New Jersey contractor license cost
New Jersey home improvement registration costs $110 to apply and $90 a year to renew, plus insurance and $10,000 to $50,000 of additional security. (source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: HICB FAQ (archived 31 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab))
Check a license on the NJ Consumer Affairs website (official site, opens in a new tab)
How: Pick the profession or licensee type, then enter any mix of first name, last name, license number and city (at least 2 characters each). Partial names work. (source: NJ License Verification (opens in a new tab))
Checked against official New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Home Improvement Contractors sources. See sources.
Costs and fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial application Non-refundable. | $110 (source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: HICB FAQ (archived 31 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab)) |
| Renewal by 31 March | $90 (source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: HICB FAQ (archived 31 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab)) |
| Late renewal (1 to 30 April) | $115 (source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: HICB FAQ (archived 31 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab)) |
| Reinstatement (after 30 April) | $140 (source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: HICB FAQ (archived 31 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab)) |
Fees are set by the board and can change. Check the official fee page before you pay.
Bonds and insurance
Bond: Required. Additional security: $50,000 for a contract over $120,000 (or over $750,000 in 12 months); $25,000 for $10,000 to $120,000 (or $150,000 to $750,000); $10,000 below that. (source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: HICB FAQ (archived 31 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab))
- Workers' comp: Required unless exempt by law.
- General liability: HIC: $500,000 per occurrence. HEC: $1,000,000 per occurrence.
(source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: HICB FAQ (archived 31 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab), source: NJ HIC/HEC application instructions (opens in a new tab))
Renewal
- Renew every 1 years.
- Renewal fee: $90.
Renew online by 31 March each year. (source: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: HICB FAQ (archived 31 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab))
Sources and last verified
Last verified: . Next check due: . Every fact on this page links to one of these official pages.
- NJ Division of Consumer Affairs: HICB FAQ (archived 31 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
- NJ HIC/HEC application instructions (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
- NJ License Verification (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
Spot something out of date? Email [email protected].