New York trade license reciprocity

How local licensing works. No state agency licenses electricians in New York. Each city or county that requires a license runs its own examining board under its own ordinance, so requirements, exams and fees differ from one jurisdiction to the next, and a license from one jurisdiction is not automatically valid in another.

New York City. The Department of Buildings issues Master Electrician and Special Electrician licenses only; there is no journeyman license or registration. Electricians work as employees under a licensed master or special electrician. Experience toward the master license must be gained 'under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed master or special electrician in the United States', with at least two of the required years in New York City, so out-of-state supervised hours count toward the master exam but do not create any journeyman credential.

Buffalo. The Electrical Examining Board issues a Journeyman Electrician License. Minimum qualification is five years working as an employee of a licensed master electrician (not self-employed), plus one of: a New York State journeyman electrician license/card, a passing ICC exam score together with the five years of experience, or at the board's discretion other proof such as a passing score on a City of Buffalo-administered exam. The notarized application lists every master electrician worked for with dates and hours, supported by master electrician affidavits.

Rochester. No journeyman license. The Electrical Examining Board issues a Single-Phase (residential) license requiring two years of applicable experience, interpreted as at least 3,000 hours within the past five years (at least half in the field with tools, up to 1,500 hours from course work or estimating/design/supervision), and an ICC-based exam with a 70 percent passing grade.

Syracuse and Albany. Both cities license electricians through their own examining boards (Syracuse Division of Code Enforcement; Albany Electrical Examining Board under General Code Chapter 171, Article III). The pages that could be opened describe master-level licensing and application deadlines but publish no journeyman card requirements.

Suffolk County. The Department of Consumer Affairs licenses Master Electricians and Restricted Electrical licensees and its licensing code list includes an 'AJ - Journeyman' category; the journeyman requirements themselves are not on the pages that could be opened.

Westchester County and Yonkers. Westchester County issues master and special electrician licenses by examination; it has no journeyman license. Yonkers does not license electricians itself and its electrical permits are issued to master electricians licensed by Westchester County.

Nassau County. The county's FAQ recognizes electricians as a trade held to a 'standard of competency' by state or local law, but no page describing a Nassau electrician license could be opened; treat Nassau's requirements as unverified.

Out-of-state holders. No jurisdiction above publishes a reciprocity or endorsement path for a journeyman license from another state. Buffalo will accept an ICC exam score with five years of experience under any licensed master; elsewhere an arriving journeyman works under a locally licensed master electrician until eligible for that jurisdiction's master exam.

How local licensing works. New York has no state electrical board. Licensing authority rests with individual cities and counties, each with its own examining board, ordinance, exam and fee schedule; a license is valid only in the issuing jurisdiction.

New York City. The Department of Buildings issues the Master Electrician license (independent contracting anywhere in the city) and the Special Electrician license (work as an employee in or on specific buildings). Qualifications (NYC Admin. Code 28-430.3; 1 RCNY 104-01): age 18, read and write English, fitness and good moral character, and one of: seven years within the last ten working with tools on wiring and appliances for light, heat and power under the direct and continuing supervision of a licensed master or special electrician in the United States, at least two years of it in NYC; a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or engineering technology plus three years within five (two in NYC); a New York State DOL-registered apprenticeship plus five years within ten (two in NYC); or electrical-inspection employment credited at 50 percent up to 2.5 years. Candidates pay $585 for the closed-book written exam on the 2025 NYC Electrical Code (70 percent to pass) and $530 for the practical, which must be passed within 24 months of the written result; the background application (experience verification signed by supervisors, Social Security earnings history, physical exam) is filed through DOB NOW within one year. License fee $310, seal $50, annual renewal $60 with continuing education, late renewal $310. The licensee must be an officer, partner or sole proprietor of a business with a NYC location carrying general liability, workers' compensation and disability insurance. The exam can be waived only for city-agency applicants (28-430.6); no out-of-state waiver exists, and the two-years-in-NYC rule means an out-of-state master cannot qualify immediately.

Buffalo. The Electrical Examining Board's Master Electrician License requires 11 years (22,000 hours) of experience in electrical construction within the last 11 years, structured as four years (8,000 hours) as an apprentice plus seven years (14,000 hours) as a journeyman working for a licensed master, documented by notarized employer and master electrician affidavits; a passing (75 percent or higher) ICC G-16 Master Electrician exam taken within one year; a $100 application fee; and general liability and workers' compensation certificates before issuance. The master electrician affidavit asks in which city the supervising master is licensed, so experience under masters licensed elsewhere is accepted as documentation.

