Suffolk County Home Improvement License/ Suffolk
County Law Regarding Licensed Occupa ons Home
Improvement Test Study Guide| Updated RATED A+ |
2026
563-1
Legisla ve Findings
563-1 Legisla ve Findings
The County Legislature finds and determines that the health, safety and general welfare of the
consumers of Suffolk County will be enhanced if provision is made for the licensing of persons
engaged in home improvement.
563-2 Business
Includes occupa on, profession, trade, cra* or any other calling for hire
563-2 Commissioner or Director
The Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs
563-2 Consumer
An individual who buys or leases or agrees to buy or lease consumer goods or services or credit,
including a co-guarantor or surety.
563-2 Consumer goods, services, credit and debts
Those which are primarily for personal, household or family purposes.
563-2 Contract
An oral or wri-en agreement contained in one or more documents for the performance of work
and includes all labor, goods and services.
563-2 Decep ve Trade Prac ces
Any false, falsely disparaging or misleading oral or wri-en statement, visual descrip on, which
has the capacity, tendency or effect of deceiving or misleading consumers or the consuming
,public and is made in connec on with a contract, prepara on of or performance of a work
es mate or invoice, in the extension of consumer credit, or in the collec on of consumer debts.
563-2 Department or Office
The Department of Consumer Affairs
563-2 Engages
The undertaking, offering to undertake, solicita on or agreement to perform a contract.
563-2 Licensee
A person permi-ed to engage in a business licensed pursuant to the provisions of the
appropriate ar cle of this chapter.
563-2 Person
Includes the defini on contained in sec on 37 of the General Construc on Law of the State of
New York, as well as an individual, partnership or other en ty.
563-2 Temporary License
A license issued to a person for a period of me to perform work in accordance with the
condi ons as specified by the Director, provided that the holder thereof pays the required
license fee.
563-2 Unconscionable Trade Prac ce
Any act or prac ce which unfairly takes advantage of the lack of knowledge, ability, experience,
or capacity of the consumer or which results in a gross disparity between the value received by
a consumer and the price paid by the consumer.
563-3
License Required
563-3 License Required
It is unlawful for any person, other than exempt employees, to engage in any business in the
County regulated by this chapter without obtaining a license therefor from the Office in
accordance with and subject to the provisions of this chapter.
563-4
Exempt employees and opera ons
563-4 Exempt employees and opera ons
, 1. employees of any federal, state or local government.
2. employees of and on behalf of any gas or electric corpora on, waterworks corpora on or
telegraph and telephone corpora on, provided that they are working on behalf of the
corpora on.
3. maintenance work by bona fide employees in an industrial, commercial, ins tu onal or other
such establishment within the building or property limits of the employer.
563-5
Applica on procedure: informa on required; qualifica ons; issuance of license.
563-5 Applica on procedure: informa on required; qualifica ons; issuance of license.
all applica ons for licenses shall be submi-ed in wri ng on forms furnished by the Office and
shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable applica on fee. License applica on shall be filed by
an actual owner or partner of a business and shall be signed under oath. Applica ons shall
include the residence address of applicant. Office shall issue a license or temporary license to
each applicant who has submi-ed sa sfactory evidence of his qualifica ons.
563-6
Term of licenses; renewal; condi ons; display required
563-6 Term of licenses; renewal; condi ons; display required
all licenses, except temporary licenses, shall be for a period of two years from the date of
issuance. no license issued hereunder shall be assignable or transferable. failure to make
applica on and pay the required fee for a license renewal prior to the expira ons date shall
render the license null and void on the expira on date.
563-7
Duplicate and supplementary licenses; fees
563-7 Duplicate and supplementary licenses; fees
duplicate license may be issued for a license which has been lost, destroyed or mu lated, upon
applica on therefor approved by Director and payment of a fee of $25. License shall have the
word "duplicate" stamped across the face. a licensee shall obtain a supplementary license for
each addi onal place of business maintained by such licensee within the County of Suffolk.
Supplementary license shall have the word "supplementary" stamped across the face.
