How to get a Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#) in New Jersey
New Jersey licenses general contractors statewide through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.1 For the Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#) you need a criminal background check1. The board lists $110 for the application2. You renew every year1.
Who issues it
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
Fees the board lists
Application fee: $1102
Renewal
Every year1
From another state
No reciprocity route1
On this page
- New Jersey general contractor licenses
- Applies to every license level
- Who needs a Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#)
- Requirements for a Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#)
- How much a Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#) costs
- How to apply
- Renewal and continuing education
- Moving to New Jersey with a license from another state
- New Home Builder registration
- Contractor Classification
- Licensed home improvement contractor
- Principal home improvement contractor
- Public Works Contractor Registration (PWCR)
- City and county rules
- Check a license or report a problem
- Laws and rules
- Rule changes since January 2024
- Common questions
- General contractor licenses in other states
New Jersey general contractor licenses
New Jersey issues 6 general contractor credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.
| License | What it covers | Training or experience | Exam | Application or license fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Home Builder registration (New Home Warranty Program) | Anyone in the business of building owner-occupied new homes (single family, townhouse, two-family, condo, co-op, factory-built, modular) must register and enroll each home in a warranty plan.3 | – | – | $2003 |
| Contractor Classification (DPMC-27 Request for Classification) | Only firms classified in a trade may bid that trade on public works; each firm also gets an aggregate rating (dollar cap on its outstanding contracts).4 | Experience 1 year4 | – | $1004 |
| Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#) | Required for businesses that make or sell home improvements to residential property: remodeling, repair, renovation, demolition, insulation, and converting commercial buildings to residential use. Building new homes is not included.1 | – | – | $1102 |
| Licensed home improvement contractor | An individual license to perform home improvement work for a registered contractor business on contracts under $120,000 (or not needing plans under more than one subcode).1 | Experience 2 years1 | Yes1 | – |
| Principal home improvement contractor | A licensed home improvement contractor who oversees contracts of at least $120,000 that need plans under more than one construction subcode. A business taking such contracts must employ one.1 | Experience 2 years1 | Yes1 | – |
| Public Works Contractor Registration (PWCR) | Required to bid on or work on any construction-related public works project in New Jersey, for prime contractors and all subcontractor tiers.5 | – | – | $5006 |
Applies to every license level
These rules are the same for several of the New Jersey general contractor licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.
1. Every license level (all 6)
Requirements
- Also required
- State credentials found for construction businesses: home improvement contractor registration (residential remodeling), new home builder registration (new homes), and, for public work, Public Works Contractor Registration plus DPMC classification for State projects.2
2. New Home Builder registration (New Home Warranty Program), Licensed home improvement contractor and Principal home improvement contractor
Renewal
3. Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#) and Public Works Contractor Registration (PWCR)
Renewal
4. New Home Builder registration (New Home Warranty Program) and Contractor Classification (DPMC-27 Request for Classification)
How to apply
- Application form
- Form (PDF, nj.gov)74
5. Contractor Classification (DPMC-27 Request for Classification) and Public Works Contractor Registration (PWCR)
Requirements
How to apply
Renewal
6. Licensed home improvement contractor and Principal home improvement contractor
Requirements
- Minimum age
- 18 years old1
- High school diploma or GED
- Not required1
- Education or training
- Education requirements to be set by the board1
Alternative: A US DOL registered or approved apprenticeship, or a similar program at an accredited trade school, satisfies the training/experience element1 - Experience
- At least 2 years1
At least two years performing home improvement work under the direct oversight of a home improvement or home elevation contractor (on-site supervision not required); alternative to the apprenticeship route1
Substitute: Experience in another state with substantially equivalent requirements can count1 - Exam
- Board-developed or designated exam, including New Jersey home improvement law1
Exam waived: No exam, education or experience for individuals already registered as home improvement or home elevation contractors for at least five years when the act took effect; license issued when their registration expires, on application and fee1 - Insurance
- Insurance is carried by the registered business, not the individual licensee1
- Business requirements
- The licensed individual works for a business registered under the Contractors' Registration Act1
How to apply
- Wait for the board to adopt its rules. The license requirement starts on the first day of the sixth month after that.1
- Complete an apprenticeship or two years of overseen experience, any board education, and the exam. Registrants of five or more years skip these.1
- Apply to the board with the criminal-conviction disclosure and fees.1
Renewal
- Continuing education
- At least 6 hours each renewal period1
- Approved courses
- Board-approved courses and providers; trade associations may qualify; out-of-state courses approved by the other state can count for electives1
- Late renewal
- Late renewal fee: $2001 (cE not completed before the biennial license expires; amount set by board up to $200)
From another state
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- The act as read contains no reciprocity provision. Out-of-state experience can count toward the two years, and the act covers contractors based outside New Jersey.1
Who needs a Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#)
Required for businesses that make or sell home improvements to residential property: remodeling, repair, renovation, demolition, insulation, and converting commercial buildings to residential use. Building new homes is not included.1
Exemptions and dollar thresholds:
- Exempt: builders registered under the New Home Warranty and Builders' Registration Act (new homes)9
- Exempt: work on property the person owns, or owned by family, a bona fide charity or non-profit9
- Exempt: state-licensed architects, engineers, electrical contractors, master plumbers and similar professionals working within their scope9
- Exempt: home improvement retailers with net worth over $50,000,000 and their employees9
Other rules on who may do this work:
- Advertising as a home improvement contractor brings the business under the Act1
Requirements for a Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#)
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.