Rochester. The Electrical Examining Board issues a Master (three-phase) license requiring four years of applicable experience, interpreted as at least 6,000 hours of three-phase experience within the past ten years (at least half in the field with tools; up to 3,000 hours may be course work, estimating, design, supervision or single-phase work), and an ICC-based exam with a 70 percent passing grade. Applications are filed online; the Board's rules contain no reciprocity clause.

Westchester County and Yonkers. The Department of Consumer Protection's Electrical Board licenses Master and Special Electricians by examination: exam application $50, master license $500 with $500 annual renewal, special electrician $350. The fee schedule also lists a 'Master and Reciprocal Electrician' license at the same $500, but the conditions for a reciprocal license are not published on the pages that could be opened. Yonkers does not license electricians; its electrical permits are issued to master electricians licensed by Westchester County.

Suffolk County. The Department of Consumer Affairs issues Master Electrician and Restricted Electrical licenses (codes ME and RE). Experience, exam and fee details are in the county code and were not available on the pages that could be opened.

Syracuse and Albany. Syracuse licenses electricians through its Division of Code Enforcement (2026 applications were due June 26 with in-person consideration July 28). Albany's Electrical Examining Board, under General Code Chapter 171, Article III, examines every applicant and includes master electricians licensed by the city for at least five years. Neither city publishes reciprocity rules on the pages reviewed.

Nassau County. The county FAQ treats electricians as a trade licensed under a 'standard of competency', but no Nassau page describing the master electrician license, its requirements or fees could be opened, so Nassau's rules are unverified here.

Out-of-state holders. No New York jurisdiction reviewed publishes an agreement with another state. The practical route is to meet each local board's experience threshold (documented under licensed masters, wherever they were licensed, where the board allows), pass that board's exam, which in Buffalo, Rochester and several other boards is an ICC exam that may already have been taken elsewhere, and pay the local fees; in New York City the two years of supervised experience inside the city must be earned first.

How local licensing works. New York licenses no HVAC workers at the state level, so cities and counties decide for themselves; in practice they license the contracting business (or, in Buffalo, the heating contractor) and leave individual technicians unlicensed.

New York City. The Department of Buildings' license list contains no HVAC or mechanical license; ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration installation is done under permits by contractors and their employees without any personal trade license. Two adjacent credentials exist: the DOB Oil Burner Equipment Installer license (Class A any oil-burning equipment, Class B domestic fuel oils 1-4; written exam $585 and practical exam $530, $100 license for three years) and the FDNY Q-01 Certificate of Qualification for Refrigerating System Operating Engineer, which must supervise any refrigerating system that needs an FDNY permit. Q-01 candidates need a high school diploma or GED, EPA Universal Technician Certification, and either a current NYC High Pressure Boiler Operating Engineer license, a Coast Guard marine engineer certificate or a PE license from any state, a 200-hour FDNY-approved refrigeration course, or one year of qualifying plant or service experience in the last three years; the two-part exam costs $60 plus $225 and the certificate renews every three years for $15. Neither credential recognizes out-of-state HVAC licenses.

Buffalo. Under City Code Chapter 238 no person may install, alter, repair, service or replace any heating or process system without a license from the Board of Heating Examiners; the license is the Heating Contractor license (Class I oil, gas or solid fuel; Class II gas or solid fuel; Class III wood-burning fireplaces and stoves), issued to an individual or a firm. There is no journeyman class; workers perform heating work under a licensed heating contractor. See the master level for requirements.

Rochester. Licenses electricians, plumbers and Stationary Engineers and Refrigeration Operators (classes R-4, R-3, R-2 for refrigeration operators, examined through ICC); no HVAC installer license.

Westchester County. Licenses master plumbers and electricians (with a journey-level plumber license) but no HVAC trade; since July 1, 2025 'all HVAC professionals' must be licensed through the Department of Consumer Protection, which is done through the home improvement contractor license of the business ($750 application fee, no exam).

