- None stated. Jobs over $500 need a written contract.
- Every year.
Do you need a state license in New Jersey?
New Jersey licenses some handyman work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
None stated. Jobs over $500 need a written contract.
Towns will not issue construction permits to an unregistered home improvement contractor.
The New Jersey license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Home Improvement Contractor registration | Repair, renovation, painting, installation and similar work on residential or noncommercial property |
Steps to get licensed in New Jersey
- Get commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence.
- Register as a Home Improvement Contractor with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs and pay the $110 application fee.
- Use written contracts for any job over $500, with your registration number on them.
- Leave plumbing, electrical and HVACR work to the licensed trades.
- Renew your registration every year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The board's pages do not list one.
The license to apply for. Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration.
New Jersey handyman exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in New Jersey
The board lists one fee for this license. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Home Improvement Contractor application fee | $110 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, kept on file with the Division. A copy of the policy goes to the customer with the contract.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in New Jersey
- Electrical and plumbing permits must be signed and sealed by a New Jersey licensed electrical contractor or master plumber, and HVACR contracting needs a Master HVACR license.
- Someone who only mows lawns and trims shrubs does not need to register, but planting or laying sod does.
- Contracts over $500 must be written and show your registration number.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a handyman near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (home improvement contractor registration) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.