SUFFOLK COUNTY HOME IMPROVEMENT 2026/2027 LICENSING LAW EXAM
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS — COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION
Q1. What is the primary purpose of Suffolk County Chapter 563?
Answer: To protect the health, safety, and general welfare of consumers by
licensing persons engaged in home improvement contracting and other
regulated occupations.
Q2. Who adopted Suffolk County Chapter 563 (Licensed Occupations)?
Answer: The Suffolk County Legislature, originally adopted July 9, 1974 by
Local Law No. 21-1974.
Q3. What does the term 'business' include under §563?
Answer: It includes any occupation, profession, trade, craft, or any other
calling for hire.
Q4. Who is defined as the 'Director' under Chapter 563?
Answer: The Commissioner of the Department of Labor, Licensing and
Consumer Affairs.
Q5. What is a 'consumer' as defined under §563-2?
Answer: An individual who buys or leases, or agrees to buy or lease,
consumer goods or services or credit, including a co-guarantor or surety.
Q6. What are 'consumer goods, services, credit and debts'?
Answer: Those which are primarily for personal, household, or family
purposes.
Q7. What is a 'licensee' under Chapter 563?
Answer: A person permitted to engage in a business licensed pursuant to the
appropriate article of Chapter 563.
Q8. How is 'person' defined in Chapter 563?
Answer: It includes the definition in §37 of the General Construction Law of
New York, as well as an individual, partnership, or other entity.
,Q9. What is a 'temporary license'?
Answer: A license issued to a person for a period of time to perform work
under conditions specified by the Director, provided the holder pays the
required license fee.
Q10. What is an 'unconscionable trade practice'?
Answer: Any act or practice which unfairly takes advantage of the lack of
knowledge, ability, experience, or capacity of the consumer.
SECTION 2: Licensing Requirements & Exemptions (§563-3, §563-4)
Q11. Is it lawful to engage in home improvement contracting without a
license?
Answer: No. It is unlawful for any person (except those specifically exempt) to
engage in any regulated business in Suffolk County without obtaining a
license from the Office.
Q12. Does a Suffolk County home improvement license authorize all types
of work?
Answer: No. A license does not authorize work reserved for qualified
licensees under separate state or local law.
Q13. Are employees of federal, state, or local government required to
obtain a license?
Answer: No. Government employees performing work on behalf of a
government entity or public authority are exempt.
Q14. Are property owners who do work on their own homes required to
have a license?
Answer: Generally no, but the exemption only applies to work done by the
owner personally on their own residence, not to work they hire others to
perform.
Q15. Are contractors who only work for new construction (not home
improvement) required to have a Suffolk County home improvement
license?
Answer: Not necessarily — the license is specific to home improvement on
existing residential property; new home construction has its own rules.
Q16. What is a 'Custom Home' under the law?
Answer: A new single-family residence to be constructed on premises owned
of record by the purchaser at the time of contract.
,Q17. Who is exempt from the home improvement licensing requirement
related to public authorities?
Answer: Employees of a state or local authority (as defined in §2 of the NY
Public Authorities Law) performing work on behalf of that government entity.
Q18. What must a person do before engaging in home improvement
contracting in Suffolk County?
Answer: Obtain a valid home improvement contractor license from the Suffolk
County Office of Consumer Affairs (now Department of Labor, Licensing and
Consumer Affairs).
Q19. Can a licensed contractor in another county automatically work in
Suffolk County without a Suffolk license?
Answer: No. Having a license in another county does not automatically
exempt a contractor from Suffolk County's licensing requirements.
Q20. What types of work are included in the definition of 'home
improvement'?
Answer: Repair, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization,
improvement, or addition to residential property — including painting,
carpentry, fencing, driveways, exterminating, flooring, masonry, roofing,
siding, swimming pools, waterproofing, landscaping, and arboriculture. It
excludes electrical and plumbing work governed by Article XI.
SECTION 3: Application & Qualifications (§563-5, §563-6)
Q21. On what form must all license applications be submitted?
Answer: Applications must be submitted in writing on forms furnished by the
Office of Consumer Affairs.
