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NYC Home Improvement Contractor License Exam Practice Questions with Verified
Answers & Rationales (2026)
Section 1: Basics of the City's Home Improvement Business Law
Question 1: Which NYC agency is primarily responsible for issuing Home Improvement
Contractor (HIC) licenses?
A) Department of Buildings (DOB)
B) Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
C) Department of Transportation (DOT)
D) Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Answer: B — The DCWP, formerly known as the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), is
the agency that licenses home improvement contractors and enforces the Home
Improvement Contractor law.
Question 2: What does DOB stand for in NYC construction regulation?
A) Department of Business
B) Department of Bridges
C) Department of Buildings
D) Department of Operations
Answer: C — DOB is the Department of Buildings, which oversees construction permits,
inspections, and code enforcement in New York City. It does not issue HIC licenses.
Question 3: What does DOT stand for?
A) Department of Transportation
B) Department of Traffic
C) Department of Technical Operations
D) Design and Oversight Team
Answer: A — DOT is the Department of Transportation. Contractors must obtain permits
from DOT for work affecting sidewalks, curbs, or streets (e.g., dumpster placement).
Question 4: What does LPC stand for?
A) Landmarks Preservation Commission
B) Licensing and Permits Committee
C) Local Property Council
D) Labor and Professional Compliance
Answer: A — The Landmarks Preservation Commission reviews and approves work on
landmark properties. Contractors must obtain LPC approval before performing work on
designated landmarks.
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Question 5: Which agency issues permits for work affecting sidewalks, curbs, or streets?
A) DOB
B) DCWP
C) DOT
D) DEP
Answer: C — The Department of Transportation (DOT) issues permits for work affecting
sidewalks, curbs, or streets, including dumpster placement.
Question 6: Which agency oversees construction permits and inspections in NYC?
A) DCWP
B) DOB
C) DOT
D) NYPD
Answer: B — The Department of Buildings (DOB) oversees construction permits,
inspections, and code enforcement.
Question 7: A contractor is working on a landmark building. Which agency must approve the
work?
A) DOB
B) DCWP
C) LPC
D) DOT
Answer: C — The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) must approve work on
landmark buildings.
Question 8: What is the definition of "home improvement" under NYC law?
A) Only new construction
B) Construction, repair, replacement, installation, or improvement of residential property
C) Only commercial work
D) Only plumbing work
Answer: B — Home improvement is broadly defined as the construction, repair,
replacement, installation, or improvement of residential property.
Question 9: Which of the following is NOT considered home improvement?
A) Building a new home
B) Installing central heating
C) Installing storm windows
D) Landscaping a yard
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Answer: A — Building a new home or building is not considered home improvement.
Examples of what is NOT home improvement include: construction of a new home or
building; sale of goods where the seller does not arrange installation; work on government-
owned housing; and painting or decorating without other home improvement services.
Question 10: Who must have a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license?
A) Only general contractors
B) Only subcontractors
C) Any person who solicits, sells, performs, or obtains a home improvement contract as a
contractor
D) Only businesses with more than 5 employees
Answer: C — Any person who solicits a home improvement contract, or sells, performs, or
obtains a home improvement contract as a contractor must have a DCWP license.
Question 11: Which of the following does NOT require a DCWP license?
A) A salesperson employed by a contractor
B) A person performing home improvement work under $200
C) A subcontractor
D) A general contractor
Answer: B — A person performing home improvement work that is less than $200 does not
require a DCWP license. Other exemptions include employees of contractors and licensed
plumbers/electricians working within their licensed trade.
Question 12: What is the minimum number of questions on the HIC exam?
A) 50
B) 30
C) 40
D) 25
Answer: B — The exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions.
Question 13: What is the passing score for the HIC exam?
A) 70% (21 correct answers)
B) 75% (23 correct answers)
C) 80% (24 correct answers)
D) 65% (20 correct answers)
Answer: A — To pass the exam, you must correctly answer no fewer than 21 questions
(70%).
Question 14: How many attempts do you have to pass the HIC exam before needing to pay
the fee again?
