New York contractor licenses: most of the rules are set by your city or county

If you came from a state with one contractor board, New York will feel scattered. There is no single office that issues the license for plumbers, roofers and remodelers statewide. Cities and counties do most of it, and the state steps in for pesticides, home inspection, and a few registrations. This page maps who issues what, as listed in October 2026. Our New York startup page covers formation, the LLC publication rule, sales tax and workers' comp.

New York City: the Home Improvement Contractor license

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) says anyone doing construction, repair, remodeling or other home improvement work on residential land or buildings in the city must hold a Home Improvement Contractor license. Covered work includes basements, driveways, fences, garages, landscaping and patios. The application needs fingerprints for owners and principals, a sales tax ID or application confirmation number, and proof of the business and home addresses.

The license runs two years and expires February 28 of odd-numbered years, and the fee depends on when you apply in that cycle. For an application between September 1, 2026 and the end of February 2027, DCWP lists $50 for a license of up to six months or $250 for one of up to 30 months. Earlier in the cycle it is $200 for up to 24 months. You then choose between enrolling in the Home Improvement Business Trust Fund ($200 enrollment) and posting a $20,000 surety bond.

At least one owner or principal must pass a 30-question exam, with 21 correct to pass. The application fee covers two attempts, and two more cost $50. You must also show workers' comp coverage naming DCWP as certificate holder, or an attestation of exemption from the state Workers' Compensation Board, and one of three EPA lead-safety options: certifications, or a signed affirmation that they are not needed.

The license does not replace other city permits. DCWP's checklist points to Department of Transportation permits for sidewalk work, Department of Buildings permits for many home improvements, and a Business Integrity Commission registration if you haul waste.

New York City: trade licenses come from the Department of Buildings

The Department of Buildings (DOB) issues electrician credentials, master and journeyman plumbing and fire suppression licenses, oil burner equipment installer licenses, full and limited gas work qualifications, welder and rigger licenses, and more. Applications go through the DOB NOW portal, and the qualifications are in Chapter 4 of the 2022 NYC Administrative Code. DOB also registers general contractors who build one-, two- and three-family homes. Its page lists $300 for a three-year registration, $240 to renew and a $50 late fee, and sets no dollar threshold.

So a New York City remodeler can hold a DCWP license for the home improvement work and a DOB registration for a new house, and a plumber or electrician needs the DOB credential on top of anything else. Our plumber and electrician guides explain the general route.

What do Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk require?

Outside the city, counties and towns set their own rules, so a license from one place may not carry across a county line. Westchester County law requires home improvement contractors to hold a county license, and its Office of Consumer Protection keeps a list of licensed contractors. Plumbers and electricians must also hold a Westchester trade license, which starts with a county licensing exam.

Nassau County's Consumer Affairs office lists home improvement contractors, home services, locksmiths and environmental hazard remediation providers among the licenses it issues, and says every licensed home improvement contractor must be fingerprinted. We did not review Suffolk County's rules for this page, so get its current requirements from the county before you apply.

Rules vary by town and city, so call the local code office before you quote. The Westchester page also repeats the federal EPA rule: contractors doing renovation, repair or painting that disturbs lead paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools must be certified and use lead-safe practices.

What the state licenses and registers

The state-level list is short and specific.

• Home inspectors. The Department of State requires either a 140-hour approved course (40 hours of unpaid supervised field inspections) or 100 supervised inspections, a passing exam, and liability insurance of at least $150,000 per occurrence and $500,000 aggregate. The listed fees are $250 to apply, $50 for the state exam and $100 to renew every two years, with 24 hours of continuing education.
• Pesticide businesses. Businesses that apply pesticides commercially must register with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The fee is $900 to register or renew, registrations are valid for three years, and the business must carry at least $1,000,000 of commercial general liability per occurrence. For categories such as 1a, 5a and 7a, the business must employ a certified applicator. For other categories it can employ a certified applicator or a technician.
• Contractor registry. Since December 30, 2024, contractors and subcontractors bidding or working on public work projects, and on private projects covered by Article 8 of the Labor Law (such as certain publicly subsidized, renewable energy and broadband projects), must register with the Department of Labor. The fee is $200. A contractor that knowingly bids or works while unregistered faces a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and a possible stop work order. This registry does not cover every contractor in the state.

Lawn care adds a paperwork rule. Before any commercial lawn pesticide application, DEC requires a written contract that specifies the approximate dates of application, the number of applications and the total cost. Our pest control license guide shows the general path.

Contracts and tax rules that apply to licensed and unlicensed work

General Business Law Section 771 applies statewide. A home improvement contract must be in writing and signed, and list your name, address, phone and license number (if applicable), start and completion dates, the work and materials, the price, a mechanic's lien notice and the owner's three-business-day right to cancel. Since April 23, 2022 it must also disclose any property or casualty policy covering the work. The license number is required where a license applies.

No license also means no exemption from tax. Mowing and snow removal are taxable repair and maintenance services in New York, and capital improvements are not when the customer signs Form ST-124. A mowing crew has no license to hold but still needs a Certificate of Authority.

Check the address before you bid

Write the town, county and city on every estimate request. Then check three things: whether the job address needs a local license, whether a permit is needed, and whether the work counts as trade work that only a licensed plumber or electrician may do. This is general information, not legal advice, and local codes change. A website that lists the towns you serve and the license each town expects helps customers and keeps your quotes accurate. That is the kind of page our website service builds.

Frequently asked questions