New York City Contractor Licensing
Expert help with NYC Home Improvement Contractor licensing and NYC General Contractor registration—from requirements and paperwork through agency follow-up.
Bilingual service available in English and Spanish.The right filing starts with the right path
NYC requirements depend on your scope of work, property type, and role on the project. We help you understand the difference before you spend time and money on the wrong application.
For contractors performing qualifying repair, remodeling, renovation, or other home improvement work on residential property in New York City.
For general contractors who supervise construction or demolition work and need to register with the New York City Department of Buildings.
Not sure which one applies? That is exactly what the licensing assessment is designed to determine.
Avoid preventable delays
Depending on the filing, your application may involve business records, owner information, proof of address, insurance, bonds, exams, fingerprints, certifications, or financial documentation.
Get a Licensing Assessment✓Business entity and ownership documents
✓General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, and Disability coverage
✓EPA RRP documentation when applicable
✓Surety bond or trust fund requirement
✓Owner identification and address records
✓Agency exams, fingerprints, and follow-up items
A clearer path through NYC compliance
Our process is built to catch missing pieces early, keep communication organized, and give you a knowledgeable point of contact from intake through agency follow-up.
Tell us what work you perform, how your company is structured, and where you plan to operate.
We determine the appropriate NYC credential and flag documents, insurance, bonds, or certifications you may need.
Our team organizes the materials, prepares the filing, and helps correct avoidable gaps before submission.
We track the process, respond to agency requests, and guide you through the remaining steps toward approval.
Why Special Trade Services
STS was built around the construction industry. Our founders grew up in contractor families, and our team understands how licensing connects to the insurance, bond, entity, and permit requirements that keep a contractor working.
Answers before you apply
STS professional service fees vary based on the license or registration and the complexity of the application:
Pricing within these ranges may be affected by criminal history, the number of owners or partners, entity formation or correction services, agency deficiencies, and additional document preparation.
Not every fee applies to every contractor, and government fees are subject to change. STS will review your circumstances and provide a proposal separating our professional service fee from anticipated government and third-party expenses before you move forward.
An NYC Home Improvement Contractor—or HIC—license is issued by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. It applies to qualifying construction, repair, remodeling, renovation, or other home improvement work performed on residential property.
An NYC General Contractor—or GC—registration is issued by the Department of Buildings. It is connected to the DOB permit system and is required for contractors building one-, two-, and three-family homes, among other qualifying construction activity.
These credentials are not interchangeable. Depending on the properties and projects your company works on, you may need an HIC license, GC registration, or both. STS can review your scope of work and help identify the correct path.
Not for an NYC Home Improvement Contractor license. The $25,000 financial-solvency requirement applies to NYC General Contractor registration through the Department of Buildings—not to the HIC license issued by DCWP.
For an initial GC registration, the company must generally provide its last three consecutive business bank statements, with each statement showing an ending balance of at least $25,000. DOB may also accept a notarized, bank-stamped letter confirming that the company maintained a minimum ending balance of at least $25,000 during the previous three months.
The $25,000 is not a fee paid to the City or to STS. It is proof of the company’s financial solvency. HIC applicants have a separate consumer-protection requirement: enrollment in the DCWP Trust Fund or an eligible $20,000 surety bond. A surety bond is not the same as maintaining that amount in a bank account.
Possibly. A criminal history does not necessarily result in automatic disqualification. The reviewing agency will consider the circumstances of the offense, how long ago it occurred, its relationship to the license or registration, and evidence of rehabilitation.
Applicants must answer all criminal-history questions honestly. Additional documentation may be required, including court dispositions, a written explanation, reference letters, or a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or Certificate of Good Conduct. Offenses involving fraud, dishonesty, or professional misconduct may receive additional scrutiny and could affect approval.
STS can help you organize the required documentation and present a complete application, but we cannot guarantee approval. Final decisions are made by the applicable NYC agency.
Possibly. Having a child-support obligation does not automatically disqualify you. However, applicants who are more than four months behind may be subject to suspension of certain business, professional, occupational, or other licenses and registrations.
Applicants must complete all required child-support certifications honestly. If you have past-due support, your payment status, payment arrangements, and any pending enforcement action may affect the application.
STS can help identify the required application documents and organize your filing, but we cannot resolve child-support matters, provide legal advice, or guarantee approval. Final decisions are made by the applicable government agencies.
A properly prepared NYC Home Improvement Contractor application can often move through the agency process within a few weeks. NYC General Contractor registration commonly takes several months. Timing varies based on the application, agency workload, insurance, exams, fingerprints, and any missing items.
Yes. STS can coordinate insurance and bond requirements connected to your application. Coverage is subject to underwriting, eligibility, and carrier terms.
No private company can guarantee government approval. We prepare, organize, submit, and track your application while helping you address agency requests. Final decisions are made by the applicable NYC agency.
Yes. We can review an application in progress, identify missing items, help respond to a deficiency notice, or assist with a renewal or correction.
Ready to move forward?
Tell us about your business and we’ll help identify the next steps.
Included with your STS licensing service
A clearer customer experience
App Tracker gives STS customers one organized place to see what is needed, upload documents, monitor progress, and stay informed from intake through agency approval.
View required items and your application-readiness progress at a glance.
Send requested documents securely from your phone, tablet, or computer.
Follow your case as it moves through document collection, submission, review, and approval.
Manage updates and multiple STS applications in one convenient account.
Available to STS customers after service enrollment. Final licensing and registration decisions are made by the applicable government agency.
Tell us what you need—we’ll identify the correct license or registration and next steps.