Licensed contractors › New York › Verify a license

How to verify a contractor license in New York

The licensing agency's own record is the authority. This page says where to find it, what to check, and what Tradesfile's copy of the file holds.

The official source

New York City Department of Buildings (DOB): licensed trades and contractors. Tradesfile holds 73,003 business records and 18,941 records for individual license holders, read on Nov 15, 2026. The file gives a license status but no expiry date. The file does not include insurance. This is a New York City file. It does not cover licenses issued elsewhere in New York State.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): construction haulers with insurance filings. Tradesfile holds 59,733 business records, read on Nov 15, 2026. The file gives a license status but no expiry date. Insurance is on file for 59,733 of them. This is a federal file of motor carriers. It is not a state contractor license.

What to check

1. Ask the contractor for the license number and the exact name the license is under. A number is the surest match.
2. Look the license up with New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
3. Check that the name on the record is the business you are hiring, that the license has not passed its expiry date or been suspended, and that the license type covers the work.
4. This state publishes insurance dates for some licenses. Where the record shows one, check that date too.

Search the New York records Tradesfile has read

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Each result shows the license number, type, status and the date the file was read. A record missing here is not proof there is no license: see what is and is not covered.

Browse New York

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• Plumbing 1,058
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• Concrete, masonry and tile 289
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