Home Improvement Contractor Permit Requirements

Both the Department of Buildings and the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) require contractors to submit their Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license and number when obtaining a permit for Alteration 1, 2, and 3 applications for:

1, 2, 3, or 4 family homes
Co-op units, condo units, or rented apartment units

The requirement affects construction contractors, Professional Engineers or Registered Architects hiring a Contractor (design – build contracts). Local Law 21 of 1968 (Section 20-397), exempts licensed plumbers, architects, engineers and any other person who is required by State or City law to obtain a license when the work is exclusively within the scope of the craft, profession or business for which he/she is currently licensed.

An HIC License is not required if you are a:

Professional Engineer (PE) or a Registered Architect (RA) who does not have a Design-Build Contract
Subcontractor
Homeowner performing his or her own work
Contractor for a new building or for work done to fulfill a guarantee of completion of a new building
Performing work in a residence that is owned or controlled by a government agency
Performing work in only the commercial portion of a building
Performing work in a Multiple Dwelling and hired by the building owner or Board of Directors.

How to File

In Section 6 of the PW2, the contractor must respond to the HIC License question (Does the Work Permit applied for require an HIC license?). If the answer is Yes, the contractor must provide the HIC license number in the space provided and present the license or a copy to the permit clerk for validation. If applicable, you may present an HIC Affidavit (HIC1) to have the requirement waived.

DCA Resources

To apply for a Home Improvement Contractor license visit DCA’s Home Improvement Contractor page or call (212) 487-4060.
If you need to renew, change or update your license, call (212) 487-4104.
Check out DCA’s Home Improvement Consumer Guide for more information.