New Jersey contractor license lookup: how to check and get a license
New Jersey contractor license lookup: who issues home improvement contractor licenses (New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Regulated Business Section (Home Improvement Contractor Business registration); individual licensing by the new State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors is pending), how to check one online, the license types, and 4,300 residential remodelers by county.
Do home improvement contractors need a license in New Jersey?
| Who licenses them | New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Regulated Business Section (Home Improvement Contractor Business registration); individual licensing by the new State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors is pending |
|---|---|
| License types | Home Improvement Contractor Business registration (13VH number), Home Elevation Contractor Business registration |
| When a license is required | Registration required for any home improvement business regardless of job size; written, signed contract required for jobs over $500, with a 3-business-day cancellation right; $500,000 general liability insurance required |
Today this is a business registration, not a competency license. A 2024 law (P.L.2023, c.237) adds individual contractor licensing that starts six months after the new Board adopts rules; that start date was not confirmed. Contracts over $500 must show the registration number and insurance certificate.
How do you look up a home improvement contractor's license in New Jersey?
- Ask the home improvement contractor for the license number and the exact business name on the license.
- Open the New Jersey contractor license lookup run by New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Regulated Business Section (Home Improvement Contractor Business registration); individual licensing by the new State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors is pending.
- Search by license number first. A name search can return several people or companies with similar names.
- Check that the status is active or current, that the license type covers your job, and that the name matches the company on your contract.
- If something doesn't match, ask the home improvement contractor about it before you sign or pay a deposit, or contact New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Regulated Business Section (Home Improvement Contractor Business registration); individual licensing by the new State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors is pending.
What contractor licenses does New Jersey issue?
- Home Improvement Contractor Business registration (13VH number)
- Home Elevation Contractor Business registration
How do you get a contractor license in New Jersey?
Licenses are issued by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Regulated Business Section (Home Improvement Contractor Business registration); individual licensing by the new State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors is pending. Requirements such as experience, exams, insurance and fees change, so read the current rules on the official New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Regulated Business Section (Home Improvement Contractor Business registration); individual licensing by the new State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors is pending source before you apply. Already licensed? List your business on Expert Helper to get matched with customers.
How many home improvement contractors are there in New Jersey?
The Census Bureau counted 4,300 residential remodelers with employees in New Jersey in 2023. The counties with the most:
| Bergen County | 526 |
|---|---|
| Essex County | 405 |
| Monmouth County | 378 |
| Ocean County | 351 |
| Union County | 317 |
| Morris County | 311 |
| Middlesex County | 264 |
| Passaic County | 249 |
What do New Jersey homes mean for home improvement work?
The median home in New Jersey was built in 1969, 36% of households rent and 63% of homes are single-family houses. 73% of homes heat with utility gas and 16% with electricity, and 7% with fuel oil.
How do you choose a home improvement contractor in New Jersey?
- Check the contractor's license with the state or city. Many places require a home improvement license for residential work over a few hundred dollars.
- Get a written contract with the scope, materials, schedule, total price and payment schedule. Don't pay most of it upfront.
- Ask who pulls the permits. If the contractor suggests skipping a permit that the job needs, find another contractor.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and make sure the policy is current.
- Ask for two or three recent jobs like yours that you can see or call about.
Home Improvement Contractors in other states
Sources: New Jersey licensing agency (linked above); US Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 and ACS 2023 5-year estimates.