- Background check
- Background check required1
The Division may refuse, suspend or revoke a registration for a conviction with a direct and substantial relationship to home improvement work.1 - Surety bond
- $10,0001 (Minimum tier: contracts under $10,000 or under $150,000 in the previous 12 months)
- Surety bond
- $25,0001 (Contracts $10,000-$120,000, or $150,000-$750,000 in the previous 12 months)
- Surety bond
- $50,0001 (Contracts over $120,000, or at least $750,000 in the previous 12 months)
- Insurance
- Commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, plus workers' compensation unless exempt by law1
- Insurance
- Replacement insurance certificate due within 10 days of cancellation or non-renewal1
- Insurance
- Home elevation businesses also need cargo or other insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence1
- Business requirements
- Ownership disclosure statement with the application2
- Business requirements
- LLCs and corporations register the entity with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES); every business registers for tax2
- Business requirements
- Once the board's rules are in force: a business with contracts under $120,000 must employ at least one licensed home improvement or home elevation contractor (or limited specialty licensees only for specialty work). Inoperative until six months after the board adopts rules.1
- Business requirements
- Once the board's rules are in force: contracts of at least $120,000 that need plans under more than one subcode require a licensed principal contractor1
- Also required
- Display the NJHIC# registration number2
- Also required
- File an amended registration within 20 days of any change, free of charge1
- Also required
- Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing1
How much a Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#) costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $1102 | New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs | Not refundable |
How to apply
- Form and register the business: entities with DORES; all businesses register for tax.2
- Buy commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, plus workers' compensation, and arrange the compliance bond or letter of credit for your contract size.1
- Submit the Division of Consumer Affairs registration application with the ownership disclosure, insurance proof, criminal-conviction disclosure and the fee.2 Form (PDF, njconsumeraffairs.gov)2
- Show your NJHIC# on your ads and paperwork, and renew every year.1
- Application form
- Form (PDF, njconsumeraffairs.gov)2
Renewal and continuing education
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#). The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to New Jersey with a license from another state
These are the routes the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs publishes for the Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#). The other general contractor licenses have their own routes in their sections below.
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- The sources read contain no reciprocity provision for the business registration. The new law applies to individuals based outside New Jersey.1
New Home Builder registration
Anyone in the business of building owner-occupied new homes (single family, townhouse, two-family, condo, co-op, factory-built, modular) must register and enroll each home in a warranty plan.3
Requirements
- Background check
- Registration can be revoked or denied for fraud, misrepresentation or substantial Uniform Construction Code violations3
- Business requirements
- Entities file their formation document with the application3
- Also required
- Must enroll in the State warranty plan or an approved private plan3
- Also required
- State Plan contribution is a percentage set by claims history, from 0.17 to 0.595 across the published tiers; a builder registered under two years with no claims pays 0.319. Private plans set their own price.3
- Also required
- Show the registration card to the construction official when getting permits3
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $2003 | Bureau of Homeowner Protection, New Home Warranty Program | Not refundable |
| Amendment fee | $257 | Bureau of Homeowner Protection, New Home Warranty Program | Amending a registration |
Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.
How to apply
- Create a myNJ account and open the Bureau of Homeowner Protection tile in the DCA service portal.10
- Submit the builder registration application with the $200 fee and any entity formation documents.3
- Enroll in the State warranty plan or an approved private plan, then show the registration card when you pull permits.3
- Apply online
- serviceportal.dca.nj.gov10
Renewal
- When it expires
- Valid two years from approval3
- Renewal fee
- $20011
- If it expires
- Must renew while any home is in its first two years of warranty; operating unregistered risks fines up to $2,000 per home sold3
- Renew online
- serviceportal.dca.nj.gov10
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 4 under Applies to every license level.
Contractor Classification
Only firms classified in a trade may bid that trade on public works; each firm also gets an aggregate rating (dollar cap on its outstanding contracts).4
Requirements
- Experience
- At least 1 year4
Firm needs at least one year in contracting, unless its principals have five years in each trade sought4
Substitute: Principals' five years per trade substitutes for the firm's one year4 - Experience
- At least two significant completed projects per trade, from the last five years4
- Business requirements
- Financial statement no more than 12 months old; compilation caps the aggregate rating at $5,000,000, CPA review at $15,000,000, and an audit is needed above that4
- Business requirements
- Surety statement of bonding capacity4
- Business requirements
- Valid Public Works Contractor Registration from LWD4
- Business requirements
- Foreign corporations need a New Jersey certificate of authority4
- Also required
- Electrical, HVACR and plumbing licenses must be in the firm's name4
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $1004 | DPMC | Not refundable |
| Online convenience fee | $48 | – | Online submission |
Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.