Nassau and Suffolk counties. No HVAC or journeyman license; installation of 'central heating or air conditioning systems' (Nassau) and 'ductwork for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems' (Suffolk) is home improvement work requiring the business to hold a county home improvement license, and employees of a licensed contractor are exempt from licensing.

Out-of-state holders. No jurisdiction in New York publishes a reciprocity or endorsement path for out-of-state HVAC journeyman licenses because none issues such a license.

How local licensing works. With no state HVAC board, each jurisdiction that regulates the trade does so under its own code, usually as a business license with insurance and experience requirements rather than a trade exam. Buffalo is the exception with an examined heating contractor license.

New York City. The Department of Buildings issues no HVAC, mechanical or refrigeration contractor license; mechanical work is done under permits without a trade license, and the general contractor registration ($300 for three years) applies only to builders of one- to three-family homes. Oil-fired equipment must be installed by a DOB-licensed Oil Burner Equipment Installer (Class A or B; written exam $585, practical exam $530, $100 license for three years), and any refrigerating system that needs an FDNY permit must be supervised by a holder of the FDNY Q-01 Refrigerating System Operating Engineer Certificate of Qualification (EPA Universal certification, a 200-hour course or one year of qualifying experience or a boiler engineer, marine engineer or PE license; $60 plus $225 exam fees; three-year renewal $15). Neither recognizes out-of-state HVAC licenses.

Buffalo. City Code Chapter 238 makes it unlawful for any person to install, erect, alter, repair, service, reset or replace any heating or process system without a license from the Board of Heating Examiners; the separate City contractor license 'does not allow for plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical work'. Applicants must be at least 21 and have two years of practical experience installing heating equipment, a recognized school course plus one year, or be a graduate engineer; they submit photo ID, employer letters and a list of twenty completed installations to the Office of Fuel Devices, and if approved sit the Heating Contractor's Examination (offered roughly every three months, covering local ordinances and ASHRAE material). Classes: I (oil, gas or solid fuel), II (gas or solid fuel), III (wood-burning fireplaces and stoves). Fees: $50 non-refundable testing fee, $500 license, $500 annual renewal; a $10,000 bond to the City and certificates of $1,000,000 general liability and workers' compensation insurance are required. The license may be held by an individual, partnership or corporation. No reciprocity provision.

Rochester. Licenses stationary engineers and refrigeration operators (plant operation), electricians and plumbers; no HVAC contractor license.

Westchester County. The June 2025 amendment to the Consumer Protection Code requires 'all HVAC professionals' to be licensed through the Department of Consumer Protection as of July 1, 2025; the vehicle is the county Home Improvement Contractor license ($750 application fee effective January 1, 2026, $100 optional expedite, roughly 60 business days of document verification and background investigation, no exam). The county's examined trade licenses cover only plumbers and electricians.

Nassau County. Contractors installing or replacing 'central heating or air conditioning systems' in residential property need the county Home Improvement license: five years of recent verifiable experience, an establishment in New York State, liability, property damage and workers' compensation insurance, $650 for a two-year license plus a one-time $50 restitution fund contribution, $110 late renewal fee; no exam.

Suffolk County. Home improvement contracting expressly includes 'ductwork for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems'; the county Home Improvement license requires public liability and property damage insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence and workers' compensation, a $200 application fee and $200 annual license fee ($50 temporary 90-day license); employees of licensed contractors are exempt; no exam.

Out-of-state holders. No New York jurisdiction publishes a reciprocity or endorsement path for out-of-state HVAC contractor or master licenses. Buffalo requires its own exam; the counties require their own business license regardless of any license held elsewhere; New York City requires no HVAC license at all.

How local licensing works. No state agency licenses plumbers in New York. Each city or county that requires a license runs its own examining board under its own ordinance, so titles, exams and fees differ, and a license from one jurisdiction is not automatically valid in another. There is no defaultPath and no state-to-state agreement at this level.

New York City. DOB's license-types list includes 'Plumbing and Fire Suppression (Master and Journeyman)'. The master-plumbers page links Obtain a Journeyman Plumber / Fire Suppression Piping Installer Registration (and a separate Gas Work Qualification). The registration is person-held and is the city's journeyman-level credential; independent plumbing contracting in the five boroughs requires the Master Plumber license (see master level). New applications go through DOB NOW (since 7 September 2021). The master written (LIC41, $585) and practical (LIC42, $530) exam fees published on the master-plumbers page apply to the Master Plumber license, not to the journeyman registration.

