SUFFOLK COUNTY HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR (HIC)
LICENSING EXAM
2026/2027 | 50 QUESTIONS | ACTUAL EXAM SET
VERIFIED ANSWERS | 100% ACCURATE | GRADED A+
Suffolk County Department of Consumer Affairs
New York State General Business Law Article 36-A
Core Domains: Suffolk County Consumer Protection Code Chapter 390, Contract Requirements, Lien Law, Building Codes, Safety
Standards, Business Operations
DOMAIN 1: SUFFOLK COUNTY CONSUMER PROTECTION CODE (CHAPTER 390)
1. Under Suffolk County Code Chapter 390, what is the maximum amount a home improvement contractor
can charge as a down payment before commencing work?
A) 10% of contract price or $1,000, whichever is less
B) B) 10% of contract price or $10,000, whichever is less
C) 25% of contract price
D) 50% of contract price
Chapter 390.12 specifically limits down payments to 10% of contract price or $10,000, whichever is less. This protects
consumers from contractors requiring excessive upfront payments.
2. Which of the following home improvement projects is EXEMPT from Suffolk County Chapter 390
requirements?
A) Kitchen renovation costing $15,000
B) Roof replacement for $8,500
C) C) Emergency repairs under $500 for immediate safety hazards
D) Bathroom remodel for $3,200
Chapter 390.4 provides limited exemptions for emergency repairs under $500 when immediate safety hazards exist,
though written documentation is still recommended.
3. How many days does a Suffolk County homeowner have to cancel a home improvement contract under
the right of rescission?
A) 1 business day
B) B) 3 business days
C) 7 calendar days
D) 30 calendar days
Chapter 390.14 mandates a 3-business-day rescission period for home improvement contracts, during which consumers
can cancel without penalty.
4. What information MUST be included in the Suffolk County Home Improvement Contract heading?
A) Contractor's favorite suppliers
B) B) "SUFFOLK COUNTY HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT" in bold type
C) Contractor's birth date
D) Weather forecast
Chapter 390.10 requires contracts to prominently display "SUFFOLK COUNTY HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT" in
bold type at the top of all agreements.
5. A Suffolk County HIC contract must include which of the following mandatory disclosures?
A) Contractor's political affiliation
B) B) Notice of 3-day right to cancel and mechanics lien rights
C) Favorite restaurant recommendations
D) Employee vacation schedule
Chapter 390.11 mandates specific disclosures including the 3-day cancellation right, mechanics lien information, and
consumer protection notices.
DOMAIN 2: CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS & MANDATORY DISCLOSURES
6. Under NY General Business Law Article 36-A, what is the minimum font size required for home
improvement contracts?
A) 6-point font
B) B) 10-point font
, C) 12-point font
D) 14-point font
Article 36-A requires all contract terms to be in at least 10-point type to ensure readability and prevent fine-print
deception.
7. Which of the following MUST be included in every Suffolk County home improvement contract?
A) Contractor's social security number
B) B) Approximate start and completion dates
C) Employee salary information
D) Supplier profit margins
Chapter 390.11 requires contracts to specify approximate start and completion dates, providing consumers with
reasonable timeline expectations.
8. If a homeowner requests changes during a project, what must the contractor do?
A) Make changes immediately
B) B) Provide written change order with price adjustment before proceeding
C) Complete changes and bill later
D) Refuse all changes
Chapter 390.16 mandates written change orders detailing scope changes and price adjustments before work begins,
protecting both parties.
9. What is the required language for the cancellation notice in Suffolk County contracts?
A) "No refunds available"
B) B) "YOU MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT WITHOUT PENALTY OR OBLIGATION WITHIN THREE
BUSINESS DAYS"
C) "All sales final"
D) "Cancellation not permitted"
Chapter 390.14 specifies exact wording for cancellation notices in bold type, ensuring consumers understand their
rights.
10. A contractor fails to provide a written contract for a $5,000 job. What is the penalty?
A) Warning only
B) B) Violation subject to fines up to $1,000 per offense
C) No penalty for first offense
D) License suspension only
Chapter 390.26 provides for penalties up to $1,000 per violation for failure to provide required written contracts.
DOMAIN 3: LIEN LAW & MECHANICS LIENS
11. Under NY Lien Law Article 3-A, when must a contractor provide a lien waiver to a homeowner?
A) Never required
B) B) Upon full payment of contract price
C) Only for commercial projects
D) Only if requested by supplier
Article 3-A requires contractors to provide lien waivers upon full payment, protecting homeowners from subsequent
mechanics liens.
12. What is the time limit for filing a mechanics lien in New York State?
A) 30 days after completion
B) B) 8 months after completion
C) 2 years after completion
D) 10 years after completion
NY Lien Law §10 establishes an 8-month limitation period for filing mechanics liens, creating certainty for property
owners.
13. A subcontractor can file a mechanics lien against:
A) The contractor's personal residence
B) B) The property where work was performed
C) Any random property
D) Only commercial properties
Mechanics liens attach to the specific property where labor or materials were provided, not personal assets of
contractors.
