Permits and licensing · New York
Renovation permits and contractor licences in New York
New York has no single statewide contractor licence: contractor licensing is handled by cities and counties, and in New York City anyone doing home improvement work needs a Home Improvement Contractor licence from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The state writes the Uniform Code, but generally every city, town, village and county administers and enforces it locally.
Regulators and licensing bodies in New York
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in New York.
NYS Division of Building Standards and Codes
Maintains the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code. Generally every city, town, village and county administers and enforces building codes within its own jurisdiction.
NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
Licenses home improvement contractors in New York City. A person or business must hold this licence to do construction, repair, remodeling or other home improvement work on residential land or buildings in the city.
NYC Department of Buildings
Issues building permits in New York City. The majority of construction requires a Department of Buildings permit, and a New York State registered design professional must file the construction plans.
Buffalo Department of Permit and Inspection Services
Reviews and issues permits for new buildings, additions, remodeling, repairs, decks, sheds and demolitions, and issues licences for contractors working in the city.
Trades that need a licence in New York
General contracting and renovation
Contractor licensing in New York is local, not statewide, so the rule depends on where you live. In New York City a Home Improvement Contractor licence is required for construction, repair, remodeling and other home improvement work, including basements, driveways, fences, garages, patios, porches, swimming pools and terraces. Buffalo issues its own contractor licences.
Sources:NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection – Home Improvement Contractor licence(opens in a new tab)Buffalo – Permit and Inspection Services(opens in a new tab)
Consumer protection
Before you hire in New York City, check the contractor's licence status with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, which licenses tens of thousands of businesses across dozens of industries.
Sources:NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection – Check licence status(opens in a new tab)
General contracting and renovation
The Uniform Code and the Energy Code sit in Title 19 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, and the Code Council updates them: the 2025 editions of the Residential, Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire, Property Maintenance and Existing Building Codes of New York State took effect on December 31, 2025.
Sources:NYS Department of State – Notice of adoption of the Uniform Code(opens in a new tab)NYS Department of State – Building Standards and Codes(opens in a new tab)
Building and renovation permits in New York
Permits are issued locally. In New York City the majority of construction requires a Department of Buildings permit, and construction plans must be filed by a New York State registered design professional. Outside the city, your town, village or county building department issues permits and enforces the Uniform Code; in Buffalo a building permit is always required, with limited exceptions the City lists.
Sources:NYC Department of Buildings – Obtaining a permit(opens in a new tab)Buffalo – Building permits(opens in a new tab)NYS Department of State – Building Standards and Codes(opens in a new tab)
Permit information from large municipalities
Before you hire a contractor in New York
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
In New York City, check the contractor holds a Home Improvement Contractor licence before any work starts.
Official lookup: NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection – Check licence status(opens in a new tab)
Outside New York City, ask your town, village or county whether it licenses contractors, and how to check.
Official lookup: NYS Department of State – Building Standards and Codes(opens in a new tab)
Ask who will file the plans and pull the permit, and get it in writing.
Official lookup: NYC Department of Buildings – Obtaining a permit(opens in a new tab)
Confirm the contractor's licence and insurance with your state or county government, and get the work, materials and price in writing.
Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Sources for renovation permits and licences in New York
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- NYS Department of State – Building Standards and Codes(opens in a new tab)
- NYS Department of State – Notice of adoption of the Uniform Code(opens in a new tab)
- NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection – Home Improvement Contractor licence(opens in a new tab)
- NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection – Check licence status(opens in a new tab)
- NYC Department of Buildings – Obtaining a permit(opens in a new tab)
- Buffalo – Permit and Inspection Services(opens in a new tab)
- Buffalo – Building permits(opens in a new tab)
- FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Find licensed pros
Compare local pros for the regulated trades in this guide, then confirm their licence with the regulator before you hire.
Renovation permits in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.