Moving to New Jersey as a residential contractor: every state's rule

New Jersey does not license residential contractors by examination. The Division of Consumer Affairs registers the business under the Contractors' Business Registration Act (N.J.S.A. 56:8-136 et seq.; N.J.A.C. 13:45A-17): every corporation, LLC, partnership or sole proprietorship that sells or makes home improvements on New Jersey residential property must hold a Home Improvement Contractor Business registration and display its HIC registration number on contracts, advertising, business documents and commercial vehicles. This is a consumer-protection registration rather than a skill credential - there is no trade exam, no law exam and no minimum experience - and the Division's own compliance checklist tells registrants that "the word 'LICENSE' should not be used." What the State asks for is a $110 non-refundable application fee, commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, workers' compensation insurance unless exempt by law, and "additional security" in the form of a compliance bond, irrevocable letter of credit or other security sized to the value of the contracts the business takes. The registration is annual and must be renewed by March 31. Building a new house is excluded from the statutory definition of home improvement; new home builders register instead with the Department of Community Affairs under the New Home Warranty and Builders' Registration Act (N.J.S.A. 46:3B-1 et seq.), a $200 two-year registration that carries a criminal history records check and warranty enrollment but likewise no exam and no experience test. A 2024 law, P.L. 2023, c. 237, created a State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors and will in time require the individual contractor to hold a personal license; those licensing sections stay inoperative until the sixth month after the Board adopts rules, so business registration remains the credential New Jersey issues today.