Westchester County (including Yonkers). 'Plumbers and Electricians must obtain a trade license from Westchester County in order to work in the county. The first step is to apply to take the licensing examination.' Journey-Level exam application $25.00; Journey-Level license $75.00; Journey-Level renewal $75.00; vehicle decals $5.00 each. Exam and re-examination amounts are paid to the testing company and are not listed on the fee page. Yonkers does not appear to issue a separate city plumber license; county law requires the Westchester trade license to work in the county.

Rochester. The Licensed Trades page lists Plumbing Licensing alongside electrical and SE/RO and routes applications to the city's Infor portal (585-428-9339). Confirm the destination city or county before working; in NYC plan to work under a Master Plumber and obtain the city journeyman registration; in Westchester apply for the Journey-Level exam.

How local licensing works. Master plumber licensing is entirely local. A Master Plumber license from one New York city or county does not authorize work in another, and New York State has no endorsement or reciprocity program for plumbers. There is no defaultPath and no agreements array at this level.

New York City. 'Master Plumbers are licensed to perform plumbing work in New York City.' Fees on the DOB master-plumbers page: license $200.00, renewal $150.00, late $50.00 (1–30 days) or $100.00 (31 days or more), seal $50.00 new / $75.00 renewal, term 3 years. Written exam application LIC41 $585; practical exam application LIC42 $530. A separate Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor license uses the same fee/term schedule but does not cover plumbing work as defined in NYC Admin. Code §28-401.3. How-to: Obtain a Master Plumber License; renew a license; DPL-1 form; business-address verification. All new applications online via DOB NOW since 7 September 2021. Nothing on the landing page describes reciprocity.

Westchester County (including Yonkers). County law: plumbers must hold a Westchester trade license; first step is the licensing examination. Master Plumber exam application $50.00; Master Plumber license $600.00; Master Plumber renewal $600.00. Restricted Master Plumber renewal $50.00 per municipality, $600.00 maximum. Certificate of Competency (shelving) $50.00 per year. Late Master / Restricted Master renewals: $50 (1 Nov–31 Dec), $100 (1 Jan–30 Apr), $200 (1 May–31 Dec); after 31 December appearance before the Licensing Board. Exam/re-exam paid to the testing company (amount unpublished). The plumbing fee table has no 'reciprocal plumber' line (unlike electrical's 'Master and Reciprocal Electrician' on the same page). Yonkers work requires this county Master (or Restricted Master) plumber license.

Rochester. Plumbing Licensing is a listed Licensed Trade with online apply/pay/renew. For NYC, budget the $585 written and $530 practical exams plus $200 license / $50 seal and apply in DOB NOW; confirm experience and insurance on the obtain checklist before sitting. For Westchester, file the $50 exam application and $600 license. For Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany, contact the local board — published inbound rules were not verified here.

How it works in New York. There is no state license, no state application and no state exam for residential contractors. A contractor must be licensed in every jurisdiction where the work is performed, and the licenses are not interchangeable — a Nassau County license does not authorize work in Suffolk, and a Westchester County license does not by itself authorize work in Yonkers. Almost every program licenses the business and requires one named owner, officer, principal or member to stand behind it, so budget for one application per county or city rather than one per person. Nothing in these programs is a state-to-state agreement, and none of them waives anything because of a license held in another state.

New York City — the one that matters most. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Home Improvement Contractor license is the single most consequential residential credential in the state: "A person or business must have a Home Improvement Contractor license to do construction, repair, remodeling, or other home improvement work to any residential land or building in New York City", including basements, driveways, fences, garages, landscaping, patios and swimming pools. One person — the sole proprietor, a general partner, a corporate officer, principal, director, member, or a shareholder owning 10% or more of the stock — must pass the Home Improvement Exam: 30 questions, at least 21 correct to pass, booked with ExamBuilder and sat at test centers open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week across the city, within 60 days of filing. The exam is included in the application fee for up to two attempts, and $50 buys two more. The applicant must either enroll in the Home Improvement Business Trust Fund for $200 or post a $20,000 surety bond, and must file a workers' compensation certificate naming DCWP at 42 Broadway, New York, NY 10004, or a CE-200 exemption. The license runs two years and expires on February 28 of odd years, so the fee is pro-rated by filing date: $200 from 1 March to 31 August of an odd year, $150 from 1 September of an odd year to the end of February, $100 from 1 March to 31 August of an even year, and $50 or $250 from 1 September of an even year depending on the term chosen. There is no experience requirement and no requirement that the business already be in New York.

