- Registrations renew together. The current ones expire March 31, 2026.
Do you need a state license in New Jersey?
New Jersey licenses some painting 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.
Steps to get licensed in New Jersey
- Register your business for tax purposes, and your trade name with the county if you use one.
- Get commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence.
- File the Home Improvement Contractor application with the $110 fee.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Home Improvement Contractor Business (HICB) registration.
New Jersey painting contractor 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 |
|---|---|
| Registration application (non-refundable) | $110 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Registrations renew together. The current ones expire March 31, 2026.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in New Jersey
- Towns will not issue construction permits to contractors who are required to register and have not.
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 painter 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, Regulated Business Section and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how painting companies run on Koira.