New York Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

New York State does not license masonry as a trade at the state level. Masonry contractors operate under a patchwork of local registrations and project-specific safety requirements. New York City requires DCWP Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) licensing for residential masonry work over $200, NYC DOB Safety Registration for any contractor working at heights, and Special Riggers / Site Safety Manager involvement on any Local Law 11 / FISP facade inspection and repair work. Outside NYC, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and Yonkers each maintain local contractor registries. This page documents the verified path including the NYC DCWP HIC, Local Law 11 facade work, OSHA silica enforcement, and TMS 402 / IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

The Licensing Authority

New York City Department of Buildings (Licensing Unit) (NYC DOB) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under 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

Baseline Eligibility

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No New York residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the NYS Department of State.

Good moral character

NYC DCWP reviews prior license discipline and consumer complaints. Felonies relating to fraud bar issuance.

Background investigation

NYC DCWP HIC application requires fingerprinting at IdentoGO with $101.75 fee.

Experience and Education Requirements

Rather than a set number of years, the cited materials define eligibility through No state experience requirement. Insurance carriers and prime contractors require demonstrated journey-level masonry experience by contract. Local Law 11 facade work requires QEWI (Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector) supervision..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Optional: signed letters from prior masonry employers
QEWI affiliation for Local Law 11 / FISP work
Project list with addresses (used for prime subcontracts)

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by NYC DCWP Home Improvement Contractor exam (multiple choice, open book), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

NYC DCWP HIC Trade and Consumer Protection Exam — 30 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $50 NYC DCWP HIC exam fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days. No state masonry trade exam exists.

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

NYC DCWP HIC requires GL on the application; $300,000 minimum is typical, but Local Law 11 facade work and most NYC GCs require $2,000,000+ per occurrence GL plus excess liability.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under NY WCL §10 for any New York employer with one or more employees. NYC DCWP requires NYS form C-105.2. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in New York.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required for HIC. Larger NYC projects require bonding capacity letters.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$100
Examination	$50
Initial license	$100
Renewal (every 2 years)	$100

License Renewal

The New York Masonry — NYC DOB Safety Registration + Local HIC must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $100. NYC DCWP HIC renews every two years. Maintain insurance, Trust Fund contribution, and DOB Safety Registration continuously.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

New York grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

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

New York has no state masonry license to reciprocate. NYC DCWP HIC is not reciprocal with NJ HIC, CT HIC, or PA HIC.

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

The Licensing Roadmap

Form a New York or foreign entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the NYS Department of State and obtain an EIN.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Bind GL ($2M+ practical for NYC) and NYS workers comp form C-105.2.
NYC: complete IdentoGO fingerprinting. Submit fingerprints with $101.75 fee at IdentoGO for the NYC DCWP HIC application.
NYC: pass DCWP HIC exam. Score 70% or better on the NYC DCWP HIC trade and consumer protection exam.
NYC: file DCWP HIC application. File the NYC HIC application with $100 fee, fingerprint receipt, exam pass, GL/WC certificates, and Trust Fund contribution.
NYC: obtain DOB Safety Registration. Register with NYC DOB if performing work at heights or on permitted projects.
Local Law 11 / FISP coordination. Facade repair on buildings over six stories requires QEWI supervision under Local Law 11 (NYC Admin Code §28-302).
Implement OSHA silica program. Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in New York private sector; PESH covers public sector. Written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

NYC DCWP HIC Study Materials — NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Required reading for the NYC HIC exam.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
NYC Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry — NYC Department of Buildings. NYC amendments to IBC Chapter 21; stricter than statewide code.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Before submitting to NYC DOB, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ NYS Department of State entity registration
☐ NYS workers comp form C-105.2
☐ GL insurance certificate ($2M+ for NYC)
☐ NYC DCWP HIC fingerprinting receipt
☐ NYC DCWP HIC exam pass certificate
☐ NYC DCWP HIC license + Trust Fund contribution
☐ NYC DOB Safety Registration (if applicable)
☐ QEWI affiliation for Local Law 11 facade work
☐ OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Common Application Pitfalls

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a New York Masonry application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Local Law 11 violation

Performing facade repair on a six-plus story NYC building without QEWI supervision triggers DOB violations and stop-work orders.

NYC HIC Trust Fund delinquency

Trust Fund contributions are required at HIC issuance and renewal; delinquency triggers automatic license suspension.

Workers comp form wrong

NYC DCWP requires NYS form C-105.2 specifically — generic ACORD certificates are rejected.

Severe freeze-thaw veneer failure

NYC and upstate freeze-thaw cycles cause spalling; QEWI inspections fail jobs without proper flashing and weeps.

Silica plan absent

OSHA targets NYC, Buffalo, and Rochester masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Other New York Trade Licenses

For a different New York credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

Does New York license masonry at the state level?

No. New York has no statewide masonry license. NYC requires DCWP HIC for residential and DOB Safety Registration for at-heights work.

What is Local Law 11 / FISP?

NYC Local Law 11 / Facade Inspection Safety Program requires periodic facade inspections on buildings six stories or taller, supervised by a QEWI. Masonry repairs must be performed by registered contractors.

What does the NYC DCWP HIC cost?

About $200 in fees plus $101.75 fingerprinting plus the Trust Fund contribution. Insurance and bonding add significantly more.

Are local registrations required outside NYC?

Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and Yonkers each maintain local contractor registries with their own requirements.

Does New York enforce OSHA silica?

Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in New York private sector. NYC DOB cross-references silica compliance on inspections.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-05 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-03