Nassau County. The Department of Consumer Affairs runs the most demanding program in the state and the one that most rewards an out-of-state license. One owner, officer or principal "must have at least 5 years of recent, relevant verifiable experience in the home improvement field", proved by "five years of W2's, 1099's, or a license in another municipality". A new two-year license is $650, plus a separate one-time $50 payment into the Restitution Fund, $110 for each additional location and $60 to replace a lost license; every applicant also submits to a one-time fingerprint-based background check costing about $90. Liability insurance must show bodily injury limits of $250,000/$500,000 and property damage of $100,000 with the department at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola as certificate holder. At least one principal needs EPA RRP lead-safety certification where lead paint may be disturbed; irrigation work needs a New York backflow tester certification; pool and spa work needs five years' experience plus a CBP, CST, CSP or CMS certification. Out-of-state businesses face an extra hurdle: "you must provide a Certificate of Authority to do business in NY State, have a NY State location, as well as an authorized contact person that has a NYS residence." A judgment and open-complaint search is run on every principal, and all subcontractors except plumbers and electricians must hold their own Nassau license. There is no written exam. (516) 571-2600.

Suffolk County. Licensing sits with the Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs under Chapter 563 of the county code, and home improvement licenses are more than half of everything the county issues. "Home improvement contracting" is defined broadly — carpentry, fencing, driveways, flooring, HVAC ductwork, masonry, roofing, siding, pools and spas, waterproofing, landscaping and tree work — but it expressly excludes electrical and plumbing work and "the construction of a new home". The fee is a $200 application fee plus $200 per annum for the license itself, the term is two years, and each salesperson needs a $50-per-year identification card. The Director may require a surety bond "in an amount to be set by the Director, but in no event to exceed $100,000" and sets the liability insurance figure. There is no general trade exam, but pool and spa builders need an APSP Certified Building Professional certification plus two years' experience, pool and spa service contractors need a CST, CSP or CBP plus two years, and renewing pool contractors need six hours of continuing education. (631) 853-4600.

Westchester County. "Westchester law requires that home improvement contractors have a county license." The fee is $750 for the two-year term as of January 1, 2026, with $100 for expedited handling, $50 for late renewal, $10 per vehicle decal and $50 for a replacement certificate. Processing normally takes about 60 business days, or seven business days if expedited. The packet is documentary rather than examined: notarized application, proof of business name from wherever the company is based, liability insurance naming the department at 148 Martine Avenue, Room 407, White Plains as certificate holder, workers' compensation and disability certificates (or a CE-200), photo ID for every owner, officer, member, partner, manager and salesperson, and a notarized child support certification from sole proprietors and partners. The application asks directly whether the company is "licensed in any other jurisdiction" and for those license numbers. A bond or cash security of up to $50,000 may be required at the Director's discretion, at application or later. The county law does not apply to plumbing, electrical or architectural work, to work within a state-licensed occupation, or to "the construction of a new home building". The cover letter warns that "the CITY OF YONKERS has additional licensing requirements". (914) 995-2155.

Yonkers. Inside Westchester County, Yonkers licenses separately through its Consumer Protection Bureau, and a contractor renovating existing one- to three-family dwellings in the city needs both. The Yonkers Home Improvement License costs $400, is non-refundable, runs two years and is not transferable. The packet requires a notarized application signed by an owner, partner or officer, vehicle registrations with automobile insurance (bumper stickers are issued for three vehicles, $10 for each additional one, and at least one vehicle must be listed), a DMV driver's license or non-driver ID, a $500,000 general contractor liability certificate naming the Office of Licensing/Consumer Protection, a workers' compensation certificate or CE-200, proof of business name, a NYS Certificate of Authority if the company charges sales tax, and a completed Work History Form. A background check is run on both the applicant and the business. Vehicles must display the business name, address and phone in eight-inch permanent letters or on a 2x3 foot sign. 914-377-6808.

