General Contractor License Requirements in New York

No Statewide License Required

New York does not require a statewide general contractor license. NYC is the primary licensing jurisdiction. Outside NYC, check with your county or city. Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties require HIC licenses. Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany have their own contractor registration requirements. Many rural areas have minimal or no requirements beyond building permits.

NYC requires $1,000,000 minimum general liability insurance per occurrence. Workers' compensation and disability insurance are mandatory for all businesses with employees — New York has NO exemptions for contractors (unlike some states). Insurance certificates must name DCWP as certificate holder for HIC license. Workers' comp assessment rate dropped from 9.2% to 7.1% in 2025.