How to apply
- Get a Public Works Contractor Registration from LWD first.4
- Complete the DPMC-27 with financial statement, surety affidavit, project experience and licenses, and pay the $100 fee online.8 Form (PDF, nj.gov)4
- DPMC emails your trades, aggregate rating and dates.4
Renewal
- How often
- Every 24 months4
- Renewal fee
- $1004
- If it expires
- Renewal filed more than three months after expiry is treated as a new application4
From another state
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- The rule as read contains no reciprocity provision; foreign corporations need a certificate of authority.4
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 4 and group 5 under Applies to every license level.
Licensed home improvement contractor
An individual license to perform home improvement work for a registered contractor business on contracts under $120,000 (or not needing plans under more than one subcode).1
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.
Principal home improvement contractor
A licensed home improvement contractor who oversees contracts of at least $120,000 that need plans under more than one construction subcode. A business taking such contracts must employ one.1
Requirements
- Experience
- Grandfather route: registrants of five or more years qualify as principal if they can show experience overseeing contracts of at least $120,000 with plans under more than one subcode1
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.
Public Works Contractor Registration (PWCR)
Required to bid on or work on any construction-related public works project in New Jersey, for prime contractors and all subcontractor tiers.5
Requirements
- Insurance
- Workers' compensation coverage expiring at least 30 days after application, or a certified no-employee statement5
- Business requirements
- Separate registration for each business entity name used on contracts5
- Business requirements
- Apprenticeship participation is part of the registration criteria (five methods listed by LWD)5
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee (1-year registration) | $5006 | NJDOL | Not refundable |
| Initial license fee (2-year registration) | $7506 | NJDOL | Continuously registered for the last two years with no prior violations. Not refundable |
| Online service fee | $46 | – | Plus 1.9% if paying by credit card. Not refundable |
Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.
How to apply
- Get workers' compensation coverage (or sign the no-employee statement) and meet an apprenticeship participation method.5
- File the PWCR application online (paper no longer accepted) and pay the fee.6
- Processing time
- Allow 30 days6
Renewal
From another state
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- All contractors on New Jersey public works must register.6
More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 3 and group 5 under Applies to every license level.
City and county rules
Contractor Classification (DPMC-27 Request for Classification)Construction permits and any mercantile license are local.2
| City or county | What it requires | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Jersey City | Jersey City contractor license for contractors without a state license and for all work on commercial property; apply through the city permit portal.12 | Official page12 |
Licensed home improvement contractorState law overrides municipal licensing of home improvement contractors. Towns still issue construction permits, and may not issue one for home improvement work by a contractor who is neither licensed nor exempt.2
Check a license or report a problem
Before you hire a general contractor in New Jersey, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in New Jersey is on the New Jersey license lookup page.
- Look up a license
- app.powerbigov.us6
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
- N.J.S.A. 56:8-136 et seq. (Contractors' Registration Act), as amended by P.L.2023, c.237
- P.L.2023, c.237 (Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractor Licensing Act), approved January 8, 2024
- N.J.S.A. 46:3B-1 et seq. (New Home Warranty and Builders' Registration Act)
- N.J.A.C. 5:25
- N.J.S.A. 52:35-1 et seq.
- N.J.A.C. 17:19 (as reproduced in DPMC-27)
- P.L.2023, c.237 (N.J.S.A. 45:5AAA-1 et seq.), approved January 8, 2024
- N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.48 et seq. (Public Works Contractor Registration Act)
Rule changes since January 2024
Common questions
Can I transfer my general contractor license to New Jersey?
The sources read contain no reciprocity provision for the business registration. The new law applies to individuals based outside New Jersey.1 Conditions and forms.
How often do you renew a Home Improvement Contractor registration (NJHIC#) in New Jersey?
Every year1.
General contractor licenses in other states
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- L2023c237 legislative history: Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractor Licensing Act, P.L.2023,…New Jersey State Library (State Law Library legislative history: P.L.2023, c.237 final text)Dated January 8, 2024Checked November 5, 2026
- Home Improvement Contractor Quick Start GuideNew Jersey Business Action Center, Department of StateChecked November 5, 2026
- Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for BuildersNew Jersey Department of Community AffairsChecked November 5, 2026
- DPMC-27 Request for ClassificationNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Property Management and ConstructionChecked November 5, 2026
- Public Works Contractor Registration FAQsNew Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentChecked November 5, 2026
- Public Works Contractor RegistrationNew Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce DevelopmentChecked November 5, 2026
- Home Builder Registration ApplicationNew Jersey Department of Community AffairsChecked November 5, 2026
- Classification Application ProcessNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Property Management and ConstructionDated April 15, 2026Checked November 5, 2026
- Contractors Registration NJSA 56:8-136 et seq.New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (copy of N.J.S.A. 56:8-136 et seq.)Checked November 5, 2026
- Bureau of Homeowner Protection notice January 2026New Jersey Department of Community AffairsChecked November 5, 2026
- N.J.A.C. 5:25 Regulations Governing New Home Warranties and Builders' RegistrationNew Jersey Department of Community AffairsDated June 19, 2023Checked November 5, 2026
- Contractors & Permit ProcessorsCity of Jersey CityChecked November 5, 2026