Home Contractors

The following is a brief summary of important requirements applicable to home improvement contractors. It should not be considered a substitute for a contractor's responsibility to be familiar with all applicable legal requirements.

1. All contracts must contain the complete exact legal name, address and telephone number of the licensee.
   
   
2. The licensee must provide the home improvement contractor's license number in all advertisements, and on all contracts, invoices, proposals and stationery.
   
   
3. Any home improvement contract, including change orders and amendments, must be in writing and signed by all parties to the agreement(s).
   
   
4. All contracts must contain a date to commence work and a date to complete work under the home improvement contract.
   
   
5. All contracts must state in writing the consumer may cancel the contract at any time prior to midnight of the third business day after the contract is signed.
   
   
6. All contracts must contain the Lien Notification as required by New York State General Business Law.
   
   
7. All deposits taken in anticipation of doing work under a home improvement contract shall be deposited in a designated escrow account.
   
   
8. This office must be notified in writing of any change in business status, name or address, change in applicant's home address and/or change in personnel within ten days of the change.
   
   
9. The Environmental Protection Agency requires any contractor performing renovation, repair and/or painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 must be certified and must follow lead-safe work practices to prevent lead contamination. For additional information, contact the EPA at 1-800-424-lead (5323).
   
   
10. Bumper stickers must be displayed on driver's side, rear bumper of the vehicle.
    
    
11. For any business engaging in landscape and/or gardening work: All motor vehicles used for business purposes must display the name and address of the company on both sides of the vehicle.
    
    
12. For any business engaging in landscape and/or gardening work: You must comply with the regulations concerning the use and application of lawn fertilizer as specified in New York State Law.
    
    
13. All leaf blowers used in the course of business must meet EPA Phase 2, 2007 exhaust emission standards.
    
    
14. If this company arranges or facilitates financing of home improvement contracts, you must present the consumer with a copy of the "Consumer's Bill of Rights" and Payment Disclosure Form. Copies of the signed disclosure form and contract must be forwarded to this office within five business days. Disclosure Forms and "Consumer's Bill of Rights" are available from this office.
    
    
15. All contracts must also be in compliance with any additional regulations and requirements set forth in the New York State General Business Law and all other applicable New York State Laws.
    
    
16. Failure to comply with any of these instructions is a violation of the laws of Westchester County and/or New York State and may result in legal action being taken.

Spills of home heating oil can result in devastating damage to private property and the environment and can be extremely expensive to clean up. The county has been working with representatives of the home heating oil industry to examine the causes of spills and to help prevent spills from occurring.

One cause of spills is the overfilling of oil tanks during deliveries. This type of spill is easily preventable by using a device called a “vent alarm." Older oil tanks which have no such mechanism or a mechanism not working correctly present the greatest risk of a damaging overfill incident during delivery.

If you need assistance in determining whether your system has (or needs) an overfill prevention device, the following home heating oil companies will provide a free inspection, as well as a free estimate as to what they would charge for installation of  the device. Participating Home Heating Oil Dealers are listed below.

Landscapers are required by law to use low emission leaf blowers as of January 2009. Landscapers who purchase new leaf blowers should be sure to buy machines that meet the new requirements.

In April 2007, the Board of Legislators passed a bill that requires all licensed home improvement contractors who are engaged in landscaping, gardening, arboriculture and similar outdoor vocations to use low emission leaf blowers as of Jan. 1, 2009. The leaf blowers must meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Phase 2, 2007 exhaust standards.

All leaf blowers manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2007 meet those standards. Some leaf blowers manufactured prior to Jan. 1, 2007 may also meet the standards - - check with the manufacturer.

When the law was passed in 2007, the department sent a letter to all licensed contractors informing them of the upcoming requirement. Since then, the department has included information about the law in the packet that is provided to all new and renewal license applicants. In addition, the license and renewal application forms require contractors to certify that they are now in compliance or will be as of January 2009.

Landscapers who are found to be using non-compliant leaf blowers after Jan. 1, 2009 face a potential fine of $1,000, as well as the denial or revocation of their license. The law does not apply to landscapers who only work on commercial properties or who work exclusively in Yonkers (which has a separate licensing procedure).
 
Many municipalities in Westchester have ordinances regulating the noise level and hours of operation for leaf blowers. The county law, which deals exclusively with emissions, does not pre-empt those local ordinances.

The Department of Consumer Protection maintains a list of unlicensed problematic home improvement contractors, plumbers and electricians. These contractors have been and continue to be the source of many consumer complaints. The department is continuing to pursue these contractors and consumers are strongly advised to avoid using these contractors. If you wish to obtain additional information about the names listed below, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Consumers should never use unlicensed contractors and should always check license status and complaint histories with the department before entering into a contract to have work performed.