563-8
Effect on validity of contracts
County Law Regarding Licensed Occupa ons Home
Improvement Test Study Guide| Updated RATED A+ |
2026
563-1
Legisla ve Findings
563-1 Legisla ve Findings
The County Legislature finds and determines that the health, safety and general welfare of the
consumers of Suffolk County will be enhanced if provision is made for the licensing of persons
engaged in home improvement.
563-2 Business
Includes occupa on, profession, trade, cra* or any other calling for hire
563-2 Commissioner or Director
The Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs
563-2 Consumer
An individual who buys or leases or agrees to buy or lease consumer goods or services or credit,
including a co-guarantor or surety.
563-2 Consumer goods, services, credit and debts
Those which are primarily for personal, household or family purposes.
563-2 Contract
An oral or wri-en agreement contained in one or more documents for the performance of work
and includes all labor, goods and services.
563-2 Decep ve Trade Prac ces
Any false, falsely disparaging or misleading oral or wri-en statement, visual descrip on, which
has the capacity, tendency or effect of deceiving or misleading consumers or the consuming
,public and is made in connec on with a contract, prepara on of or performance of a work
es mate or invoice, in the extension of consumer credit, or in the collec on of consumer debts.
563-2 Department or Office
The Department of Consumer Affairs
563-2 Engages
The undertaking, offering to undertake, solicita on or agreement to perform a contract.
563-2 Licensee
A person permi-ed to engage in a business licensed pursuant to the provisions of the
appropriate ar cle of this chapter.
563-2 Person
Includes the defini on contained in sec on 37 of the General Construc on Law of the State of
New York, as well as an individual, partnership or other en ty.
563-2 Temporary License
A license issued to a person for a period of me to perform work in accordance with the
condi ons as specified by the Director, provided that the holder thereof pays the required
license fee.
563-2 Unconscionable Trade Prac ce
Any act or prac ce which unfairly takes advantage of the lack of knowledge, ability, experience,
or capacity of the consumer or which results in a gross disparity between the value received by
a consumer and the price paid by the consumer.
563-3
License Required
563-3 License Required
It is unlawful for any person, other than exempt employees, to engage in any business in the
County regulated by this chapter without obtaining a license therefor from the Office in
accordance with and subject to the provisions of this chapter.
563-4
Exempt employees and opera ons
563-4 Exempt employees and opera ons
, 1. employees of any federal, state or local government.
2. employees of and on behalf of any gas or electric corpora on, waterworks corpora on or
telegraph and telephone corpora on, provided that they are working on behalf of the
corpora on.
3. maintenance work by bona fide employees in an industrial, commercial, ins tu onal or other
such establishment within the building or property limits of the employer.
563-5
Applica on procedure: informa on required; qualifica ons; issuance of license.
563-5 Applica on procedure: informa on required; qualifica ons; issuance of license.
all applica ons for licenses shall be submi-ed in wri ng on forms furnished by the Office and
shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable applica on fee. License applica on shall be filed by
an actual owner or partner of a business and shall be signed under oath. Applica ons shall
include the residence address of applicant. Office shall issue a license or temporary license to
each applicant who has submi-ed sa sfactory evidence of his qualifica ons.
563-6
Term of licenses; renewal; condi ons; display required
563-6 Term of licenses; renewal; condi ons; display required
all licenses, except temporary licenses, shall be for a period of two years from the date of
issuance. no license issued hereunder shall be assignable or transferable. failure to make
applica on and pay the required fee for a license renewal prior to the expira ons date shall
render the license null and void on the expira on date.
563-7
Duplicate and supplementary licenses; fees
563-7 Duplicate and supplementary licenses; fees
duplicate license may be issued for a license which has been lost, destroyed or mu lated, upon
applica on therefor approved by Director and payment of a fee of $25. License shall have the
word "duplicate" stamped across the face. a licensee shall obtain a supplementary license for
each addi onal place of business maintained by such licensee within the County of Suffolk.
Supplementary license shall have the word "supplementary" stamped across the face.
563-8
Effect on validity of contracts
