directive 25-02 — that translate the regulatory language into operational procedures for licensing workers.

When someone tells you to "call DHS about foster care," they usually mean you should call your county LDSS, not the central state office in Baltimore. The state office sets policy; the county office processes your application.

Home Safety Standards Under COMAR 07.02.25

The physical inspection covers several categories that together constitute the home's safety assessment.

Sleeping arrangements. Each child in care must have their own bed. Children over age 2 may not share a room with an adult caregiver. Opposite-sex siblings may not share a bedroom unless both children are under age 5. The bedroom must have adequate space for the child's privacy, study, and storage of personal belongings.

Fire and carbon monoxide safety. Functional smoke detectors must be installed on every level of the home and near sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide detectors are required in the same locations. A documented fire escape plan must exist. These are among the most common first-inspection failures — a detector with a dead battery or a missing CO detector on one floor will hold up your license until a re-inspection can be scheduled.

Firearms and weapons. Firearms must be stored unloaded in a locked container. Ammunition must be stored in a separately locked container. Both must be completely inaccessible to children. This rule is specific: one locked gun safe with ammunition inside does not meet the standard. Rural buyers in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore — where firearm ownership is higher — should address this before the inspection, not after.

Window coverings. Under Maryland's "Angel's Law," any window coverings installed after October 1, 2010 must be cordless. Older coverings must not have exposed or unsecured cords. Inspectors check this, and it is a surprisingly common failure point in homes with older window treatments.

Medications and hazardous materials. All prescription and over-the-counter medications must be stored in a location completely inaccessible to children — meaning locked or in a high cabinet the child cannot reach even with climbing. The same standard applies to cleaning supplies, pesticides, and other hazardous household chemicals.

Pool safety. In-ground pools must be enclosed by a fence at least four feet high with a self-latching, locking gate. Above-ground pools must have ladders that can be removed or locked when not in use. This applies at the time of the home inspection and must remain compliant throughout the license period.

Pets. If you have pets, they must be licensed (where required by local ordinance) and up to date on rabies vaccinations. Bring documentation of current vaccinations to your inspection.

Smoking. The resource home must be entirely smoke-free, including e-cigarettes and vaping, when children in care are present. COMAR was updated in 2025 to explicitly include these categories. The smoke-free requirement extends to vehicles used to transport foster children.

What the Inspection Process Looks Like

Your licensing worker will schedule at least one formal home visit as part of the home study. During this visit, the physical inspection occurs alongside the interview portions of the study. The inspector is not trying to disqualify you — they are trying to verify that the home meets the safety standards before a child is placed there.

If the inspection reveals a minor issue, such as a missing smoke detector, an unsecured extension cord, or an outdated pet vaccination, the worker will typically note it as a deficiency requiring correction before license issuance. You will need to correct it and schedule a follow-up visit. How quickly you can get back on the calendar depends on the worker's availability, which varies significantly by county.

If you want to avoid scheduling a second visit, do a self-audit before the first one. Walk through every room with the COMAR checklist in mind. Check every detector. Verify the ammunition storage situation. Replace any corded window blinds in children's bedrooms.

Annual Reconsideration

Your resource home license is not permanent. Maryland requires annual reconsideration — a review of your household's continued compliance — to maintain the license. The annual visit covers the same physical safety standards as the initial inspection plus a review of any changes in household composition or circumstances. Missing an annual reconsideration can cause your license to lapse, which affects any children currently placed and your ability to receive new placements.

The Maryland Foster Care Licensing Guide includes a room-by-room pre-inspection checklist based on COMAR 07.02.25 standards, along with a plain-language explanation of every eligibility requirement so you know exactly where you stand before submitting your application.

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