NYC HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR LICENSE
EXAMINATION 30 QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
SECTION 1 — HOME IMPROVEMENT BUSINESS LAW
1. What city agency issues the NYC Home Improvement Contractor
license?
A. Department of Buildings (DOB)
B. Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
C. Department of Transportation (DOT)
D. Department of Finance (DOF)
Answer: B
Solution: DCWP issues Home Improvement Contractor licenses in New
York City. DOB has separate responsibilities for construction permits and
other building-related requirements.
2. Which activity generally falls within the definition of home
improvement?
A. Construction of a new commercial skyscraper
B. Remodeling a residential kitchen
C. Sale of unused building materials with no installation
D. Professional engineering services only
Answer: B
Solution: Remodeling or improving a residence is home improvement.
The official guide includes construction, repair, replacement,
,remodeling, alteration, renovation, modernization, and additions to
residential property.
3. Which of the following is specifically included as home
improvement?
A. Driveway improvement
B. New commercial building construction
C. Sale of uninstalled materials only
D. Professional architectural services only
Answer: A
Solution: The definition includes improvements such as driveways,
fences, garages, landscaping, patios, porches, sidewalks, pools, and
terraces.
4. Which is generally NOT considered home improvement under the
DCWP examination guide?
A. Residential basement remodeling
B. Residential fence installation
C. Construction of a new home
D. Residential patio improvement
Answer: C
Solution: Construction of a new home or building is excluded from the
guide's definition of home improvement.
5. A contractor installs central air conditioning in a residence. This
work is generally:
A. Home improvement
B. Commercial construction only
,C. Exempt because HVAC is never home improvement
D. Only architectural work
Answer: A
Solution: The DCWP guide specifically identifies central heating/air-
conditioning installation as home improvement.
6. A contractor installs a central vacuum system in a residence. How is
this generally classified?
A. Home improvement
B. New construction only
C. No construction activity
D. Commercial-only work
Answer: A
Solution: Installation of a central vacuum cleaning system is specifically
identified as home improvement.
7. Which statement best describes a contractor under the NYC Home
Improvement Business Law?
A. Only the owner of a construction company
B. Anyone who performs, undertakes, controls, or solicits qualifying
home improvement work
C. Only a licensed architect
D. Only a person who performs electrical work
Answer: B
Solution: The definition is broad and includes people or businesses that
own, operate, control, transact, undertake, agree to perform, or solicit
home improvement work.
, 8. A person solicits a home improvement contract in NYC. Must that
person generally be covered by the contractor licensing requirements?
A. Yes
B. No, because solicitation is never regulated
C. Only if the customer pays cash
D. Only for commercial properties
Answer: A
Solution: The guide states that persons who solicit, canvass, sell,
perform, or obtain a home improvement contract as contractors must
have the required DCWP license.
9. A home improvement employee works for a licensed contractor.
Does the employee individually need a separate DCWP contractor
license merely because the employee performs the work?
A. Yes, always
B. No, an individual employee working for the contractor is generally
exempt from the separate contractor license requirement
C. Only if paid hourly
D. Only if working outdoors
Answer: B
Solution: The official guide distinguishes employees from
independently operating contractors. Employees working for the
contractor do not need their own DCWP Home Improvement
Contractor license.
EXAMINATION 30 QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
SECTION 1 — HOME IMPROVEMENT BUSINESS LAW
1. What city agency issues the NYC Home Improvement Contractor
license?
A. Department of Buildings (DOB)
B. Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
C. Department of Transportation (DOT)
D. Department of Finance (DOF)
Answer: B
Solution: DCWP issues Home Improvement Contractor licenses in New
York City. DOB has separate responsibilities for construction permits and
other building-related requirements.
2. Which activity generally falls within the definition of home
improvement?
A. Construction of a new commercial skyscraper
B. Remodeling a residential kitchen
C. Sale of unused building materials with no installation
D. Professional engineering services only
Answer: B
Solution: Remodeling or improving a residence is home improvement.
The official guide includes construction, repair, replacement,
,remodeling, alteration, renovation, modernization, and additions to
residential property.
3. Which of the following is specifically included as home
improvement?
A. Driveway improvement
B. New commercial building construction
C. Sale of uninstalled materials only
D. Professional architectural services only
Answer: A
Solution: The definition includes improvements such as driveways,
fences, garages, landscaping, patios, porches, sidewalks, pools, and
terraces.
4. Which is generally NOT considered home improvement under the
DCWP examination guide?
A. Residential basement remodeling
B. Residential fence installation
C. Construction of a new home
D. Residential patio improvement
Answer: C
Solution: Construction of a new home or building is excluded from the
guide's definition of home improvement.
5. A contractor installs central air conditioning in a residence. This
work is generally:
A. Home improvement
B. Commercial construction only
,C. Exempt because HVAC is never home improvement
D. Only architectural work
Answer: A
Solution: The DCWP guide specifically identifies central heating/air-
conditioning installation as home improvement.
6. A contractor installs a central vacuum system in a residence. How is
this generally classified?
A. Home improvement
B. New construction only
C. No construction activity
D. Commercial-only work
Answer: A
Solution: Installation of a central vacuum cleaning system is specifically
identified as home improvement.
7. Which statement best describes a contractor under the NYC Home
Improvement Business Law?
A. Only the owner of a construction company
B. Anyone who performs, undertakes, controls, or solicits qualifying
home improvement work
C. Only a licensed architect
D. Only a person who performs electrical work
Answer: B
Solution: The definition is broad and includes people or businesses that
own, operate, control, transact, undertake, agree to perform, or solicit
home improvement work.
, 8. A person solicits a home improvement contract in NYC. Must that
person generally be covered by the contractor licensing requirements?
A. Yes
B. No, because solicitation is never regulated
C. Only if the customer pays cash
D. Only for commercial properties
Answer: A
Solution: The guide states that persons who solicit, canvass, sell,
perform, or obtain a home improvement contract as contractors must
have the required DCWP license.
9. A home improvement employee works for a licensed contractor.
Does the employee individually need a separate DCWP contractor
license merely because the employee performs the work?
A. Yes, always
B. No, an individual employee working for the contractor is generally
exempt from the separate contractor license requirement
C. Only if paid hourly
D. Only if working outdoors
Answer: B
Solution: The official guide distinguishes employees from
independently operating contractors. Employees working for the
contractor do not need their own DCWP Home Improvement
Contractor license.
