New York State does not license home improvement contractors. Nassau County does, through the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs, under Title D of the county Administrative Code.
The short version
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who issues it | Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs, Licensing Division, (516) 571-2600 |
| Who needs it | Contractors doing remodeling on residential homes in Nassau |
| Fee | $650 for two years, plus a one-time $50 to the Restitution Fund |
| Term | Two years |
| Insurance | Bodily injury $250,000/$500,000, property damage $100,000, and workers’ comp |
| Experience | One owner, officer or principal with 5 years of recent, verifiable home improvement experience |
| Fingerprinting | One time, about $90 |
| Lookup | Nassau license lookup |
Who needs one
The county FAQ says contractors who do remodeling on residential homes in Nassau need a license. The application’s work categories include roofing, siding, gutters and windows, so roofers and exterior contractors are covered.
Not covered, per the FAQ: contractors who work only on commercial buildings, employees of a licensed contractor, and plumbers, electricians, architects and engineers working solely in the field they are licensed in. We did not find a dollar minimum, so assume small jobs count too.
What you need to apply
From the county’s application instructions and FAQ:
- Insurance: bodily injury of $250,000/$500,000 and property damage of $100,000. The policy has to list a full and specific description of the work it covers.
- Workers’ compensation covering all employees. Forms U26 or 105.2 are accepted.
- Experience: at least one owner, officer or principal with 5 years of recent, relevant, verifiable experience in home improvement.
- Fingerprinting: a one-time requirement, about $90, done through IDENTOGO.
- Lead certification: EPA RRP lead certification from an accredited training program.
- An actual place of business at a definite location in New York State. An answering service does not count.
- Age 18 or older, plus proof of good moral character and financial responsibility.
- A bond may be required in some cases.
We did not find any mention of a written exam for the Nassau license.
Fees
The county FAQ lists $650 for a two-year license and a mandatory one-time $50 contribution to the Home Improvement Restitution Fund. It also lists $110 for a late renewal (15 or more days after expiration), $110 for each additional office and $60 for a duplicate license. Renewals can be done online, and insurance certificates that expire within 30 days are not accepted.
What it means for homeowners
Hiring a licensed contractor in Nassau comes with rules the contractor has to follow:
- A written contract, signed by everyone, naming the work, the materials (brand, color, dimensions, model numbers) and the final price.
- Three business days to cancel. The contract has to tell you that you can cancel any time before midnight of the third business day. Notice can go by mail, text or email.
- The license on site. A copy has to be available at every job site and in every vehicle.
- The license number in ads. All display advertising has to show it.
- A restitution fund. It pays homeowners who win a final judgment or arbitration award against a licensed contractor, up to $10,000. It does not cover unlicensed contractors, which is one more reason to check.
How to look up a license
Go to the Nassau County license lookup and search by license number, company name or address. The result shows whether the license is active, the business address, the license category and insurance details. If you cannot find a company, call (516) 571-2600.
Penalties for working without one
The county’s archived 2011 copy of the law makes unlicensed work a class A misdemeanor with a penalty of up to $5,000 per violation. That copy may be out of date. The current regulations also let the Commissioner seize a vehicle used for unlicensed work, pending forfeiture to the county.
Working in Suffolk too
Suffolk County has its own license with its own test and fees. See our Suffolk County home improvement license guide.