How to Check a Contractor’s License in NYC

In New York City most repair and renovation work has to be done by a licensed business, and checking takes about five minutes with the city’s own free tools. Which license to look for depends on the job, so start there.

Which license to look for

• Home improvement (remodeling and repairs). Work that costs more than $200 on any residential building in NYC needs a Home Improvement Contractor license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). That covers kitchens, bathrooms, floors, painting, windows, basements and similar work.
• Plumbing. Plumbing is not covered by the home improvement license. It is licensed by the Department of Buildings (DOB), which issues master plumber licenses.
• Electrical. Purely electrical work is not covered either. Electricians are licensed by the Department of Buildings.
• Architects and engineers. Their licenses come from New York State, not the city, so they are checked on the state’s online license verification site.

A kitchen renovation can involve all three: a home improvement contractor for the cabinets and tile, a licensed plumber for the sink and a licensed electrician for new circuits. Ask who will do each part, and check each license.

Check a home improvement contractor (DCWP)

• Open the city’s license lookup, or call 311.
• Search by the business name or the license number on the contractor’s estimate or van.
• Check that the status is active, that the expiration date has not passed, and that the business name and address match the ones on your contract.
• Look at the city’s Wall of Shame of unlicensed home improvement contractors as well.

Check a plumber or electrician (DOB)

• Go to the Department of Buildings DOB NOW Public Portal. You do not need an account.
• Choose the Licensee search, then search by last name, business name or license number and pick the license type.
• Use the active-licenses view to confirm the license is current.

Why it matters

If a licensed home improvement contractor does not finish the job or owes you money, you may be able to get repaid through the city’s Home Improvement Contractor Trust Fund. If you hired an unlicensed contractor, you are not eligible. You can report unlicensed work by calling 311.

Before you sign

The city’s tips for hiring a home improvement contractor include:

• Get a written contract signed by you and the contractor, with a separate Notice of Cancellation form, and keep a signed copy before work starts.
• The contract should list the start and finish dates, a description of the work and materials, the payment schedule and all charges, guarantees and warranties.
• The contractor must tell you in writing which permits the job needs before you sign.
• Pay no more than 25% of the total up front, and do not pay in cash.
• Not sure the job needs a permit? See do you need a permit to renovate a bathroom in NYC.

If you live in a co-op, your building will also want its own paperwork before work starts. See our guide to co-op alteration agreements in Riverdale.

Licensed contractors in Riverdale

Every business in this directory shows its license number. We matched each one against NYC Open Data in October 2026: home improvement contractors against DCWP records, and plumbers and electricians against Department of Buildings records. Licenses expire, so check the number yourself before you sign.

• General contractors in Riverdale
• Licensed plumbers in Riverdale
• Licensed electricians in Riverdale
• Contractors by neighborhood: Fieldston and North Riverdale, Kingsbridge and Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Village