To work as a general contractor in New York City, you need a DOB general contractor registration, not a license: there is no exam, but you must file an LIC6 application through DOB NOW with a $300 fee, show at least $25,000 in operating capital, carry $1 million in general liability coverage along with workers’ compensation and disability insurance, and submit a full package of identity, business, and ownership documents. The NYC DOB general contractor license requirements come from NYC Administrative Code ยง 28-401.18, which requires anyone performing general contracting work in the five boroughs to register with the Department of Buildings before taking on projects.
The Department draws a sharp line between registrations and licenses. Licensed trades such as master plumber or licensed electrician require written examinations and specific experience thresholds. General contractor is a registration, so you qualify by meeting financial, insurance, and background standards rather than sitting for a test.
Who Qualifies to Register
Every applicant must be at least 18, able to read and write English, and of good moral character. The commissioner can require any additional information that speaks to your fitness for the registration, including your history of compliance with construction codes and related laws.1New York City Administrative Code. New York City Administrative Code 28-401.6 – Qualifications of Applicant
The Department runs a criminal background check using the Social Security number on your application. A conviction does not automatically disqualify you; the Department evaluates whether the offense directly relates to your fitness to operate as a contractor. Fraud, misrepresentation, or bribery connected to construction sign-offs or certificates of occupancy are specific grounds for denial or revocation, as are patterns of failing to complete residential construction contracts.2American Legal Publishing. New York City Administrative Code 28-401.19 – Suspension or Revocation of License or Certificate
The $25,000 Operating Capital Proof
You must show the business has at least $25,000 in operating capital. The Administrative Code defines financial solvency for general contractors at that threshold.3ICC. New York City Administrative Code Chapter 4 – Licensing and Registration You prove it one of two ways: submit the last three consecutive bank statements for the company, each with an ending balance of $25,000 or more, or provide a notarized, bank-stamped letter confirming the company held that minimum balance over the past three months.4NYC Department of Buildings. Obtain a General Contractor Registration
Read the rule carefully. The statements must show the required balance at the close of each of the three months, not just on the day you apply. If your account dipped below $25,000 at the end of any of those months, wait until you have three clean consecutive statements before submitting.
Insurance Coverage You Must File
Before DOB issues the registration, you must file proof of three policies: commercial general liability with at least $1 million per occurrence, workers’ compensation, and disability benefits. The coverage must stay active for the full term, and you are responsible for reporting any changes or renewals to the Department.5American Legal Publishing. New York City Administrative Code 28-401.9 – Insurance
Each policy uses a specific form. General liability goes on an ACORD 25 certificate. Workers’ compensation uses New York State forms such as the C105.2 or U26.3. Disability uses the DB 120.1 or DB 120.2. Workers’ comp and disability cannot be bundled onto the ACORD 25; the Department wants separate certificates. General contractors cannot submit an affidavit of exemption for workers’ comp or disability, even with no employees. That exemption exists for some other registration categories, but not this one.6NYC Department of Buildings. Licensing Insurance Guidelines
The certificate holder box on every policy document must read: NYC Department of Buildings, Attn: Licensing & Exams Unit, 280 Broadway, New York, NY 10007. The business name, address, and phone number on each certificate must match what you have on file with the Department. A mismatch between the insurance certificate and the application is one of the most common causes of processing delays.6NYC Department of Buildings. Licensing Insurance Guidelines
The LIC6 Application Package
The correct form is the LIC6, not the LIC2 used for other DOB credentials. Download it from the Department’s applications and forms page.7NYC Buildings. NYC Department of Buildings – Licensing Applications and Forms The form must be fully typed and notarized before submission.
Beyond the LIC6 itself, every applicant must provide the following originals and supporting documents:
- The primary principal’s original Social Security card and a government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or permanent resident card).
- Original IRS proof of the company’s Employer Identification Number.
- Business address verification such as a utility bill, bank statement, deed, or lease in the business name. Cell phone bills and credit card statements are not accepted.
- Home address verification for the primary principal: a utility bill, phone bill, or bank statement.
- Original insurance certificates for general liability, workers’ compensation, and disability.
- Three consecutive months of bank statements showing a $25,000 ending balance, or a notarized bank letter.
- A completed Child Support Certification Form.
- A notarized letter on company letterhead listing the name, home address, phone number, Social Security number, and ownership percentage of every officer, partner, and stakeholder.
Additional documents depend on your business structure. Corporations submit a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation from the New York State Department of State, a filing receipt or Certificate of Good Standing, and corporate minutes naming the elected officers. LLCs provide the same trio using Articles of Organization. Partnerships file a Certificate of Partnership from the county clerk. Sole proprietors file a business certificate from the county clerk.4NYC Department of Buildings. Obtain a General Contractor Registration
If the business is based outside New York State, you also need a certified copy of your Application for Authority from the NYS Department of State, proving you are authorized to operate in New York.8NYC Department of Buildings. LIC6 Instructions
Filing Through DOB NOW and the Fee
Since September 2021, all new registration applications must be submitted online through the DOB NOW portal at nyc.gov/dobnow. The Department no longer accepts walk-in transactions or paper applications. You upload PDF scans of the completed LIC6 and all supporting documents through the portal. The registration fee is $300.9NYC Department of Buildings. General Contractor Registration Review and background investigation can take several weeks. You will receive a determination email through DOB NOW with instructions once the review is complete.4NYC Department of Buildings. Obtain a General Contractor Registration
One deadline trips people up: once DOB NOW approves you, you have exactly one year to pick up your registration card. Miss that window and the portal automatically closes your application as a denial. You then have to restart the entire process from scratch.4NYC Department of Buildings. Obtain a General Contractor Registration
Renewal and Keeping the Registration Current
Submit renewal 30 to 90 days before the expiration date printed on your card to avoid a late fee. The renewal fee is $240 through DOB NOW. Filing late pushes the fee to $290, which includes a $50 late penalty. Let the registration lapse for more than a year past expiration and you cannot renew at all; you must reapply as a new applicant.10NYC Department of Buildings. General Contractor Registration Renewal
Renewal requires a fresh notarized LIC6, a new Child Support Certification, and a notarized statement on company letterhead disclosing any business changes such as a new address or phone number. Address changes need a supporting utility bill, bank statement, lease, or deed. If you changed the company name but kept the same EIN, include a certified copy of the Certificate of Amendment. After approval, the new card arrives by mail within about 30 days.10NYC Department of Buildings. General Contractor Registration Renewal
What the Registration Does Not Cover
The DOB registration lets you file for alteration and new building permits through the Department’s online permit system, but it does not stand in for several other credentials you may still need:
- To work on one-, two-, three-, or four-family homes, you also need a Home Improvement Contractor license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
- For buildings four stories or taller, you need additional safety endorsements from DOB for construction, concrete, or demolition work.
- On projects requiring a Site Safety Plan with a designated Construction Superintendent, Site Safety Coordinator, or Site Safety Manager, every worker must hold a 40-hour Site Safety Training card and every supervisor a 62-hour Supervisor SST card. SST cards expire after five years and cannot be renewed once expired; the worker must retake the full program.11NYC Department of Buildings. SST Card Information
- Any renovation, repair, or painting in housing built before 1978 that disturbs more than six square feet of interior painted surface per room, more than 20 square feet of exterior surface, or any window replacement triggers federal EPA lead-safe certification under 40 CFR Part 745. Given the age of New York City housing stock, most residential renovation falls under this rule.12eCFR. 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart E – Residential Property Renovation
Build those parallel credentials into your timeline from the start. The DOB registration gets you in the door for permits, but it is one piece of the compliance picture rather than the whole of it.