Home Improvement Contractor License

You must have the applicable Business Certificate based on your business’s legal structure. Although DCWP does not require submission of your Business Certificate in order to process your application, DCWP may request this document under section 20-104 of the New York City Administrative Code.

• Sole proprietors operating under a name other than your own must have a Business/Assumed Name Certificate.
• Partnerships must have a Partnership Certificate and, if applicable, an Assumed Name Certificate for your business.
• Corporations, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, or Limited Liability Partnerships must register and remain active with the New York State Division of Corporations. You can check your status at www.dos.ny.gov/corps.

Complete the Basic License Application.

The Basic License Application requires business information, including applicable identification numbers (such as EIN, SSN, or ITIN); contact information for the business location and business owner, history of criminal and / or civil charges for the business owners, partners, shareholders, and officers; and any DCWP license history for individuals named on the application and their relatives.

The business must provide their New York State Sales Tax Identification Number or Certificate of Authority Application Confirmation Number on the Basic License Application .

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Applicant must provide one proof of business address. Acceptable proofs of business address include: a utility bill, dated within the last 90 days (telephone, gas, electric, cable, or water); a current lease or deed in the name of either the business or individual listed on license application; a current rent or mortgage bill; or a current license or permit issued by New York State or another New York City government agency that shows your business address.

Each individual listed on the license application must provide proof of home address. Acceptable proofs of home address include: a utility bill, dated within the last 90 days (telephone, gas, electric, cable, or water); a current lease or deed; a current rent or mortgage bill; a driver's license; or if individual lives at another person's address, a letter signed by the leaseholder indicating that the individual lives at the address and one proof of home address (as mentioned prior) with the leaseholder's name.

Applicant must submit proof of workers' compensation insurance information. Acceptable proofs include:
- A copy of an insurance certificate for workers' compensation insurance from a private insurance carrier or the New York State Insurance Fund Office. The Insurance Certificate must name the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection as the certificate holder and include the Department’s address: 42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004.
- A Certificate of Attestation of Exemption from the New York State Workers' Compensation Board (WCB), if business claims exemption from the requirement to hold workers’ compensation insurance.

Workers Compensation Board Homepage

Applicant must submit proof of EPA Certification AND/OR Signed Affirmation. Acceptable proofs include:
- Copies of EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) certification AND EPA Lead-Based Paint Activities certification (also known as Lead Abatement certification). Certifications must include name, EPA certificate number, and EPA certificate expiration date. OR
- Copy of either EPA RRP certification or EPA Lead Abatement certification AND signed Home Improvement Contractor Affirmation indicating that the other EPA certification is not required for any home improvement work performed by the applicant. OR
- Signed Home Improvement Contractor Affirmation indicating that both EPA certifications (RRP; Lead Abatement) are not required for any home improvement work performed by the applicant.

For more information about the EPA certificates, visit epa.gov/lead.

Complete the Trust Fund Enrollment form and pay applicable fee. If business does not want to enroll in the Trust Fund, the business must submit a copy of a $20,000 surety bond (or third party bond), properly signed. The copy of the bond must name the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection as the Certificate Holder. The business name and address on the bond must match the information provided in the license application. The business must also submit a copy of the bond receipt showing that the bond has been paid in full and does not expire before the end of the licensing period. A list of bonding companies is available at the link here.

HIC Trust Fund Enrollment

Complete the Contractual Compliance Agreement.

HIC Contractual Compliance Agreement

If the license application will be filed by someone other than the applicant, complete the Granting Authority to Act Affirmation.

Granting Authority to Act

All Sole Proprietors, General Partners, Corporate Officers, Principals, Directors, Members, and Shareholders owning 10% or more of company stock must schedule an appointment with IdentoGO to be fingerprinted. Visit uenroll.identogo.com. Enter Service Code and Agency ID. Service Code is 1585BH. Agency ID is the numbers only from Application Number. Application Number is on your receipt or confirmation letter when you apply online. Example: For Application Number 1234567-2023-AHIC, enter only 12345672023 as Agency ID. Follow the instructions and pay the required fee(s). IMPORTANT: Anyone required to be fingerprinted should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to complete this requirement.

List of Fees.

