To do home construction and many types of substantial home repairs in New Jersey, an individual must be a licensed contractor. Obtaining an NJ contractor license requires the contractor to register with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, a process that involves multiple smaller steps.
In many official documents about the process of obtaining an NJ contractor license, the phrase "home improvement contractor" is used. In these instances, home improvement contractor is synonymous with general contractor.
The primary requirement for obtaining an NJ contractor license is registering with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. A contractor is required to include multiple documents with her registration to have it approved.
Advertisement Article continues below this ad NJ license requirements for general contractors are as follows:The fee to submit an application for a NJ home improvement contractor license is $110. Contractors can download the required questionnaire from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs website. It must be printed, filled out completely and sent to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs office with a valid check and all required materials for the contractor to obtain the NJ contractor license.
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New Jersey home improvement contractor licenses are not transferable, even when the intended recipient meets all NJ license requirements.
Contractors who offer their clients financing options must also register with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI). The process for obtaining this licensure is similar to the process of registering with the Division of Consumer Affairs. Contractors must complete and submit licensing applications, which can be found on DOBI's website. DOBI licensure is available to New Jersey residents and nonresidents who meet NJ license requirements.
In addition to a valid general contractor license, many New Jersey municipalities require contractors to obtain surety bonds to become licensed. One such city is Jersey City, where a contractor must obtain a $15,000 bond in order to be licensed.
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Beyond licensure and bonds, a contractor must obtain valid construction permits before starting work on a project. You do not have to be a licensed contractor to obtain a construction permit; property owners can pull permits for small jobs done in their own homes if they intend to do the work themselves.