Rockland County. Chapter 286 of the Laws of Rockland County requires everyone performing home improvement work in the county to hold a county Home Improvement License, issued by the Department of Consumer Protection / Weights and Measures. Rockland is unusually explicit about out-of-jurisdiction applicants: its applications are grouped by qualification route, one for applicants relying on experience in the trade classification, one for applicants who have held a license in another jurisdiction for at least five years without complaints or violations, and one for applicants posting a surety bond for the classification. A Home Improvement Licensing Board of trade members reviews credentials and investigates complaints, contractors must carry liability, workers' compensation and disability insurance, and general contractors must use licensed and insured subcontractors. Confirm the current fee and classification list with the department before filing: 845-364-3901.

Putnam County. The Office of Consumer Affairs registers home improvement contractors for $300, covering a two-year registration, and requires a $25,000 license and permit bond written for a two-year period, with the registration's expiration set to match the bond term. Also required: a certified business, partnership or corporate filing document, an ACORD liability certificate naming Putnam County Consumer Affairs as certificate holder and Putnam County as additionally insured with the scope of work spelled out, a workers' compensation form or CE-200, a notarized child support form for non-corporations, current vehicle registrations, a photo of the owner or highest-ranking officer, a driver's license from the applicant's home state, and — again a break for someone arriving with credentials — "copies of CURRENT HOME IMPROVEMENT LICENSES - if held in other municipalities". Decals come with the registration, extras are $5 each. Landscaping and lawn care contractors add a Lawn Care Best Management Practices certificate. 845-808-1617 ext. 46024.

Buffalo. Chapter 144 of the City of Buffalo Ordinances requires anyone "engaged in a home improvement business (i.e. painting, siding, roofing) or doing construction work in the City of Buffalo" to hold a city Contractor License, which "does not allow for plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical work". Working without one is an unclassified misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 or 60 days. Residential categories are Handyman Contractor (minor repairs and maintenance, one named person, no roofing, siding or large renovations), Specialty Contractor, Sub-Contractor (cannot pull permits and must work under a prime) and New Housing Contractor. Minimum general liability aggregates are $50,000 for Handyman and Construction Manager, $500,000 for Light Commercial, Specialty, Subcontractor and New Housing, and $2,000,000 for General Contractor and every demolition grade. Applicants also file workers' compensation proof (C105.2, U-26.3, SI-12 or GSI-105.2) or a CE-200 that bars using subcontractors, register the business name with the Erie County Clerk even if it is registered elsewhere, and supply RRP or EPA lead firm certification unless exempt. The step that surprises people: the application must arrive at least seven days before the monthly Construction & Home Improvement Advisory Board meeting and "attendance at the meeting is mandatory for the applicant", in person or through a notarized representative. Ask the Office of Licenses for the current fee, which is not printed on the application packet: (716) 851-6583.

Rochester. Rochester licenses electricians, plumbers and stationary engineers / refrigeration operators and nothing else — there is no city home improvement or builder license. The city puts the duty on whoever pulls the permit: it is "the applicant's responsibility to ensure all required contractors are licensed, proof of insurance is filed and the project complies with the permit". Building Permit Office 585-428-6526.

Everywhere else. Outside these jurisdictions, hundreds of New York towns and villages regulate residential work only through the building permit and the state's Uniform Code, while others have their own contractor registration ordinances. Before signing anything, ask the county consumer affairs office and the town or village building department that covers the job site, and remember that General Business Law Article 36-A's written-contract and escrow rules apply everywhere in the state whether or not a license is required.

How it works in New York. No New York agency issues a general, commercial, building or unlimited contractor license. There is no state qualifying party, no business-and-law exam, no financial statement filed with a state board and no NASCLA route, because there is no board to file with. That means an out-of-state general contractor's license, its classification and any NASCLA Accredited Examination score carry no weight at state level. What decides whether you can work is the jurisdiction: a registration in New York City, a graded license in Buffalo, a county home improvement license where the job is a renovation rather than a new building, and the correct local trade licenses for the subcontracted scopes everywhere.

