New York has no statewide contractor license, which sounds relaxed until you discover that what it has instead is dozens of local regimes, and the toughest of them, New York City, is practically a licensing state of its own. Here is how it fits together in 2026.
Licensing is local, and NYC is its own world
Electricians and plumbers are licensed by cities and counties, not Albany. In New York City, master electricians are licensed by the Department of Buildings, master plumbers likewise, and anyone doing home improvement work for hire needs a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license. Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk and other counties run their own consumer-protection licenses for home improvement and specific trades. Upstate cities each have their own boards. The practical rule: check the county and city of every jobsite, because compliance in Buffalo says nothing about Brooklyn.
Site Safety Training cards in NYC
Local Law 196 requires workers on most larger NYC construction sites to hold an SST card (40 hours of OSHA-based and site-specific training, with supervisor cards at 62 hours). No card, no site access, and GCs check. If you take crews into the five boroughs, build SST tracking into your onboarding.
Mechanics liens: eight months, four for houses
New York gives private-project lien claimants 8 months from last furnishing to file, cut to 4 months on single-family dwellings. No preliminary notice is required, which is generous, but the lien lasts only one year unless extended or foreclosed. Public projects run under a different mechanism entirely.
Workers comp and tax
Workers compensation and disability coverage are mandatory from the first employee, with penalties that stack daily and reach corporate officers personally. On tax, repair and maintenance work is subject to sales tax, while capital improvements are exempt when the customer signs Form ST-124, which makes properly classifying every job worth real money.
OSHA
Private-sector worksites fall under federal OSHA; New York's state plan covers public employees only.
- Statewide license: None; licensing is by city and county
- NYC: DOB licenses electricians/plumbers; DCWP HIC license; SST cards (LL196)
- Lien filing: 8 months from last work; 4 months single-family homes
- Preliminary notice: None required on private work
- Workers comp: Mandatory from the 1st employee (plus disability cover)
- Sales tax: Repairs taxable; capital improvements exempt with ST-124
- OSHA: Federal (private sector)
New York FAQs for trade businesses
Is there any license I can get that covers all of New York?
No. Licensing is local, so a portfolio of city and county licenses is normal for firms working across the metro area. Check every jobsite’s jurisdiction before quoting.
Who needs an SST card?
Workers and supervisors on most NYC sites large enough to require a construction superintendent, site safety manager or coordinator under Local Law 196. Supervisors need the 62-hour card. GCs turn uncarded workers away at the gate.
Repair or capital improvement, and why does it matter?
Repairs and maintenance are subject to sales tax; capital improvements are not, provided the customer signs Form ST-124. Classifying jobs correctly changes the invoice by the full tax rate.
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SKEDS for US tradesFree invoice templateFree quote templateThis guide is general information, not legal advice. Licensing thresholds, lien statutes and tax rules change; always confirm current requirements with the licensing board, an attorney or your accountant before relying on them.