New York contractor license lookup: NYC and counties
New York State has no general contractor license. Learn what NYC DOB, NYC DCWP, and Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester license, and where to check each one.
Updated
New York State does not issue a general contractor license, and the Department of State says it does not license home improvement contractors either. Licensing is local. In New York City, the Department of Buildings (DOB) registers general contractors and licenses trades such as master plumbers and electricians, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) licenses home improvement contractors. Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and a few other counties license home improvement contractors themselves.
Who licenses what
| Where | Agency | What it covers | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | Department of Buildings | General contractor registration, safety registration, master plumbers, master and special electricians, other trades | DOB license search |
| New York City | Department of Consumer and Worker Protection | Home improvement contractors | DCWP license lookup |
| Nassau County | Department of Consumer Affairs | Home improvement contractors | Nassau Consumer Affairs |
| Suffolk County | Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs | Home improvement contractors | Call the department at 631-853-6600 |
| Westchester County | Department of Consumer Protection | Home improvement contractors | Westchester licensed contractor search |
The Attorney General's office says home improvement contractors must also be licensed in Putnam and Rockland counties and the City of Buffalo. Elsewhere in the state, check with the town or city where the work is.
New York City: DOB registrations
DOB decides what a contractor needs by the type of work:
- New 1, 2, or 3 family homes: general contractor registration.
- Other new buildings, major enlargements, and work adding three or more stories: a Safety Registration Number with a construction endorsement, or general contractor registration.
- Demolition and work removing more than half the floor area: a Safety Registration Number with a demolition endorsement.
- Excavation and foundation work: a Safety Registration Number with a construction endorsement.
- Most other alterations: at minimum an Insurance Tracking Number.
General contractor registration lasts three years and requires at least $1 million of general liability per occurrence, workers' compensation, and disability insurance. DOB says general contractors cannot use the exemption affidavit to skip workers' comp and disability coverage.
Plumbing and electrical work in the city is done under DOB licenses held by individuals. A master plumber license runs three years, and a master electrician license must be renewed every year. Check the license holder, not just the company.
New York City: DCWP home improvement license
DCWP was formerly the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), and some city pages still use the old name. A DCWP home improvement contractor license is needed for construction, repair, or remodeling of residential land or buildings in the city when the work costs more than $200, including driveways, fences, patios, and basements. It does not cover new home construction, plumbing, or purely electrical work. Licenses run two years and expire on February 28 of odd years. Applicants must join the Home Improvement Business Trust Fund or post a $20,000 surety bond, and must show workers' comp insurance or a state exemption certificate.
Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester
Each county issues its own home improvement license and keeps its own list. A license in one county does not cover another, and an NYC license does not cover Long Island or Westchester. Some counties and towns may also license trades such as plumbing and electrical work, so ask the county and the town where the work is.
What to ask a subcontractor for
- The DOB registration, safety registration, or license number that matches the work
- The individual master plumber or electrician license for those trades
- The DCWP or county home improvement license number for residential work
- A certificate of insurance in the same legal name
- New York workers' comp and disability certificates, or the state exemption certificate. DCWP does not accept an ACORD form as proof of workers' comp.
Common traps
- No state license. A contractor with no state license number is normal in New York; the question is which local license applies.
- Wrong jurisdiction. A Nassau license does not let a sub work in Westchester or the city.
- Wrong agency in NYC. DOB and DCWP licenses cover different work.
- Company versus license holder. DOB trade licenses belong to individuals.
- Expired annual license. Master electrician licenses renew every year.
Rules change, so confirm current requirements with the agency for the location. This is not legal advice. For more, see certificate of insurance red flags, subcontractor prequalification, and the Texas guide, another state where licensing is split by trade.
Check this automatically
ComplySub checks contractor license status for California, Colorado, Texas, and Florida. New York license tracking is not built in yet, so keep the city or county license record in the vendor file. For the insurance side, ComplySub checks a New York sub's certificates against the requirements you set once and flags gaps and expirations. Vendors upload through a link without an account, and reminders go out before dates lapse.
This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Insurance and licensing rules vary by state, carrier, and contract; confirm what applies to you with your insurance professional, attorney, or licensing board.