Home Improvement Contractor License (NYC)

Who Needs This License

Anyone performing home improvement work on a residential building in New York City must hold a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license. The requirement covers remodeling, renovation, repair, painting, and any structural alteration to an occupied or unoccupied dwelling. Work requiring a DOB trade license — plumbing, electrical, gas — operates under a separate permit system; the HIC license does not substitute for those.

Fees and Bond Options

The application fee is $100 for a full two-year term. DCWP prorates the fee based on application date:

• $100 — applying at the start of the two-year licensing cycle (odd-numbered year)
• $75 — September through February of an even year
• $50 — March through August of an even year
• $25 — final window ending February 28 of the next odd year

For the bond requirement, choose one:

• $20,000 surety bond — name DCWP as certificate holder; must remain in force through the end of the license period.
• DCWP Trust Fund — enroll for a $200 fee instead of posting a bond.

Workers' Compensation

Carry workers' compensation insurance, or file a Certificate of Attestation of Exemption from the New York State Workers' Compensation Board if you have no employees.

Exam Requirement

Pass the DCWP Home Improvement Contractor exam before a license is issued. The exam is 30 multiple-choice questions covering NYC home improvement business law; you must answer at least 21 correctly to pass. The exam fee is $50.

License Period and Renewal

All HIC licenses expire on February 28 of odd-numbered years — the same date, regardless of when you applied. The renewal cycle is every two years. Submit renewal paperwork before expiration to avoid a lapse; licenses do not auto-renew.

Penalties for Unlicensed Work

Operating without an HIC license is a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine per offense. Civil penalties run up to $100 per day for each day of unlicensed operation. DCWP may seize tools and vehicles used in connection with unlicensed activity and posts a publicly searchable "Wall of Shame" listing businesses that received violations for operating without a license.

Practical Takeaway

Before scheduling your first NYC job, book the $50 exam, choose between the $20,000 surety bond and the $200 Trust Fund enrollment, and arrange workers' compensation coverage. File everything together with your $100 application fee. Your license will run through February 28 of the next odd year regardless of when you start — so applying early in the cycle gives you the most runway for the same fee.