NYC Home Improvement EXAM / NYC Home
Improvement Exam Questions and Answers
Latest (Graded 100%).
SECTION 1: NYC Home Improvement Contractor License Law (Administrative Code &
Rules) — 15 Questions
Q1: Under NYC Administrative Code §20-386, which of the following activities is NOT
considered "home improvement"?
A. Installation of a central air conditioning system in a private residence
B. Construction of a new swimming pool in a residential backyard
C. Painting and decorating of an apartment when not incidental to home
improvement work
D. Replacement of a residential driveway
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-386(2) expressly excludes
"painting or decorating of a building, residence, home or apartment, when not
incidental or related to home improvement work" from the definition of home
improvement.
Q2: According to NYC Administrative Code §20-387, who is required to hold a Home
Improvement Contractor license?
A. Only sole proprietors performing home improvement work
B. Any person who solicits, canvasses, sells, performs, or obtains a home
improvement contract as a contractor from an owner
C. Only contractors performing work on buildings with four or more dwelling units
D. Employees of a licensed contractor who perform labor on site
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-387(a) states that no
person shall solicit, canvass, sell, perform, or obtain a home improvement contract as
a contractor from an owner without a license.
,Q3: Which of the following is an exemption from the NYC Home Improvement
Contractor licensing requirement?
A. A subcontractor working under a licensed prime contractor
B. A property owner performing home improvement work on their own residence
C. A handyman performing minor repairs under $200
D. Both B and C
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because property owners performing work on their own homes
are exempt from the licensing requirement; however, the $200 threshold applies to
NYS GBL Article 36-A, not the NYC Administrative Code licensing exemption, and
subcontractors contracting directly with owners still require licensure.
Q4: Under NYC Administrative Code §20-387, a license issued to a home
improvement contractor authorizes the licensee to:
A. Perform any construction work without additional permits
B. Perform home improvement business only; it does not authorize work reserved
for other qualified licensees
C. Act as a general contractor on commercial buildings
D. Perform electrical and plumbing work without separate DOB licenses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-387(b) provides that a
license may not be construed to authorize performance of work reserved to qualified
licensees under separate state or local law provisions.
Q5: How long must a home improvement contractor maintain copies of contracts,
books of account, and other records reflecting all transactions?
A. Three years
B. Four years
C. Six years or the length of any contractual guarantee, whichever is longer
D. Ten years
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Correct because 6 RCNY §2-223 and the DCWP Home Improvement
Examination Guide require contractors to maintain records for six years or the
length of time of any contractual guarantee, whichever is longer.
Q6: A home improvement contractor's license fee in New York City is:
A. $25 per year
B. $50 for the original license and $50 for each renewal
C. $100 for a two-year term
D. $200 for a two-year term
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-388(1) establishes the
license fee at fifty dollars and the renewal fee at fifty dollars.
Q7: Under NYC law, a home improvement contractor license is:
A. Fully transferable to another person upon sale of the business
B. Not assignable and must be posted at the contractor's place of business
C. Valid statewide including Nassau and Suffolk counties
D. Renewable automatically without reapplication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-389 provides that a license
is not assignable and must be posted at the home improvement establishment;
separate licenses are required for each place of business.
Q8: Which of the following persons must be fingerprinted as part of the NYC Home
Improvement Contractor license application?
A. All employees of the contractor
B. Sole proprietors, general partners, corporate officers, principals, directors,
members, and shareholders owning more than 10% of company stock
C. Only the person taking the Home Improvement Exam
D. Subcontractors working for the licensed contractor
Correct Answer: B
Improvement Exam Questions and Answers
Latest (Graded 100%).
SECTION 1: NYC Home Improvement Contractor License Law (Administrative Code &
Rules) — 15 Questions
Q1: Under NYC Administrative Code §20-386, which of the following activities is NOT
considered "home improvement"?
A. Installation of a central air conditioning system in a private residence
B. Construction of a new swimming pool in a residential backyard
C. Painting and decorating of an apartment when not incidental to home
improvement work
D. Replacement of a residential driveway
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-386(2) expressly excludes
"painting or decorating of a building, residence, home or apartment, when not
incidental or related to home improvement work" from the definition of home
improvement.
Q2: According to NYC Administrative Code §20-387, who is required to hold a Home
Improvement Contractor license?
A. Only sole proprietors performing home improvement work
B. Any person who solicits, canvasses, sells, performs, or obtains a home
improvement contract as a contractor from an owner
C. Only contractors performing work on buildings with four or more dwelling units
D. Employees of a licensed contractor who perform labor on site
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-387(a) states that no
person shall solicit, canvass, sell, perform, or obtain a home improvement contract as
a contractor from an owner without a license.
,Q3: Which of the following is an exemption from the NYC Home Improvement
Contractor licensing requirement?
A. A subcontractor working under a licensed prime contractor
B. A property owner performing home improvement work on their own residence
C. A handyman performing minor repairs under $200
D. Both B and C
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because property owners performing work on their own homes
are exempt from the licensing requirement; however, the $200 threshold applies to
NYS GBL Article 36-A, not the NYC Administrative Code licensing exemption, and
subcontractors contracting directly with owners still require licensure.
Q4: Under NYC Administrative Code §20-387, a license issued to a home
improvement contractor authorizes the licensee to:
A. Perform any construction work without additional permits
B. Perform home improvement business only; it does not authorize work reserved
for other qualified licensees
C. Act as a general contractor on commercial buildings
D. Perform electrical and plumbing work without separate DOB licenses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-387(b) provides that a
license may not be construed to authorize performance of work reserved to qualified
licensees under separate state or local law provisions.
Q5: How long must a home improvement contractor maintain copies of contracts,
books of account, and other records reflecting all transactions?
A. Three years
B. Four years
C. Six years or the length of any contractual guarantee, whichever is longer
D. Ten years
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Correct because 6 RCNY §2-223 and the DCWP Home Improvement
Examination Guide require contractors to maintain records for six years or the
length of time of any contractual guarantee, whichever is longer.
Q6: A home improvement contractor's license fee in New York City is:
A. $25 per year
B. $50 for the original license and $50 for each renewal
C. $100 for a two-year term
D. $200 for a two-year term
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-388(1) establishes the
license fee at fifty dollars and the renewal fee at fifty dollars.
Q7: Under NYC law, a home improvement contractor license is:
A. Fully transferable to another person upon sale of the business
B. Not assignable and must be posted at the contractor's place of business
C. Valid statewide including Nassau and Suffolk counties
D. Renewable automatically without reapplication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because NYC Administrative Code §20-389 provides that a license
is not assignable and must be posted at the home improvement establishment;
separate licenses are required for each place of business.
Q8: Which of the following persons must be fingerprinted as part of the NYC Home
Improvement Contractor license application?
A. All employees of the contractor
B. Sole proprietors, general partners, corporate officers, principals, directors,
members, and shareholders owning more than 10% of company stock
C. Only the person taking the Home Improvement Exam
D. Subcontractors working for the licensed contractor
Correct Answer: B