LICENSING EXAM
2026/2027 | 50 QUESTIONS | ACTUAL EXAM SET
VERIFIED ANSWERS | 100% ACCURATE | GRADED A+
Suffolk County Department of Consumer Affairs
New York State General Business Law Article 36-A
Core Domains: Suffolk County Consumer Protection Code Chapter 390, Contract Requirements, Lien Law, Building Codes, Safety
Standards, Business Operations
DOMAIN 1: SUFFOLK COUNTY CONSUMER PROTECTION CODE (CHAPTER 390)
1. Under Suffolk County Code Chapter 390, what is the maximum amount a home improvement contractor
can charge as a down payment before commencing work?
A) 10% of contract price or $1,000, whichever is less
B) B) 10% of contract price or $10,000, whichever is less
C) 25% of contract price
D) 50% of contract price
Chapter 390.12 specifically limits down payments to 10% of contract price or $10,000, whichever is less. This protects
consumers from contractors requiring excessive upfront payments.
2. Which of the following home improvement projects is EXEMPT from Suffolk County Chapter 390
requirements?
A) Kitchen renovation costing $15,000
B) Roof replacement for $8,500
C) C) Emergency repairs under $500 for immediate safety hazards
D) Bathroom remodel for $3,200
Chapter 390.4 provides limited exemptions for emergency repairs under $500 when immediate safety hazards exist,
though written documentation is still recommended.
3. How many days does a Suffolk County homeowner have to cancel a home improvement contract under
the right of rescission?
A) 1 business day
B) B) 3 business days
C) 7 calendar days
D) 30 calendar days
Chapter 390.14 mandates a 3-business-day rescission period for home improvement contracts, during which consumers
can cancel without penalty.
4. What information MUST be included in the Suffolk County Home Improvement Contract heading?
A) Contractor's favorite suppliers
B) B) "SUFFOLK COUNTY HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT" in bold type
C) Contractor's birth date
D) Weather forecast
Chapter 390.10 requires contracts to prominently display "SUFFOLK COUNTY HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT" in
bold type at the top of all agreements.
5. A Suffolk County HIC contract must include which of the following mandatory disclosures?
A) Contractor's political affiliation
B) B) Notice of 3-day right to cancel and mechanics lien rights
C) Favorite restaurant recommendations
D) Employee vacation schedule
Chapter 390.11 mandates specific disclosures including the 3-day cancellation right, mechanics lien information, and
consumer protection notices.
DOMAIN 2: CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS & MANDATORY DISCLOSURES
6. Under NY General Business Law Article 36-A, what is the minimum font size required for home
improvement contracts?
A) 6-point font
B) B) 10-point font
, C) 12-point font
D) 14-point font
Article 36-A requires all contract terms to be in at least 10-point type to ensure readability and prevent fine-print
deception.
7. Which of the following MUST be included in every Suffolk County home improvement contract?
A) Contractor's social security number
B) B) Approximate start and completion dates
C) Employee salary information
D) Supplier profit margins
Chapter 390.11 requires contracts to specify approximate start and completion dates, providing consumers with
reasonable timeline expectations.
8. If a homeowner requests changes during a project, what must the contractor do?
A) Make changes immediately
B) B) Provide written change order with price adjustment before proceeding
C) Complete changes and bill later
D) Refuse all changes
Chapter 390.16 mandates written change orders detailing scope changes and price adjustments before work begins,
protecting both parties.
9. What is the required language for the cancellation notice in Suffolk County contracts?
A) "No refunds available"
B) B) "YOU MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT WITHOUT PENALTY OR OBLIGATION WITHIN THREE
BUSINESS DAYS"
C) "All sales final"
D) "Cancellation not permitted"
Chapter 390.14 specifies exact wording for cancellation notices in bold type, ensuring consumers understand their
rights.
10. A contractor fails to provide a written contract for a $5,000 job. What is the penalty?
A) Warning only
B) B) Violation subject to fines up to $1,000 per offense
C) No penalty for first offense
D) License suspension only
Chapter 390.26 provides for penalties up to $1,000 per violation for failure to provide required written contracts.
DOMAIN 3: LIEN LAW & MECHANICS LIENS
11. Under NY Lien Law Article 3-A, when must a contractor provide a lien waiver to a homeowner?
A) Never required
B) B) Upon full payment of contract price
C) Only for commercial projects
D) Only if requested by supplier
Article 3-A requires contractors to provide lien waivers upon full payment, protecting homeowners from subsequent
mechanics liens.
12. What is the time limit for filing a mechanics lien in New York State?
A) 30 days after completion
B) B) 8 months after completion
C) 2 years after completion
D) 10 years after completion
NY Lien Law §10 establishes an 8-month limitation period for filing mechanics liens, creating certainty for property
owners.
13. A subcontractor can file a mechanics lien against:
A) The contractor's personal residence
B) B) The property where work was performed
C) Any random property
D) Only commercial properties
Mechanics liens attach to the specific property where labor or materials were provided, not personal assets of
contractors.
