New York contractor license lookup, the NYC home improvement check.

Check the licence on the official register

Check a DCWP licence (Search Business)

DCWP says you do not need to log in or create an account to use Search Business. You will be redirected to a new web page. Search the business or individual name from the contract, and compare it with the name and address on the paperwork.

Scope of this page

This page covers the New York City licence that the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) publishes and checks. We did not find a state-level contractor register we could read, so we make no claim about contractor licensing elsewhere in New York State. Outside the five boroughs, ask the local town or county building department what it requires.

Who needs a Home Improvement Contractor licence

DCWP's application checklist says a person or business must have a Home Improvement Contractor licence "to do construction, repair, remodeling, or other home improvement work to any residential land or building in New York City". It lists examples of other home improvement work: basements, driveways, fences, garages, landscaping, patios, porches, sidewalks, swimming pools, terraces, and other improvements to structures or land next to a home or apartment building. DCWP stresses that its description "is only a general explanation".

What a licence holder has had to file

The checklist is a useful guide to what a real licence stands behind. An applicant must provide:

• A sales tax identification number or an application confirmation number.
• Proof of a business address and, for each individual on the application, proof of a home address.
• Workers' compensation insurance information: an insurance certificate naming DCWP as the certificate holder, or a Certificate of Attestation of Exemption from the New York State Workers' Compensation Board if exempt.
• EPA certification or an affirmation: EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) and Lead-Based Paint Activities certification, or a signed affirmation that a certification is not required for the applicant's home improvement work.

DCWP will deny an application that lacks the required documents. A licence on the register therefore means these were submitted at application time; it does not confirm they are still current today, so ask for a current insurance certificate for your job.

Checking, and the Wall of Shame

DCWP licenses more than 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries. Its Search Business service tells you whether an individual or business holds a DCWP licence. DCWP adds a caution: "Not all businesses/individuals require a DCWP license to operate in NYC", so a missing result for a trade that does not need one is not proof of wrongdoing. For home improvement work on a residence, however, no licence is a serious flag. DCWP also publishes a "Wall of Shame: Unlicensed Home Improvement Contractors" and advises you to avoid the businesses on it.

Worked example

A homeowner in Queens is quoted $18,000 to rebuild a porch. Porches are named in DCWP's list, so the contractor needs a Home Improvement Contractor licence. Search the contractor's exact business name in Search Business. If it appears, ask for the licence number in writing and a workers' compensation certificate naming DCWP as holder. If it does not appear, check the Wall of Shame and ask the contractor why before paying a deposit.

What this page does not cover

• It does not search the register or tell you a licensee's status; DCWP's service does.
• It does not cover trade licences such as electrical or plumbing, or building permits from the Department of Buildings.
• The checklist PDF is dated 9/11/2026 by DCWP; requirements can change.

FAQ

Do I need a licence to do home improvement work in New York City?

Yes. DCWP says a person or business must have a Home Improvement Contractor licence to do construction, repair, remodeling or other home improvement work on any residential land or building in New York City.

How do I check a New York City contractor licence?

Use DCWP's Search Business service. You do not need to log in or create an account.

What is the DCWP Wall of Shame?

A DCWP list of unlicensed home improvement contractors. DCWP advises avoiding the businesses on it.

What insurance does a licensed NYC home improvement contractor have to show?

Proof of workers' compensation insurance naming DCWP as certificate holder, or a Certificate of Attestation of Exemption from the New York State Workers' Compensation Board.

Does every NYC business need a DCWP licence?

No. DCWP notes that not all businesses or individuals require a DCWP licence to operate in New York City.

Does this cover contractors outside New York City?

No. This page covers only the DCWP licence for New York City. Ask your local building department about other areas.

Sources

Retrieved 2026-11-01. Each link was opened and checked against the claim next to it.

• NYC DCWP: Home Improvement Contractor License Application Checklist: Who must hold the licence, the examples of covered work and the documents an applicant must provide.
• NYC DCWP: Check License Status: The free Search Business service, the 45,000 businesses figure, the not-all-businesses note and the Wall of Shame.