NYC Home Improvement Contractor
Practice Exam 2026| 250 Most Tested
Questions Collection & Verified
Detailed Answers | Tutor Verified
Success Exam) Graded A+
1. What NYC agency issues the Home Improvement Contractor
(HIC) License?
A. Department of Buildings
B. Department of Labor
C. Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
D. Department of State
Rationale: DCWP issues NYC Home Improvement Contractor licenses,
although DOB may have additional registration or permit
requirements for particular work.
2. Generally, when is an NYC HIC license required?
A. For every construction project regardless of cost
B. Only for commercial construction
C. For home improvement work costing more than $200 on
residential property
D. Only when the project exceeds $10,000
Rationale: NYC requires an HIC license for home improvement work
costing more than $200 on residential land or buildings.
3. Which activity is generally considered home improvement work?
A. Manufacturing construction equipment
B. Remodeling a residential kitchen
,C. Operating a commercial office
D. Selling building materials without performing contracting work
Rationale: Remodeling residential property is within the scope of
home improvement work.
4. Which agency's license is specifically identified as the NYC Home
Improvement Contractor license?
A. DOB
B. FDNY
C. DCWP
D. DEP
Rationale: The HIC license is issued by DCWP.
5. Which of the following can be included in NYC home
improvement work?
A. Driveways
B. Fences
C. Patios
D. All of the above
Rationale: NYC identifies driveways, fences, patios, garages,
landscaping, porches, sidewalks, pools, and similar improvements as
examples of home improvement work.
6. A contractor performs residential basement remodeling. Which
statement is most accurate?
A. HIC licensing can never apply to basements
B. Only a federal license is required
C. The work may require an NYC HIC license and applicable DOB
requirements
D. No license or permit can ever apply
Rationale: Basement and cellar improvements are specifically
included among examples of residential home improvement work.
,7. Under NYC law, who may be considered an "owner" for home
improvement purposes?
A. Only a fee-simple homeowner
B. Only a landlord
C. Certain homeowners, cooperative shareholders, condominium
unit owners, tenants, and others entitled to the work
D. Only a building superintendent
Rationale: NYC's definition of owner is broader than simply a fee-
simple homeowner.
8. A tenant hires a contractor to remodel the tenant's apartment.
Can the tenant be an "owner" for purposes of the home
improvement law?
A. No
B. Only if the tenant owns the building
C. Yes
D. Only if the tenant has lived there for five years
Rationale: NYC's definition includes tenants who order, contract for,
or purchase home improvement services for their dwelling unit.
9. What is a home improvement contract?
A. Only an oral promise
B. Only a purchase order for materials
C. An agreement between contractor and owner/tenant for home
improvement services, including labor, services, and materials
D. A building permit
Rationale: NYC law defines a home improvement contract broadly
and includes labor, services, and materials.
10. May an HIC license be treated as authorization to perform work
reserved to another specially licensed trade?
, A. Yes
B. No
C. Only if the contractor has insurance
D. Only for projects under $10,000
Rationale: An HIC license does not authorize work that separate state
or local law reserves to specially qualified licensees.
11. Which trade is commonly subject to separate licensing
requirements?
A. Plumbing
B. Electrical work
C. Both A and B
D. Both A and B
Rationale: HIC licensing does not replace separate licensing
requirements for regulated trades.
12. A contractor has an HIC license but no required electrical
license. May the HIC license alone authorize purely electrical work?
A. Yes
B. Yes, if the customer signs a waiver
C. No
D. Yes, if the job is under $5,000
Rationale: An HIC license does not substitute for separate electrical
licensing requirements.
13. Which statement best describes an HIC license?
A. It authorizes every type of construction
B. It replaces all DOB requirements
C. It authorizes the licensed home improvement business within
the limits of applicable law
D. It authorizes professional architectural services
Practice Exam 2026| 250 Most Tested
Questions Collection & Verified
Detailed Answers | Tutor Verified
Success Exam) Graded A+
1. What NYC agency issues the Home Improvement Contractor
(HIC) License?
A. Department of Buildings
B. Department of Labor
C. Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
D. Department of State
Rationale: DCWP issues NYC Home Improvement Contractor licenses,
although DOB may have additional registration or permit
requirements for particular work.
2. Generally, when is an NYC HIC license required?
A. For every construction project regardless of cost
B. Only for commercial construction
C. For home improvement work costing more than $200 on
residential property
D. Only when the project exceeds $10,000
Rationale: NYC requires an HIC license for home improvement work
costing more than $200 on residential land or buildings.
3. Which activity is generally considered home improvement work?
A. Manufacturing construction equipment
B. Remodeling a residential kitchen
,C. Operating a commercial office
D. Selling building materials without performing contracting work
Rationale: Remodeling residential property is within the scope of
home improvement work.
4. Which agency's license is specifically identified as the NYC Home
Improvement Contractor license?
A. DOB
B. FDNY
C. DCWP
D. DEP
Rationale: The HIC license is issued by DCWP.
5. Which of the following can be included in NYC home
improvement work?
A. Driveways
B. Fences
C. Patios
D. All of the above
Rationale: NYC identifies driveways, fences, patios, garages,
landscaping, porches, sidewalks, pools, and similar improvements as
examples of home improvement work.
6. A contractor performs residential basement remodeling. Which
statement is most accurate?
A. HIC licensing can never apply to basements
B. Only a federal license is required
C. The work may require an NYC HIC license and applicable DOB
requirements
D. No license or permit can ever apply
Rationale: Basement and cellar improvements are specifically
included among examples of residential home improvement work.
,7. Under NYC law, who may be considered an "owner" for home
improvement purposes?
A. Only a fee-simple homeowner
B. Only a landlord
C. Certain homeowners, cooperative shareholders, condominium
unit owners, tenants, and others entitled to the work
D. Only a building superintendent
Rationale: NYC's definition of owner is broader than simply a fee-
simple homeowner.
8. A tenant hires a contractor to remodel the tenant's apartment.
Can the tenant be an "owner" for purposes of the home
improvement law?
A. No
B. Only if the tenant owns the building
C. Yes
D. Only if the tenant has lived there for five years
Rationale: NYC's definition includes tenants who order, contract for,
or purchase home improvement services for their dwelling unit.
9. What is a home improvement contract?
A. Only an oral promise
B. Only a purchase order for materials
C. An agreement between contractor and owner/tenant for home
improvement services, including labor, services, and materials
D. A building permit
Rationale: NYC law defines a home improvement contract broadly
and includes labor, services, and materials.
10. May an HIC license be treated as authorization to perform work
reserved to another specially licensed trade?
, A. Yes
B. No
C. Only if the contractor has insurance
D. Only for projects under $10,000
Rationale: An HIC license does not authorize work that separate state
or local law reserves to specially qualified licensees.
11. Which trade is commonly subject to separate licensing
requirements?
A. Plumbing
B. Electrical work
C. Both A and B
D. Both A and B
Rationale: HIC licensing does not replace separate licensing
requirements for regulated trades.
12. A contractor has an HIC license but no required electrical
license. May the HIC license alone authorize purely electrical work?
A. Yes
B. Yes, if the customer signs a waiver
C. No
D. Yes, if the job is under $5,000
Rationale: An HIC license does not substitute for separate electrical
licensing requirements.
13. Which statement best describes an HIC license?
A. It authorizes every type of construction
B. It replaces all DOB requirements
C. It authorizes the licensed home improvement business within
the limits of applicable law
D. It authorizes professional architectural services
