New York, NY Soliciting & Door-to-Door: Solicitor Permits (2026)

Administrative Code § 20-387 makes it unlawful to "solicit, canvass, sell, perform or obtain a home improvement contract as a contractor from an owner without a license therefor," and clarifies that a home improvement license does not let the holder do work reserved to other licensed trades. "Home improvement" under § 20-386 covers repairs, remodeling, additions, driveways, pools, fencing, porches, garages, central heating/AC and similar work to a residence, and "salesperson" is defined as anyone who negotiates or personally solicits a home improvement contract on a contractor's behalf.

To get licensed, § 20-390 requires the applicant to be over 18 and of good character, submit either EPA lead-safe renovator certification or a signed affirmation it is not required, and be fingerprinted for a state criminal-history check, with owners, general partners or officers/10%+ stockholders all fingerprinted for corporate applicants. The license and each renewal cost $50, with a $10 fee for a duplicate (§ 20-388); a license must be posted conspicuously and any change of ownership, management, address or trade name reported within 10 days (§ 20-389).

Section 20-397 exempts employees working for wages, already-licensed plumbers/electricians/engineers/alarm installers acting within their own licenses, retail clerks on a contractor's premises, and any home improvement job under $200 total, though splitting a bigger job into sub-$200 pieces to dodge licensing does not qualify. Section 20-393 separately prohibits deviating from contract specifications and other unfair practices in the course of soliciting or performing the work.