Q22. What fee must accompany each application for a home improvement
contracting license?
Answer: A nonrefundable application fee of $200.
Q23. Who must sign the license application under oath?
Answer: An actual owner or partner of the business. If a corporation is
involved, an officer of the corporation must sign under oath.
Q24. Must all applications include the residence address of the individual
signing?
Answer: Yes. All applications must include the residence address of the
individual who subscribes their name to the application.
, Q25. What is the minimum insurance requirement for a home improvement
contractor in Suffolk County?
Answer: A certificate of public liability and property damage insurance of at
least $500,000 per occurrence combined single limit.
Q26. What is the maximum surety bond a contractor can be required to
post?
Answer: Up to $100,000, as set by the Director.
Q27. What additional insurance is required for home raising/elevating
services?
Answer: A minimum of $500,000 per occurrence including bodily injury,
property damage, and a riggers liability extension endorsement or similar
endorsement.
Q28. What topics must an applicant demonstrate knowledge of to obtain a
license?
Answer: Knowledge of Suffolk County's licensing law, consumer protection
laws, contract requirements, insurance obligations, and the extent of liability
and risks they assume.
Q29. Can a licensee use their license for more than one entity?
Answer: Yes, with a supplementary license, provided the licensee holds more
than a 50% interest in each additional entity.
Q30. How can a licensee temporarily suspend their license?
Answer: By applying to 'shelve' (inactivate) the license for up to three years,
paying a $50 fee per annual period of inactivity.
Q31. What must accompany an application for a supplementary license?
Answer: Evidence satisfactory to the Director showing the licensee holds
more than a 50% interest in each additional entity.
Q32. What exam is required for a Suffolk County Home Improvement
Contractor license?
Answer: A written exam based on the Home Improvement Law (Chapter 563,
Articles I & II) and Article 36-A of the NY General Business Law.
Q33. How many questions are on the Suffolk County Home Improvement
exam?
Answer: 25 questions in true/false and multiple-choice format.
Q34. What format are the exam questions in?
Answer: True/false and multiple-choice format.
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS — COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION
Q1. What is the primary purpose of Suffolk County Chapter 563?
Answer: To protect the health, safety, and general welfare of consumers by
licensing persons engaged in home improvement contracting and other
regulated occupations.
Q2. Who adopted Suffolk County Chapter 563 (Licensed Occupations)?
Answer: The Suffolk County Legislature, originally adopted July 9, 1974 by
Local Law No. 21-1974.
Q3. What does the term 'business' include under §563?
Answer: It includes any occupation, profession, trade, craft, or any other
calling for hire.
Q4. Who is defined as the 'Director' under Chapter 563?
Answer: The Commissioner of the Department of Labor, Licensing and
Consumer Affairs.
Q5. What is a 'consumer' as defined under §563-2?
Answer: An individual who buys or leases, or agrees to buy or lease,
consumer goods or services or credit, including a co-guarantor or surety.
Q6. What are 'consumer goods, services, credit and debts'?
Answer: Those which are primarily for personal, household, or family
purposes.
Q7. What is a 'licensee' under Chapter 563?
Answer: A person permitted to engage in a business licensed pursuant to the
appropriate article of Chapter 563.
Q8. How is 'person' defined in Chapter 563?
Answer: It includes the definition in §37 of the General Construction Law of
New York, as well as an individual, partnership, or other entity.
,Q9. What is a 'temporary license'?
Answer: A license issued to a person for a period of time to perform work
under conditions specified by the Director, provided the holder pays the
required license fee.
Q10. What is an 'unconscionable trade practice'?
Answer: Any act or practice which unfairly takes advantage of the lack of
knowledge, ability, experience, or capacity of the consumer.
SECTION 2: Licensing Requirements & Exemptions (§563-3, §563-4)
Q11. Is it lawful to engage in home improvement contracting without a
license?
Answer: No. It is unlawful for any person (except those specifically exempt) to
engage in any regulated business in Suffolk County without obtaining a
license from the Office.
