Rules & Licenses · Western New York
Erie Contractor Rules Change by Municipality
Erie County tells homeowners and businesses to verify contractor licensing or registration with the local building or code office.
Published July 6, 2026 · Last verified July 6, 2026
An Erie County contractor question starts with the exact municipality, not just the mailing address. Contractor licensing or registration is handled locally, and towns, villages, and cities do not all use the same rules.
That can surprise people around Buffalo’s suburbs because a mailing address can point one way while the legal town, village, or city points another. A Blasdell ZIP code, for example, can reach beyond the Village of Blasdell into Hamburg and Lackawanna. Before signing, figure out the property’s actual town, village, city, and school district if needed.
Then call the local building department or code-enforcement office and ask what applies to the job. A roof, addition, electrical job, plumbing work, driveway, rental repair, or commercial project can have different local rules. Treat any countywide list as a starting point, not a promise that every detail is current for your exact property.
For a homeowner, the phrase to use is simple: “Can you confirm whether this contractor needs local registration or licensing for this address and this kind of work?” Ask it before the deposit clears. Good contractors are used to that question.