DOB - ANSWER Department of Buildings
DCA - ANSWER Department of Consumer Affairs
DOT - ANSWER Department of Transportation
What is home improvement? - ANSWER The construction,repair, replacement, remod-
leing, alteration, comversion, rehabilitation, renovation, modernization, improvement, or ad-
dition to any land or building or any part of the land or building used or designed to be used
as a residence or dwelling place, including basements, driveways, fences, garages, landscap-
ing, patios, porches, sidewalks, swimming pools, and terraces.
What does home improvement include? - ANSWER -Central heating/air conditioning
- Central vacuum cleaning system
-Storm windows
-Awnings
-Communication systems
What is NOT home improvement? - ANSWER -Construction of a new home or building
- Sale of goods or materials in connection with the installation of or application of
goods or materials
-Work performed on a residence owned or controlled by the state or municipality
- Painting or decoration of a building, residence, home, or apartment, when not
related to home improvement work
1
, Who is a "salesperson"? - ANSWER A salesperson is someone who negotiates a home im-
provement contract with a consumer or tenant, or solicits a home improvement contract
from an owner or tenant.
Who is a contractor? - ANSWER A contractor is anyone who owns, operates, maintains,
conducts, controls, or transacts a home improvement business and undertakes or agrees to
perform any home improvement, whether or not the contractor is a prime contractor or
subcontractor with respect to the owner.
What is a home improvement contract? - ANSWER A "home improvement contract" is an
agreement, whether or not in writing, between a contractor and a consumer or tenant for
performance of a home improvement and includes all labor, services, and materials to be
furnished and performed.
Who must have a DCA license? - ANSWER Any person who solicits, canvasses, sells, per-
forms, or obtains a home improvement contract as a contractor or salesperson must have a
DCA license.
Where must I post my HIC license? - ANSWER You must post your license in your office
where all consumers can see it or show it to consumers upon request.
Within how many days must you notify DCA of any change? - ANSWER Within 10 days.
How does a person Obtain a license or renew a license? - ANSWER You must submit an
application to DCA for a new or renewed license a separate home-improvement contractor
license is required for each place of business.
Must a contractor furnish a consumer with a written estimate? - ANSWER Yes if the con-
sumer request one you can charge a fee for the estimate but you must disclose the fee to
the consumer before you provide the estimate and you must include an itemize the fee in
the total estimated contract price
2
DCA - ANSWER Department of Consumer Affairs
DOT - ANSWER Department of Transportation
What is home improvement? - ANSWER The construction,repair, replacement, remod-
leing, alteration, comversion, rehabilitation, renovation, modernization, improvement, or ad-
dition to any land or building or any part of the land or building used or designed to be used
as a residence or dwelling place, including basements, driveways, fences, garages, landscap-
ing, patios, porches, sidewalks, swimming pools, and terraces.
What does home improvement include? - ANSWER -Central heating/air conditioning
- Central vacuum cleaning system
-Storm windows
-Awnings
-Communication systems
What is NOT home improvement? - ANSWER -Construction of a new home or building
- Sale of goods or materials in connection with the installation of or application of
goods or materials
-Work performed on a residence owned or controlled by the state or municipality
- Painting or decoration of a building, residence, home, or apartment, when not
related to home improvement work
1
, Who is a "salesperson"? - ANSWER A salesperson is someone who negotiates a home im-
provement contract with a consumer or tenant, or solicits a home improvement contract
from an owner or tenant.
Who is a contractor? - ANSWER A contractor is anyone who owns, operates, maintains,
conducts, controls, or transacts a home improvement business and undertakes or agrees to
perform any home improvement, whether or not the contractor is a prime contractor or
subcontractor with respect to the owner.
What is a home improvement contract? - ANSWER A "home improvement contract" is an
agreement, whether or not in writing, between a contractor and a consumer or tenant for
performance of a home improvement and includes all labor, services, and materials to be
furnished and performed.
Who must have a DCA license? - ANSWER Any person who solicits, canvasses, sells, per-
forms, or obtains a home improvement contract as a contractor or salesperson must have a
DCA license.
Where must I post my HIC license? - ANSWER You must post your license in your office
where all consumers can see it or show it to consumers upon request.
Within how many days must you notify DCA of any change? - ANSWER Within 10 days.
How does a person Obtain a license or renew a license? - ANSWER You must submit an
application to DCA for a new or renewed license a separate home-improvement contractor
license is required for each place of business.
Must a contractor furnish a consumer with a written estimate? - ANSWER Yes if the con-
sumer request one you can charge a fee for the estimate but you must disclose the fee to
the consumer before you provide the estimate and you must include an itemize the fee in
the total estimated contract price
2
