Rules & Licenses
Manhattan Service Licenses Are Searchable
Manhattan residents and storefront tenants can search DCWP license status before hiring a home-improvement contractor or relying on a regulated service.
Published June 23, 2026 · Last verified June 23, 2026
A Manhattan contractor, repair service, or regulated retail service should be checked before money changes hands. DCWP says it licenses more than 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries. Its Search Business tool can show whether a person or business has a DCWP license, and it does not require an account. For home improvement work, NYC311 says contractors doing work that costs more than $200 need a DCWP license to operate legally in New York City.
Search the business name and license number.
Keep a screenshot with the estimate, contract, and proof of payment.
Put NYC DCWP: Check License Status at the top of the folder for this Manhattan question. Add the exact dcwp or license lookup, the date searched, and the address, parcel, account, citation, or application number that belongs with it. The saved trail is useful because it gives NYC DCWP a cleaner starting point if the record has changed, moved, or been folded into a newer filing path. Manhattan dcwp or license lookup records are much easier to revisit when the source, date, and office route stay attached.