New York City's Home Improvement Business Law defines a contractor as anyone who "owns, operates, maintains, conducts, controls or transacts a home improvement business" and "undertakes or offers to undertake or agrees to perform any home improvement or solicits any contract therefor," whether or not the contractor is a prime contractor or subcontractor.

In other words, if you receive an offer to build on, repair, or remodel your home or apartment for a fee, you're dealing with a contractor. Whether you own or rent, or if the dwelling is a co-op or a condo, this is the rule. A contractor may be an individual, partnership, or a corporation.

New York City law requires that any person or business that solicits, canvasses, sells, performs, or obtains home improvement work where all costs (including labor, materials, etc.) come to more than $200 total must have an (HIC) Home Improvement Contractors License which is issued by the Department of Consumer Afairs.

(HIC) License -holders undergo a criminal history check, pass a written examination, pay a license fee, and post a bond or contribute to a Trust Fund that gives restitution to consumers. There are thousands of licensed home improvement contractors in New York City, however, there are also thousands of unethical so called contractors who work without a license or insurance. Don't take any chances with your home! A license is no guarantee that a contractor will always engage in proper business conduct, but it gives Consumer Afairs the authority to act on your behalf. 

Consumers are often able to get compensation because they hired a licensed contractor. A DCA Trust Fund, based on mandatory contributions from legitimate license-holding contractors, makes these payments possible. To find out if a contractor is licensed, call 3-1-1. 
 
The law defines home improvement as the construction, repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, rehabilitation, renovation, modernization, improvement, or addition to any land or building, or that part of the land or building used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling place.

The home in home improvement refers to:

. condo units
. co-op units
. rented apartments
. private buildings with four or fewer residential units

The City law describes a home improvement salesperson as anyone who "negotiates or offers to negotiate a home improvement contract" with a property owner, or "solicits or otherwise endeavors to procure in person a home improvement contract from an owner on behalf of a contractor, or for himself or herself should the salesperson be also the contractor."

If you are solicited to hire a contractor, the salesperson doing the soliciting needs a Home Improvement Salesperson license. The contractor paying the salesperson must have a Home Improvement Contractor license. If the salesperson is also the contractor, he or she needs both the Home Improvement Contractor and the Home Improvement Salesperson licenses.

GENERAL CONTRACTORS REGISTRATION

The New York City Department of Buildings issues the Photo Identification & registration for general contractors who build one, two, and three family homes. The registration requirement is designed to increase a general contractor's accountability on a job site and protect homebuyers from poor quality construction. General contractors seeking permits to erect one, two, or three family homes must register with the Buildings Department by October 31, 2008. After that date, only general contractors who possess the Photo Identification and are registered with the Building Department will be issued building permits for these types of buildings. Unregistered individuals or entities found building one, two or three family homes after October 31, 2008 will be subject to violations, Stop Work Orders, criminal charges, and the seizure of vehicles and construction tools.

To obtain the Photo Identification and registration number, a general contractor must:

• Meet and maintain certain qualifications;
• Pass a limited background check;
• Provide business and personal records to the Buildings Department; and
• Submit original proof of general liability insurance, workers compensation, and disability insurance.

Once registered, general contractors building one, two, and three family homes must provide a warranty to homebuyers that guarantees the structure will be free of certain defects for a period of six years after construction is complete. General contractors who successfully meet the criteria as outlined by the Building Department then become registered and are issued the Building Department  Photo Identification, which they must carry with them so that those retaining the contractor's services will be able to clearly verify the contractor is approved and registered to do the work.

To be Licensed/Registered as a construction superintendent, an individual must meet strict qualifications. They must have proven, and documented, construction work experience as recognized by the New York City Department of Buildings. They must have also endlessly demonstrated their abilities to oversee all trades and run larger construction projects, and they must have all site safety training requirements as outlined by the Department of Buildings. To obtain this license takes years of apprenticeship, training, and work experience. This is to ensure that there is a complete and total understanding of all phases of the construction industry, and that the individual who holds the License, completely understands how to apply all their knowledge in each particular situation.

EPA Requirements For All Contractors

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.

To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

EPA requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools be certified by EPA and that they use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices. Below are copies of our certification and licensing to meet these requirements.