Contractor License Bond in New York

What this bond requires in New York

New York is a patchwork. There is no state-level contractor license, no state exam, and no state bond. Every requirement happens at the city or county level — and they don't coordinate with each other. The biggest local requirement by far is New York City's Home Improvement Contractor license, administered by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP): NYC HIC license — Required to perform any residential home improvement work in the five boroughs. You must either enroll in the DCWP Trust Fund (a $200 one-time fee that pools contractor contributions to pay consumer claims) OR post a $20,000 surety bond naming DCWP as certificate holder. The license runs for 2 years. Nassau County — Separate Home Improvement License through the Office of Consumer Affairs. Bond required. Suffolk County — Separate HIC license through Consumer Affairs. Bond required. Westchester, Rockland, Putnam counties — Independent consumer protection licensing regimes. If you work in multiple NY jurisdictions, you need to register in each one. A single statewide license does not exist.

Who requires it

The contractor license bond is required by the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (NYC only) under NYC Admin. Code § 20-387 (Home Improvement Business) — NYC only.

How to file in New York

New York has no statewide contractor licensing and no statewide contractor license bond. All contractor regulation happens at the city or county level. New York City's Home Improvement Contractor license is the largest local requirement — contractors either enroll in the DCWP Trust Fund ($200) or post a $20,000 surety bond naming DCWP as certificate holder. Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties operate their own HIC licensing schemes with varying bond requirements.

Common questions

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