• $100: License Fee for applicants who file for a new Home Improvement Contractor License from March 1 of years that end in an odd number to August 31 of years that end in an odd number.
• $75: License Fee for applicants who file for a new Home Improvement Contractor License from September 1 of years that end in an odd number to February 28 or 29 of years that end in an even number.
• $50: License Fee for applicants who file for a new Home Improvement Contractor License from March 1 of years that end in an even number to August 31 of years that end in an even number.
• $25: License Fee for applicants who file for a new Home Improvement Contractor License from September 1 of years that end in an even number to February 28 of years that end in an odd number.
• $200: Trust Fund Enrollment Fee.
• $50: Home Improvement Contractor Exam Fee.
• Fingerprint Processing Fee per person.
• Non-Refundable Convenience Fee for paying with a credit card.
• $100: License Renewal Fee.

List of accepted payment methods.

• Check (Payable to NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, accepted only for in person application submissions.)
• Money Order (Payable to NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, accepted only for in person application submissions.)
• Credit card including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card.

After applicant files application and materials to DCWP, applicant (i.e., sole proprietor, general partner, director, corporate officer, or shareholder owning 10% or more of company stock) must schedule an appointment with ExamBuilder to take the Home Improvement Exam.

• Only ONE of the following persons needs to pass the Home Improvement Exam: sole proprietor, general partner, corporate officer, principal, director, member, or shareholder owning 10% or more of company stock. You must confirm with DCWP who will take the exam.

• You can schedule the exam 24 hours after DCWP has processed your completed license application, which includes required documents and fees. You cannot schedule the exam until DCWP has received and processed required documents and payments. Once DCWP has processed your application, it takes 24 hours for your information to appear in ExamBuilder’s system.

• You have 60 days to take and pass the exam from the time your information appears in ExamBuilder’s system.

• Test Centers are open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week in multiple locations citywide. ExamBuilder can confirm available locations when you schedule your exam.

• You can schedule the exam in ONE of two ways:

  1. Online at dcaschedule.exambuilder.com. Enter your Application Number, then click Continue. You can find Application Number on your License Application Confirmation Page or payment receipt.
  2. By phone: (646) 974-8244. Customer service is available from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week.

Home Improvement Study Guide

Within two weeks of DCWP receiving all required materials, applicants will receive one of the following notifications by mail with the status of their license application.
- If the application is approved, DCWP will issue the applicant a license document.
- If the application requires additional information, DCWP will notify the applicant by mail with instructions on how to submit this information. If the applicant does not submit the requested materials to DCWP within 10 days of receiving this notification letter, the application will be denied.
- If the application is denied, DCWP will provide an explanation for the denial and information about the reapplication process.

Licenses are valid for up to two years and expire on February 28 of years that end in an odd number.

If any of the information submitted in the approved application changes, the licensee must inform DCWP of those changes by calling 311 or by visiting the DCWP Licensing Center or NYC Small Business Support Center. DCWP recommends that licensees call 311 to confirm that they need to go to a Center for any specific change. You must schedule an appointment to visit in person. View flyer to learn how to schedule an appointment.

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All laws and rules of the City of New York, including the Consumer Protection Law and Rules, are available through the PUBLIC ACCESS PORTAL.

Review the requirements for the license and gather all materials before clicking the Apply Online button. Note: You will be redirected to a new web page where you will need a registered account with the City of New York to submit an online application.

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After submitting an application online, print a copy of the Confirmation Page. The Confirmation Page will list the additional steps and materials required to complete the application. These materials are also listed above and must be submitted within five business days of filing the application online if they were not uploaded as part of the online application submission.

Complete the required application forms and gather all necessary documentation identified in the section above.

Schedule an appointment to file in person at the DCWP Licensing Center or NYC Small Business Support Center. View flyer to learn how to schedule an appointment.

Before the license expires, DCWP will mail a license renewal application and instructions to the licensee. If the licensee plans to continue operating, the licensee must submit their renewal application at least 15 days before the license expires.

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Renew Online

Before the license expires, DCWP will mail a license renewal application and instructions to the licensee. If the licensee plans to continue operating, the licensee must submit their renewal application, required documents, and fees at least 15 days before the license expires. Licensee must schedule an appointment to file in person at the DCWP Licensing Center or NYC Small Business Support Center. View flyer to learn how to schedule an appointment.

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Before the license expires, DCWP will mail a license renewal application and instructions to the licensee. If the licensee plans to continue operating, the licensee must submit their renewal application, required documents, and fees at least 15 days before the license expires. Licensee can mail materials using the orange return envelope to the DCWP Licensing Center.

contact-info

NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)

Licensing Center

42 Broadway, Lobby

New York

NY

10004

onlineappsdocs@dcwp.nyc.gov