New York Contractor License Requirements
Do You Need a Contractor License in New York?
New York has no statewide general contractor license, and cities or counties set the rules. Threshold: None statewide; cities such as New York City and Buffalo have their own rules. Trades such as electrical and plumbing often have separate rules. Confirm with the official site, because rules change.
Open the Official New York Site
- System
- Local Only
- When it applies
- None statewide; cities such as New York City and Buffalo have their own rules
- Summary checked
- By its authors, 2026-09-04 to 2026-10-26. Not verified by us against state law.
How to Check a Contractor in New York
Call the building department for the city or county where the work will happen, and ask what license or registration it requires. Then ask the contractor for that number. Without a state database, insurance certificates and references carry more weight.
Official Records on This Site
We publish 12,728 active records from the New York State Department of Labor Contractor Registry, downloaded November 6, 2026. Search by name or number, or use the original dataset. This registry covers contractors bidding on public work, so it is not a general license list.
Common Questions
How do you check a contractor in New York?
Call the building department for the city or county where the work will happen, and ask what license or registration it requires. Then ask the contractor for that number. Without a state database, insurance certificates and references carry more weight.
Does a license mean the contractor is insured?
Not always. Ask for a current certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers’ compensation, and call the insurer to confirm if the job is large.
Contractors in New York
All 13,292 listed in New York, most in Brooklyn, New York, Rochester, Staten Island, Bronx, Syracuse.
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