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General Contractor
Total cost: $200
Governing Authority
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs - State Board of Home Improvement
Official website →Yes
License Required?
0 years
Experience Required
Yes
Bonding Required?
$200
Total Initial Fees
2 years (biennial)
Renewal Period
0 hrs
CE Hours
Get the New Jersey General Contractor Roadmap — every step, fee, and deadline mapped out. — every step mapped out.
Get the Roadmap — $20Description
Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration. Required for ALL residential home improvement work in New Jersey — no dollar threshold. Covers new construction, additions, structural alterations. Biennial registration $110. Must carry $500K GL per occurrence and tiered compliance bond.
Project Limit
License required for projects over $500
Additional Requirements
Description
General contractor license/registration for New Jersey. Covers a broad range of construction activities.
Project Limit
License required for projects over $500
Additional Requirements
Description
Home Repair Registration. For non-structural residential repairs only (painting, wallpapering, minor repairs). Biennial registration $300. Separate from HIC registration.
Additional Requirements
Experience & Documentation
Verified0
Years Required
Not Required
Documented Project History
Journeyman/Trade Experience
No specific journeyman experience required
Alternative Pathways (Education Substitutions)
Exam Requirements
VerifiedNot Required
Trade Exam
Not Required
Business & Law Exam
Trade Exam Details
No trade examination required
Business & Law Exam Details
No business/law examination required
Retake Policy
No exam required
Overall licensing difficulty: 1/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
Practice with realistic exam questions
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Bonding Requirements
VerifiedSurety Bond Required
Tiered compliance bond: $10,000 (individual/sole proprietor), $25,000 (partnership), $50,000 (corporation/LLC)
Surety Bond Amount
Bond Types
Surety bonds protect consumers by providing financial recourse if a contractor fails to complete a project or violates licensing regulations. Bond costs are typically 1-3% of the bond amount annually.
Insurance & Workers' Comp
VerifiedRequired
General Liability
Required
Workers' Compensation
Minimum Coverage
$500,000 per occurrence
Additional Insurance Requirements
Workers' Comp Threshold
Required for employers with 1 or more employees
Workers' Comp Details
New Jersey requires workers' compensation insurance for employers with 1 or more employees. Sole proprietors may be exempt but coverage is recommended.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Application fee (one-time, non-refundable) | $90 |
License Fee HIC registration (biennial). Home Repair registration is $300 biennial. | $110 (biennial HIC registration fee) |
Renewal Fee HIC biennial renewal. Home Repair renewal is $300. | $110 (biennial renewal) |
Total Initial Fees HIC: $90 app + $110 registration. Home Repair: $90 app + $300 registration = $390. | $200 |
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Renewal & CE Requirements
Verified2 years (biennial)
Renewal Period
0 hrs
CE Hours Required
Renewal Fee
$110
Regulatory Board
Contractor licenses must be renewed on schedule. Many states require continuing education covering building codes, safety practices, business law, and energy efficiency standards.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedDoes Not Accept Out-of-State Credentials
ICC Certification Not Accepted
Reciprocity Type
Full application required
Transfer Details
New Jersey requires out-of-state contractors to complete the full registration process.
General contractor license reciprocity varies significantly by state. Some states recognize ICC certifications, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials. Always verify current policies with the state licensing board.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare New Jersey with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
NJ has NO dollar threshold — ALL residential home improvement work requires registration. Two types: HIC ($110) for structural work and Home Repair ($300) for non-structural. Tiered compliance bond scales by business type ($10K/$25K/$50K). GL minimum $500K per occurrence.
NJ requires HIC registration for ALL residential home improvement work — no dollar threshold exemption.
Two registration types: HIC ($110/2yr) for structural/new construction, Home Repair ($300/2yr) for non-structural.
Tiered compliance bond required: $10K (individual), $25K (partnership), $50K (corporation/LLC).
GL insurance minimum $500,000 per occurrence required.
Commercial work is NOT covered by state HIC/Home Repair registration.
No exam or experience required — registration-based system.
Workers' compensation insurance required for 1 or more employees.
Lien Law Basics
Preliminary Notice: Required
Lien Deadline: 90 days after completion
New Jersey construction lien law: Preliminary notice is required to preserve lien rights. Lien filing deadline: 90 days after completion.
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Official Sources
General Contractor requirements in New Jersey verified against New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs - State Board of Home Improvement, March 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
Accessed 2026-03-22
General Contractor Schools in New Jersey
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