Q12. Does a Suffolk County home improvement license authorize all types
of work?
Answer: No. A license does not authorize work reserved for qualified
licensees under separate state or local law.
Q13. Are employees of federal, state, or local government required to
obtain a license?
Answer: No. Government employees performing work on behalf of a
government entity or public authority are exempt.
Q14. Are property owners who do work on their own homes required to
have a license?
Answer: Generally no, but the exemption only applies to work done by the
owner personally on their own residence, not to work they hire others to
perform.
Q15. Are contractors who only work for new construction (not home
improvement) required to have a Suffolk County home improvement
license?
Answer: Not necessarily — the license is specific to home improvement on
existing residential property; new home construction has its own rules.
Q16. What is a 'Custom Home' under the law?
Answer: A new single-family residence to be constructed on premises owned
of record by the purchaser at the time of contract.
,Q17. Who is exempt from the home improvement licensing requirement
related to public authorities?
Answer: Employees of a state or local authority (as defined in §2 of the NY
Public Authorities Law) performing work on behalf of that government entity.
Q18. What must a person do before engaging in home improvement
contracting in Suffolk County?
Answer: Obtain a valid home improvement contractor license from the Suffolk
County Office of Consumer Affairs (now Department of Labor, Licensing and
Consumer Affairs).
Q19. Can a licensed contractor in another county automatically work in
Suffolk County without a Suffolk license?
Answer: No. Having a license in another county does not automatically
exempt a contractor from Suffolk County's licensing requirements.
Q20. What types of work are included in the definition of 'home
improvement'?
Answer: Repair, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization,
improvement, or addition to residential property — including painting,
carpentry, fencing, driveways, exterminating, flooring, masonry, roofing,
siding, swimming pools, waterproofing, landscaping, and arboriculture. It
excludes electrical and plumbing work governed by Article XI.
SECTION 3: Application & Qualifications (§563-5, §563-6)
Q21. On what form must all license applications be submitted?
Answer: Applications must be submitted in writing on forms furnished by the
Office of Consumer Affairs.
Q22. What fee must accompany each application for a home improvement
contracting license?
Answer: A nonrefundable application fee of $200.
Q23. Who must sign the license application under oath?
Answer: An actual owner or partner of the business. If a corporation is
involved, an officer of the corporation must sign under oath.
Q24. Must all applications include the residence address of the individual
signing?
Answer: Yes. All applications must include the residence address of the
individual who subscribes their name to the application.
, Q25. What is the minimum insurance requirement for a home improvement
contractor in Suffolk County?
Answer: A certificate of public liability and property damage insurance of at
least $500,000 per occurrence combined single limit.
Q26. What is the maximum surety bond a contractor can be required to
post?
Answer: Up to $100,000, as set by the Director.
Q27. What additional insurance is required for home raising/elevating
services?
Answer: A minimum of $500,000 per occurrence including bodily injury,
property damage, and a riggers liability extension endorsement or similar
endorsement.
Q28. What topics must an applicant demonstrate knowledge of to obtain a
license?
Answer: Knowledge of Suffolk County's licensing law, consumer protection
laws, contract requirements, insurance obligations, and the extent of liability
and risks they assume.
Q29. Can a licensee use their license for more than one entity?
Answer: Yes, with a supplementary license, provided the licensee holds more
than a 50% interest in each additional entity.
Q30. How can a licensee temporarily suspend their license?
Answer: By applying to 'shelve' (inactivate) the license for up to three years,
paying a $50 fee per annual period of inactivity.
Q31. What must accompany an application for a supplementary license?
Answer: Evidence satisfactory to the Director showing the licensee holds
more than a 50% interest in each additional entity.
Q32. What exam is required for a Suffolk County Home Improvement
Contractor license?
Answer: A written exam based on the Home Improvement Law (Chapter 563,
Articles I & II) and Article 36-A of the NY General Business Law.
Q33. How many questions are on the Suffolk County Home Improvement
exam?
Answer: 25 questions in true/false and multiple-choice format.
Q34. What format are the exam questions in?
Answer: True/false and multiple-choice format.