NYC Home Improvement Contractor License Exam Practice Questions with Verified
Answers & Rationales (2026)
Section 1: Basics of the City's Home Improvement Business Law
Question 1: Which NYC agency is primarily responsible for issuing Home Improvement
Contractor (HIC) licenses?
A) Department of Buildings (DOB)
B) Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
C) Department of Transportation (DOT)
D) Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Answer: B — The DCWP, formerly known as the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), is
the agency that licenses home improvement contractors and enforces the Home
Improvement Contractor law.
Question 2: What does DOB stand for in NYC construction regulation?
A) Department of Business
B) Department of Bridges
C) Department of Buildings
D) Department of Operations
Answer: C — DOB is the Department of Buildings, which oversees construction permits,
inspections, and code enforcement in New York City. It does not issue HIC licenses.
Question 3: What does DOT stand for?
A) Department of Transportation
B) Department of Traffic
C) Department of Technical Operations
D) Design and Oversight Team
Answer: A — DOT is the Department of Transportation. Contractors must obtain permits
from DOT for work affecting sidewalks, curbs, or streets (e.g., dumpster placement).
Question 4: What does LPC stand for?
A) Landmarks Preservation Commission
B) Licensing and Permits Committee
C) Local Property Council
D) Labor and Professional Compliance
Answer: A — The Landmarks Preservation Commission reviews and approves work on
landmark properties. Contractors must obtain LPC approval before performing work on
designated landmarks.
, 2
Question 5: Which agency issues permits for work affecting sidewalks, curbs, or streets?
A) DOB
B) DCWP
C) DOT
D) DEP
Answer: C — The Department of Transportation (DOT) issues permits for work affecting
sidewalks, curbs, or streets, including dumpster placement.
Question 6: Which agency oversees construction permits and inspections in NYC?
A) DCWP
B) DOB
C) DOT
D) NYPD
Answer: B — The Department of Buildings (DOB) oversees construction permits,
inspections, and code enforcement.
Question 7: A contractor is working on a landmark building. Which agency must approve the
work?
A) DOB
B) DCWP
C) LPC
D) DOT
Answer: C — The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) must approve work on
landmark buildings.
Question 8: What is the definition of "home improvement" under NYC law?
A) Only new construction
B) Construction, repair, replacement, installation, or improvement of residential property
C) Only commercial work
D) Only plumbing work
Answer: B — Home improvement is broadly defined as the construction, repair,
replacement, installation, or improvement of residential property.
Question 9: Which of the following is NOT considered home improvement?
A) Building a new home
B) Installing central heating
C) Installing storm windows
D) Landscaping a yard
, 3
Answer: A — Building a new home or building is not considered home improvement.
Examples of what is NOT home improvement include: construction of a new home or
building; sale of goods where the seller does not arrange installation; work on government-
owned housing; and painting or decorating without other home improvement services.
Question 10: Who must have a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license?
A) Only general contractors
B) Only subcontractors
C) Any person who solicits, sells, performs, or obtains a home improvement contract as a
contractor
D) Only businesses with more than 5 employees
Answer: C — Any person who solicits a home improvement contract, or sells, performs, or
obtains a home improvement contract as a contractor must have a DCWP license.
Question 11: Which of the following does NOT require a DCWP license?
A) A salesperson employed by a contractor
B) A person performing home improvement work under $200
C) A subcontractor
D) A general contractor
Answer: B — A person performing home improvement work that is less than $200 does not
require a DCWP license. Other exemptions include employees of contractors and licensed
plumbers/electricians working within their licensed trade.
Question 12: What is the minimum number of questions on the HIC exam?
A) 50
B) 30
C) 40
D) 25
Answer: B — The exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions.
Question 13: What is the passing score for the HIC exam?
A) 70% (21 correct answers)
B) 75% (23 correct answers)
C) 80% (24 correct answers)
D) 65% (20 correct answers)
Answer: A — To pass the exam, you must correctly answer no fewer than 21 questions
(70%).
Question 14: How many attempts do you have to pass the HIC exam before needing to pay
the fee again?
