Contractor Licensing
A contractor is a person or company that you hire to do construction or repair work on your home or building in New York City. In NYC, a contractor who works on a residence (house, small building, or apartment building) must be properly licensed by the city. This applies when the contractor builds, repairs, or changes any part of the property, including structures and surrounding areas.
Examples of work that usually require a licensed contractor include: roofs and roof replacement, extensions or additions, new walls or structural changes, basements and garages, driveways and fences. It also covers many outdoor projects, such as porches, patios, terraces, decks, swimming pools, sidewalks, and landscaping next to a home or apartment building. Exact requirements can depend on the type of building and current NYC rules.
Important information
In New York City, most home improvement work on houses and residential buildings requires a Home Improvement Contractor License from the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) also registers contractors and issues permits for construction work, and it allows you to check a contractor’s license or registration status online.
Before you sign a contract or pay a large deposit, check if your contractor is licensed and in good standing in New York City, and verify them in the DOB online system.
Related terms
Some glossary entries use an asterisk * at the end of the term (for example, violation* or permit*). This mark is only a technical tool on this website. It does not change the meaning of the word.
- remodeling
- fixer-upper
- building
- plumber
- repairman
- electrician
- inspector
- residential
- structural worker
- basement
- code
- carpenter
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