New York City — General Contractor Registration. The Department of Buildings requires that "all contractors who build one-, two-, and three-family homes must register with the Department to obtain New Building permits." Registration is $300, renewal $240, late renewal $50, and the term is three years. The applicant must "be at least eighteen (18) years old", "be able to read and write the English language", show good moral character, pass a background investigation and prove financial solvency — the last of which means a company bank account with "a minimum end balance of at least $25,000 for the past three (3) months", evidenced by three consecutive statements. Insurance is general liability with a $1 million minimum, plus workers' compensation and disability certificates. The filing is a notarized LIC6 form with EIN documentation, government photo ID, a Child Support Certification Form and proof of business address, submitted through DOB NOW; paper applications have not been accepted since September 7, 2021. There is no exam and no published experience minimum.

New York City — larger and commercial work. For buildings above the one-to-three-family tier, New York City does not license the general contractor at all; it regulates the site. "A registered Construction Superintendent is required at new buildings and buildings under demolition nine stories and below" — registration $100, renewal $50, term three years, applied for in DOB NOW after a DOB-approved training course. Bigger jobs are governed by site safety requirements and by DOB's other licenses and registrations: electricians, master and journeyman plumbers and fire suppression piping contractors, riggers, sign hangers, hoisting machine operators, welders, concrete safety managers and concrete testing laboratories, site safety professionals and special inspection agencies. Qualifications for all of them are in Chapter 4 of the 2022 NYC Administrative Code. Separately, any work on residential property in the five boroughs still needs the DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license — see the residential level, because in practice most contractors working in New York City need that one first.

Buffalo. Buffalo is the New York city that most closely resembles a classic graded contractor license. Under Chapter 144 of the City Ordinances, anyone "doing construction work in the City of Buffalo" needs a city Contractor License, which "does not allow for plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical work", and working without one is an unclassified misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 or 60 days. At this tier the categories are General Contractor — "Companies with extensive experience in major construction work will qualify. To perform construction of new residential and commercial structures without limitations", including infrastructure — New Housing Contractor (new residential and commercial structures up to three stories plus remodeling, excluding infrastructure), Light Commercial Contractor (repairs, remodeling, alterations, conversions and modernization of commercial property, plus additions and new accessory structures up to three stories), Construction Manager (oversight and scheduling only, cannot perform construction work) and Demolition Grades 1 through 4. Minimum general liability aggregates are $2,000,000 for General Contractor and every demolition grade, $500,000 for Light Commercial, Specialty, Subcontractor and New Housing, and $50,000 for Handyman and Construction Manager, with the Office of Licenses at 301 City Hall as certificate holder and no PO Box addresses accepted. Demolition Grades 2 and 3 need reference letters from two townships where demolition work was performed, waivable with a resume showing ten years of demolition experience; Grade 4 needs a New York State explosives license held by a major corporate officer. New Housing applicants file copies of the warranties given to new home buyers. Asbestos abatement requires the firm's New York State Department of Labor Asbestos License, lead abatement requires EPA firm certification, and fire suppression system installation requires approval from the Chief of Fire Prevention. Applications must arrive at least seven days before the monthly Construction & Home Improvement Advisory Board meeting, and "attendance at the meeting is mandatory for the applicant" unless a notarized letter authorizes a representative. The fee is not printed on the application packet; ask the Office of Licenses on (716) 851-6583.

The counties stop below this tier. Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland and Putnam license home improvement, not building. Suffolk's Chapter 563 definition expressly excludes "the construction of a new home", and the Westchester law states that it "shall not apply to ... the construction of a new home building", along with plumbing work, electrical work and architectural services. A builder putting up new houses in those counties may therefore need no county license at all, while the same builder's remodeling arm does — and both still answer to the town or village building department. Check the scope with the county before assuming either way.

Yonkers and Rochester. Yonkers licenses home improvement contractors who "renovate existing dwellings of 1 to 3 families" and does not issue a commercial builder license; new and commercial construction is handled through the Department of Housing and Buildings permit process. Rochester licenses only electricians, plumbers and stationary engineers / refrigeration operators, and holds the permit applicant responsible for making sure "all required contractors are licensed, proof of insurance is filed and the project complies with the permit".

Everywhere else. Outside the jurisdictions above, commercial construction in New York is governed by the Uniform Code and the local building department, and in most towns and villages a general contractor needs no license — only permits, insurance and licensed trades. Confirm with the building department for the job site, and where the project involves residential property anywhere in the state, General Business Law Article 36-A's written-contract and deposit-escrow rules still apply.