Do you need a general contractor license in New Jersey?

Yes, a registration. In New Jersey, a builder may not engage in the business of constructing new homes unless registered with the Department of Community Affairs and enrolled in the new home warranty security fund or an approved alternate program. A registration certificate is valid for 2 years and may be renewed. A corporation, partnership or other business may build new homes only if a stockholder, director, officer, partner or employee is a registered builder. This registration covers new homes only; remodeling and repair of existing homes falls under the home improvement registration. Cities and counties can add their own licensing on top of the state’s. This is N.J.S.A. 46:3B-5, 46:3B-2.

WhatNew Jersey
General contractorsNew home builder registration (Dept. of Community Affairs)

Source

N.J.S.A. 46:3B-5, 46:3B-2

Read the statute in the New Jersey Statutes (New Jersey Legislature): njleg.state.nj.us.

The linked sections open Justia’s free copy of the code, because the state’s own site has no stable address for each section.

Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

How Seayora uses this rule

A contractor on Seayora keeps each license with its issuing state, its expiry date and the last four digits of its number, and the business is warned before one lapses — on the website and both phone apps. A customer finding a pro on Seayora sees whether a license is on file.

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