New York Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

New York does not license carpenters or general contractors at the state level. Carpentry is regulated by county and city Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) licensing programs. NYC carpenters need a Home Improvement Contractor license from the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) under NYC Admin. Code §20-385 et seq., plus a $20,000 surety bond and contributions to the NYC HIC Trust Fund. Nassau County requires a HIC license through the Office of Consumer Affairs. Suffolk County requires a HIC license through the Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs. Westchester and Rockland Counties run their own programs. Each license requires fingerprinting, background check, and a separate $1,000 to $20,000 bond.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Whether or not New York licenses this trade, any work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing falls under the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule nationwide. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by New York City Department of Buildings (Licensing Unit) (NYC DOB) pursuant to New York City Administrative Code Title 28 (Construction Codes); Rules of the City of New York Title 1 Chapters 11, 26 (electrical), 27 (plumbing); New York State Education Law Article 145 does NOT apply to construction trades.. NYC DOB issues and administers construction trade licenses for the five boroughs, including General Contractor, Master Plumber, Master Electrician, Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor, and Class A and B Oil Burner Equipment Installers. DOB enforces violations through its Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

Official portal: https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/business/licenses.page
Address: 280 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 393-2259

Who May Apply

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No New York residency requirement.

Good moral character

Criminal history is reviewed case-by-case by the licensing authority.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility here is not measured in years of experience but by No experience years codified. NYC DCWP requires a passing grade on the in-person Home Improvement Contractor exam., per the cited materials.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized experience affidavits from licensed supervising contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Apprenticeship completion certificate where applicable

Education substitution

Approved carpentry apprenticeship or accredited trade school coursework may substitute for part of the experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

NYC DCWP administers an in-person exam at the licensing center. Other counties have no exam. runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

NYC Home Improvement Contractor exam (consumer protection law and trade rules) — 30 questions, 60 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $100 NYC application fee plus $25 fingerprint fee. Other counties: $200 to $400 application fee.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after paying a new exam fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

A contractor license surety bond of $20,000, on the NYC DOB's prescribed form, is a precondition to issuance.

General liability

NYC DCWP requires a $20,000 surety bond and proof of GL insurance (no statutory minimum, but $300,000 to $1,000,000 typical). Nassau and Suffolk require $300,000 GL.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under NY WCL §10 for any contractor with one or more employees, including officers of corporations.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required at any New York jurisdiction.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every 2 years)	$100

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the New York Home Improvement Contractor (NYC DCWP, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $100. NYC HIC renews every two years on the licensee birthday. Nassau and Suffolk renew biennially.

Continuing education: NYC DCWP does not require continuing education, but rule changes are tested at every renewal exam.

Downloadable Asset

2026 New York Carpentry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by New York for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

New York has no statewide license. NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland County HIC licenses are not transferable between jurisdictions.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Carpentry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Identify the New York jurisdictions where you will work. NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland each require their own HIC.
Submit the NYC DCWP HIC application with $100 fee. Plus fingerprinting at the licensing center.
Pass the NYC HIC in-person exam at 70%. Consumer protection law and trade rules.
Post the $20,000 surety bond and $200 Trust Fund contribution. Required at issuance.
File proof of GL insurance and workers compensation. Per NYC and county requirements.
Apply separately in Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland. Each requires its own application, fee and bond.
Receive the HIC numbers. Display on every contract and ad in each jurisdiction.
Renew every two years in each jurisdiction. NYC renewal on the licensee birthday.

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

NYC Admin. Code Title 20 Subchapter 22 — City of New York. NYC HIC statute.
NYC DCWP Home Improvement Contractor License Application Information Packet — NYC DCWP. Free PDF on nyc.gov/dcwp.
Nassau County Local Law 21-2009 — Nassau County. Home Improvement Licensing Law.
Suffolk County Local Law 22-1992 — Suffolk County. Consumer Affairs HIC rules.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a New York Carpentry application.

Working in the wrong county

NYC HIC does not authorize Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester or Rockland work. Each county has its own license and bond.

NYC HIC Trust Fund missed

The $200 Trust Fund contribution is mandatory at issuance and renewal.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

EPA RRP certification is federally required and NYC DOHMH enforces concurrently with citations on RRP violations in pre-1960 NYC housing.

NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) permits

HIC license does not authorize work that requires NYC DOB permits. A Licensed Master or Special Riggers permit may be needed for structural work over a certain scope.

Mandatory written contract

NYC Admin. Code §20-393 requires a written contract on any home improvement of $200 or more, with specific contract language, three-day cancellation, and the HIC license number.

Document Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with NYC DOB:

☐ NYC DCWP HIC application with $100 fee
☐ Fingerprinting and background check
☐ NYC HIC in-person exam pass certificate
☐ $20,000 surety bond
☐ $200 NYC HIC Trust Fund contribution
☐ Certificate of general liability insurance
☐ Workers compensation certificate
☐ Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, or Rockland HIC (if working those counties)
☐ EPA Lead RRP certification (pre-1978 work)
☐ Statutory written HIC contract template

Other New York Trade Licenses

If the Carpentry license is not the right fit, the following published New York trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does New York have a state carpentry license?

No. New York licenses no general or carpentry contractor at the state level. NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland each run their own Home Improvement Contractor programs.

What does the NYC HIC require?

A $100 application, in-person exam, $20,000 surety bond, $200 contribution to the NYC HIC Trust Fund, fingerprinting and background check.

What is the NYC HIC Trust Fund?

A consumer compensation fund that pays homeowners up to $20,000 per claim for losses caused by NYC HIC licensees.

Can I work in Nassau with an NYC HIC?

No. Nassau County requires a separate Office of Consumer Affairs HIC license. The same applies to Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland.

How often does the NYC HIC renew?

Every two years on the licensee birthday with current bond and insurance.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-06-10 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-08