New York Roofing License Requirements (2026)
By Gabriel Giner, Editor · Reviewed 2026-05-21 · CLR Editorial Review Desk
New York State does not license roofing contractors at the state level. Roofing is regulated by counties and cities. New York City requires a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) under NYC Admin Code §20-386 with a $200 fee and Trust Fund contribution. Suffolk County, Nassau County, Westchester County, Rockland County, and Putnam County each run separate Consumer Affairs HIC programs with their own bonds and insurance rules. Upstate cities like Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany issue local building permits but do not run contractor registration programs.
Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule
Renovation, repair, or painting that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing is regulated nationwide under the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule — regardless of whether New York licenses this trade. 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 NY residency requirement.
Good moral character
NYC DCWP and county programs review fraud and consumer protection history.
Background investigation
NYC DCWP runs fingerprint background checks for HIC.
Required Experience and Education
No fixed number of years of experience is set out in the cited sources for this credential; instead, the controlling requirement is no state experience threshold; NYC HIC has no experience requirement but does require an exam.
Education substitution
Not applicable.
Examination Requirements
The licensing examination is delivered by NYC DCWP administers the NYC HIC exam in-house.. All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:
- NYC HIC Examination — NYC building code, contract law, lien law, consumer protection — 30 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 70%
Examination fee: $50 paid to NYC DCWP.
Retake policy: Failed exams retaken at $50 each.
Insurance and Financial Requirements
The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.
General liability
NYC DCWP requires general liability and disability insurance certificates filed at HIC application. Suffolk and Nassau require $300,000 to $1,000,000 GL.
Workers' compensation
Mandatory for every NY employer with one or more employees under WCL §10. Disability benefits insurance also required under WCL §201.
Additional financial requirements
NYC HIC contributes to the Home Improvement Contractor Trust Fund — initial $200 contribution and $200 at each renewal.
Licensing Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application (non-refundable) | $200 |
| Examination | $50 |
| Initial license | $400 |
| Renewal (every 2 years) | $300 |
Keeping the License Current
Renewal of the New York — No State Roofing License (NYC DCWP HIC + County Programs) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $300. NYC HIC renews biennially. County renewals run on separate cycles.
Continuing education: No state CE.
Downloadable Asset
2026 New York Roofing 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. | ||
No state license to reciprocate. County and city programs do not cross-recognize.
Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Roofing license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.
Application Process, Step by Step
- Register the business entity with the NY Department of State. LLC or corporation filing plus EIN.
- Identify licensing jurisdiction (NYC, Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, etc.). Each requires separate registration.
- Apply for the NYC DCWP HIC if working in NYC. $200 license fee + $200 Trust Fund contribution + fingerprint background.
- Pass the NYC DCWP HIC exam. 70% on the in-house exam covering NYC building code and consumer protection.
- Apply for county HIC where applicable. Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam — each has its own application, bond, and insurance.
- Bind general liability, workers comp, and disability. NY requires both workers comp (WCL §10) and disability benefits insurance (WCL §201).
- Adopt NYC Admin §20-386 compliant contract template. Written contract with HIC number, three-day rescission, lien notice, and trust fund disclosure.
- Renew HIC every two years. NYC HIC renews biennially with $100 fee and $200 Trust Fund contribution.
Document Checklist
The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with NYC DOB:
- ☐ NY Department of State entity registration
- ☐ NYC DCWP HIC application + $400 (license + Trust Fund)
- ☐ NYC HIC exam pass certificate
- ☐ County HIC applications (Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, etc.)
- ☐ General liability certificate of insurance
- ☐ NY workers compensation declaration page
- ☐ NY disability benefits insurance certificate
- ☐ NYC Admin §20-386 compliant contract template
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 Administrative Code §20-386 et seq. — NYC DCWP. NYC HIC statute.
- NY Workers Compensation Law §10 and §201 — State of New York. Mandatory workers comp and disability benefits.
- NYC Building Code Chapter 15 — NYC Department of Buildings. Roof assembly requirements.
Frequent Application Errors
Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a New York Roofing application.
Forgetting disability benefits insurance
New York requires both workers comp (WCL §10) AND statutory disability benefits insurance (WCL §201). Many out-of-state contractors miss the second requirement and fail HIC issuance.
NYC parapet inspection requirements
NYC Local Law 126 requires parapet inspection on buildings with adjacent sidewalks. Roofers must coordinate with the Periodic Inspection schedule or face DOB violations.
Lead-safe work for pre-1960 housing
NYC Local Law 1 plus EPA RRP rules apply to housing built before 1960 (NYC standard). Roofing near painted soffits triggers strict abatement protocols.
Asbestos in older BUR
NYC DEP and DOL require ICR/abatement licensing for ACM roof removal. ICR rules are some of the strictest in the country.
County HIC sting operations
Suffolk and Nassau Consumer Affairs run undercover sting operations. Working without the local HIC carries treble damages and criminal misdemeanor charges.
Other New York Trade Licenses
Should the Roofing path not apply, these other New York trade guides from CLR may help:
- New York General Contractor License Requirements
- New York Electrician License Requirements
- New York Plumber License Requirements
- New York HVAC Technician License Requirements
- New York Painting Contractor License Requirements
- New York Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
- New York Masonry Contractor License Requirements
- New York Carpentry Contractor License Requirements
- New York Solar Installer License Requirements
- New York Low-Voltage Technician License Requirements
- New York Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements
- New York Home Inspector License Requirements
- New York Pool Contractor License Requirements
Questions Applicants Ask
Does New York State license roofing?
No. New York regulates roofing through county and city programs. NYC and Long Island counties have the most comprehensive HIC programs.
What does NYC HIC require?
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection HIC license with $200 fee, $200 Trust Fund contribution, in-house exam, fingerprint background, and proof of GL, workers comp, and disability insurance.
Does Suffolk County have its own HIC?
Yes. Suffolk County Consumer Affairs runs a separate HIC license with bond and insurance requirements distinct from NYC.
Is workers comp mandatory?
Yes. NY also requires statutory disability benefits insurance (WCL §201) in addition to workers comp.
When does the NYC HIC renew?
Every two years. $100 renewal fee plus $200 Trust Fund contribution.
Primary Sources
Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.
- NYC DOB — Licensing & Registration
- NYC DOB — License Requirements by Type
- NYC DOB — DOB NOW: Licensing portal
- NYS Department of State — Home Improvement Contractor info
- NYC Administrative Code Title 28
Verified 2026-05-21 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-19