If you do remodeling or repair work on homes in New York City, you almost certainly need a NYC home improvement license, officially the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license, from the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). This guide covers who needs one, what the application asks for, what it costs right now, how the exam works, and how to renew. Everything here comes from DCWP and NYC311 pages, checked in October 2026. Fees and forms change, so confirm the amounts when you apply.
At a glance
| Question | Answer (checked October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who issues it | NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) |
| Who needs it | Anyone doing home improvement work over $200 on a residential building in NYC |
| Cost if you apply now | $50 for a license to February 28, 2027, or $250 to February 28, 2029; plus $200 for the Trust Fund (or a $20,000 bond) and the fingerprint fee |
| Exam | 30 questions, 21 correct to pass, 60 days to pass it |
| Next renewal deadline | February 28, 2027 (renewal fee $250) |
| Good outside NYC? | No. Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam and Rockland counties license separately, and New York State has no license of its own |
Who needs the license
DCWP says a person or business must have a Home Improvement Contractor license to do work that costs more than $200 on any residential building in NYC. That includes kitchens, bathrooms, basements, floors, windows, driveways, fences, patios, porches and similar work on or next to a home or apartment building.
You do not need this license for:
- New home construction.
- Plumbing or purely electrical work. Plumbers and electricians are licensed by the Department of Buildings instead (see who can legally do what).
- Painting or decorating on its own, when you provide no other home improvement work.
- Working as an employee of a licensed contractor. Subcontractors are different: DCWP’s exam guide says a subcontractor must have its own license.
Two details worth knowing. One NYC311 page lists “handyman work costing less than $250” as exempt, while every DCWP page uses $200, so treat $200 as the line. The same 311 page says buildings with more than four apartments are exempt, except work an owner or tenant hires for their own apartment. If you’re unsure, ask DCWP before you take the job.
The separate Home Improvement Salesperson license was repealed in 2020. You no longer need one.
How to get the license, step by step
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Get a New York State Sales Tax ID (Certificate of Authority), or apply for one. |
| 2 | Get workers’ compensation proof naming DCWP (or a state exemption certificate) and your EPA lead-safe certification (or a signed affirmation that you don’t need it). |
| 3 | Choose between the $200 Trust Fund payment and a $20,000 surety bond. |
| 4 | Apply online with DCWP and upload your documents and fees. |
| 5 | Book fingerprints at IdentoGO for each owner, officer, partner and shareholder over 10%. |
| 6 | Once DCWP processes the application, schedule the exam with ExamBuilder and pass it within 60 days. |
The documents for each step are listed in the next section.
What the application asks for
DCWP’s license application checklist (updated September 2026) lists:
- A Basic License Application, filed online.
- Your New York State Sales Tax ID number, or proof you applied for one.
- Proof of your business address, and proof of home address for every person listed on the application. Names and addresses must match exactly across all documents.
- Workers’ compensation proof naming DCWP as certificate holder, or a state Certificate of Attestation of Exemption. DCWP does not accept ACORD forms.
- EPA lead-safe (RRP) or lead abatement certification, or a signed affirmation that you don’t need it.
- Either $200 to join the Home Improvement Trust Fund or a $20,000 surety bond.
- A signed Contractual Compliance Agreement.
- Fingerprints for every owner, officer, partner and shareholder with more than 10%, taken at IdentoGO.
- A passing score on the exam.
If documents are missing, MyCity says they are due within five business days, and the application is denied if they don’t arrive within 10 days.
What it costs right now
New licenses run on a two-year cycle that ends February 28 of odd-numbered years. The fee depends on when you apply. From DCWP’s checklist:
| You apply between | License fee | License ends |
|---|---|---|
| March 1 (odd year) to August 31 (odd year) | $200 | Next February 28 (odd year) |
| September 1 (odd year) to February 28 (even year) | $150 | Next February 28 (odd year) |
| March 1 (even year) to August 31 (even year) | $100 | Next February 28 (odd year) |
| September 1 (even year) to February 28 (odd year) | $50, or $250 for the following full term | February 28, 2027, or February 28, 2029 |
So if you apply now (fall 2026), you can pay $50 for a license that ends February 28, 2027, or $250 for one that runs to February 28, 2029. On top of the license fee: the $200 Trust Fund fee (or your bond), the fingerprint fee paid to IdentoGO, and a 2% charge if you pay by card. Some older city pages still show lower fees; go by the checklist.
The exam
According to DCWP’s checklist:
- Only one owner or officer has to pass.
- The exam has 30 questions, and you need 21 correct to pass.
- Schedule it online through ExamBuilder after DCWP processes your application. You have 60 days to pass.
- Your application fee covers two attempts. After that, $50 buys two more.
DCWP’s exam study guide covers four topics: the city’s home improvement law, contracts and cancellations, advertising and selling, and general business knowledge such as permits, workers’ comp and sales tax. The guide dates from 2021, so it doesn’t cover the 2026 permit notice rule below.
Renewing by February 28, 2027
- All HIC licenses expire on February 28 of odd-numbered years. The next deadline is February 28, 2027.
- DCWP mails a renewal package about three months before. You can renew online through your DCWP account.
- MyCity lists the renewal fee as $250 and says to file at least 15 days before your license expires.
- NYC311 says that if you don’t renew within 59 days of expiration, you have to apply for a new license.
- If you’re in the Trust Fund, you may not have to pay the $200 again when you renew, depending on the fund’s balance.
- Your customers can check your status too: our homeowner guide explains what an expired contractor license means.
Rules once you’re licensed
- Show your license number on all advertising, including your website, business cards and online listings, and on every contract. MyCity says leaving it off can cost up to $500.
- Use a written contract with the details DCWP requires, including a bold notice of the customer’s right to cancel within three business days and a separate Notice of Cancellation form. No work can start until those three days have passed.
- Give a written permit notice before signing. Since June 2026, a DCWP rule requires you to tell the customer in writing which permits the job needs, who will get them, the estimated fees, and how to check permit status.
- Get the permits yourself. DCWP’s guide says the contractor can’t shift permit responsibility to the customer.
- Keep records for six years.
Working without a license
DCWP’s exam guide says unlicensed home improvement work is a misdemeanor that can bring up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines, plus civil fines, and that DCWP can seize tools and trucks used for unlicensed work. DCWP also publishes a Wall of Shame of businesses recently cited for working unlicensed. Homeowners who hire an unlicensed contractor can’t claim from the city’s Trust Fund, which is one more reason customers check.
Is there a New York State home improvement license?
No. The New York Department of State says the state does not license home improvement contractors, but some counties and towns do. The state Attorney General’s office lists New York City and Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties as places where home improvement contractors must be licensed. A NYC license does not cover those counties.
That matters in Riverdale. Yonkers, just over the city line from North Riverdale, is in Westchester County, so a contractor who takes jobs on both sides needs the DCWP license and a Westchester County license. Check with the county before you take a job there.
How to look up a license
- DCWP’s Search Business tool is free, needs no account, and is updated daily. Search by business name or license number.
- You can also call 311.
- NYC Open Data publishes the same licenses in its “Issued Licenses” dataset, updated less often.
For homeowners, our guide on how to check a contractor’s license in NYC walks through it step by step.
Licensed in Riverdale or Kingsbridge?
Riverdale Contractors lists DCWP-licensed home improvement contractors with a business address in ZIP codes 10463 and 10471, free, with each license number checked against city records. See the general contractors in Riverdale or all contractors by ZIP code. Listings are free, with no lead fees. If something in your listing is wrong, or you’d like a badge for your website, contact us. The site is run by Durantt Bros, a small web studio that also builds websites for contractors.
References
All checked in October 2026.
- DCWP, Home Improvement Contractor License Application Checklist (PDF dated September 11, 2026)
- DCWP, Home Improvement Examination Guide (updated June 2021)
- DCWP, Renew a Business License
- DCWP, Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor
- MyCity Business, Home Improvement Contractor License
- NYC311, Home Improvement Contractor License
- NYC Rules, Home Improvement Contractor Disclosures (effective June 19, 2026)
- New York Department of State, home improvement consumer alert (March 26, 2024)
- New York Attorney General, Hiring a Home-Improvement Contractor
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your situation, check with DCWP or call 311.